Girls Weekend Trip: Saugatuck MI

Last weekend the Blonde Squad had the best girls’ weekend in Saugatuck, MI. This charming Lake Michigan town was the perfect spot for some much-needed girl time. Here’s the lowdown on what we did and things to do in Saugatuck, MI!

Thursday

We all rolled into town on a Thursday afternoon. Andrea found us the cutest VRBO in Douglas, MI, about a half-mile from the beach. The house was fairly new and had a huge front porch with Adirondack chairs, an equally large back patio, and a backyard with a fire pit. We grazed on a beautiful charcuterie board that Andrea made and sipped champagne while we caught up.

Dinner at Pizza Mambo

Later that evening, we headed to Pizza Mambo for dinner. This laid-back spot is owned by two of Kathrine‘s friends and serves some of the best pizza in town. We split a classic Margherita and the Henny Penny (pesto sauce, artichoke hearts, and chicken) pizzas and sat at the picnic tables outside.

After dinner, we started a campfire and roasted marshmallows. Did you know that you can now get square, flat marshmallows ideal for s’mores?

Friday

We got up pretty early Friday morning, did the 7-minute workout together, and then went for a 2 1/2-mile hike along the lakefront. After our walk, we treated ourselves to coffee/lattes from Outside Coffee. They have an outdoor ordering window and a bunch of hammocks and picnic tables with swings for chairs.

Back at the house, we had breakfast and got ready for the day. We each brought a different breakfast dish: yogurt parfaits, french toast casserole, rhubarb coffee cake, and egg/ sausage loaf (let me know if you’d like the recipes)!

Downtown Saugatuck

Besides the beach, shopping is one of my favorite things to do in Saugatuck, MI. We spent the day indulging in a little retail therapy. There are so many cute shops and boutiques. My favorite shops are the James Boutique, For the Love of Shoes, and Puddingstone.

We all have sweet tooths, so we had a mid-morning snack at Kilwin’s, a confectioner that sells original-recipe ice cream that everyone says is amazing. I opted for a piece of salted caramel fudge.

We stopped at The Butler for a late lunch and cocktails. This waterfront restaurant offers views of the harbor and a menu full of delicious options. I recommend the Pineapple Jalapeño Margarita, Queso Dip, and the BBQ Street Tacos, which are made with cheddar grits, burnt ends, and hot honey BBQ sauce.

We were down a blonde as Caroline was not able to make it. We were getting ready for dinner when Sweet Caroline came on the radio, and we threw together this impromptu video to let her know how much we missed her.

Dinner at The Kirby

Later that evening, we walked over to The Kirby for dinner. They serve farm-to-table food, and their ever-changing menu features seasonal, locally sourced ingredients. We had a table outside, and the highlight (besides the amazing saki and ginger-seared scallops) was watching all of the deer grazing a few feet from the patio.

There are so many things to do in Saugatuck Mi. We ended the day watching the 80s dance band Starfarm. They sounded great and it was fun to sing along and dance.

Travel Tip: Saugatuck’s on-demand public bus system Interurban, is the way to get back and forth between Saugatuck and Douglas. The fares are $1, and sometimes free.

Saturday

Saturday morning was a repeat of Friday’s 7-minute workout and a 2 1/2-mile walk, this time on the beach. We hit Outside Coffee again and then headed back to the house for breakfast. Saugatuck and Douglas are known for their vibrant art scene, so once we were fueled up, we hit some galleries and shops in Douglas. Did you catch my Instagram story sharing the tiny art gallery?

We stopped at the Coastal Society for lunch. Owned by a fellow Chicagoan, it’s a West Coast-inspired boutique with hand-crafted cocktails and small plates. The decor is chic, and the atmosphere is really relaxing. Definitely try the whipped feta dip and the flatbreads if you go there.

Laura had to head home Saturday afternoon to get ready for her family vacation. After our goodbyes, Kathrine, Andrea, and I went back to downtown Douglas for an appetizer and cocktail at Everyday People Café. Known for its eclectic vibe and delicious food, this restaurant is a must-do. They don’t take reservations, so get there early to get a seat on the patio.

Venetian Festival

After dinner, we went back to the house to change and get beach chairs and then walked over to do my favorite thing in Saugatuck MI, watch the Venetian boat parade, which was followed by the best fireworks I’ve seen in a long time.

A few things to note: You can’t see the boats very well from the grassy area where you watch fireworks. If you want to see the boat parade, go into downtown Saugatuck. Also, in Chicago, you need to stake out a spot for fireworks a few hours before it gets dark. As you can see here, the area was wide open until right before they started (although that may be different for the July 4th holiday).

Other Things to Do in Saugatuck

Rent a bike and explore some of the local trails.

Hit a local winery for a wine tasting.

Spend the day at Oval Beach.

Rent a speed or pontoon boat on Lake Michigan or the Kalamazoo River.

Go offroad on the Saugatuck Dune Rides.

That’s a wrap! I hope you enjoyed my girls’ weekend recap and things to do in Saugatuck! Have you ever been? Let me know in the comments!

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Also see: Family Road Trip Recap to Saugatuck MI and Girls Weekend Getaway Planning Tips

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