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The first outing my family and I went on after our son was born was a day trip to Montague and Whitehall. These two charming small towns are close to larger west Michigan cities but far enough away to feel like we escaped to somewhere new. Plus, both towns never feel busy compared to traditional West Michigan tourist towns like Grand Haven, Holland, or Ludington.
Since our first visit over a year ago, we’ve returned two other times. During one occasion, we visited in the spring to check out the remains of the shipwreck Contest. And then we recently visited during the summer to ride the bike trail that runs between the two towns. An amazing feature of this bike trail are the sculptures to enjoy as you ride along.
In this article, I detail all you can do during a day trip to Montague and Whitehall.
~Day Trip to Montague & Whitehall Map ~
~ Day Trip to Montague & Whitehall Summary ~
When: Saturday in spring/summer – fall would also be a beautiful time to visit!
Why: Before our first visit when our son was 6 months old, we yearned for a little outdoor adventure after the COVID lockdown. Our second trip to the area was after we heard remains from the shipwreck Contest were visible again, so we knew we had to visit! And our most recent trip was to bike the Art Trail between the towns.
Time traveled (one way): 1 hour from Grand Rapids, 3 hours from Detroit, 1.5 hours from Kalamazoo, 2 hours from Lansing, 2.5 hours from Traverse City, 3.5 hours from Chicago, 4.5 hours from Indianapolis
Time spent at destination: 1st visit with an infant – 3 hours, 2nd visit to see the shipwreck was 2 hours, 3rd visit to bike the Art Trail was 2 hours
Budget: minimal $ – food
~ Places to Stay in Montague & Whitehall ~
If you’d rather stay and take your time exploring the area, consider staying overnight. Whitehall is also home to Michigan’s Adventure – Michigan’s primary amusement and water park.
- Michillinda Lodge – An historic retreat originally built in the early 1900s for families to escape and enjoy the natural beauty along lake Michigan. It is located right on Lake Michigan just south of White Lake. There are cabins, cottages, and rooms available to rent out with various amenities. If staying during the summer, there is an outdoor pool and playground to enjoy.
- Weathervane Inn – Located steps away from downtown Montague, the Weathervane Inn is on White Lake nearby the Montague Boat Docks. There are 23 updated rooms decorated in a modern, nautical fashion. Most rooms at the Weathervane Inn are equipped with jacuzzi tubs and/or fireplaces, making this hotel a great retreat no matter what season you visit! Free continental breakfast is another perk here.
- Lake Land Inn – Consider staying at this family run classic motel. The Lake Land Inn has 12 rooms and is nearby downtown Whitehall.
- Comfort Inn – Conveniently located just off the highway is the Comfort Inn. An added perk of the Comfort Inn is its indoor swimming pool and hot tub.
- Econo Lodge – Otherwise just across from the Comfort Inn is the Econo Lodge which has an outdoor swimming pool.
~ Day Trip to Montague & Whitehall Details ~
Day Trip One: Relaxing Outdoors
Medbery Park
The first spot we stopped at was Medbery Park north of the White River Channel. Directly opposite of this park is the White River Light Station. Medbery Park has a pier that’s easy to get to with a stroller. If you walk towards White Lake, the pier goes on for a bit to a fishing platform with beautiful views of the lake, otherwise the pier goes out a little ways into Lake Michigan.
After walking around and enjoying the sights, we laid out a blanket on the beach to play in the sand and watch the waves. The beach is decent sized with several parking spaces in the lot to accommodate anyone interested in visiting. There’s also a rustic bathroom and hand sanitizer for use.
World’s Largest Weathervane
Our next stop was to the World’s Largest Weathervane. To get there, we parked at the Montague Market grocery store. From there, you can’t miss it!
The weathervane was built in 1984 by Whitehall Products – a local home and garden accessories manufacturer. It is 48 feet tall, and its arrow is 26 feet long. It is fully functional and moves with the wind! The ship atop the weathervane depicts the schooner Ella Ellenwood. This ship was based out of White Lake but ran aground 8 miles from Milwaukee during a storm in Lake Michigan on October 1, 1901. Amazingly, it’s nameplate was found in the spring of 1902 in the White Lake channel. This nameplate can be found at the Montague City Hall.
Dog N Suds
Overlooking the White River is the car hop restaurant Dog N Suds. Known for their hot dogs, Texas burgers, and root beer, this small chain based out of the Midwest was popular in the 1950s and 60s. At its peak, there were over 650 locations. Today there are only 17, with 2 left in Michigan.
We were fortunate to visit last spring but this summer, this location did not open up. However, nothing indicates this location is permanently closed.
Day Trip Two: Reflect on History
White River Light Station
During our second day trip to Montague & Whitehall, we took a scenic drive to the White River Light Station.
Built of limestone brick and surrounded by tall lilac bushes, this lighthouse is extremely charming. It was built in 1875 by Captain William Robinson who lived there with his wife and 13 children! Decommissioned in 1960, it was picked up by Fruitland Township shortly after and serves as a museum and overlook. The lighthouse museum is open seasonally from late May through late October. Hours vary with it open during the summer Tuesday-Sunday from 10am to 5pm and in October from Tuesday – Sunday 11am to 4pm. It costs $8 for adults and $5 for children to tour the museum and climb the tower.
From the lighthouse, a beach and breakwater are accessible to explore. Which leads me to the next stop…
Shipwreck
In the early spring of 2021, when the Lake Michigan water levels started to subside, the remains of the shipwreck Contest became visible again. Contest was beached during a storm in 1882, but thankfully no lives were lost. The ship however was a total loss. Visiting the shipwreck site is easy – park at the White River Light Station and walk down towards the beach. Prior to this year, Contest was visible in 2018 and 1974.
Hurry down to check it out before the shifting sand or Lake Michigan reclaim it again. Also, be mindful of where you’re walking as there are several old bolts and large nails still present.
Downtown Whitehall
Downtown Whitehall is steps away from White Lake. The downtown area only encompasses a couple blocks along Colby Street, but while it is small, it has a number of cool spots to visit. Feel like a kid again when you stop in Candy Beach, a new candy store that opened the summer of 2021. Fetch Brewing is the craft brewery located here – while it doesn’t sell any food, the beer receives rave reviews! Finally, the General Store is a place you don’t want to miss if you’re into browsing gift shops and souvenirs when you visit a new town. Here you can find Michigan made items and treats.
Day Trip Three: Art Tour By Bike
Montague-Whitehall Art Trail
During our most recent day trip to Montague and Whitehall, we focused on what we could do by bike. Cutting right through Whitehall and Montague is a three mile (one way) bike trail. Created by the Arts Council of White Lake in 2005, there are 12 sculptures along the route along with several beautiful pocket gardens. This trail connects to the Hart-Montague trail in the North and the Fred Meijer Berry Junction trail in the South. Along the trail, we noticed murals painted on industrial buildings still in operation to beautify them and historic bridges. It also cuts through a variety of landscapes – from woods and fields to crossing over a river and marshland. This is a bike trail in Michigan you don’t want to miss!
Whitehall Historic Caboose
Halfway between Montague and Whitehall is the White Lake Chamber building, which is located in the former train station. When the Chamber is open, pop into the historic caboose and apothecary to walk through. There are informational plaques throughout both explaining why they are there and what relics remain in them. These sites are also located about a block away from downtown Whitehall so even if you’re not biking the trails, you can still visit these unique spots. Another perk to visiting – they are free!
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I hope you enjoy your time exploring Montague and Whitehall!
from Michigan with Love,
Jackie
