Ludington is called a calming seaside city as it’s residence to twenty-eight miles of sandy seashores, sand dunes, and the water of Lake Michigan. Past the shores of Lake Michigan, there are a ton of issues to do in Ludington!
We simply returned from a four-night journey to Ludington with the youngsters on a enjoyable little summer time highway journey trip. We took the S.S. Badger automobile ferry over. That approach, we might have our personal automobile with us. We stayed within the cutest little cabin on Hamlin Lake at Passion Crest Resort.
When planning our journey to Ludington, we put collectively an enormous listing of all of the issues to do in Ludington Michigan we wished to do and the very best eating places we wished to eat at. We lined a ton of floor in 4 days in Ludington, and our youngsters had a blast.
Ludington has a deep-rooted maritime connection and is the perfect place to study in regards to the area’s maritime historical past at areas just like the Port of Ludington Maritime Museum or Sandcastles Kids’s Museum. Ludington has a historic significance of transport alongside the Nice Lakes that started with its roots as a lumber city, and thus you’ll discover many historic buildings.
The downtown space of Ludington provides a small-town really feel and trendy facilities with tree-lined streets, and superb eating places, together with among the finest breakfast choices in Ludington. Stroll and browse the distinctive retailers or take a look at a neighborhood pageant, resembling dwell music and artisan occasions that run all through the hotter months of Might by way of September.
Ludington additionally provides pure landscapes that make it the perfect location for out of doors actions as it’s in shut proximity to each Lake Michigan, Hamlin Lake, and different inland rivers and lakes. Out of doors lovers can get pleasure from climbing, boating, fishing, kayaking, paddle boarding, biking, tenting, and even bird-watching.
There isn’t a scarcity of cool issues to do in Ludington because it provides distinctive boutiques and eating places, out of doors recreation, historic areas, and a pleasant neighborhood vibe, making it the perfect place to go to!
Planning your Journey – FAQ Ludington Michigan
How do I get to Ludington?
In case you are touring from Wisconsin, the most well-liked and easiest method is to take the automobile ferry to Ludington. You may as well simply drive to Ludington. The drive time varies primarily based on site visitors, however it’s about 4 hours from Chicago, 4 hours from Detroit, and 6 hours from Milwaukee.
How lengthy is the ferry from Manitowoc to Ludington?
First setting sail in 1953, the BADGER automobile ferry is the final coal-fired passenger steamship in operation in the US, connecting Ludington Michigan, with Manitowoc, Wisconsin. The BADGER is a 4-hour ferry journey throughout Lake Michigan to Manitowoc and is a part of the historic maritime custom.
Whereas onboard the BADGER, there are many issues to do, together with buying within the “boatique,” watching a flick within the movie show, lounging inside and outdoors on the deck, strolling alongside the deck, enjoying board video games or the well-known Badger Bingo, having fun with the toddler play space, having fun with dwell music, and visiting its small museum.
To maintain the youngsters entertained, there’s a scavenger hunt, recreation room, movie show, and even a child’s port play space. We additionally opted to get a personal stateroom. That approach, we had someplace to set our baggage. It was additionally good to have our personal personal rest room and a spot the place we might shut the door and have the youngsters keep in a single place.
The ferry is seasonal and runs from mid-Might to mid-October. It leaves town of Ludington each morning at 9 am EST, arriving in Manitowoc at 12 pm CST, and turns proper again round and leaves Manitowoc at 2 pm CST arriving again in Ludington at 7 pm EST.
*NOTE – Michigan is on Japanese time, and Wisconsin is on Central time zone*
The place is Ludington?
Ludington is situated in West Michigan on the Lake Michigan shoreline and is without doubt one of the finest locations to go to in Michigan through the summer time. Ludington is the largest metropolis in Mason County and is understood for being a harbor city on Lake Michigan.
What’s Ludington recognized for?
Ludington is understood for being a stupendous seaside city situated alongside Lake Michigan, in addition to having unbelievable pure magnificence with lakes and rivers, woods, and sand dunes. Certainly one of its greatest attracts is Ludington State Park, the place guests can discover the pure great thing about the area by way of climbing, tenting, and water sports activities.
Based in 1873, Ludington is also a historic city established due to its plentiful timber for lumber plus an accessible waterway for transport, contributing to a robust maritime historical past that features the S.S. Badger carferry service that initially transported rail vehicles. The remaining automobile ferry is now used as a passenger ferry service.
When is the very best time to go to Ludington?
The summer time months have probably the most vibrant environment in Ludington. Nevertheless, it may be loved all 12 months lengthy, relying in your exercise, climate, and crowd-level preferences.
Right here’s a breakdown of the totally different seasons in Ludington:
- Summer time (June to August): When the climate is heat and sunny, you possibly can anticipate the height vacationer season as fashionable sights turn into crowded and the realm feels busy. Vacationers come to benefit from the seashores, swimming, boating, out of doors actions, and festivals.
- Fall (September to November): Because the leaves change colour and the climate turns into cooler, there are fewer crowds, making it a super location for a trip. Ludington State Park is gorgeous within the fall, providing tenting, climbing, biking, and fishing.
- Winter (December to February): Ludington experiences chilly winters with occasional snowfall and fewer vacationers, so you possibly can anticipate some sights to be closed or have restricted hours. Lodging are extra inexpensive as nicely. In style winter actions embrace snowshoeing, cross-country snowboarding, and ice fishing. The state park even provides lantern-lit snowshoeing occasions and grooms a few of its trails for cross-country snowboarding.
- Spring (March to Might): Spring in Ludington is a quieter time with fewer vacationers and cooler climate that brings the blooming of nature and the return of birds to the realm, making it best for climbing, birdwatching, and wildflower recognizing.
What number of days do you’ll want to do all the very best issues to do in Ludington, Michigan?
We might advocate planning to spend 3-4 days in Ludington. You should have sufficient time that you may actually discover and revel in all that it has to supply.
We recommend spending someday downtown, someday on the seaside exploring the miles of shoreline, after which 1-2 days exploring Ludington State Park and having fun with the close by out of doors actions. Or you could possibly take a half-day facet journey to neighboring Oceana County to see Silver Lake Sand Dunes.
The place to remain in Ludington?
Passion Crest Resort is the proper spot to behave as a house base when you journey and discover. We stayed at Passion Crest Resort, situated in Ludington. We selected to remain at a cottage, and we actually preferred that it was conveniently situated on the shores of Hamlin Lake so we might relaxation, chill out, hang around on the sandy seaside space, and revel in water sports activities, resembling a water trampoline proper on website.
Every cabin is provided with a picnic desk and chairs, in addition to a fuel grill and fireplace pit. There are many eating places and grocery shops close by in the event you’d wish to eat out or have a pleasant meal on the cabin.
You may simply spend the complete day again on the resort. You possibly can go fishing, boating, and swimming, and there are leases for kayaks, paddleboards, and even pontoon boats. Children of all ages (and adults, too) will benefit from the sandy seaside, giant grassy space, and playground. When you have your personal boat, they provide boat slip leases.
Ludington State Park’s jap border is steps away from Passion Crest Resort, and it is just a 5-minute drive to benefit from the 5,300 acres of land to discover. It’s a couple of 10-minute drive to downtown Ludington.
Along with Passion Crest, when taking a look at the place to remain in Ludington, there’s quite a lot of lodging choices. From family-owned cabins and native Ludington lodges to nationwide resort chains, there’s something for everybody’s finances and journey model.
What are the very best eating places in Ludington?
We’ve got an entire put up on the very best eating places in Ludington right here and the very best breakfasts in Ludington right here. However to sum it up, listed here are a few of our go-to eating places in Ludington, Michigan:
Finest Issues to Do in Ludington Michigan
Being a seaside city on the shoreline of Michigan, a lot of the issues to do in Ludington contain the water not directly or one other. We’ve got rounded up all the very best issues to do in Ludington, Michigan, that can assist you plan your subsequent summer time journey or weekend getaway at this summer time hotspot.
1. Discover Ludington State Park
Ludington State Park wins the title of finest Michigan State Park because it has such a big number of actions to get pleasure from as you benefit from the lovely pure setting of the forest in addition to the seaside alongside Hamlin Lake.
The park has quite a lot of totally different terrains and distinctive options, together with islands, boardwalks, bridges, rivers, and even sand dunes that you may traverse.
In case you are searching for extra rustic lodging, you then may contemplate tenting at Ludington State Park, because the park has three trendy campgrounds (Beachwood, Pines, and Cedar) and one hike-in website (Jack Pine), all named after timber. The park has quite a lot of website sorts and areas, from rustic to electrical, and a few cabins, relying in your pursuits and desires. It may be troublesome to get a reservation. Websites turn into accessible to order six months previous to your keep date, so mark your calendar and speak to Michigan DNR Reservations as quickly as your date is obtainable to e-book.
Ludington State Park has greater than 25 miles of climbing alongside ten main trails working by way of the park, all labeled by colours. The shorter trails embrace Coast Guard Path, Lighthouse Path, Sable River Path, Misplaced Lake Path, and Skyline Path. These trails can all be accomplished in round 2 hours.
In case you are searching for an extended hike, then it’s possible you’ll contemplate the Ridge Path, South Ski Trails, and Logging Path, that are longer hikes and take within the 3-4 hour vary. Additionally, many hikes might be mixed for longer routes. When you have time, probably the most scenic views is at Hamlin Dam and alongside the Sable River. Alongside lots of the trails, you’ll get to view the distinctive sand dunes and even climb a sand dune on the Skyline Path.
Should you get pleasure from water sports activities, cease on the Hamlin Lake Watercraft Rental to lease canoes, single and tandem kayaks, paddle boats, row boats, or stand-up paddleboards. These renting water gear can benefit from the marked four-mile Canoe Path alongside the jap shore of Hamlin Lake, which is residence to many wildlife and waterfowl. This will take 2-3 hours, relying in your paddling talents and tempo (and observe there are at the least three portages, so intermediate paddling abilities are really helpful). While you’re out within the water, it’s possible you’ll get pleasure from fishing because the Lake has an abundance of walleye, perch, northern pike, bass, and bluegill fish.
If watersports aren’t of curiosity, then it’s possible you’ll get pleasure from lounging on the sandy seaside, swimming in Hamlin Lake, or stopping on the Seashore Home on the Lake Michigan seaside for ice cream. There’s a giant and absolutely accessible playground for the youngsters, situated conveniently to Hamlin Seashore.
Lastly, Ludington State Park has an important paved biking path alongside the park highway for guests to get pleasure from.
2. Hike to Massive Sable Level Lighthouse
Take a look at the historic Massive Sable Level Lighthouse, which stands at 122 ft tall in Ludington State Park since 1867 and is without doubt one of the oldest repeatedly working lighthouses in Michigan. Take pleasure in a sandy hike of 1.8 miles lengthy to succeed in this fabulous construction. Nevertheless, be ready. This hike doesn’t have numerous shady spots, so you’ll want to pack a hat, sunscreen, and plenty of water.
The Lighthouse path takes about 2-3 hours to finish if strolling. Nevertheless, you possibly can attain the ultimate vacation spot a bit sooner if you’re using a motorcycle with fats tires.
When you attain the lighthouse, you possibly can take a look at the present store that was once the lighthouse keepers’ quarters, discover close by sand dunes, or climb a 130-step spiral staircase to get pleasure from scenic views of the Michigan shoreline and passing freighters.
We didn’t make it to the Massive Sable Lighthouse. In case you are touring with small children, observe that the path isn’t appropriate for a stroller. We determined with two small children and a 3.6-mile hike, our time was higher spent exploring different sights.
Nevertheless, the nonprofit that manages the lighthouse provides Bus Days as soon as a month, June by way of September, to drive individuals out to the lighthouse and again for a small charge.
3. Take the S.S. Badger Ferry Throughout Lake Michigan
Loosen up on the historic steamship automobile ferry that connects Ludington, Michigan, and Manitowoc, Wisconsin, on this 4-hour journey throughout Lake Michigan. Click on right here to verify charges and schedule.
Onboard actions embrace buying within the “boatique,” watching a flick within the movie show, lounging inside and outdoors on the deck, strolling alongside the deck, enjoying board video games or the well-known Badger Bingo, having fun with the toddler play space, having fun with dwell music, and visiting its small museum. To maintain the youngsters entertained, there’s a scavenger hunt, recreation room, movie show, and even a child’s port play space.
4. Loosen up at Stearns Park Seashore
Stearns Park Seashore is situated on the western fringe of Ludington, the place it meets Lake Michigan and provides 2,500 ft of shoreline, and is Ludington’s greatest seaside.
The seaside has a number of actions for households to get pleasure from, together with picnic areas, playgrounds, a volleyball courtroom, and concession stands to buy snacks.
Right here you possibly can get pleasure from swimming within the clear waters of Lake Michigan, enjoying within the sand, or strolling alongside the seaside. Households can get pleasure from a view of the North Breakwater Lighthouse or get pleasure from recreation actions close by. Recreation actions embrace Skate Park Plaza, shuffleboard courts, a playground on the sandy seaside, and Ludington Space Jaycees Mini Golf Course.
This Ludington seaside is wheelchair accessible because it has three ramps that lead from the free parking zone to the water.
5. Play at Sandcastles Kids’s Museum
Our youngsters LOVED Sandcastles Kids’s Museum. We spent over three hours right here, and our youngsters would have stayed all day if we allowed them to. That is the very best kids’s museum we’ve got ever been to.
It’s actually nice for 1-4-year-olds. Most kids’s museums are for older kids, however Sandcastles has many areas and actions for smaller toddlers.
Households can create, discover and uncover at this hands-on museum that can hold the youngsters entertained for hours. The Sandcastles Kids’s Museum is right for youngsters aged 2-10 and is a superb exercise for a wet day, and is without doubt one of the finest methods to burn off some power.
The museum provides 4 full ranges of family-friendly hands-on actions resembling:
- S.S. Badger Playship – my children cherished the ship. Right here kids can play within the wheelhouse, use the telescope, blow the whistle, and slide down from the highest of the ship.
- The nursery – kids can role-play with infants and fake to be a health care provider, nurse, or dad or mum as they care for child dolls utilizing real-life gadgets resembling child heaters, bassinets, and child scales
- Home of Flavors & Hungry Howies Pizza Parlor – Right here, kids can serve up some tasty desserts or bake a pizza.
- Bubbles Galore – kids can play with quite a lot of bubble wands.
- Calming Nook – a quiet place to relaxation and chill out, providing sensory actions
- Climbing Wall – kids can take a look at their power and steadiness on this indoor climbing characteristic
- Creation Station – unfastened components that kids can create and design with and let their creativeness run wild
- Grandpa’s Barn – permits kids to study extra about agriculture by enjoying with the walk-in barn, corn conveyor, tractor, and Buttercup – a life-sized milking cow.
6. Climb to the High of Ludington North Breakwater Gentle
Climb to the highest of this iconic focus on the Lake Michigan shoreline, and benefit from the comparatively straightforward mile-long spherical journey stroll alongside the breakwall in your method to the Ludington North Breakwater Gentle.
This fashionable attraction in Ludington is the proper place to benefit from the close by picturesque settings, watch the BADGER cruise in Lake Michigan or an important place to easily sit and benefit from the sundown from the highest deck of the lighthouse. From high to backside, the climb is roughly 53 steps.
The realm across the lighthouse is a superb spot to go fishing, and the close by seaside provides an important spot for swimming or having lunch within the picnic space on the seaside. The lighthouse contains a porthole on every of its three decks, and every degree has distinctive artifacts and photos for guests to view and study extra in regards to the historical past of the lighthouse on their method to the lantern rooms.
Lighthouse tour climbs can be found through the excessive season, usually from the tip of Might till early September.
When you have small children, I counsel placing them within the stroller. We had each of our youngsters in our Zoe double journey stroller, and I felt extra snug understanding they had been strapped in.
7. Seize a Pint at a Native Microbrewery
In case you are a beer lover like us, you’ll be happy to seek out a number of microbreweries right here in Ludington. Right here you possibly can get pleasure from a superb meal and regionally crafted beers. We’re all the time on the hunt for the very best beer when touring and attempting distinctive native craft beers.
Listed here are a number of microbreweries in Ludington that you may go to:
- Jamesport Brewing Firm: Sip in your beer when you get pleasure from views of the Ludington harbor and the S.S. Badger ferry service. This family-friendly informal atmosphere is pet pleasant and has an important patio. Jamesport Brewing Co. is a superb spot to go for lunch.
- Ludington Bay Brewing Firm: Fastidiously crafts beers on the shores of Michigan, together with S.S. Badger Blue in honor of the automobile ferry. The beer is brewed proper downtown in Ludington utilizing native substances, additionally pet-friendly on its patio.
- Ravenous Artist Brewing: In the midst of the nation, in a barn, you’ll discover some tremendous distinctive and engaging beers. Adam cherished their IPA beers, and I actually loved their sours. The proprietor is superior and actually captivated with his beer. He was nice to speak too and find out about how the brewery has developed and his beers. Observe there isn’t any meals served right here, and so they aren’t open day-after-day, so verify their hours prematurely.
8. Seize Ice Cream at Home of Flavors
Celebrating 75 years of operation in 2023, Home of Flavors as soon as held the Guinness World Report for the Longest Ice Cream Dessert. A 3rd-generation family-owned enterprise, it manufactures over 25 million gallons of ice cream a 12 months. Serving over 40 distinctive flavors of ice lotions, sundaes, milkshakes, and ice cream sodas, it makes the proper place to seize a candy deal with!
This 1950’s themed diner serves the whole lot from sandwiches, salads, soups, and burgers along with their tasty desserts. Click on right here to see what ice cream flavors they’ve accessible. It’s a tremendous fashionable spot on sizzling summer time days!
There’s extra than simply ice cream on the Home of Flavors restaurant. They’ve a full menu and are open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
9. Discover Downtown Ludington
In case you are a foodie and revel in native eating places, then you’ll want to take a look at downtown Ludington. Providing quite a lot of eating places, cafes, and tremendous eating institutions serving the whole lot, together with American, Mexican, and Italian.
Downtown Ludington is residence to many historic buildings, such because the Mason County Courthouse, Ludington Space Middle for the Arts, Mason County District Library, and the Ludington Masonic Temple. Legacy Plaza, within the coronary heart of downtown, has picnic tables, a fuel hearth, a lined pavilion for farmer and artisan markets, and a stage for dwell music. Rotary Park provides a quiet spot to relaxation with a fountain, benches, and inexperienced house.
Ludington Avenue is a picturesque road to take a stroll and window store the retailers and boutiques that promote clothes, residence decor, and items. One other great spot to cease is the Mitten Bar serving solely Michigan-made beer and wine, additionally situated proper on Ludington Avenue.
10. Get Sandy on Mac Wooden’s Sand Dune Tour
Climb to the highest of sand dunes and catch some superb views of Lake Michigan and Silver Lake on a Mac Wooden’s Dune Trip. This thrilling tour is a should for all ages. Our three-year-old son cherished it!
Since 1930, Mac Wooden’s has been providing dune rides with a four-passenger dune scooter. You possibly can catch a glimpse of what the 1934 Ford Scooter appears like of their museum store. As we speak the journey is a bit totally different in a 20-person four-wheel drive car.
Excursions are 40 minutes lengthy and run all through the day from mid-Might by way of the tip of September. They don’t take reservations or promote tickets prematurely. You simply present up and buy your ticket for the subsequent leaving tour. We solely needed to wait about 5 minutes.
11. Go to a Vineyard in Ludington
Who doesn’t love a pleasant glass of wine? Guests can study extra about genuine artisan wine-making by studying extra in regards to the wine methods used and having fun with some samples within the sampling rooms that spotlight native wines.
There are a number of wineries situated within the Ludington space together with:
- Pere Marquette Vineyard: Take pleasure in a wine pattern within the previous equestrian tack room changed into a sampling room.
- North Department Vineyard: Take pleasure in handcrafted wines which are fermented and bottled on-site and might be paired with a charcuterie board. They provide quite a lot of grape and fruit wines made with native substances.
- Fox Barn Vineyard: They develop wines made with produce straight from the orchard, and the restored vintage barn and patio supply a calming atmosphere to get pleasure from wine on the tasting bar along with a barn-bites meals board. They’ve each wine and cider that you may buy and take with you.
12. Go Fishing in Ludington
Ludington is a well-liked vacation spot for fishing in each Lake Michigan and close by rivers and waters resembling Hamlin Lake.
Anglers trying to fish in Lake Michigan can fish from the pier, shoreline, breakwalls, or rent a constitution boat to go on a deep-sea fishing expertise. Lake Michigan is fashionable for fishing quite a lot of fish species, together with trout, walleye, salmon, and perch.
There are lots of skilled skilled charters that may present gear and information on the very best spots to fish. Ludington is called being the very best port to catch salmon in all of Michigan.
The Pere Marquette River is a superb location to go paddling and fish for trout or salmon, or steelhead within the spring. The water is low sufficient that you may wade within the shoreline to fish. Hamlin Lake permits anglers to fish from small boats resembling canoes and kayaks or from the shoreline. Hamlin Lake provides fishing for largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, pike, panfish, and walleye.
13. Pet the Animals at Lewis Journey Farm & Zoo
In case you are touring with children, a go to to Lewis Journey Farm & Zoo is a should. It was a favourite spot for our youngsters. You possibly can simply spend a whole morning or afternoon right here.
The Lewis Journey Farm and Zoo is the proper place to spend the day with the household, as there’s a lot to do on the farm. Our youngsters cherished the enormous slide (it was certainly one of their favourite issues), using the Bumpalong Barrel practice, using the carousel, the massive enjoyable leaping pillow, pedal carts, low ropes course, crawly spider net, and a lot extra!
Children can get pleasure from all of the video games on the farm, together with skeeball, balltown, cornhole, and rubber duck races. If you wish to pet some furry buddies, you then’ve come to the best place. You possibly can benefit from the petting zoo or go to Bunnyville to study extra in regards to the livestock and consider them.
We didn’t eat right here, however the farm has 4 totally different meals venues to attempt together with Grilled Cheese, Burgers, Hen Sandwiches, and Mac & Cheese. We did, nevertheless, seize a contemporary dessert from the bakery, the place they serve contemporary pies, donuts, cinnamon rolls, sticky buns, a number of cookies, and extra!
It’s a good way to spend the morning. Count on to spend 3-4 hours right here or longer when you have the time. In case you are hungry for lunch or want some ice cream, head to County Dairy, which is simply a two-minute drive away. They’ve a full lunch menu and actually good ice cream too.
14. Tour Amber Elk Ranch
Rise up shut with Elk on the Amber Elk Ranch, which gives guided excursions and permits guests to find out about elk conservation and different wildlife. Guests will study all about elk habitat, elk habits, and their function within the ecosystem on this 130-acre farm.
The ranch is residence to a few hundred elk and is situated simply exterior of Ludington. Don’t neglect to attempt the Elk Burger once you go to the ranch!
15. Go to the Port of Ludington Maritime Museum
The Port of Ludington Maritime Museum provides guests a captivating journey into the maritime historical past of Ludington, Michigan, offering a wealth of data to its friends.
Positioned within the former U.S. Coast Guard Station and now listed on the Nationwide Register of Historic Locations, this family-friendly, state-of-the-art museum overlooking the channel to Lake Michigan has everlasting and altering displays that supply uncommon glimpses into the previous with genuine artifacts, historic pictures, and the voices of people that performed key roles in maritime industries that formed the area.
Guests will study in regards to the maritime heritage of Ludington by way of the three ranges of the museum by viewing pictures, fashions, interactive displays, and artifacts that train friends in regards to the significance of fishing, lighthouses, boating, and transport on the Nice Lakes.
A favourite exhibit, particularly for teenagers, is the interactive pilothouse of the Pere Marquette 22 automobile ferry within the Thirties, the place guests can take management of the helm and navigate into and out of the harbor as nicely throughout Lake Michigan.
16. Eat, Drink, and Bowl at STIX
STIX is a world-class leisure facility and restaurant that could be a staple in Ludington. Take pleasure in an grownup beverage at both the second-floor patio or the Biergarten, which contains a patio in addition to an important house to get pleasure from garden video games like cornhole and tic tac toe.
Should you occur to have a wet day, they’ve an excellent enjoyable bowling alley. The brand-new bowling alley options state-of-the-art bowling expertise to supply friends the very best expertise potential.
17. Trip Horses at Stony Lake Stables
Previously often called Rainbow Ranch, Stony Lake Stables is a family-friendly ranch that brings a little bit of the previous west again to Michigan by providing path rides alongside the shady paths within the lovely countryside of Western Michigan.
Stony Lake Stables is residence to miles of scenic trails that can take you thru quite a lot of terrain, together with rolling hills, deep ravines, agricultural fields, swamps, and rivers. Guests can get pleasure from both a 1-hour or 1.5-hour path journey possibility.
18. Take a Stroll by way of Waterfront Sculpture Park
Waterfront Sculpture Park is the proper place to let children run wild on the playground, watch the sundown, or stroll and discover the sculptures all through the park. The park options 9 sculptures within the five-acre park, and every sculpture tells a narrative in regards to the historical past of Ludington.
The sculptures within the park are a part of the one-of-a-kind Sculpture Path situated all through Ludington. Yow will discover different sculptures alongside the route, together with at Mason County District Library, Mason County Fairgrounds, Ludington State Park, Maritime Heritage Park, Stearns Park, and the Lake Michigan shoreline walkway.
Waterfront Park additionally options an amphitheater, a municipal marina, and scenic walkways which are the proper place to benefit from the sundown from a close-by bench.
19. Go to Up North Farm Market & Petting Barn (Free)
A enjoyable free fashionable exercise for the youngsters is all the time a plus for us, and when there’s beer and cider on faucet, even higher! Whereas mother and father benefit from the alcohol and meals, children will benefit from the petting barn, the place they will work together up shut with livestock resembling llamas, pigs, horses, sheep, rabbits, goats, chickens, and extra.
Help native farmers as you should purchase farm contemporary produce from the market or cease by the North Farm Market Bar and revel in one of many eight totally different beers and ciders on faucet or the wine choices.
The Up North Farm Market additionally runs a number of seasonal occasions, resembling pumpkin selecting and hayrides within the fall. There’s additionally a enjoyable children play space to maintain the youngsters entertained even longer.
20. Cool off at Copeyon Park Splash Pad & Playground
On a sizzling summer time day, Copeyon Park is the perfect location to chill down within the enjoyable water options discovered on the splash pad. The park has a shaded pavilion and picnic tables, that are the proper location to get pleasure from a picnic lunch.
We actually preferred this playground for our youngsters’ present ages. The playground isn’t large, there weren’t numerous open areas they might fall from, and after we had been there at sundown, it was simply us there.
21. Get Ice Cream at Nation Dairy Farm Retailer
Nation Dairy has been producing milk since 1983 and, since 2004, has been serving quite a lot of ice cream treats, together with over 29 totally different ice cream flavors.
There’s additionally a full menu on the Nation Dairy Farm Retailer. We stopped in for lunch and ice cream. The burgers are REALLY good! Within the farm retailer, you should purchase cheese, milk, meat, jams, and extra. Should you can’t make it to the farm retailer, cease by a grocery retailer in Ludington, as many shops carry Nation Dairy merchandise.
Whilst you cease for ice cream, you can even take a farm tour and study extra in regards to the cows and different animals on the farm. There’s additionally a playground for the youngsters.
22. Step again in time at Historic White Pine Village
Study extra about what Ludington was like through the late Nineteenth-early twentieth century pioneer instances as you tour and discover the historic buildings. Historic White Pine Village options over 30 historic buildings, together with the unique 1849 Mason County Courthouse, steam locomotive, and dealing sawmill.
The buildings and artifacts train guests in regards to the agricultural and wealthy lumbering historical past of the area. Company can stroll by way of the buildings and step again in time to know the previous!
Ludington is a busy vacation spot through the summer time months because it provides a calming seaside atmosphere, a historic waterfront, tons of enjoyable sights in Ludington, and plenty of out of doors recreation alternatives close by.
Ludington is a superb place to get pleasure from a three-day lengthy weekend getaway as it’s straightforward to journey to from inside Michigan in addition to Wisconsin, due to the BADGER automobile ferry service that operates frequently through the summer time months.
We hope we make it easier to plan your Ludington trip!