Ludington's Number Fourteen on Michigan Beach Towns

[XLFD]

It's always nice to get on a well-intentioned  'best of' list; it's also nice to see your area, noted for its beauty and wealth of resources, make such a list.  But sometimes making it on the list just isn't good enough.  Herein lies an example of Ludington being on a list of the 19 best beach towns in Ludington by an entity called Thrillist, which publishes lists of a variety of things, surveys, and factoids.

The author freely admits a bias towards the Lake Michigan coastline, and in her rankings she has the top 15 of the 19 beaches fall on the west side of Lower Michigan.  Surely, the stately beaches of Ludington State Park down to Buttersville Park made an impression on the rater.  After all, wasn't Ludington State Park ranked #2 in the nation of best places to camp, and Ludington placed among the top of best places to salmon fish just a couple of months ago?

Ludington, as noted, made the list, but they were placed at a disappointing #14, only landing ahead of Petoskey among the north-west Michigan shoreline (and technically ahead of all those that failed to make the list if that's any consolation).  But what was most disheartening was not the cheeky dismissal made of Ludington in its section as far as things-to-do here, and not even with the unfavorable comparison to #2 Muskegon-- of all places:

The most disheartening fact was that we were ranked behind Pentwater, which was expanded to include Silver Lake:

Seven places behind Manistee who somehow reached #7 even with a pan of their culinary culture:

And as already mentioned, lovely Muskegon fell in at #2, for it's 'certified clean' Pere Marquette Beach and its access to Tiki bars, eateries and retail district:

But don't be too disappointed, even if you consider yourself the poster boy or girl for the "Love Ludington" crowd.  Like most ranking systems, this one is unscientific and is based on the impressions of a free lance writer who summers in Detroit and seems to be more impressed with specialty restaurants and taverns rather than with the aspect of what makes a beach town, the beach itself. 

Other trendsetters may have other favorite beach towns, they just haven't made a comprehensive list.  And just as a note, Pere Marquette Beach has been designated a 'certified healthy' beach back in 2004, but try to find them in the latest 2012 evaluations, they just aren't there-- though Sleeping Bear Dunes Lakeshore and Manitou Island made the list.  Nicole did mention the area's scenery at #11, but wasn't as impressed, perhaps because the tiki bars were absent.

[AQUAMAN]

Like water off a duck's tail shinblind. I look at Nicole's picture and what do I see? A young punk biker-type with no class, manners, nor intelligence to begin with. Daddy probably owns the "Thrillist" she reports from. Her common denominator with LV in wintering there would most likely be prostitution imho. Anyhow, I saw so many other comments about my home town as undesirable, that I again must ask, wth is it that we are so badly missing here for all of you? Most people that find a place undesirable and boring usually move on to another place. Where Ludville places on anyone's list of great places to visit is strictly subjective and in the eye of that beholder, which is nothing more than fodder for folly. 

[Willy]

Family is what keeps me tied to Ludington, otherwise I would probably be somewhere else. Just being honest.

Don't get me wrong, Ludington is not undesirable. Aside from the local ruling class Ludington is a great town to live and raise a family. Also the outside attractions such as Ludington State Park, Hamlin Lake, P.M. river, Lake Michigan beaches, near by Silver Lake and dunes, White Pine Village and a whole host of activities makes Ludington attractive. 

[Willy]

Thanks Jasper.

[AQUAMAN]

We cannot change Ludville to have a channel downtown, nor make the roads rolly like San Francisco. Dave and I would favor a Golden Corral here, and of course, like many of you, some real justice in the legal system, and a host of new city councilman/city mgr. that appreciate the locals. But, I don't like any cop-out now, since we have a boring place and such a lack of things to do here. Would someone please point out exactly what we can add/change here in Ludington, so we can correct it for the future? 

[Bill Stechschulte]

now that we can ride atv's  and snowmobiles on the sides of most roads, I wish they could get some trails to ride to. If people could ride a trail to an overlook of Lake Michigan they would surely come, just like silver lake.