This past September, we celebrated Sean’s 40th in Saugatuck, Michigan with his close family and friends. We couldn’t stop saying what a perfect weekend it was!
Far enough away but close enough for several people to make it. We stayed at a stunning home – which made for the perfect home base. We organized a few activities but kept it open for people to do their own thing.
Saugatuck, Michigan is a very special place to us {we got engaged here!}, filled with all kinds of charm, lots of activities and THE BEST FOOD. It’s only 1.5 hours from Chicago and has this charming vibe with a hint of East Coast.
If you’re organizing a getaway for a large group of people, it’s SO nice to have a copy/paste itinerary. So I wanted to share ALL the details.
With it getting cold and Christmas gifts top of mind, NOW is the time to book that spring or summer vacation. P.S. This house books FAST. And out of everywhere we’ve stayed in Saugatuck over the past eleven years of going, this has been a favorite.
So here is exactly where we stayed, ate and played in case you’d like to replicate it in any capacity.
HOME BASE AT LAKESHORE WOODS LODGE
The highlight of the weekend was our house – Lakeshore Woods Lodge. We hosted the big birthday celebration here as this home was MADE for entertaining.
Funnily enough, one of our friends had previously stayed there TWICE with her family. And one of my fave bloggers, Olivia Rink, stayed here too! So when I say it’s good…it’s goooood.
This luxury family-friendly home has GOT IT ALL. 4 Bedrooms, 4 baths, a HUGE screened in porch with a fireplace, all open concept with vaulted two story ceilings.
As a parent you’ll appreciate that it’s family friendly but aesthetically you’d never notice. There are baby gates, a high chair, stroller, crib, toddler bed, etc. for littles.
For those who need first floor access to everything, there’s a walk in shower with a shower seat in the first floor primary bedroom.
Located in our favorite part of Saugatuck (most people don’t know about it), it’s right off the lake bluff of Lake Michigan. You swear it’s the ocean. If you are familiar with the Lakeshore Resort, it’s in a high-end neighborhood next door. Douglas and the downtown Saugatuck are just a few minutes driving away.
The owner, Erica, is a gem and owns several beautiful property rentals in the area. We stayed at Treetops last winter, so we knew we were in good hands! She is also wrapping up a really cool A-Frame RIGHT on the water that I cannot wait to see complete.
Last but not least, the house sits on 4 acres, so there is a wonderful feeling of privacy and being back in the woods. You’ll be sipping wine in the expansive living room and spy a family of deer or turkey walk by! I kept saying “I feel like I’m in Aspen!”.
If you book this house, you HAVE to walk down to the lake and watch the sunset on a clear night. It’s unreal!
WEEKEND ITINERARY
We absolutely LOVED everything we did and we received stellar feedback from our guests too. Again, keep in mind, this is coming from a “big group” angle.
THURSDAY
PRO TIP: Sean and I went up a night early to get things ready and do a date night {just us!} before the party arrived. We went to our FAVORITE steakhouse – Bowdies {I actually think it’s better than Gibsons!} and posted up at the bar (the best spot!). A French 75 or a martini is a must and we ALWAYS split the filet with farm to table vegetable sides.
FRIDAY
We kept this night open as people were arriving at different times. Plus a lot of our friend but for those who wanted to join Sean and I for dinner and/or drinks, they were welcome!
6:15 PM – Dinner at one of our favorites, The Wild Dog, in Douglas (5 minutes away from downtown Saugatuck). They do not take reservations, but you can call 30 minutes in advance and request a table.
There are fun bars next door if you want to keep the night going. If you love a good dive bar and cheap thrills, the $2 beers in FROSTED mugs at The Cove (walking distance) are legit.
SATURDAY
10 AM – Boys Golf at Harbor Shore Resort – a stunning Jack Nicklaus course {30 minutes away from Saugatuck}.
10:45 AM – Dune Ride – while the boys golfed, the rest of us did this! HIGHLY recommend and we all loved it. You feel like you’re on a roller coaster in the middle of the sand dunes! I found 45 minutes is a great activity length and left plenty of free time before and after . To get all nine of us on the same vehicle, I bought tickets on behalf of everyone and they just paid me back! Make sure you are on top of the reservations because this is a popular activity.
12:15 PM – Lunch Downtown Saugatuck and Walk Around (for us Dune Riders)
SATURDAY NIGHT (6:30 PM) – Birthday Party Celebration at Lakeshore Woods Lodge
We catered dinner from a favorite local restaurant – The Farmhouse. They make the BEST SANDWICHES you’ve had in your life. But despite it being a highend deli – their catering is out of this world. Maybe the best catered food I’ve had in years. I’m sharing exactly what we got below because it was so yummy and plenty. We also had a fully stocked bar and did a silly little birthday game for the birthday boy. Let’s just say… it was a LONG ride home the next morning 😉
CATERING MENU
So this served eighteen people (half were MEN) and even had leftovers. Everything cost $750. It arrived hot at 6:15 PM, but since they recommend serving at room temperature, we ate the main course at 7 PM. We enjoyed thee chacuterie board and crudite platter first. Everything came on these wooden boards – and despite being disposable – they are very nice. Apparently a lot of people “save” them and I 100% approved. I however threw them away which made for a super fast clean up afterwards!
Artisan Cheese and Charcuterie Board
Crudité Platter
Wood Fired Beef Tenderloin {build a canape}
Rosemary Roast Fingerling Potatoes
Garden Salad
Lemon Basil Chicken 12 6 oz. Breasts Medium
So are you ready to book a stay or WHAT?! Click here to secure your best vacation, celebration or trip NOW.
A huge thanks to Erica for hosting us this weekend!
