One of the Great Lake Michigan towns is Ludington, which is located on the state's western coast. It has been a thriving harbor town for more than a century since it is positioned at the point where the Pere Marquette River pours into the lake.
Some of the features that make Ludington a wonderful destination to visit include beaches, green space, a rich maritime heritage, and a bustling downtown. Due to its landmarks, tourist attractions, and year-round activities, the town is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Michigan.
The town of Ludington is rich in history. The S.S. Badger, one of the biggest passenger ferries in the world that transports passengers across Lake Michigan to Wisconsin, has its home port here.
A fantastic starting point for visiting the untamed Ludington State Park and the stunning Nordhouse Dunes Wilderness is Ludington.
This list of the top things to do in Ludington will help you make the most of your stay.
1.Investigate Ludington State Park.
Visits to Ludington State Park are among the top things to do in Ludington, Michigan. One of the most diversified ecosystems in the state, the expansive park spans 5,300 acres including sandy beaches, sand dunes, marshes, forest, and marsh. It's frequently rated as one among Michigan's top state parks.
Between Hamlin Lake and Lake Michigan, the park is located. Eight separate routes total 18 kilometers of trekking distance. Take the three-mile Lighthouse Trail, which winds through sand dunes and toward the Great Sable Point Lighthouse. Another popular site in Ludington is the lighthouse.
Visitors who paddle will also enjoy the park. You can paddle along Hamlin Lake's shores after launching your canoe at the Hamlin Lake Beach. Although most beachgoers travel to Lake Michigan's shores for the ideal beach day, the lake is also recognized for its lovely beach.
2. Drop by S.S. Badger
Even though you may have just arrived, leaving Ludington, Michigan aboard the S.S. Badger is one of the nicest things to do there. The S.S. Badger, a magnificent steamer that runs between Ludington, Michigan, and Manitowoc, Wisconsin, from mid-June to mid-October, is the largest cross-lake passenger service on the Great Lakes.
Because the S.S. Badger is the largest vehicle ferry to cross Lake Michigan and has been doing so for more than 60 years, she is referred to as the Queen of the Great Lakes. The onboard experience is very amazing, like that of a five-star ocean liner. The outdoor decks, dining rooms, private staterooms, lounge, video arcade, gift shop, museum, and movie lounge are all open for exploration by guests. It takes about four hours to travel the 60 miles.
The Badger was first designed as a rail car ferry and constructed in 1952 to transport cars, people, and railroad cars.
3. See the Lighthouse at Big Sable Point.
Big Sable Point Lighthouse, which is arguably the most well-known sight in Ludington, Michigan, must be visited. One of the state's most beautiful lighthouses is the 112-foot structure in Ludington State Park, which has a view of Lake Michigan's shoreline.
Big Sable Point, which is located about nine miles north of Ludington, was a well-known landmark for boaters navigating this perilous section of Lake Michigan. To aid in guiding the first mariners, a lighthouse was permitted in 1856; nevertheless, it took much longer for the lighthouse to actually operate.
When it started operated in the region in 1867, the lighthouse was the first station lighthouse there. Over the years, its tale changed a bit, but eventually it became one of the significant landmarks in the region. It is now accessible for tours every day from late May until the end of October. The old Keeper's Quarters, which houses the gift shop, can be explored by visitors, and they can even climb to the top.
4. Go to the North Breakwater Light in Ludington.
You should stop at the Ludington North Breakwater Light if you haven't visited all of the Ludington lighthouses. In fact, this particular lighthouse is one of Michigan's most visited ones. It is located at the end of Main Street on the north breakwater pier.
When the Pere Marquette River joins Lake Michigan, the structure is 57 feet tall. The organization was founded in 1871, and the light was turned on in 1924. Even though it is now automated, the lighthouse is still in use today. The lighthouse didn't open to the public until 2006 though.
Lighthouse enthusiasts and history buffs enjoy touring the Ludington North Breakwater Light, which is open for tours today. The building has four spherical porthole windows on each of the three decks and is formed like a four-sided pyramid. Photographs and other relics that help tell the lighthouse's history can be found within.
From late May to early September, tours are offered.
5. Explore Stearns Park on foot.
Stearns Park's 2,500 feet of shoreline, which overlooks Lake Michigan and the Ludington North Breakwater Light, makes it the city's largest beach. In good weather, the half-mile-long pier leading to the lighthouse makes for a truly romantic stroll from the beach. If you're lucky, you might even be able to see the S.S. Badger cruising by from the shore.
A large grassy area with picnic tables and grills, as well as concession stands, mini golf, and shuffleboard, are among the park's features in addition to the beach. The park is also technologically advanced and provides free Wi-Fi to visitors.
Since Stearns Park is close to downtown Ludington, it is simple to park or to take a short walk to the beach area to spend the day there.
6. See Ludington Waterfront Park's statues
There is a lot of open space and greenery in Ludington. Yet the nine bronze statues dotted across the five-acre Ludington's Waterfront Park give it a little something extra. Each sculpture is distinctive and provides a glimpse into Ludington's past.
The history of fishing, farming, forestry, car ferries, and even baseball in Ludington is recounted. It's a unique approach to learning more about Ludington's past. The statues are a component of the sculpture trail in Mason County. There is a map that can be downloaded that shows where the other statues are located in the county.
The Waterfront Park offers a playground, picnic tables, and views of Pere Marquette Lake in addition to the sculptures. Even from a vantage point at Waterfront Park, you can see the S.S. Badger coming into dock.
7. Visit the Sandcastles Children's Museum with the kids.
The Sandcastles Children's Museum is a highly entertaining and enjoyable way for families visiting Ludington to spend the day together. More than 30 interactive exhibits that are entertaining and educational are available at the hands-on museum.
A climbing wall, a creation station, a real airplane that children can explore, a vet clinic where visitors can learn about animal care, a baby nursery, and even a scaled-down version of the S.S. Badger are among the museum's displays.
The House of Flavors, where children mimic their preferred restaurant proprietors, is a popular display. Take a look at the menu, let the children take your order, and then watch as they "cook" and serve it. Since 2011, it has attracted more than 20,000 visitors annually, making it one of the most well-liked museums for children.
In addition to its exhibitions, the museum offers year-round events and weekly special programming, including Family Fun Days, Friday Toddler Time, music and dance classes, and winter holiday-themed activities.
8. Go out the Maritime Museum at Port of Ludington
Take a trip down memory lane to learn about the Port of Ludington's lengthy maritime heritage. The vivid tales of the people in Ludington whose lives revolved around the water are told in the Port of Ludington Maritime Museum. The museum, which is located in a former U.S. Coast Guard station, employs interactive exhibits, digital storytelling, pictures, and relics to bring these stories to life.
The museum's structure is protected by a National Register of Historic Places listing. Three storeys of museum exhibits are housed within its walls, and they provide views of the S.S. Badger, the North Pier Light, and the Lake Michigan coast.
An interactive exhibit inside the museum allows visitors to simulate navigating the Pere Marquette 22 into Ludington's harbor. Also, they can interact with holograms of its captains, study lighthouse optics, and even visually search for Lake Michigan shipwrecks.
The ferry's in Ludington, Michigan ⛵️ pic.twitter.com/LmSh3SBPGx
— … (@haineyfotog) January 12, 2017
9. Ascend the Cross of Father Marquette
Few historical personalities have had as much of an impact on Michigan as Father Pere Marquette. The first European colony in Michigan, Sault Sainte Marie, and later Saint Ignace, both in the Upper Peninsula, were both founded with assistance from Father Marquette, a French Jesuit missionary. He was the first European explorer to map the Mississippi River Valley's northern regions.
Nowadays, parks, rivers, and landmarks bearing his name and influence can be found all over the state.
He passed away in 1675 and was buried on the Buttersville Peninsula; today, a monument stands where he was laid to rest in what is now Ludington. It is a 2.4-acre location with 400 feet of Pere Marquette Lake frontage. The hilltop cross that looks over the park is one of the area's main attractions, albeit it has recently been the subject of some controversy. Regardless, the park itself is a lovely location to explore.
10. Visit White Pine Village
Living Ludington, Michigan's history is a fascinating way to learn about it. A visit to Historic White Pine Village is like taking a trip back in time to late 19th-century Ludington.
Explore the 30 exhibit buildings, which act as a real-life pioneer village. The first Mason County Courthouse, which dates from 1849, was among the few structures in the park when it first opened in the 1970s. Subsequently, other original structures were relocated to the location to form the settlement.
The White Pine Chapel, an actual steam locomotive, the Hamlin Lake Cottage, which depicts what an original home from the early 1900s might look like, and staff members and historians who are costumed in character to help bring the tales to life are just a few of the points of interest. The Mason County Historical Society, which manages the marine museum, owns and operates it.
11. Take a trip down the Pere Marquette River
The rivers in Michigan offer incredible beauty and outdoor activity potential. The Pere Marquette River is one of the local favorites for getting outside and taking in nature when visiting Ludington.
The river flows through four counties and more than 66 miles before entering Pere Marquette Lake and Lake Michigan near Ludington. Due to the abundance of rainbow trout in the river, fishing is one of the most popular activities. Canoeing, kayaking, and riverside camping are other options.
The Pere Marquette Loop, which begins at Old US-31 in Ludington and arcs to the State Road Bridge before turning into Scottville Riverside Park and continuing on, can be completed by river paddlers from Ludington. It's a really nice method to enter the water and observe the local creatures and scenery.
12. Explore the Nordhouse Dunes Wilderness
One of the most stunning places in Ludington is the vast and untamed Nordhouse Dunes Wilderness Reserve. One of the best parks in the state for getting near to untamed nature, including 3,500 acres along Lake Michigan and nestled within the Manistee National Forest.
The wilderness area's most popular activities are hiking, dispersed camping, swimming, picnicking, and beach exploration. The park's spectacular 10-mile network of pathways winds through the dense woodlands.