Holland State Park – Michigan
I’ve always wanted to go to Holland. The land of wooden shoes, windmills, Delft Blue, and tulips! But could we travel there in our RV? Of course – we could go to Holland, Michigan! Ever since a co-worker had shared her memories of a Tulip Festival trip with me some twenty years ago, I’ve wanted to go there.
The festival is usually held at the beginning of May, right around my birthday. Before our RV days, I had researched hotels, and planned out the trip. However, for various reasons, it never happened. In 2020, I even had the hotel reservations paid for and was finally committed to the trip. Then we all know what happened in spring of 2020. No one was going anywhere.
I wasn’t ready to give up on the dream, or the tulips. So, when we purchased our RV, I knew it was the perfect time to make my dream birthday trip happen. And as it turned out, I am very glad that I had to wait for it. There is no other way that I could have experienced such a wonderful time in Holland. Sometimes our disappointments turn into something better than we ever could have imagined!
Holland’s History
The Ottawa Tribe were the original inhabitants of this beautiful stretch of land bordering Lake Michigan and Lake Macatawa. But in 1847, Dutch immigrants, fleeing religious persecution in the Netherlands and seeking better economic conditions, settled here. The Ottawa eventually moved north to preserve their way of life and culture. The Dutch named the city after their homeland, Holland.
Today, Holland is noted as one of the best places in Michigan to live and boasts a population of approximately 34,000.
What’s so Special About Holland?
The city of Holland prides itself on the friendliness of its citizens, and we found this to be true. Everyone was so welcoming and excited to share their rich heritage with us.
Even though our RV is only 22’, we are sometimes concerned about parking in a city environment. But we needn’t have worried this time. There is ample street parking in downtown Holland and also many parking lots around the city. And get this – it’s all free! Yes, free parking…what a revelation! Their thoughts are that they are happy to have visitors and want to make the parking situation as easy and welcoming as possible.
Something that I found amazing is their snowmelt project. They do not have to shovel the sidewalks and plow the streets in downtown Holland. In 1988, the city rebuilt the street and sidewalk system in town. Thermal pipes were installed beneath to carry warm water from a nearby power plant. This warmth is capable of melting the snow an inch an hour, and down to 15 degrees. There is approximately 690,000 square feet of heated sidewalks and streets in downtown, and another 190,000 square feet of privately owned snowmelt systems. In my opinion, genius!
We also noticed sitting areas with firepits that would also keep wintertime guests cozy.
But we were there in the beautiful springtime. Our first impression of the city actually brought tears to my eyes. As we made a turn toward town, we were greeted with residential streets lined with every color tulip imaginable! I am prone to be emotional, and I love tulips. This set me up perfectly – I was in awe of such an amazing sight. Little did I know, this was just the tip of the stunning iceberg.
Holland State Park Camping
There are two campgrounds at Holland State Park. One is more traditional with trees and grass, near the Lake Macatawa area. Our campground is called the modern beach campground, just down the road. We chose well!
Of course, the actual “campground” at this location is a parking lot, and some people don’t like that. However, it remains as one of my favorite places we’ve ever stayed. The RV may be sitting on pavement, but it’s right on the beach of Lake Michigan. We were literally only a few steps away from sand and surf.
Our site only had electric, but full hookup sites are available.
Holland State Park is known for its sugar sand beaches and breathtaking sunsets. It didn’t bother us one single bit to be parked on asphalt if we were surrounded by such beauty.
When we visited in 2022, the weather was unseasonably warm for May in Michigan. We had sunny days and highs in the 80’s. It was like summer at the beach! And the best thing was that the warm weather brought out the locals to the beach as well. It was so much fun to see all the teens, families, and older folks enjoying the beach as if it were the middle of July.
There were games being played and kites being flown. And let me tell you, the sunsets were exactly as billed – spectacular. Once again, we witnessed the sunset becoming an event. What I found most endearing was the way the locals backed their vehicles up in the day-use parking lot to see the sunset. They were tucked in the back of their SUV with a cooler, or in the bed of a pick up with chairs. It was an event shared in good spirits by all. And this was right in our “backyard”. Another one of those “pinch me” moments.
Something that also struck me as wonderful was how clean the water was. A beautiful teal color, almost to rival that of the Keys. Something I truly didn’t expect.
Big Red
A true bonus to this beach and campground is the 100-year-old Holland Harbor lighthouse, affectionately called Big Red. Access to the lighthouse is not permitted at this time, but you can walk very close for photos or just to appreciate its beauty. I love lighthouses, so it was another unexpected pleasure to be able to walk a very short distance from our campsite, across the beach, to the lighthouse every day.
The original Holland settlers saw the value in using Lake Macatawa as a harbor. But the outlet to Lake Michigan was blocked by large sandbars and silt. An appeal to Congress was made, and the land was surveyed. But due to a lack of action by Congress, the channel was not happening. So, the Dutch settlers dug the channel themselves! In 1859, the first steamboat put into port. This opened the doors for business and expansion.
Big Red pristinely marks the entrance to this channel. It has the prestige of being listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
There is a pier and walkway along the channel for great views of Big Red, and also superior fishing and sailboat watching. You will also find a nice walking and biking trail.
Not as Expected
We had never been to Michigan, and I suppose as in most instances, had a preconceived idea of what it would be like there. However, it was nothing at all what we expected. It was a thousand times better!
Holland is such a quaint and friendly city on the western coast of Michigan. I could have stayed at Holland State Park Campground the whole time and been truly happy. However, I’m so very glad that we used it as our home base and took our daytrips out and about.
As you will see in future posts -many more spectacular sights awaited us!
Hint: Tulips! Tulips! Tulips!
https://www.michigandnr.com/parksandtrails/Details.aspx?id=458&type=SPRK
