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.

[Willy]

I think that the Cities and towns that adjoin the beaches had a lot to do with the ratings. Unfortunately, beside the beach, Ludington has very little to offer visitors. Take away the harbor and beach and what is left is a boring small town that could be anywhere U.S.A. There is nothing unique about Ludington that would cause it to be high on anybody's list of places to visit.

[AQUAMAN]

I respectfully disagree Willy. There's other things to do here that Nicole obviously didn't explore. Beautiful and numerous campgrounds come to mind, a relaxed downtown atmosphere out of the city life, with many interesting and friendly people to converse with. Some of the architecture is well done in victorian type homes, mansions, churches, the courthouse, and numerous stores of old, along with White Pine Village. Then there is hiking, sightseeing, riding in the country with fresh smells of hay, vegetables, farms with livestock, visiting the Elk farm, the PSP, and much more. Hunting and fishing is also a well known past-time to the folk that enjoy catching salmon and hunting small game and deer. Fall presents a beautiful color tour destination too. Nicole appears like a big city loving gal, devoid of simple pleasures like Ludington. 

[Jasper]

Totally agree with you Willy!  Ludington has nothing much to offer, as beaches align the lakeshore up and down the Lake Michigan Coast.  Petoskey, Charlevoix, South Haven etc..., offer the same but have incorporated other venues into their communities to attract visitors.  

[AQUAMAN]

With all due respect to Jasper too, please define boring with "nothing to do here in Ludville". Did I bother to mention, a trip on the Badger, a 410' passenger ship that still sails Lk. Mich. and is going to presently, and into the future? How about a skating rink at WSCC, tennis courts, soccer fields, 2-3 indoor heated swimming pools, and much more us Ludville kids never saw growing up? When you are from, and lived, grew up, and played in Ludville for a long period of time, you know you have to be inventive, and make your own entertainment. Nowadays, it's all there at your disposal to enjoy, and try as taxpayers have, some are still at unrest, trying to find zoos and museums for enjoyment. We have a few of those too, if you bother to look. And did I mention, the fishing? 

[Willy]

Aquaman. Most people who use the Badger are just passing through. They're not here to sight see Ludington. As far as other amenities go, those are for locals to use. If it wasn't for Hamlin Lake and the State Park there would be no camping here. There would not be folks with cottages who pay hefty property taxes to help support the area. If Ludington had to stand alone it would still be a nice town but not a must see destination. Aside from Stearns Beach, people just pass through Ludington to get to somewhere else. In my opinion White Pine Village has got to be the most underrated attraction in the area. It is a superb example of what showcasing the history of the Ludington area is all about and it deserves more recognition and support. More advertising wouldn't hurt either.          

[XLFD]

I was inclined to side more with Aquaman on this issue, because personally I never get bored with the subtle joys and things to do in the outdoors here (exceptions only occur in January and February after the novelty of winter gets old).  But then I happened upon Brandy Henderson's blog post on Pure Michigan titled 9 Things for Your Pure Ludington Vacation Bucket List.  After wondering about how come she could only list nine and not get to the rounder number 10, I read them.  At #1, Catch one of the Sunset Beach Bonfires planned this summer at Stearns Park Beach, set the tone. 

This may be peachy-keen for the Kumbaya crowd, but I prefer my family and friends snuggling around a campfire with natural hardwood logs with crickets in the background over the company of strangers around a burning barrel secreted behind fences and firefighters with some amplified music to distract you away from the banality of the experience and the chemically-tainted smell coming from the burning pallets.  Of course, both the bonfire and the music would be against the law if you had it on the beach.

Growing up here, I can recall going for late night August dips in Lake Michigan between the First and Third Curves with associates I will not name, coming into shore and warming the chattering body with an impromptu beach fire made from wood brought out and kept in a shallow sand pit while listening to tunes in the background from a transistor radio.  That's what real Ludington memories are made of. 

At least three of the other bucket list items (#4,5, and 8) are also pretty lame, so I have to respect Willy's opinion.  Beyond the beaches and the lighthouses, there isn't much to draw the tourists away from similar beach towns.

[stump]

It sounds that the girl writing the article was more interested in the bars, maybe she didn't find a good looking guy to buy her drinks so she marked Ludington down.

[AQUAMAN]

Stump, yup, I agree, she probably didn't get laid or she would've been high on Lud.. Freelancers don't really have steady work and perhaps journalistic attributes either that qualify her to begin with. 

[XLFD]

She overlooked our Tiki bar in her evaluation, so she was probably looking at Ludington as being on M-116 along with the state park.  If so, she even missed Chuckwagon,home of the over-packed topping pizza, of which I had some last night (and this morning). 

My guess is that if she did visit Ludington and didn't get her information second-hand, that she came during the late day after she supped in Manistee, and before she finished the night at the Gull Landing Bar in Pentwater.

[Jasper]

The "Tiki"??  Please...the Tiki is so beyond outdated.  LOL  Seriously do people actually make "Chuckwagon" their destination point for visiting Ludington.  I don't believe so!

[stump]

Google "things to do in ludington michigan" can't say much for our chamber for putting out the red carpet to draw people in.

[Jasper]

stump,

There is absolutely nothing to draw people in.  The chamber has nothing to "put up" on their website to draw people in!  Ya gotta have something to put up, and there is nada!  LOL!!