Top Ten Cheap West Michigan Dates
1. Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore
Voted by Good Morning America viewers in 2011 as the Most Beautiful Place in America, this breathtaking part of West Michigan is a great place to enjoy on a date. Use your Recreation Passport to get you in the gate then you are free to explore all day long. Want that extra spark? Stay for the sunset!
Find out more: Leelanau Peninsula Chamber of Commerce
2. Ice Skating in Rosa Parks Circle, Grand Rapids
There is something about being bundled up on a cold winter evening and skating around in circles that has a certain charm. Break away from your usual date-night rituals and enjoy the elegance of downtown Grand Rapids from a beautifully lit ice skating rink. For only $1, this date night won’t break the bank.
Find out more: Experience Grand Rapids
3. Silver Beach Carousel, St. Joseph
For something totally unique to West Michigan, stop by the Silver Beach Carousel and take a spin (or two) on this Coney Island-style ride. No matter how old you are, there is a certain allure a carousel brings. Located right in the heart of Silver Beach, you can take a walk along the pier after you have enjoyed feeling like a kid again.
Find out more: Silver Beach Carousel & Amusement Park Museum
4. USS LST 393 Movie Nights, Muskegon
Need to check watching a movie on the deck of a World War 2 battleship off of your bucket list? Every Friday night during the summer, the USS LST 393 in Muskegon offers free movies on the deck of this historic ship. Bring your own chair and blanket and enjoy a movie on a deck where heroes have walked.
Find out more: Muskegon County CVB
5. Gun Lake Live, Shelbyville
Each Wednesday night, Bay Pointe Inn Lakefront Resort offers a free concert in the pavilion on the resorts front lawn. Located on beautiful Gun Lake, these concerts are a great way to get outside and enjoy the summer. Take a loved one for a drink, some dancing, and a breathtaking view.
Find out more: Bay Pointe Inn
6. Ferry to Mackinac Island
Head up the coast to the peak of the Lower Peninsula and hop on one of Michigan’s greatest pastimes. For less than $25 a person round trip, you can bring your own bikes across on the ferry and peddle around the 8.3 square mile island for as long as you would like.
Find out more: Arnold Transit Company | Shepler's Mackinac Island Ferry
7. Cross Country Skiing
No need to stay in when it is cold outside. Keep warm by working up a sweat at one of the many cross-country ski trails in West Michigan. Depending on where you are and what trail you take, this date can cost you anywhere from nothing to about $20.
Find out more: Cross Country Ski Trails
8. Musical Fountain, Grand Haven
Known as the “Largest Musical Fountain in the World”, Grand Haven prides itself of entertaining travelers each and every night during the summer. Take a date down to the channel and watch the magic of the colored dancing water unfold. This comes at absolutely no cost, but we suggest topping off the experience with some ice cream from a local shop.
Find out more: Grand Haven Musical Fountain
9. Hiking
There is nothing like bonding with a loved one over the beauty of nature. West Michigan boasts dozens different hiking trails for you to explore. Pack a lunch and a camera and you have yourself the perfect afternoon.
10. Fruit Picking
West Michigan has dozens of u-pick farms waiting for you to come spend some quality time with a loved one. Depending on the fruit you choose to pick and the amount, this date can cost you anywhere from $5- $25.
Find out more: Find Your Flavor