Fresh Lives Here: Michigan’s Great Surf Towns

“We don't try to convince anyone that this is the ocean, because it’s not,” says Joe Bidawid, who cofounded the festival in 2018 with his wife, Tammy. “We don't get the waves every day, but we have a real beach scene, with people out in their board shorts and bathing suits.” They created the festival as a way to “cement local history and empower the new generation of young surfers,” he says.

Meet the current-day surfers of Michigan’s Great Lakes.

A Grand Haven resident who has surfed everywhere, Bidawid easily compares Michigan beach towns today with the California coast of the 1970s. For those who arrive in this region for the first time, he explains, “This sounds like an exaggeration, but it's life-altering for people who haven’t been to this part of Michigan. People come to Grand Haven for the first time and are like, ‘I can walk in flip-flops and eat ice cream and walk in the sand, and everybody is in a good mood.’” 

A big part of Midwest surfing education is about water safety, given the power and intensity of the lakes, and Bidawid recommends sticking with late summer months. More hardcore Great Lakes surfers are willing to endure bracing temperatures in favor of bigger waves well into the fall season, but for more comfortable conditions, the surf festival takes place at exactly the right time. 

In addition to the surf festival, he explains that the beach communities are welcoming to everyone from first timers to seasoned pros. “There's an ecosystem here that caters to activities like surfing, paddleboarding and kayaking,” he says. “Local shops and schools will give you maps and advice on how to go about it safely, along with the gear and instructions.”

When he’s not surfing or wing foiling, Bidawid has plenty of favorite places to explore around his hometown and elsewhere in Michigan. 

Learn more about surfing America’s third coast.

Staying Local

Whether you’re in town for the Great Lakes Surf Festival or just exploring on your own, Muskegon itself has plenty to offer. “I highly recommend that you go to The Deck BBQ & Beer, which is right on the beach and has amazing barbecue.” A short drive away is Unruly Brewing Co., and Hometown Creamery is a favorite year-round ice cream shop.

Beach Bound

“Of course, I’m biased, but from St. Joseph all the way up to Sleeping Bear Dunes, every town has an incredible beach and a great story.” In St. Joseph, he recommends unwinding at Silver Beach County Park; within 15 minutes of downtown Muskegon is Pere Marquette Park, where the surf festival is held each year; and in Saugatuck there’s Douglas Beach, a slip of a shoreline that’s famous for its sunsets.

Road Tripping

“The number-one place on my list would be Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. It’s iconic, with world-class nature, incredible scenery and a lot of serenity.” All along the M22 corridor, he can recommend places to stop, explore and soak up the surroundings. “Glen Arbor is my number two stop, north of Sleeping Bear. It’s a sleepy, eclectic little town on a bay with a lot of beautiful beaches and art galleries. Then there’s Leland, which is also known as Fishtown, where you have to stop and buy smoked fish from the historic local smokehouses. Beyond that is Northport, an off-the-beaten-path little town that’s perfect if you want to get away but still have all the amenities.”

Island Hopping

Go beyond the coastal drives for a family-friendly day on an island. “From Sleeping Bear Dunes is South Manitou Island, which has sand dunes and where you can see shipwrecks above water level; it’s like being in the South Pacific.” Further north from Charlevoix, he also recommends a ferry ride to Beaver Island – an island home to about 600 people with a rich history. Also offering exceptional stargazing, the island has been officially named an International Dark Sky Sanctuary.