Solo Female Travel to Saugatuck – Hiking, Yoga/Spa Sessions, Art Galleries, and Leisurely Shopping During the Day and Delicious

Saugatuck is a dream destination for your next solo female travel getaway, from its hiking and outdoorsy charm to carefree days spent browsing in hip boutiques, treating yourself to spa days and yoga classes, and diving into the diverse local restaurant scene. It’s all just minutes away from our Michigan bed and breakfast – so stay in luxury in the heart of Saugatuck and escape to the picturesque coast of Lake Michigan.

Hit the Trails and Explore – Along the Water and Out on the Dunes

Start the day by taking in the view of Lake Kalamazoo just outside – many of our rooms and cottages have full or partial views of the scenic waterway – and then stroll 15 minutes down Lake St to Butler St, the center of downtown. Get your caffeine fix with a specialty latte, mocha, or matcha tea at Uncommon Coffee with a freshly baked scone or ham and gouda breakfast sandwich for lunch. Take it to go and enjoy a half-mile walk through downtown to the northern end, where you can jump right on a trail at the Mildred A. Peterson Nature Preserve, following a 1-mile loop along the edge of Silver Lake. Once private land but dedicated to the city over 20 years ago, it’s a serene spread of beech and maple forests surrounding the lake, where you’ll see ducks thriving in the protected habitat.

If you’re looking for a longer hike and the added perk of beach time, combine them with an outing across the Kalamazoo River at Mt. Baldhead. The 300-stair climb from the parking area is a trek but well worth the effort for the reward of sweeping views overlooking the dunes from the observation deck at the top. Always a busy route for locals and tourists, it’s a safe hike to do alone, and keep your eye out for friendly wildlife along the way, like deer, which often frolic in the forest abutting the stairway leading up. After reaching the top and snapping some pics – the panorama of Lake Michigan is prime for an Instagram post – descend to Oval Beach, rated as one of the country's most beautiful stretches of coastline. The dunes here stretch forever, sloping white sands and grasses wafting gently in the afternoon breeze. This beach becomes busy with beachgoers in the summer (peak season kicks off in earnest on Memorial Day) but is often quiet and peaceful during the off-season months.

Dip your feet in the refreshing waters of Lake Michigan as you walk north along the shore to the Saugatuck Nature Harbor Area, one of our favorite winter hikes. Enjoy the sights and sounds of impressive birds like gulls, sandhill cranes, warblers, and rare birds that stop here during their northward spring migration. This meeting point of the lake and river forms a vital wetland, one of the most biologically diverse spots anywhere in Michigan, and a place to marvel at the abounding natural beauty.

Relax and Recharge – Yoga and Spa Magic Downtown

Luxuriate in the unsung perks of solo female travel, pampering your body and revitalizing your spirit with a spa day and yoga session. Saugatuck’s premier day spa and yoga studio are just blocks away from each other downtown and a short stroll or bike ride (we have bikes available for free for guests) from our location. Head first to Bella Vita on Butler St, where they take the mind-body therapeutic connection to the next level. Choose from deluxe spa treatments featuring no less than six types of facials, ranging from plant peels and pore-focused microdermabrasion to botanical skin therapy. Go for the whole spa experience and add a haircut, color, and style, followed by a 25, 50, or 75-minute Swedish massage. The stress-fix massage will do just that, starting with Swedish and deep tissue muscle work, followed by acupressure, and finishing with a lavender and sage skin wrap.

Take your rejuvenation one step further by getting on the yoga mat for a class at Satya Yoga. Their warm space is equally welcoming to newcomers and seasoned yogis, with a wide-ranging class schedule taught by their seven instructors, who all bring a wealth of experience and have 200- or 500-hour teaching certifications. Join a Hatha or gentle flow class, usually offered in the early and late morning and again in the late afternoon, or come in the evening for one of their yoga and sound bath sessions – featuring a mix of singing bowls and mantras providing the soundtrack for the yoga flow, it’s a soothing and sacred way to tap into your inner bliss.

Boutique Browsing, Art Gallery Hopping, and Indulging Your Inner Foodie

With no chain stores in sight, Saugatuck and Douglas (just across Lake Kalamazoo) are a delightful place to shop, browsing from one unique boutique to the next throughout our quaint downtown streets. The next block up from Bella Vita on Butler St, peruse the silver and opal pieces from local jewelers at Blue Wildwood Jewelry Boutique, all tastefully curated and presented in creative displays. Be sure also to check out Lucia’s World Emporium, which is full of fair trade goods made by artisans from across the globe. Whether it’s a hand-stitched sundress, flowy patterned pants from Thailand, a Nepalese crocheted dreamcatcher, or home decor like a vibrant handmade couch pillow from Guatemala, you will find something that speaks to you. Finish the evening with a delicious dinner just a mile away on the Blue Star Highway at Pennyroyal Cafe and Provisions, one of the best Saugatuck farm-to-table restaurants. Sip on a crisp cherry cider (made just a few miles outside town at Crane’s) before biting into a toothsome cavatelli pasta or shaved vegetable salad, harvested right from the farm of the husband-and-wife owners, food grown and prepared with passion.

On a different day, head just a mile over the bridge spanning Lake Kalamazoo to downtown Douglas, our adorable sister town nestled between the river and Lake Michigan. In just one block along Center St, you’ll get a taste of what makes Saugatuck/Douglas unique. Browse the impressive art exhibited at Button Gallery, where whimsical sculptures fill the garden space and exquisite oil paintings of dunes show why we’re known as Michigan’s Art Coast, a creative magnet for artists for over a century. Then, head next door to the Coastal Society for craft cocktails made with infused spirits and fresh-picked herbs. While you sip, browse their bohemian chic boutique, from beachy beaded bracelets and stylish loungewear to hand-poured candles. Finally, walk just a few steps and kick off a lively evening at Everyday People Cafe with a happy hour margarita or Cosmo alongside a roasted beet and chevre salad or seasonal butternut squash pasta with shallot, sage, and pancetta, a treat for the senses.

Stay with us, leave the stress of daily life behind, and make Saugatuck your next solo female travel destination!