A Harbor Town On Lake Michigan
Ludington Michigan is a beautiful harbor town located on Lake Michigan. It's home to soft sugar sand beaches, great hiking and two lighthouses!
Here is a quick list of places to add to your list when visiting Ludington.
Big Sable Point Lighthouseβ β- The black-and-white striped, 112 foot lighthouse at the Ludington State Park stands on the shores of Lake Michigan and remains a testament to lighthouse keepers of the past. You can become a lighthouse keeper by becoming a member of Sable Points Lighthouse Keepers Associationβ.ββ Sign up and learn more about becoming a member and lighthouse keeper for a couple weeks. It is such an interesting Michigan landmark to visit and just a two mile hike to the Big Sable Point lighthouse.
Cartier Mansion - Cartier Mansion built in 1905 is an historic mansion located steps from downtown Ludington. It's the perfect location for a romantic getaway or weekend getaway with friends. The Mansion is dog friendly and the new owners have their sweet dogs Ruby and Carson on property to greet you as well. We walked in as strangers and left the Mansion with two new friends. Give yourself enough time to enjoy the 5 star breakfast. It is thoughtfully curated and was the highlight of our trip! We heard the holidays are a lovely time to book this gorgeous B+B. Don't miss out on the Cartier Mansion...it was truly a magical experience. Book it, you will have memories that will last a lifetime. We stayed in the Carriage House, which are the old stables that Cartier Mansion has transformed into "Ralph Lauren" vibe suites with the most comfortable beds and modern amenities!
Ludington State Park - Ludington State Park is home to sandy beaches, campgrounds, scenic dunes and an Iconic lighthouse. The sand is like sugar with no rocks. It is routinely known as one of the best state parks in Michigan. It sits between Hamlin Lake and Lake Michigan with miles of hiking, beaches, dunes and wetlands.
Lost Lake Trail - Lost Lake and the Island Loop trail is a 2 mile loop trail and primarily used for hiking, walking and nature trips. We enjoyed "forest bathing" on the trail and taking in the forest atmosphere and nature all around us.
SS Badger - SS Badger is a passenger and vehicle ferry in the United States that has been in service on Lake Michigan since 1953. Currently, the ship shuttles between Ludington, Michigan, and Manitowoc, Wisconsin, a distance of 62 miles, connecting U.S. Highway 10 between those two cities. It was fun to watch the ferry come in and out of port. Make sure to look for the Badger in the morning and evening each day. It's a great way to start and end the day.
House of Flavors - Bring your stretchy pants because House of Flavors is home of the largest ice cream dessert (according to the Guinness Book of World Records) and one of the largest producers of Ice cream in Michigan with 30 plus flavors. There is a full service restaurant there as well, that is a charming throw back to a 1950's diner. They have a large menu and plenty to choose from... we were told to order the turkey and I am glad we did... it was a homemade thanksgiving dinner! I'm still thinking about it.
Shopping and Restaurants - You will find a nice selection of restaurants in Ludington. Be sure to check out Jamesport Brewing Company and order the house IPA and Cider. Blue Moon Bistro was a fun dining experience as well. We ordered the crab legs and sushi and were quite pleased...plus, the crab legs were half the price we would have paid in Chicago. So, that was a nice bonus! If you like shopping like we do, make sure to add Grateful Heart and Home and Maude's to your list. I could have shopped for hours. Coffee lovers go to Red Rooster Coffee and Tea lovers be sure to check out Humanitea.