Yet another snowy day in West Michigan has us of dreaming of long summer days gathered around a fire pit with gorgeous views of water in the background. Michigan is the perfect spot for memory-making days out on an all-sports lake or lounging on the beach with a cocktail in hand. But where should you go? There’s almost too many choices! I’ve gathered the top towns and lakes to check out this summer, so go ahead, add this to your summer calendar and explore Michigan!
Don’t want to drive far, yet want to still feel like you are away from it all? Check out Gun Lake in Middleville. Definitely the biggest inland lake within a 45-minute radius of Grand Rapids, Gun Lake offers all the recreational opportunities (on and off the water) that you can imagine. From fishing, swimming, boating and watersports to hiking, biking, and camping, Gun Lake has you covered. Encompassing almost 10 square miles, Yankee Springs Recreation Area is an extremely popular recreation destination for those from Grand Rapids and Kalamazoo. There is plenty of room to spread out on this nearly four-square-mile lake.
The bustling vacation town of Empire located along Lake Michigan has made the list of most popular vacation spots in the country. People who want to vacation here tend to gravitate toward vacation home rentals, so there is the possibility of income for a vacation home owner who plans to only use the property for short spurts throughout the year.
Another spot to consider is Hamlin Lake, located at the mouth of the Pere Marquette River and Lake Michigan. Ludington is the county seat of Mason County. A bustling calendar of events and several outdoor activities keep people in this area busy. The S.S. Badger Car Ferry offers an experience that many people don’t ever get to enjoy. Disc golf and golf courses, sandy beaches, and historic lighthouse tours provide entertainment for visitors and residents alike.People who are searching for a vacation home on Hamlin Lake will get to enjoy a wide range of pricing. The offerings range from single-family homes to townhouses and condominiums. Inland homes tend to sell at a lower price point than beachfront homes, but even the inland homes are close to the fun of the lake.
Thinking about buying and not just visiting for the weekend?
Michigan is a phenomenal location to own a vacation home, and renting out your home while you’re not using it with friends and family can be a great way to offset the costs of homeownership. But there are many challenges to buying, owning, and renting a vacation home. You need to know the area and what you want in a home for your own use and enjoyment, plus what your home should have to attract renters. You’ll need to be familiar with local tourism, real estate trends, and the state and local regulatory environment. In addition, you will need to plan how you will maintain your home and manage your rental property from a distance without diverting too much of your personal time and energy away from your other priorities in life.
Curious about lake homes? Visit GRDreamHomes.com to start your search!
