Grand Haven Channel
Grand Haven Channel – Grand Haven is now a popular resort, boating, offshore fishing and port community. The city has over 100 miles (160 km) of bike trails, a state beach, boardwalk, two lighthouses, a pier, wharf, extensive charter fishing fleet and a Great Lakes port, where it imports limestone, slag, cement and coal while exporting sand. Grand Haven is a desired destination point for residents of inland cities of West Michigan, such as Grand Rapids. Many Grand Rapidians visit regularly to take positive aspect of the pristine Lake Michigan shoreline, State campgrounds, diners, bars, attractions and many even have cottages in the area as their home away from home.
Grand Haven Channel
Grand Haven State Park was nationwide recognized for having one of the top five beaches in the United States, by Good Morning America – Travel Mom. In summer, lake temperatures can reach the low 70s (Fahrenheit), delivering tens of thousands of travelers. These people are a bonus to the local economy.
West Michigan has been called the Midwest Mecca of beach volleyball due to the quality of sands. Grand Haven State Beach is one of numerous destinations for volleyball enthusiasts and hosts the AVP Pro Beach Volleyball Tournament throughout the summer months.
The state park also includes a campground on Lake Michigan, near the pier and lighthouses. In addition, the city attributes a ski park (Mulligan’s Hollow Ski Bowl) and a skate park. The beach locations bring tourists from all over the state and region for boating, sailing, jet skiing, and wind surfing.
Grand Haven is also home to a golf course. The Grand Haven Golf Club was designed in 1965 by the legendary pioneer of Michigan golf, architect Bruce Matthews Sr. It has been featured in Sports Illustrated, Golf Digest magazines and on USA Network’s “PGA Tour Sunday.” It also gained national attention as being home to the LPGA’s Shoreline Classic until just lately.
The first bank robbery done by the notorious George “Baby Face” Nelson and Homer Van Meter occurred at a bank in Grand Haven.
Grand Haven is home to the United States Coast Guard’s “Group Grand Haven,” which coordinates all Lake Michigan Coast Guard excursions. The first Coast Guard presence in the city was in 1924. The city features the annual Coast Guard Festival, a celebration based on Coast Guard Day, that draws U.S. and Canadian boats along with parades of bands and other happenings. The yearly attendance for this event exceeds 300,000 people over the two-week period of the festival. Grand Haven is only city officially selected as Coast Guard City, USA by an act of Congress finalized by President Bill Clinton. Grand Haven Channel
The Grand Haven Musical Fountain was built on the other bank of the Grand River from the city center in 1969. It plays evening during the tourist time of year. When it was built, it was the world’s largest such fountain and it was in the Grand Haven Channel. Today, the overall biggest fountain is in Las Vegas.
