Michigan Lake to Lake
Bed and Breakfast Association

Douglas is on the coast of Lake Michigan, in Southwest Michigan. It sits across the Kalamazoo Lake from Saugatuck, its sister city. What started out as a lumber town became a summer destination for residents of Chicago and St. Louis seeking respite from the heat. There is often a cool breeze coming off the lake, making Douglas Michigan bed and breakfasts pleasant places to spend the summer.

Douglas and Saugatuck are known as the Art Coast of Michigan, thanks in part to the Art Institute of Chicago. Since the summer of 1910, the Art Institute of Chicago has conducted a summer school called Ox Bow on a picturesque lagoon just outside of town. A steady stream of artists flows into the area, many of whom end up as permanent residents. This ensures an excellent supply of art for the many art galleries, shops and boutiques in Douglas.

When staying at a Douglas Michigan bed and breakfast, be sure to attend the Douglas Social on Thursday evenings, downtown. There is free live music, free narrated trolley tours, and lots of (not free) food and drink. Visit the Keewatin Maritime Museum. The SS. Keewatin was the last of the coal burning overnight passenger steamships to sail the Great Lakes. The mahogany paneling, hand carved panels and stained glass windows are well preserved, and evoke a by-gone era.

The land around Douglas is lush and ideally suited for many crops. Look for u-pick orchards, especially when peaches are ripe - this succulent fruit is downright heavenly when freshly picked. It is also fun to visit the many Michigan wineries near Douglas Michigan bed and breakfasts, most of which offer tours and wine tasting.

Enjoy an afternoon of charter fishing on Lake Michigan, or a cruise down the Kalamazoo River. Golf at the West Shore Golf Club. No matter what, don't miss the Mount Baldhead and Oval Beach Recreation Area or the Saugatuck Sand Dunes State Park. Together they offer a lovely combination of sand dunes, beach grasses, hiking trails and swimming. Paradise.