the beach at st josephs' is very pretty and good for swimming, in fact i have a friend who will take my ashes, and the dogs' when the time comes and scatter me from the pier (not in the middle of tourist season tho, i don't want to get stuck on some suntan oli on a tourists' back LOL). there's a great area with steep dunes to run dogs near there, lotsa seagulls and dead fish to roll in, alex the wonder dog highly recommends it. the best place for fru-fru drinks during sunset is in saugatuck. fishing is excellent along ludington, and the traverse city area is very pretty in the summer and fall. the best cherry milks shakes in the midwest are served in an ice cream resturant on US31 in traverse city. sigh...i miss home.