Things To Do In Muskegon

Muskegon, Outdoor Recreation-The Lakeshore, Things to do-The Lakeshore Skyler Latshaw

Muskegon has the lakes, beaches, trails, parks, shops, and restaurants to make your visit truly memorable. Whether you’re visiting for a day, a weekend, or making a vacation out of it, there are plenty of things to do in Muskegon. Here are some of the best attractions and restaurants you’ll find along Lake Michigan and Muskegon Lake.

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Pere Marquette Park Beach

No visit to Muskegon is complete without a visit to the lakeshore. Pere Marquette Park is on the shore of Lake Michigan and bordered by the Muskegon Channel, and has some of West Michigan’s most beautiful shoreline. The park has a beachside restaurant, a playground, volleyball courts, and the Muskegon South Pierhead Lighthouse.

After working up an appetite soaking up the lakeshore sun, head to the park’s The Deck restaurant for BBQ and a beer. The Deck offers meat platters, sliders, deck dogs, beach tacos, and other beachside eats along with craft beer, refreshing hard seltzers, and signature frozen cocktails to cool you off.

Pere Marquette Park is a great hub to plan a day around, with the Kruse Dog Park and the USS Silversides Submarine Museum a short walk away.

Michigan’s Adventure

Located North of Muskegon, Michigan’s Adventure amusement park and Wildwater Adventure waterpark offer families and thrillseekers plenty of fun and excitement. One ticket gets you into both parks, and a Michigan Adventure Season Pass can fill your summer with thrills.

With seven roller coasters, including the iconic Shivering Timbers, and dozens of other attractions and events, Michigan Adventure offers something for all ages. There is a variety of dining and refreshment options while you’re in the park, including the Wildcat Grill and Lakeside Beer Garden.

Wildwater Adventure is the perfect place for a cool down, from the lazy river and kids’ lagoon to the Funnel of Fear and the harrowing Snake Pit. The Beach Party is the ultimate water clubhouse attraction, outfitted with squirt guns, dump barrels, and a giant geyser that sprays 90 feet in the air!

To learn more about Michigan’s Adventure’s attractions and to buy tickets, visit the Michigan Adventure website.

USS Silversides Submarine Museum

You may not expect to find a gato-class World War II submarine in Lake Michigan, but the USS Silversides is exactly that. The USS Silversides was commissioned in response to the Attack on Pearl Harbor and completed 14 missions and sank 23 vessels.

Tour the sub and its accompanying museum to learn all about its tour and visit exhibitions exploring other aspects of World War II. You can also climb aboard the US Coast Guard Cutter McLane, which provided many search and rescue missions.

The USS Silversides Museum also offers special events, including overnight stays on the sub. To find details, visit the USS Silversides Submarine Museum website.

The Muskegon Lakeshore Biking & Hiking Trail

Take in beautiful views of Muskegon Lake, White Lake, Lake Michigan, the sand dunes, and the South Pierhead Lighthouse along this 12-mile paved trail. The trail goes from Muskegon to Whitehall and is a great way to get some exercise and tour some Muskegon attractions and restaurants.

Bring your own bikes to the trail or stop by City Hub Cyclery in downtown Muskegon and rent a ride for you or your whole family. Whether you’re looking for individual bikes, a tandem cycle, or a four-person surrey, City Hub can hook you up.

Muskegon Luge Adventure Sports Park

If you’re visiting Muskegon in the colder months, you’ll find plenty of outdoor winter fun at the Muskegon Luge Adventure Park. Enjoy winter luge, ice skating trails, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, sledding, and even a winter zipline!

The 850-foot luge track gives you the thrill of speeding down an icy track at speeds up to 30 mph. Learn to Luge weekends offer a 2.5-hour training season, equipment, time to practice, and then an Olympic-style race and awards ceremony! On weekdays you can reserve the luge track for your private group, getting a luge experience tailored to your group’s needs and experience.

The Muskegon Luge Park has an ice skating trail through the white pine forest near the park. It is a 1/4th mile figure-eight loop to skate around during a beautiful winter day, or to experience after dark when it’s lit up. There is also a 2-acre rink for family ice skating and hockey.

The snowshoeing and cross-country skiing trails at Muskegon Luge Adventure Sports Park go through the nearby sand dunes and offer a variety of terrain for all levels. They’re the perfect way to get out and enjoy the forest scenery and the lakeshore.

For updates on trail conditions and weather reports, visit the Muskegon Luge Adventure Sports Park website.

Unruly Brewing Company

For a fun night of craft beer and live music, look no further than Unruly Brewing Company. Located in downtown Muskegon, it pairs wheats, IPAs, ales, and sours with punk, rock, folk, jazz, and country.

While Unruly is currently not offering brewery tours, the brewery below the taproom always keeps the craft brews flowing. Revel Rouser IPA, ‘Murican Brown Rye, and Kick-Ass Kolsch are some of the signature beers you’ll have the privilege of partaking in at Unruly Brewing Company.

The food menu is packed with unique and locally sourced selections, like a Jumpin’ Joe sloppy joe or Orange Julius flavored pulled pork. There’s also a delicious adult grilled cheese with cheddar, swiss, provolone, and garlic aioli.

Unruly has live music happening almost every week. Check out the live event schedule to see who’s stopping by the venue soon.

The Hearthstone Bistro

Are you ready for some fine Euro bistro dining in a casual atmosphere? Make dinner memorable with a night at Muskegon’s Hearthstone Bistro, featuring French, Italian, and American cuisine handcrafted from locally sourced seafood, steaks, and chops.

The Hearthstone menu boasts some incredible classics, some of which you’d have found on its original menu back in 1975. Order the Filet Mignon with Roasted Garlic Butter for simply the best-chargrilled beef and crispy calabrese potatoes, or go with the Wester Ross Scottish Smoked Salmon Grenobloise with Lemon Caper Butter if you’re feeling fresh seafood. Order a Torte or Creme Brule for the perfect finish to the meal.

You can find the full Hearthstone menu here.

Century Club Shops

One of the best places to shop in Muskegon is the Century Club Shops downtown. An eclectic variety of shops call the historic brick building home, including:

Located in the heart of downtown, the shops are a short walk from the Muskegon Farmers Market, cafes and restaurants, and other Muskegon attractions.

The Muskegon Summer Wine Up

In the early summer, go absolutely wine wild with the Summer Wine Up. This event takes place outdoors in early June each year and brings you all the wine tasting, live music, and local vino vendors you could want.

Dozens of wineries and vineyards bring their best to the Wine Up, so you’ll have plenty to choose from as you walk along with their tents and displays. There are also food vendors and food trucks dotting the event, so you definitely won’t go hungry as you spend your day enjoying the event.

Whether you’re new to wine or a seasoned connoisseur, the Summer Wine Up has 15-minute wine seminars to help you pick up a little something new about your favorite drink. Learn things like how to read a label, the secrets of great sparkling wine, and the latest on sustainable wine practices.

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Skyler Latshaw

Content Creator at Wander West Michigan

Skyler has called West Michigan home for over a decade. He loves to spend his mornings hiking local trails, afternoons taking his son to a playground, and evenings around a campfire or playing games with friends.