Welcome to Ottawa County, Michigan

Ottawa County was named after the Ottawa Indian’s who made their home along the Grand River. The Grand River was an important waterway for lumber barrens and trappers that used this route to get their harvest to Lake Michigan.

Follow the Lake Michigan shoreline south along the interstate highways and in less that 3 hours you can be in downtown Chicago. This proximity to the thriving communities around the Chicago Metroplitian area has helped make Ottawa County a popular vacation destination.

Holland, Michigan is your first stop as you travel north into Ottawa County. Holland has grown in size and economic strength, capitalizing on it’s Dutch heritage community leaders established an annual Tulip Festival in the 1920’s that today attracts over 500,000 people world-wide each spring, the third most attended festival in the United States.

Grand Haven is next on the route north along Lake Michigan and Highway I-196. I-196 dissects a thriving metropolitan area with many diverse businesses. Grand Haven retains its picturesque atmosphere, with its scenic dunes, channel, waterfront and lighthouse at the State Park. From Memorial Day to Labor Day, one can walk along the waterfront from downtown all the way to the lighthouse, accompanied by a musical fountain.

Spring Lake was first called Hopkins Mill, then changed when the Grand Haven & Milwaukee Railroad built a station on the lake. The mineral springs in Spring Lake make it a great place to swim. Go inland and you will find some of the richest farmland anywhere in Michigan, with specialty crops such as blueberries. If you make Ottawa County part of your vacation you may want to turn it into your permanent home!

MARCH
[March 14] Port Clinton Chamber Foundation Reverse Raffle
[March 14 - 16] Great Lakes Home and Flower Show
[March 15] Oak Harbor Chamber Easter Candy Hunt
[March 17] St. Patrick's Day at Put-in-Bay

APRIL
[April 26] Welcome Back Fish Fry (Kelleys Island)
[April 29] Blessing of the Fleet (Put-in-Bay)

MAY
[MAY 3] Walk MS (Sandusky)
[MAY 3 - 4] Free Fishing Days
[MAY 8] Jet Express Point Pelee Birdwatching Trip (Port Clinton)
[MAY 8 - 18] Playmakers Civic Theater presents "The Senator Wore Pantyhose" (Port Clinton)
[MAY 10] Lakeside Daisy Day Festival (Marblehead)
[MAY 10] International Migratory Bird Day - Magee Marsh Wildlife Area (Oak Harbor)
[MAY 11] Family Fishing Fun Day (East Harbor State Park)
[MAY 11 - 17] Nest with the Birds (Kelleys Island)
[MAY 17] Queen Victoria Day and Island Garage Sale (Put-in-Bay)
[MAY 22 - 26] Main Street Walleye Festival (Port Clinton)
[MAY 23 - 24] Memorial Day Weekend (East Harbor State Park)
[MAY 26] Memorial Day (Put-in-Bay)