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12 getaways · 31 hotels with a private tub · At a glance · FAQ
Many of Michigan's best couples trips end on a Lake Michigan beach at sunset. This guide covers 12 places couples keep coming back to, among them the wineries of Old Mission Peninsula and the car-free streets of Mackinac Island. For each one you get what to do, when to go and hotels where the room has its own jacuzzi or whirlpool, so the evening plan is already sorted.
Traverse City sits at the bottom of Grand Traverse Bay, and the local tourism office publishes a three-day itinerary just for couples. The Old Mission Peninsula road hugs the water with a view around nearly every bend, wineries such as Mari Vineyards have patios over the bay, and the sunsets over the water happen all year.
What to do
Taste wine on Old Mission Peninsula. Mari Vineyards has a patio looking over Grand Traverse Bay, and Bowers Harbor Vineyards and Brys Estate are two traveler favorites.
Book a sunset dinner at Chateau Chantal as the sun drops behind the vines.
Take a slow sail on the bay with Seaside Sailing Excursions.
Walk the pier at Clinch Park Marina downtown.
When to go: Spring and fall. Traverse City Tourism says many couples prefer them: the vineyards are lush, the weather is mild and the crowds are thinner.
A couple who return every anniversary love the suites pairing an in-room jacuzzi with a fireplace and a breathtaking lake view. From real guest reviews
A couple on a romantic getaway especially loved the jacuzzi and the fireplace in their spacious room. From real guest reviews
Cars have been banned on Mackinac Island for more than 100 years, so you get around by horse-drawn carriage or bike. Ferries leave from Mackinaw City and St. Ignace, where our tub rooms are, so you can spend the day on the island and come back to your own whirlpool at night.
What to do
Take a carriage ride past Arch Rock, the limestone arch above Lake Huron.
Bike M-185, the 8.2 mile road around the island and the only car-free highway in the nation.
Catch the ferry. Regular service runs late April through the end of October.
Back on the mainland, watch the stars at Headlands International Dark Sky Park, open 24 hours a day all year.
When to go: May through October, the island's main season. The Lilac Festival is every June.
These two small towns on the Lake Michigan shore call themselves the Art Coast of Michigan, and the local visitors bureau leans into romance. Climb Mt. Baldhead for a wide view of the lake, spend an afternoon at Oval Beach, and in winter trade the beach for a sleigh ride and a fireplace.
What to do
Hike the dune trails at Saugatuck Dunes State Park. The beach is a 0.75 mile walk in.
Walk the Crow's Nest Trail between Lake Michigan and the Kalamazoo River.
See a comedy or music show at the Saugatuck Center for the Arts.
Book a couples massage at Bella Vita Spa.
In winter, take a horse-drawn sleigh ride at Wild West Ranch.
When to go: Summer for the beach. Winter if you want a quiet inn and a sleigh ride.
Getting there: About 2.5 hours from Chicago and 3 hours from Detroit.
Harbor Country is nine small communities in the southwest corner of the state, an easy drive from Chicago. Its beaches face west, which makes it one of the few sunset coasts in the country, and the inns here are small and quiet.
What to do
Climb the dunes at Warren Dunes State Park, which rise 240 feet above the lake.
Watch the sunset at the New Buffalo city beach. Parking is free at sunrise and sunset.
Tour Journeyman Distillery, in an old corset factory in Three Oaks, and stay for dinner.
Go out on the lake on a yacht or sailboat trip from New Buffalo.
When to go: May through October, when the city beach has lifeguards.
Getting there: About 90 minutes from downtown Chicago and 2 hours from Grand Rapids.
Upscale B&B near Lake Michigan with private whirlpool tubs, fireplaces, and gourmet breakfast, near Warren Dunes State Park. Full details about The Inn At Union Pier›
West of Traverse City, the bluffs of Sleeping Bear Dunes rise 450 feet above Lake Michigan, and the Leelanau Peninsula behind them has more than 20 wineries on one wine trail. It is an easy day out if you stay on the Leelanau side of Traverse City.
What to do
Drive the 7.4 mile Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive and stop at the Lake Michigan Overlook.
Walk the Cottonwood Trail, or take on the steep Dunes Trail.
Spend an afternoon on the Leelanau Peninsula Wine Trail.
When to go: Spring and fall for wine country. The lakeshore stays open in winter for snowshoeing.
Holland is a Dutch heritage town on the lakeshore, best known for Tulip Time in early May. The rest of the year, Holland State Park is the place to sit on the sand and watch the sun set over Lake Michigan.
What to do
Watch the sunset at Holland State Park.
Walk the tulip fields at Windmill Island Gardens.
Learn the town's Dutch story at the Holland Museum.
In winter, go ice skating at the Holland Ice Park.
When to go: Early May, for Tulip Time.
Getting there: Under 3 hours from Chicago or Detroit.
One guest describes a beautiful oversized jacuzzi with a rain shower overhead, plus a separate walk in shower and views of the woods. From real guest reviews
A couple visiting for their birthdays and anniversary found the jacuzzi lovely, comfortable, and modern in style.
A couple on a short getaway says their calm room paired a jacuzzi tub with its own private deck and a rain shower. From real guest reviews
South Haven sits where the Black River meets Lake Michigan. Walk the Harbor Walk along the river, then head to South Beach, where the pier runs out to the lighthouse.
What to do
Walk the pier to the lighthouse at South Beach.
Bike the Kal-Haven Trail, a 34 mile rail trail toward Kalamazoo.
Paddle the Bangor to South Haven Heritage Water Trail.
Browse the small downtown.
When to go: Summer. The National Blueberry Festival is in early August.
9.4Exceptional286 reviews4-star hotelin South Haven
233 Dyckman Avenue, South Haven, MI
Verified jacuzzi room
Deluxe Suite with Spa BathSleeps 2 · 1 king bed
About the hotel
Adults-only hotel with private Jacuzzi, free breakfast and massage service, perched on the shores of Lake Michigan. Full details about Inn At the Park›
Couples come to Grand Haven for the Musical Fountain, a water, light and music show built in 1962 that plays at dusk on summer nights. Walk the boardwalk from downtown to the beach first, then stay for the show.
What to do
Watch the Grand Haven Musical Fountain, a 20 minute show at dusk.
Walk the Grand Haven Boardwalk to the beach.
Bring a picnic to the Lake Michigan shoreline.
When to go: Memorial Day through Labor Day for the fountain. The local visitors bureau singles out its September sunsets.
Frankenmuth is Michigan's Little Bavaria: German architecture, a covered bridge over the Cass River and Bronner's, the world's largest Christmas store, open 361 days a year. It is at its best in the cold months.
What to do
Take a horse-drawn carriage ride through town.
Paddle the Cass River or ride the Bavarian Belle riverboat past the Holz Brücke Covered Bridge.
Have a family-style chicken dinner at the Bavarian Inn Restaurant.
Warm up at the outdoor fire bar at Prost! Wine Bar.
Visit ChristKindlMarkt, the Christmas market.
When to go: The holidays and winter. Zehnder's Snowfest is in early February.
Getting there: 1 to 2 hours from Detroit Metro Airport.
King Suite with Spa Bath818 sq ft · Sleeps 4 · 1 king bed and 1 sofa bed
About the hotel
Cozy Bavarian decor includes private spa tub, pool access, restaurants, and scenic views near Frankenmuth’s historic charm. Full details about Bavarian Inn Lodge›
What guests say about the jacuzzi
One longtime guest says the king suites come with a luxurious bathroom and one of the biggest jacuzzi tubs they have found in any hotel. From real guest reviews
A couple celebrating an anniversary loved the roomy honeymoon suite and called its jacuzzi truly amazing. From real guest reviews
In the Upper Peninsula, Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore runs 42 miles along Lake Superior, and its cliffs are streaked with color from minerals in the groundwater. The best way to see them is from the water, on a golden hour cruise out of Munising.
What to do
Take a Pictured Rocks Cruise from the Munising City Dock. Cruises run May to mid October.
See the cliffs from land at Miners Castle, one of the easiest viewpoints to reach.
Explore Grand Island, part of Hiawatha National Forest.
In winter, come for the frozen waterfalls.
When to go: May to mid October for the cruises. Fall color is a highlight.
For a city weekend, the Grand Rapids visitors bureau has its own romantic itinerary. Start at Lookout Park for a hilltop sunset over downtown, walk the Blue Bridge over the Grand River, and in fall see Frederik Meijer Gardens covered in chrysanthemums.
What to do
Watch the sunset from Lookout Park.
Walk the Blue Bridge across the Grand River.
Book a couples massage at the spa in the Amway Grand Plaza.
Have dinner at MDRD, on the 27th floor of the Amway Grand Plaza.
Mackinac Island is a common pick. Cars have been banned there for more than 100 years, so couples get around by carriage or bike. Our closest tub rooms are in Mackinaw City and St. Ignace, a ferry ride away.
What is the best time of year for a romantic getaway in Michigan?
Late spring and fall, when the vineyards are green, the weather is mild and the crowds are smaller. Mackinac Island's season runs May through October. In winter, Frankenmuth and an inn with a fireplace and a jetted tub make a good plan.
Where should we go for an anniversary in Michigan?
Castle in the Country in Allegan is an adults-only inn with king suites that have fireplaces and jetted tubs for two. Pigeon Creek Inn near Holland has a king suite with a jetted tub, the Birthday Suite.
Where can couples go for a long weekend in Michigan?
Traverse City works well for three days: a spa morning, wineries on Old Mission Peninsula, a sunset dinner and a sail on the bay. It is about 4 hours from Detroit.
Are there adults-only romantic getaways in Michigan?
Yes. Castle in the Country in Allegan is adults-only, and so is The Inn at Union Pier, near the beach in Harbor Country.
Where can couples go for an affordable weekend in Michigan?
Pick a Lake Michigan beach town outside peak summer and plan around free things. Oval Beach in Saugatuck is free to enter after Labor Day, New Buffalo's city beach has free parking at sunrise and sunset, and the Kal-Haven Trail starts in South Haven.
