A Day in Grand Haven
Besides Holland, Grand Haven has one of my favorite beaches in Michigan. So, that is exactly where I went for the day! It is only a 40 minute drive from Grand Rapids making it an easy day trip or half-day trip.
Just like Holland, the Grand Haven beach is in a state park. That means a fee if you want to park in the parking lot. However, there is ample of free parking nearby. There is street parking on the main road and in the neighborhoods. That’s what I did. I just grabbed a spot along the road. Since I arrived on a weekday morning, I could have snagged a spot right next to the beach. But, instead, I opted for a shaded spot closer to the downtown area.
There is a beautiful walk along the Grand River to the beach that I wanted to take advantage of. It’s roughly 1 mile from downtown to the lighthouse, so if you are lugging beach gear, try to find closer parking. I wasn’t lugging any gear though, so I walked. It wasn’t crowded by any means (like on weekends), but there were children’s summer camps and family also enjoying the walkway.
It was a gorgeous morning, and evidently the fishermen thought so too. There were fishermen covering the pier. It was fun to watch them real in their catch. Definitely walk out to the lighthouse at the end of the pier and soak in the beauty. Besides watching fishermen, you will be rewarded with views of the lake and beaches. Sometimes you will even get to watch people do flips and dives off the pier.
Pro-tip: Learn from me and bring a light jacket even in the summer. There could be a chilly wind even on summer mornings! Being July, I did not pack any such thing and wore a t-shirt. (#FloridaProblems)
Food in Grand Haven
I eventually got hungry and made my way back downtown for lunch. There are several restaurants to chose from, but I recommend Pronto Pup. In fact, I’m pretty sure it is illegal to go to Grand Haven and not stop at Pronto Pup. They don’t have any seating, and there isn’t much of a menu. Just trust me and go. It is a tiny white and yellow shack on the main road, but it is hard to miss. There will be a long line waiting for these delicious pups. What is a Pronto Pup? It is like a corn dog, but not. Instead of a thick corn batter, Pronto Pups have a thin and crispy wheat batter. They are fried up fresh, and you can chose plain or have them slathered with mustard, ketchup, or both. I like them plain, but Nisheet likes them with both ketchup and mustard.
[Pronto Pup = $1.75]
After devouring your Pronto Pup, you should get a sundae. There is a cute shop right below the Pronto Pub shack called Captain Custard that I highly recommend. They are known for the “creamiest soft serve in town.” I tried a strawberry shortcake sundae, and it was delicious. Creamy, sweet, and perfect. [Strawberry Shortcake Sundae = $4.75]
Also, just like in Holland, the Grand Haven downtown area is adorable. There are boutiques, restaurants, coffee shops, and ice cream parlors. By the time I made it to this area, I was darting in and out of the shops trying to stay cool. How did it go from so chilly in the morning to so hot in the afternoon? I guess that is just the Midwest weather for you!
Divani in Grand Rapids
When I met up with Nisheet later that evening, we went to my absolute favorite date spot in Grand Rapids. Bar Divani. Actually, they are now called Divani. They had their re-opening with the new name the night we went. But, I digress. This is my favorite date spot because the cocktails are excellent, the lighting is dim, and the atmosphere is chic casual. You can order entrees, but I suggest ordering a few small plates and sharing them. The menu is always changing, but this time we ordered garlic and pepper hummus with naan, goat cheese in a spicy tomato sauce, and Korean BBQ ribs with cucumber noodles and cornbread. It was scrumptious and more than enough for dinner. And to top it off, they make a killer blood and sand (a scotch mixed drink that my brother got me hooked on).
[3 Small Plates + 2 Cocktails = $50]
