While on your romantic getaway vacation at our Holland, Michigan bed and breakfast, we suggest spending a day enjoying this historic town, one of the jewels of the Lake Michigan shoreline.

Holland is a mix of upscale and eclectic shops and restaurants, all set in the historic downtown, dotted with small parks landscaped with an array of spectacularly fine statuary and greenscapes. Holland is the year-round place to go for serious shopping or just casual browsing.

Spring is when Holland is at its best. The Tulip Time Festival in the first week of May draws crowds from all over the US and Europe to view the millions of tulips that are in bloom all over the city. The downtown and neighborhood streets are lined with hundreds of varieties of tulips, and a Tulip Time Lane is something to definitely drive, as it spreads all over the city of Holland. Veldheer Tulip farms are a must visit just to see the immense amount of tulips on display. You can also purchase the tulips, available only in these gardens for the entire US. Windmill Island gardens are also an interesting stop. Visit the 400-year-old windmill brought over to the US after WW II. Still in operation, this historic windmill still grinds flour just as it did in the seventeenth century.

During the summer months, free entertainment is set against the sidewalk shops and cafes. Shows range from a puppet show or a classical music quartet to bluegrass music and other genres. Every Thursday during the summer, there is a surprise waiting just around the corner. The Holland Museum portrays the development of the early Dutch settlement of Holland, Mi, as well as having a vast array of Dutch paintings and Delft pottery and porcelains.

For the winter months, Holland is bedecked in Christmas finery; antique style lighting and holiday greenery are everywhere. Snow is not an issue, as the snowmelt system keeps the streets and sidewalks clear of snow for easy walking.

Dining:

Home to a wide array of cuisines, downtown Holland has a lot to offer, with something for everyone. If you are looking for Italian cuisine, Via Maria is the place to stop, with its ever changing menu, and Italian courtyard style decor. For more of a northern European flavor in a casual fine dining establishment, the Alpen Rose features American classics and European fare from France, Germany, Italy, Switzerland, and Austria. Kid-friendly, yet elegant enough for romantic dinners, banquets, special events, or business meetings. Offering a wide variety of American classic fine dining, Butchs’ Dry Dock is a favorite of ours, offering fish, game, steaks, and pasta dishes, along with an award-winning wine list. Butchs’, with its views of Lake Macatawa, is not to be missed, and is just a short hop from downtown. The Boatwerks Waterfront Restaurant has a lighter fare with the best views of the lake from its glassed-in dining room.

For a little more casual or lighter fare, choose from several restaurants in the downtown area. The new Holland Brewing Company is a wonder micro-brew, where you're sure to find the perfect combination of great beer and delicious food in a casual, eclectic, non-smoking atmosphere. Like their beer, which they refer to as "Art in Fermented Form”, their food is handcrafted to satisfy every appetite. For a more Irish flavor, the Curragh Irish Pub is a traditional pub serving up great fun, hearty food, and the best pint around. Menus feature Irish and American dishes. They serve 24 draft beers from around the world, and have been named one of the great whisky bars in the world by Whisky Magazine.

Shopping:

All season shopping is what sets Holland apart from other Lake Michigan shoreline communities. Downtown Holland, Michigan offers a wide variety of shops including art galleries, interior decor, clothiers, and many other styles of shops. Stroll the charming downtown with its magnificent parks, pick up an ice cream cone from Cold Stone Creamery, and perhaps pick up something for home or for him or her. No matter what you do, Holland is one of the places to visit, for fun or serious shopping.

Veldheer Tulip Gardens

Holland's only tulip farm is ablaze with acres of tulips in May. Enjoy many varieties of lilies through spring and summer, and visit the beautiful perennial gardens through mid-October. Bring a little Tulip Time home with your bulbs for fall plantings...
http://www.veldheer.com • (616) 399-1900

Windmill Island Gardens

A palette of color awaits you as you wind along the entrance to Holland's treasured island. Tour up into DeZwaan, the only authentic Dutch windmill operating in the United States. From the top, you can survey 36 acres of manicured gardens, dikes, and...
http://www.windmillisland.org • (888) 535-5792 • (616) 355-1030

Holland Museum

The best way to get acquainted with Holland is to take a crash course in its fascinating history, and there's no better place for this than the Holland Museum. Here you'll experience the arrival of the Dutch in 1847 and their struggle for access to Lake...
http://www.hollandmuseum.org • (616) 392-9084

Holland Princess Dinner Cruises

Enjoy a two-hour cruise aboard Holland's newest attraction, an old-fashioned, Victorian-style paddlewheel boat. Complete with the "Captain's Feast”, relaxing music, and a cash bar. Click the link for more information, pricing, and reservations. Operates...
http://www.hollandprincess.com • (616) 393-7799

Cappon House Museum

Enter the 19th century world of a Dutch immigrant who became a wealthy, influential community leader and father of 16 children. It's all still here: the furnishings, personal belongings, and echoes of the daily life of the Isaac Cappon family. And located...
http://www.hollandmuseum.org

Craig's Cruisers

A great atmosphere for year-round family fun. Our large indoor game room is popular, rain or shine. The miniature golf course is outstanding in design and beauty, and the go-carts bring out the kid in everyone! We also have batting cages, kiddy carts...
http://www.craigscruisers.com • (616) 392-7300

DeKlomp Wooden Shoe & Delft Factory

At this double Dutch delight, you can talk with the artists as they mold, hand-paint, and glaze the only authentic blue and white delftware made in the U.S, or watch the wooden shoe carving on machines that were imported from the Netherlands. All handmade...
http://www.veldheer.com • (616) 399-1900

Holland Area Arts Council

A vibrant arts center located in the heart of downtown Holland, the Holland Area Arts Council plays a leadership role in enriching the cultural life of the lakeshore area. Exhibition space in three galleries provides the opportunity to showcase the...
http://www.hollandarts.org • (616) 396-3278

Holland State Park

Holland State Park offers an expansive, sandy beach along Lake Michigan with two large campgrounds and a beautiful view of sailboats and sunsets. The park is divided into two separate units, one along Lake Michigan, and the other along Lake Macatawa, each...
http://www.michigandnr.com/parksandtrails/Details.aspx?id=458&type=SPRK • (800) 447-2757 • (616) 399-9390
http://www.the-lostcity.com • (616) 396-6746

Dutch WinterFest and The Holidays in Downtown Holland

Brighten your holidays with a visit to Downtown Holland! This year, the Downtown comes alive with a multitude of exciting holiday happenings from November to January. Just a few of the many events are highlighted. Season's greetings! "HOLIDAY...
http://www.downtownholland.com • (800) 506-1299 • (616) 394-0000

Tulip Time Festival, Inc.

Visitors from all over the world come to see millions of tulips in parks, gardens, and tulip lanes. The festival hosts 3 parades, music, variety shows, concerts, dinner theatre, and over 1,100 authentically costumed Dutch dancers. The event also features...
http://www.tuliptime.com • (800) 822-2770 • (616) 396-4221

Nelis' Dutch Village

Experience the Netherlands of the 1800's in 10 acres of authentic Dutch architecture, canals, and spectacular gardens. Enjoy the Klompen dancers and music from the Amsterdam Street Organ, and peruse the myriad of Dutch crafts and artwork. The kids will...
http://www.dutchvillage.com • (616) 396-1475