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1. Stearns Park Beach
North Lakeshore Drive | Ludington
Within walking distance to downtown Ludington, this beach has it all: a big sandy beach and a pier to the Ludington Light. “If you time it right, you can watch the S.S. Badger go by as it heads out for its evening sail to Wisconsin (8:45 p.m. June 10 to Sept. 5),” says Kim Skeltis, a PR consultant for the town of Ludington.
2. The Frankfort Pier
End of Main Street | Frankfort
Hands down, this is the best place to catch a sunset. Have dinner on Main Street, then grab an ice cream cone and stroll to the beach where you can walk the pier, snap photos of the sun sinking behind the North Breakwater Lighthouse and end the evening with your toes in the sand.
Photo by MyNorth Staff
3. North Pier, Fifth Avenue Beach
West end of Fifth Avenue along North Lakeshore Drive | Manistee
Fifth Avenue beach has every amenity available, from buckets of sand to a bathhouse and concessions, so make a day of it. And be sure to walk the pier for a photo op of the sun dipping below the Manistee North Pierhead Lighthouse.
4. Arcadia Overlook
M-22 | Arcadia
As if the 370-foot bluff that marks this scenic Lake Michigan overlook, also known as Inspiration Point, isn’t enough… Once you park, there are another 120 steps (80-foot vertical) up to a viewing platform that truly feels like you have reached heaven—especially at sunset.
Photo by Mae Stier
Related Read: Michigan Rock Hunting is the Best on Earth.
5. Clam Lake Canal
2506 North Blvd. | Cadillac
Stroll the charming bridge over this canal (also known as the Cadillac Canal) at sunset and you might find yourself breaking into song—it looks that much like a movie set. The canal, a relic from the logging era, connects lakes Cadillac and Mitchell. Adjacent to Mitchell State Park and its campground and close to Kenwood Beach with its playground and picnic area, this canal sets the scene for an idyllic evening.