As the song says, "The best things in Life are Free!" or almost! There are a lot of things you can have in Saugatuck that are free or really cheap.  Can't afford an expensive week end get away?  Come to Saugatuck!. 

This is the first blog of a series that I am writing highlighting fun and  inexpensive activities in the Douglas/Saugatuck area. 

To collect all the blogs, you should subscribe to my blogs at activerain.com - Go to www.activerain.com, Go to Michigan, Go to Allegan County, Go to Saugatuck and get on Dee Dee Hanson's Blog.  Just sign on for my blogs to come to you automatically which will happen as they are posted - hopefully one a week in this series.  Or you can check my website at www.mysaugatuck.com and click to the right of the little dog at Dee Dee's Blog.  While you are there you can check out all the fantastic real estate opportunities in the area or just send me an e-mail at deehans@ameritech.net or call me at 616-836-8535 and I will put you on automatic to send your the homes that meet your requirements as soon as they hit the market.

When you are planning to come to town, you can pick up information on the area and your own, personal, private Allegan County Map at my office at Coldwell Banker Woodland Schmidt.  Call me to let me know you are coming and I will have a "care package" ready for you to pick up.  We are just off I 196, Exit 36, on the right hand side before you get to Douglas.

First "cheap" thing you need to know about is the Interurban   This will take you anywhere in Saugatuck Township for $1.00 or if you are a Senior - 50 cents! 

Great if you want to go downtown Saugatuck and don't want to worry about parking or if you should be going to one of the beaches or if you plan to have a few martinis in town.  The Interurban can be your designated driver. 

The interurban can be called at 269-857-1418.  This is really an enjoyable ride at a very affordable price.  You also get to meet some of the locals on the bus.

The next place you need to know about is the "free Beach"  - the Douglas Beach is free. 

There is only one catch.  You have to use the stairs to get down to the water.  At the Oval Beach there are no stairs but there is a nominal charge in the daytime during the season.  At the Douglas Beach on Lakeshore Drive, there are just over twenty parking spaces. If you plan on taking your car, get there early to get a space during the height of the season OR JUST TAKE THE INTERURBAN.                                       

Now you MUST see the sunset in the evening FROM OVAL BEACH.

Yes, Virginia, the sunset is still free!

Oval Beach is free in the evenings.

By this time you will have had your dinner.  About half an hour before Sunset go to the Star of Saugatuck - at the end of Water Street in Saugatuck and picked up ice cream cones for the entire family

Marilyn will sell you the the best ice cream in town at the most reasonable price. Baby cones  - are big enough for anyone  and sell for $1.50 each.  Take your ice cream and drive over to Oval Beach and watch the sunset.  SEE YOU THERE!