Ok, hear me out. What if I told you that you can see the beautiful tulips of Holland this spring without leaving the country? Yes, you read that right! And by Holland, I mean the beautiful small town of Holland Michigan. Ok, so it’s not exactly the Netherlands, but it really is a beautiful place to visit especially during the Tulip Festival.
Holland is a picturesque town that sits on the lower peninsula of Michigan. It prides itself in hosting the annual Tulip Festival each year. Since I knew I wouldn’t be visiting the Netherlands anytime soon, I put the Holland Michigan Tulip Festival on my bucket list. The Tulip Festival for 2023 will run from May 6 – May 13 and you can check their website for up to date happenings and events during this week. https://www.holland.org/events/tulip-festival
I was so ecstatic when I convinced my parents to drive to Holland in 2022 and experience this once a year experience. We were blessed with amazing sunshine that really showcased the colors of the tulips. The town is covered in head to toe tulips; lining the streets, parks, and gardens. Holland is an especially clean town and even more so during this time of year. There is no one location to see the tulips and they are spread throughout the town. However, my favorite locations to stroll the rows of tulips were the Windmill Island Gardens and Veldheer Tulip Gardens. You can even purchase tulip bulbs to take back home with you and start your own tulip garden. The Windmill Garden also houses the only operating Dutch windmill in the United States which is a pretty cool site to see.
There is also so much more to do than see tulips during the festival. Holland boasts a gorgeous downtown full of restaurants and shops. You can spend a whole day eating and browsing the many unique stores that sit along downtown Holland. And don’t forget to stop in one of the many stores that sell wooden shoes. A trip to Holland wouldn’t be complete without this keepsake. You also can’t visit Holland without having breakfast at The Windmill Restaurant. When I say this is the best place to eat, hands down, take my word for it! There is always a line, but it moves quick, and trust me, it’s worth the wait. Just be sure not to leave there without ordering a cinnamon roll.
During your time in Holland, you’ll want to take a walk along the Window on the Waterfront Trail and Centennial Park. During the festival expect to see color, fragrance, and tulips everywhere you go. There is plenty of public parking, but be prepared, the Tulip Festival does bring in a large crowd of people especially on the weekends. Parking will be difficult and I highly recommend making dinner reservations otherwise you’ll be waiting a few hours for a table. Some of my favorite restaurants in Holland are Boatwerks Restaurant and New Holland Brewing, and of course, I’ll say it again, The Windmill Restaurant for breakfast.
There are plenty of lodging options whether you’re looking for a hotel or Airbnb. Since Holland sits on Lake Michigan there are some great options on the water on the outskirts of town such as Holland Cottage Rentals. If you’re wanting to stay in the heart of Holland then I recommend Courtyard by Marriott Downtown or City Flats Hotel by Hilton. Both of these locations are centered in the heart of the downtown historic district and walking distance to shops and restaurants. When we stayed in Holland, we ended up staying a few miles from downtown. This trip was somewhat last minute and I already had multiple trips planned; I was trying to do it on a budget. We stayed at Staybridge Suites Holland which is a fantastic hotel and I loved the options of booking a 1 or 2 room suite. I have also stayed at the Holiday Inn Express Holland on a previous trip and would recommend as well.
A trip to Holland wouldn’t be complete without spending time at the Holland State Park and putting your bare toes in the sand and the freezing water. Whether you have an interest in the Tulip Festival or just looking to get away for the weekend, consider Holland for a fun, relaxing and picturesque getaway.
My Weekend Itinerary in Holland, Michigan
Friday
- Arrived 5pm
- Checked into hotel – Staybridge Suites Holland (Averages $160 – $250 per night)
- Dinner – The Boatwerks
Saturday
- Breakfast at hotel
- First stop – Window on the Waterfront Trail
- Second Stop – Windmill Island Gardens (entry is $12 adult, $6 ages 3 – 15)
- Third Stop – Veldheer Tulip Gardens – $5.00
- Lunch – The Good Earth Cafe
- Last Stop – Centennial Park
- Dinner – New Holland Brewing
Sunday
- Breakfast – The Windmill Restaurant
- Shopping historic district
- Lunch – Crust 54
- Holland State Park
Your Journey Starts Here 