Laid-Back Michigan Vacation
Destination By Andrew
Collins
Although it
maintains a relatively low profile outside the north central United
States, the charming and artsy town of Saugatuck is the most significant
gay resort destination in that region. A little more than two hours from
Chicago and three hours from Detroit, this laid-back resort area offers a
bounty of urbane restaurants, handsome B&Bs, funky boutiques and antiques
shops, and more than 25 high-quality art galleries, as well as some of the
most picturesque beach frontage on Lake Michigan. The pace here is easy,
even a bit slow - it's not a nightlife-driven singles destination like
Provincetown or Palm Springs, but rather a scenic, all-American community
that affords visitors the opportunity to get away from it all while still
enjoying access to plenty of great diversions.
Generally, when people mention Saugatuck they're also referring to the
neighboring village of Douglas, which is actually where many of the area's
gay-owned businesses and homes are. The towns are separated by a wide
expanse of the Kalamazoo River, which eventually empties into Lake
Michigan. It's just a mile's drive or stroll from one village center to
the other, or to Lake Michigan.
Historically, Saugatuck claimed more of the area's shopping and dining,
but Douglas' smaller downtown has gentrified rapidly in the past few
years, and now the main drag, Center Street, is lined with interesting
businesses. In Saugatuck, you'll find most of the shops and restaurants
clustered around a roughly eight-square-block area along the river, which
is lined with boat slips. The two-town region is highly compact and
accessible, although a handful of gay-owned accommodations are in outlying
areas, a 10- to 20-minute drive away.
The main tourist season runs from May through September, although most
businesses operate year-round. Fall is beautiful when the foliage is
changing, and winter offers a quiet and romantic (if chilly) respite, so
don't count out the off-season for a visit. Along the sweeping, sandy Lake
Michigan shoreline, Oval Beach is the main area for lazing in the sun.
Gays and lesbians tend to congregate more at the northern section of the
beach. Lake Michigan's surf packs a wallop, and the strong winds have
formed huge dunes, covered with shrubs. Continue to page
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The Hunk
