For myself and many other Hope students, a major perk of life in Holland is the options for recreation on campus and in the community. Depending on the season, you might find me rollerblading with friends, hammocking in the Pine Grove, or building a snowman outside. One thing remains consistent– Holland is an amazing place for outdoor recreation.
I’m halfway done with my time at Hope and still regularly discovering new places to spend time outside. Just this morning, I ran on a new-to-me waterfront trail near campus I’d never heard of until a friend recommended it. Today I’m going to share some insider recreational outdoor spots– ones I hadn’t heard of until I became a Hope student, or even more recently.
1. Heinz Waterfront Walkway
This morning I ran on the Heinz Waterfront Walkway for the first time, and it was wonderful. This is a bridge-like path that passes over parts of Lake Macatawa near Kollen Park. While running, I saw boats, fishermen, and even the sunrise over the lake. I’m excited to keep coming back to this walkway, and I would definitely recommend it for a walk or run– it’s only about a mile from campus.
2. Mount Pisgah
Mount Pisgah is another place I love to watch the sunrise. This is a hiking location about 10 minutes from campus, close to Holland State Park. After going up some stairs, you arrive to a beautiful lookout where you can see Lake Macatawa on one side and Lake Michigan on the other. If you keep hiking up, there’s a number of dune trails to be explored. I’ve only been to Mount Pisgah a few times. On one memorable trip, my friend and I brought coffee and watched the sunrise.
3. Laketown Beach
Most of the time when people go to the beach in Holland, they visit Holland State Park or Tunnel Park. Laketown Beach is a less-popular spot– but it’s so beautiful. My favorite part of Laketown is the huge dune that you climb down to get to the waterfront. Words can’t do it justice– here’s an image of me and a friend climbing down to the beach.
4. Van Raalte Farm
Van Raalte Farm is a historic site in Holland, and on the property they have nearly 2 miles of trail for families, dog-owners, and runners alike. When I went to Van Raalte, it was to visit their sledding hill last winter with a friend. The hill was the perfect size for sledding (or trying to snowboard down the hill on our sleds, which is mostly what we did). I’m looking forward to going back to Van Raalte on a run this summer.
5. Window on the Waterfront Skating Rink
Last but certainly not least is a recreational spot I’m excited to try out. A new ice skating rink at Window on the Waterfront (very close to campus!) is currently being constructed, and expected to be finished in 2025. I’m already looking forward to cozy winter days ice skating with friends, getting a hot latte from Lemonjello’s, and going back to my cottage to read or do homework.
Wrapping it Up…
Holland is an amazing place for outdoor recreation– whether you’re a runner, swimmer, ice skater, or anything in between. I hope that these five lesser-known or anticipated places can inspire you to get outside and try something new. Here’s to that adventure!