Our 3-bedroom home-away-from-home sits in a quiet, family-friendly Holland neighborhood — with a private fenced yard, fire pit, cornhole, and a stocked kitchen. It's our retreat between every adventure.
Columbus → Holland · Kollen Park & the waterfront
~5 hours from Columbus. Lunch-and-legs stop around Fort Wayne.
Stock the kitchen: breakfasts, snacks, s'mores supplies for the fire pit.
Unpack once, explore the house, meet the backyard.
One minute from the front door — playground, Lake Macatawa views, and the Heinz Waterfront Walkway.
S'mores, cornhole, and an early bedtime. We made it.
Patio tables on Lake Macatawa, GF-marked menu with GF buns, cauliflower-crust pizza — and a GF crème brûlée for dessert.
Windmill Island Gardens · Downtown · Holland State Park & Big Red
De Zwaan — the only working authentic Dutch windmill in America — plus an antique carousel, Amsterdam street organ, gardens, and a kids' play area. Open lawns, easy pace, easy exits.
Crust 54's gluten-free pizza (separate oven & utensils) — then treats from Bliss, Holland's 100% gluten-free bakery.
Backyard time, quiet time, whatever the afternoon needs.
Soft-sand swimming beach with the famous lighthouse view. Late afternoon = smaller crowds and cooler sand.
The legendary Tommy Turtle sundae on the drive home along Ottawa Beach Road.
Grill in the backyard after a sandy afternoon — no restaurant patience required.
Saugatuck · Lake Michigan sand dunes · Downtown Holland
Big-event day — pancakes at the house, pack water, sunglasses (sand spray is real), and pocket snacks.
Our booked ride! 40 minutes racing over Lake Michigan's giant dunes with an expert driver — hills, woods, and a famous splashy finale. 18 minutes south of the house.
Phil's Bar & Grille in artsy Saugatuck, or Salt & Pepper Savory Grill back in Holland — both handle gluten-free with care.
Backyard, books, quiet. If there's spare energy later: the short Window on the Waterfront stroll.
Holland's flagship brewpub with a knowledgeable gluten-free program. Patio seating if we want the quieter option.
Nelis' Dutch Village · Tunnel Park beach
Gluten-free pancakes from a kitchen that takes it seriously.
A little Netherlands theme park: petting farm with goats, bunnies, and an alpaca; a windmill Ferris wheel; carousel; wooden-shoe carving; Dutch dancers. Compact and contained — easy to enjoy, easy to leave when we're done.
Lunch and downtime before round two.
Walk through the tunnel under the dune and pop out onto Lake Michigan sand. Playground + dune stairs, calmer than the State Park.
Final s'mores, and we stage the suitcases.
Repeat the favorite of the week — Boatwerks patio round two is the front-runner.
One last stop · Columbus by dinner
Chargers, sensors, sand toys, souvenirs.
Donuts and cinnamon rolls for the road — everything in the case is safe.
Quick photo stop before we point the car east.
~5 hours back to Columbus. Home by dinner, hearts full.
| Spot | Why we trust it | Good for |
|---|---|---|
| Bliss Gluten Free Bakery & Café | 100% dedicated gluten-free facility | Treats, breakfast, road snacks |
| Crust 54 | Separate GF oven, utensils & glove changes | Pizza lunch downtown |
| Boatwerks Waterfront | GF-marked menu, GF buns — walkable from the house | Patio dinners |
| New Holland — Pub on 8th | GF pizza & buns, knowledgeable staff | Downtown dinner |
| Anna's House | Celiac-aware breakfast kitchen | Big breakfasts |
| Salt & Pepper Savory Grill | Celiac-accommodating service | Casual lunch/dinner |
| Captain Sundae | Classic beach-road ice cream (verify toppings) | Post-beach reward |