The trek to the lighthouse is about its about two miles two long miles with kids, August heat, and no shade. Beyond that, you’ll find a 4-mile long canoe trail (with onsite canoe and kayak rentals) plus the iconic Big Sable Point Lighthouse.īig Sable Point Lighthouse was on my must-see list, but it’s not a short walk to find it here. Set on Hamlin Lake AND Lake Michigan, Ludington State Park offers miles of amazing hiking through stunning Michigan sand dunes. What makes this park so desirable? Nature, variety, and history. Scoring a coveted camping spot at this state park is not easy and there’s good reason for that: Ludington State Park is one of the crown jewels in the state park system. Just outside of town is Ludington State Park and is a destination unto itself. Visit Big Sable Point Lighthouse + Climb the Dunes at Ludington State Park There are also clean and convenient public restrooms nearby. We walked to the park, but if you drive, know that parking is easy and plentiful. PHOTO IDEA: Snag a photo with the sculptures Waterfront sculpture park is also home to nine bronze historical sculptures of the Mason County Sculpture Trail, a walking loop, and green space. Climbing all over this thing was a fun diversion while we waited for the steamship to come in. The park is outfitted with a massive playground. The downtown Waterfront Sculpture Park is near the Badger docks and is where we watched the car ferry go by. Pro Tip: Evenings along the waterfront can be cool – you might want to bring a jacket.Įxplore the Playground at Waterfront Sculpture Park It was so fun to watch that we returned the following morning for the 9 am departure and found the park much quieter – great if you want to beat the crowds. (All of the benches were full by 6:45PM so plan ahead if you want to snag a seat.) It was really cool to watch the 410 foot, 7 story steamship go by. PHOTO IDEA: Catch a pic of the kids waving at the S.S. If you time it right, you can watch the massive ship arrive or depart from Ludington. The Badger is the last coal-fired car ferry steamship in the United States.įrom Waterfront Sculpture Park, you can watch the ship make its way from Ludington MI to Manitowoc, WI. Ludington is a Lake Michigan port for a 1950s-era steamship the S.S. Take Sculpture Selfies, Watch the SS Badger & Conquer the Playground

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