A Lazy Summer Weekend at the Lake Shore Resort

“It’s kind of like…the Mediterranean of Michigan.” That’s what I said to Dan after checking into our room at the Lake Shore Resort while we made our way down to the picturesque sundeck overlooking Lake Michigan. 

Between sparkling water as far as the eye could see, bright blue sun umbrellas casting shade over lounge chairs with lazy sunbathers, and the sound of waves gently lapping the shore, I felt like I had been transported to a tiny European beach town—and it was heavenly.

The Lake Shore Resort is located on the southern shore of Lake Michigan in the town of Saugatuck (which in my humble opinion is hands down the best beach town on the west side of the state). When I first found out about it, I thought I had stumbled on the Midwest’s best kept secret…until I tried to book a room and found out that it’s actually so popular that you have to make reservations months in advance—as in, the day they open for the season in April, in order to secure your spot. 

Noted.   

I missed staying there that first year, but I put a reminder in my calendar for the following spring to book a long weekend for us in the summer and was lucky enough to get a reservation. 

We arrived on a Friday afternoon in August at golden hour, so every inch of the resort was bathed in a dream-like glow. We could have pulled up at any time of day though and I would have been equally impressed, because the Lake Shore Resort is one of those places that just absolutely nails it.

A renovated mid-century motor inn that’s the perfect combination of hipster and bougie, the secluded lakefront location is unbeatable, the grounds are immaculate, the rooms are beautifully designed, and there are amazing amenities like a sundeck carved into the bluffs of Lake Michigan with steps down to a private beach, a heated pool, fire pits, outdoor yoga classes, complimentary bikes and kayaks, nature trails, daily breakfast, and more.

We stayed for three nights (which is their minimum during peak season) but would have happily stayed even longer because our time there was pure lakeside perfection. The weather gods gifted us with four days of summer sunshine so our days were spent alternating between lounging by the lake and lounging by the pool, breaking every once in a while to take the cruiser bikes for a ride up and down Lake Shore Drive, leaving the resort only to acquire provisions for our nightly sunset picnic dinners.  

We had grand visions of exploring the town and heading over to nearby Oval Beach which is a favorite of ours, but everyday when it came time to leave, we just…didn’t want to. So we didn’t. And that’s the beauty of the Lake Shore Resort—you’re within minutes of downtown Saugatuck and Douglas so you can leave to do something if you want to…but you don’t have to (except to eat, because although they do serve breakfast, lunch and dinner options aren’t available). 

The pièce de résistance of the Lake Shore Resort though is how unbelievably quiet it is. They only welcome children over the age of 13 so that certainly helps keep the volume down, but there also seems to be an unspoken rule between guests to keep any and all noise to a minimum, which creates the most peaceful, almost spa-like atmosphere.

Although I wasn’t necessarily planning for it to be, I was seven months pregnant when we stayed at Lake Shore, so it ended up serving as our unofficial babymoon. Climbing up and down the stairs to the lake multiple times a day definitely wasn’t the easiest third trimester activity and I was sad to miss sipping sunset rosé by the water, but all-in-all it was the perfect, most relaxing last trip to take as just the two of us. 

Now that we have an under-13 of our own who we aren’t quite ready to leave for an extended period of time yet, I’m not sure when we’ll make it back to the Lake Shore Resort, but we absolutely will. 

Until then, I encourage you to book a trip (booking is now open for the 2023 season!) because I guarantee it’ll end up being the lazy lakeside weekend you didn’t know you needed. 

p.s. And please let me know if you end up going so I can stalk your trip on social media and live vicariously through you.