Heritage

From the big city to the big lake, Michigan's West Coast is one huge playground.

1. Heritage Hill Historic District adjacent to downtown Grand Rapids is a 40-block neighborhood of century-old mansions in more than 60 architectural styles. Make time tour the Voigt House Victorian Museum and a more modern marvel: Frank Lloyd Wright's Meyer May House.

2. Gerald R. Ford Museum and the Grand Rapids Public Museum bring history alive. At the Ford, you can relive the '70s and tour an exact replica of the Oval Office. At the Public Museum, you can stroll the streets of 1800s Grand Rapids and ride a 1928 carousel perched over the Grand River.

3. Coopersville is a storied town halfway between Muskegon and Grand Rapids. Take a short ride on their history train, enjoy railroad lore at the Historical Society Museum and learn about our rural history at the Farm Museum.

4. White River Light Station Museum is an 1895 building made of Michigan limestone and brick. Inside, photographs, paintings, artifacts and stories chronicle Lake Michigan's rich history of shipping, logging, fishing and lighthouses. Climb the spiral stairs for an eagle-eye view of Lake Michigan.

5. Muskegon County Museum showcases the history of everything from dinosaurs, mastodons and Native Americans to lumbering and farming in our region.

6. Great Lakes Naval Memorial and Museum takes you back in time with a tour of a WWII submarine and a Prohibition-era Coast Guard Cutter.

7. Two Grand Haven Lighthouses, circa 1839 and 1855, are part of a boardwalk that spans 2-1/2 miles of restaurants, marinas and parks.

8. DeKlomp Wooden Shoe and Delft Factory is the only Delft factory in the U.S. Watch artists at work as they mold, hand-paint and glaze this famous blue and white porcelain traditionally made in the Netherlands.

9. Stop for a taste of authentic Dutch cuisine at De Boer Bakkerji and Dutch Brothers Restaurant.

10. "Big Red" Lighthouse is one of Michigan's most photographed treasures - thanks in part to the spectacular sunsets that frame its historic structure every evening.

11. Windmill Island is a tribute to the region's Dutch heritage, offering a guided tour of a 240-year-old working windmill along with 36 acres of manicured gardens, dikes, canals and picnic areas. Come in spring to tiptoe through 150,000 tulips in bloom!

12. Antique Shopping in Saugatuck/Douglas is a must for collectors. You'll find fine English antiques, Egyptian colored glass, art deco items and much more.

13. Star of Saugatuck Boat Rides offer scenic cruises on the Kalamazoo River and Lake Michigan ... on an authentic sternwheel paddleboat!

14. Head back to Grand Rapids for one of our historic dining spots. The Cherie Inn is the longest running restaurant in Grand Rapids. Just across the street is Mangiamo!, a family-style Italian restaurant in an 1875 Italianate mansion.