Lake Michigan Towns

Maple syrup cream, walnut flavored olive oil, a Venetian glass pendant, and pink knit baby booties that look like shoes – these are just a few of the items Ive discovered on expeditions into Saugatuck’s excellent downtown shopping district.

Art
Saugatuck is home to the century-old Ox-Bow School of Art, and the town’s commitment to the visual arts is evident in its dozen downtown art galleries, with everything from high-end sculpture to inexpensive reproductions of famous works.

Unusual Shops
Tucked among the usual array of clothing stores and souvenir shops are several fun and different shops. Those looking to decorate a beach house or who just love all things sea-related should check out Uncharted Courses, which features three rooms filled with ship models, mermaid bookends, sea turtle mirrors and much more.Tuck’s sells Christmas ornaments and decorations and gourmet cupcakes. The banana split cupcake is divine. The scent of exotic spices accosts you the moment you step into the Spice Merchants, where you can find a few out-of-the-ordinary flavors to add zip to your next meal. Saugatuck even has a pagan supply store, Mother Moon, selling everything from polished rose quartz stones to magickal altars. It definitely wins the LakeMichiganTowns.com award for most unusual shop on the lakeshore. It’s next to the Uncommon Grounds coffee shop.

Sampling
Several of Saugatuck’s shops allow visitors to taste the wares before buying, which my daughter always enjoys. We’ll stop into the American Spoon store and try a few fruity concoctions like wild elderberry jelly and cranberry mustard, though we usually leave with cherry salsa and maple syrup cream (it’s in their fridge – yum.) The Olive Mill offers samples of their flavored oils and vinegars. It felt a bit unusual to sample olive oil and vinegar straight, but how else would I have learned that I love pear vinegar and walnut olive oil? Kilwin’s often sets out a tray with bits of fudge or other sweets for visitors to try. Tabor Hill Wine Port and Fenn Valley Tasting Room both offer wine tasting in their shops.

Playground
When my kids were small I rewarded good behavior with a stop at the playground located on Butler Street where the shops end.