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]

When I googled, it gave me 21 favorite things to do. Last on the list was The Mitten and Tiki bars. Another was a visit to Todd and Brad Reed's Photo shop, along with a walk on the breakwall to the lighthouse, visit to Amber Elk lodge, Stearns and State Park, ride on the Badger, to name several. If you want "big city" things to do like Detroit and Las Vegas, then you're in the wrong parlor. We are not trying to compete with any big city, and never will. However, the Chamber of Commerce as it stands right now, isn't up to par with drawing new business ventures. They are up to par on drawing a bunch of tourists that drive and act like nuts here all summer, pushing and shoving their way around, and generally, being rude and obnoxious. Not all, but all too many are like that nowadays. 

[XLFD]

Too often, people and organizations like the local chamber and city hall are too caught up on the amount of things to do, in order to draw businesses and tourists into their community, but they perhaps overthink the situation and fail to think outside the box.  The main draw for our community tourist-wise is the wide-range of outdoor activities and a pleasant environment, and it always will be unless we mess it up. 

To many tourists to the area, especially the ones that come back every year, the Zen-like phrase "Less is more." applies.  They come here to escape from the bustle and frivolities of big city life.  Our list lady from Detroit is not one of those, but we get many from Detroit that don't feel that way.

[stump]

Well it's not that bad, it has some things. a lot of bars. Just noticed tonight as I was driving through town, almost every store front on the south side of main street is a bar, never been in any of them. Wait ,I was in the Sportsman' back in the 80'ss The attractions are better than a town I stopped at in Kentucky, Their claim to fame was "THE COON DOG CEMETERY"

[MED]

Well, I'm not retired - YET - but I sure do LOVE lighthouses. LOL! How can you review Great Lakes beach towns and not love lighthouses?!? Maybe we can ask the Lighthouse Society to sponsor Fight Club nights to entertain the likes of Nicole? Also, the dismissive mention of boating and golfing gives her away as a citified snob. Hm, didn't even mention the main attraction for me - FISHING!

However, I do think Ludington is missing out on any dining choices with a lake view, except for P.M. Steamers. It would be cool to have a lakefront restaurant I think.

[XLFD]

And PM Steamers has only a so-so view of the city marina.  The old Paulina Stearns Hospital on South Washington may have had some nice restaurant potential, but there would be a good candidate on the PM Lake just south of my house on Dowland Street-- between George and Dowland Streets.  The city has high hopes on developing the area into fancy condos, however.

If Nicole scores Muskegon #2 as an ideal, prototypical beach town, you know there's something screwed up with her thinking

[stump]

You have to drive a long way west to find the actual beach in MUSKEGON. Was there years ago and don't remember it being anything special.

[Willy]

The above photos are of Manistee. The top 2 photos show the riverwalk taken from the same spot the 1st is looking west and the 2nd is looking east. The 3rd is an example of the unique buildings of the downtown area. The 4th shows the downtown from the river side with boats docked. The 5th is the famous Ramsdell theatre. The 6th image shows Manistee's scenic and winding downtown street.

As I said Ludington is not a must see destination so I wanted to show a town that I consider a must see. Manistee has a beautiful riverwalk  that is lined with docks full of boats. The river walk is located behind downtown buildings which makes access very convenient for walkers or boaters.

The downtown has many convenient shops such as an pluming, htg. and electrical store, camera store, vacuum store, barbershop ect.

Manistee also has the famous Ramsdell theatre as well as a movie theatre.

One wonderful feature is that the river passes thru the center of town and sightseeing ocean freighters and lakers is a must see for nautical buffs or anyone interested in a unique view of large ships. Walking on the riverwalk or sitting on a deck of one of the adjoining buildings it almost seems you can reach out and touch these huge vessals.

Manistee is one of the most boater friendly towns with boat dockage right downtown as seen in several of the photos.

Manistee also has 2 draw bridges. I try to capture them on camera when they are in operation.

Manistee also has many victorion and older homes scattered throughout the city.

Many beautiful old churches can be visited and viewed as well.

There are few vacant store fronts which indicates a vibrant downtown.

Don't get me wrong, Ludington is a very nice family town but it doesn't have have the unique quality of towns like Manistee. There us more to see in Manistee but I don't have the time to list them all.

[AQUAMAN]

Well Willy, we can't dredge a water channel thru the downtown Ludington. A riverwalk issue was raised and buried in Lud. many times already. The idea from the city council was to just make a $12 Million walkway along the entire waterfront without any waterfront property owners' permissions. In other words, eminent domain for the usage of the public, without any concerns for liability. Also, we have a waterfront restaurant in Barnhart's on Hamlin Lake now, we also used to have Wrens Roost and Piney Ridge Resort, both closed now. I would be interested to know why OUR Victorian homes aren't noticed. Many on East Ludington Ave. are well kept and alive today. We also have many beautiful churches around here. Please list the other missing things in Lud. that we don't have now, besides the things that can't be done or created now. I fail to see how Manistee is so much better, Hell, they can't even hire a good city manager. P.S. TJ'S Pub, it's not on the water. And if you go there, you can't get a dinner, they only serve soup and sandwiches, but the bldg. is an architectural marvel. 

[Willy]

I didn't take the picture above but it shows one of the most unique features which I consider a must see. A Laker passing thru downtown Manistee.

Aquaman

There is another important element I forgot to mention about Manistee and that is it's hilly terrain. This makes almost every street unique and different from the others due to the elevation changes from street to street. Ludingtons streets are flat and boring with no character except for the difference in house designs. I love Ludington but it's just to ordinary. In Ludington, if your away from the lake or harbor, your in anywhere U.S.A

[Jasper]

Thank you so much Willy for your excellent review of Manistee aka "the Victorian City."  Your photo's are awesome and Manistee is a beautiful destination to visit! 

[AQUAMAN]

I hope no one thinks I don't like Manistee. Heck, I luv Manistee too, and in some ways, better than Lud.. However, if you go there after 6 pm on any given day now, it's pretty much closed up. Even during busy summer months I noticed the downtown empty pretty much. The LRBOI Casino though is usually packed with people from downtown and elsewhere. I think that Casino draws more people to the area than anything else most of the year. This coming weekend they do have a special event: Hops and Props. Downtown brew tasting events and also an antique boat show in the harbor. Should be quite a good time, hope I can get away sometime before it ends, but, I doubt it. 

[shinblind]

Don't take the rating so personal Aquaman. Maybe Ms. Tiki Bar caught wind of the shabby treatment that Claire the Book Girl suffered from the COL  while writing this article  and downgraded Ludington accordingly. Karma and all that. Or maybe she just suffered the sandy bed in the mildew room  at a local motel and figured that for her $200 expense she would downgrade Ludington a few extra notches.  A woman scorned and all that. 

Funny that she made no mention of the Carferry either.