First Street Beach

BEST BEACH IN MICHIGAN!

Listed first for a reason! First Street Beach was voted USA Today Readers’ Choice Best Beach in Michigan. It isn’t hard to understand why this beach would be chosen with its spectacular view of the Lake Michigan shoreline, a walkable pier, picnic areas, food vendors, playground for the kiddos, boat launch, and ADA accessible amenities. From an early morning swim to gathering for the sunset, this beach checks all of the boxes!

Lake Gulls Concession & Rentals serves First Street Beach with fun and creative foods you won’t typically find at a beach stand with vegetarian, vegan, gluten free, and dairy free options. They also rent umbrellas, chairs, boogie boards, corn hole, and volleyballs, while also offering beach essential like sunscreen, sand toys, floaties or a towel.

Fifth Avenue Beach

The 5th Avenue Beach Lighthouse is situated at the end of a pier walk, providing the perfect backdrop for a souvenir photo of a spectacular Lake Michigan sunset. When you get back to the sand, you’ll be delighted to find plenty of activities for kids of all ages with a playground, volleyball court, tennis courts and more.

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Take a Ride on a Vintage Slide

Two towering slides exist on Manistee beaches, one at Fifth Avenue and the other at First Street Beach in Manistee. In the “good old days”, both beaches had TWO of these aluminum giants that inspired races to the top to see who could plunge to the bottom faster. Today, each beach still has one of these slides, each topping 13’ in height. The local kids will always haul up some sand to see if they can make themselves go even a little faster. These slides are all one-of-a kind and unique to Manistee. Harkening back to the 40s-60s, our slides offer a trip back in time for beachgoers of all ages to experience. One trip down the slide and you’re sure to feel the nostalgia.

Portage Point Beach​

Tucked into the rolling dunes at the mouth of Portage Lake on Lake Michigan, this beach is a local favorite for walking the pier and miles of sandy beach. Although there are picnic areas and restrooms, this beach has amenities, so be sure to pack some snacks and beach toys to make most of your day.

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Arcadia Beach Natural Area

Found in the northern reaches of our county, Arcadia Beach is generally a less crowded beach, offering convenient parking and access to a beautiful natural beach area along the picturesque Lake Michigan coastline. Lay out your beach blanket, bring along a picnic and a good book, and enjoy your day just basking in the sun.

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Magoon Creek & Sundling Park

A short, wooded trail leads you to this secluded beach on the shoreline of Lake Michigan. This spot is the perfect place for a quiet beach retreat. Just up the road you will find Sundling Park. This “off-the-beaten-path” park offers access to the beach in an often-secluded setting, making it the perfect spot for a picnic and a moment of relaxation.

This family-owned course, popular with local golfers, opened its first nine holes in 1993 and expanded to offer a back nine in 2004. Carved through the woods that border the coast of Lake Michigan in North Manistee County, Chestnut Hills has a history as rich as the neighboring farmland.

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North Beach Access

A great spot for enjoying a long walk on the beach with your four-legged friend. You can walk this secluded beach for miles without seeing much more than a handful of people. A great choice if you are looking for a quiet spot and water access for a low-key day in the sand.

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