The Muskegon Lakeshore is Awash in Activity

Jeff Adkins

Lifelong local Rick Murak is an expert on all things to do in Muskegon. That’s not an exaggeration: He’s the co-owner of Muskegon Tour Co., which guides visitors through themed experiences.

“We try to appeal to everybody,” he says of his offerings, which run the gamut from architectural and public art tours, food and craft beverage tours, museum and military history tours, and beach and garden tours.

But there’s one thing that’s a challenge for Murak: “It’s the variety of what Muskegon has to offer,” he says. “Some other towns have one or two signature events. A lot of Michigan places have a signature image, like the horse-drawn carriage on Mackinac Island. We don’t have one iconic visual image because we have so much variety.”

Murak’s challenge is every visitor’s gain. Here, he’s broken down some of the best Muskegon Lakeshore has to offer here – but it barely even scratches the surface.

Where to Stay in Muskegon

In addition to national brands like the 200-room Delta Hotels by Marriott in downtown Muskegon, it’s easy to find unique and intimate lodgings in the Muskegon Lakeshore. Check out Tiny Digs Lakeshore, a collection of seven freestanding tiny homes, with themes ranging from tropical Tiki Hut to homey Heritage House. It’s one of Murak’s favorites, thanks to its location across the street from Muskegon Lake and its proximity to marinas, restaurants and docks.

Martin Calkins

Murak also recommends the waterfront Shoreline Inn, which abuts Terrace Point Marina and is just a three-block stroll from the charming downtown area.

Folks looking for vacation rentals may want to check out some fun properties affiliated with DreamStay, such as Firehouse No. 6, which is located inside a former fire station and decorated with firehouse memorabilia and bright red accents.

The Pidge Inn (so named for its location on a former nesting area for now-extinct passenger pigeons in the 1800s) is a nine-suite boutique hotel that blends the privacy of vacation rentals with the perks of luxury hotels.

Activities in Muskegon

“To start with, Muskegon has the same things any Michigan lake town has,” Murak says. “The beach, paddleboarding, beach volleyball and soccer. That’s the standard, and we have a lot of other things, too.”

Choose from two signature attractions: Michigan’s Adventure, the state’s largest amusement park, and the open year-round Muskegon Luge Adventure Sports Park.

He also recommends a visit to the Hackley & Hume Historic Site, home to two stunning Victorian mansions dating to the heyday of Michigan’s lumber barons.

“I have customers who come out of the tour who say, ‘I’ve been through a lot of old buildings, but nothing like that,’” Murak says. “They are amazing, amazing houses.”

Tim Reilly

Finally, Murak says, schedule a trip during one of Muskegon Lakeshore’s many festivals. “Muskegon has a lot of festivals,” he says. “Most of them feature live music and tie in with art.”

In the summer months, weekly Parties in the Park offer free live concerts with local food and drink vendors in Hackley Park. Then, there’s the Michigan Irish Music Festival (one of the top Irish festivals in the country, Murak says), Muskegon Polish Festival, Muskegon County Latino Festival, Lakeshore Art Festival and Wings Over Muskegon Air Show. There’s truly something for everyone.

Where to Eat in Muskegon

For breakfast, Murak likes to hit up either Brunch House or the newly opened all-day eatery The Early Owl. His go-to orders at the spots are “a tale of two extremes,” he says: the (relatively) healthy loaded oatmeal topped with fresh fruit, honey and granola at Brunch House, or the over-the-top breakfast burrito, which comes with chorizo or fried chicken and gravy at The Early Owl.

For lunch, his pick is Dr. Rolf’s Barbeque, where an expansive menu includes salads, tacos, sandwiches, platters and five – count ’em, five – sweet dessert waffles.

Jeff Adkins

A trio of dinner spots round out Murak’s dining recommendations. Red sauce joint and craft cocktail bar Capone’s Speakeasy & Restaurant is appropriately discreet. “It doesn’t have a lot of signage,” he says. “The building it’s in has a coffee shop, another eatery and a boutique. There’s just a door in the main hall and beyond that door is Capone’s.”

For marina dining, there’s the Lake House Waterfront Grille with oft-changing seafood selections that allow him to experiment.

Then there’s the Hearthstone Bistro, one of his favorite restaurants in town. There, he opts for the smoked turkey club and the Wisconsin Cheddar soup. “It’s a little more upscale,” he says. “It’s a French-style bistro known for its soups and sandwiches.”