Ludington State Park received the most votes in this week’s LSJ poll summer beach poll among 10 popular beaches along the Great Lakes shorelines.
Starting Tuesday morning, June 16, LSJ readers had the opportunity to vote for 10 popular beaches along Lakes Huron, Michigan and Superior as their favorite — or offer a beach we didn’t list.
Muskegon State Park beach; Saugatuck Oval Beach; Charles Mears State Park beach; Keith J. Charters Traverse City State Park beach; 12 Mile Beach on Lake Superior; U.S. 2 Sand Dunes Beach on Lake Michigan; Petoskey State Park Beach; Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore beach; Ludington State Park beach; and Tawas Point State beach were all in the running.
The poll closed at noon on Thursday, June 18.
Ludington State Park beach, located on Lake Michigan was the winner, receiving 16% of votes cast.
Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore beach received 14% of the votes.
Readers took advantage of the “other” option in the poll, with 30% of participants choosing a beach not listed as their favorite — not really a surprise since Michigan had dozens of potential choices.
South Haven’s South Beach, P.J. Hoffmaster State Park beach in Muskegon, Holland State Park’s Ottawa Beach, Misery Bay in the Upper Peninsula, Grand Haven State Park beach and First Street Beach in Manistee were among the many options people offered.
Why is Ludington State Park beach so well-liked?
Ludington State Park is located between 5,000-acre Hamlin Lake Lake Michigan, occupying 7 miles of Lake Michigan shoreline backed by seemingly endless sand dunes, and framed by an iconic lighthouse.
“Families especially appreciate the park’s Hamlin Lake Beach for its calm waters, sandy shore, playground, picnic shelter, restrooms, and concessions. From here, it’s just a short stroll to the Hamlin Lake Dam, which was constructed during the logging era when lumbermen dammed the Big Sable River to make a holding pond for felled trees,” travel website, Visit Ludington said.
The park also includes 21 miles of marked trails, three campgrounds, fishing piers, a pavilion, picnic areas, hunting grounds, pet-friendly features and more.
The park is situated near large sand dunes and the iconic Big Sable Point Lighthouse for a view of Lake Michigan.
Contact Sarah Moore @ smoore@lsj.com
This article originally appeared on Lansing State Journal: LSJ readers like Ludington. State park beach was top choice in poll
Reporting by Sarah Moore, Lansing State Journal / Lansing State Journal
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Sarah Moore, Lansing State Journal | USA TODAY Network
