Sure, you come to the lakeside cottage to relax and enjoy time with your family or friends, but for those days you wake up and want to do something different, the Croton/Newaygo area has lots of activities for people of all ages.

Croton Shores Cottage lies within the Manistee National Forest, with 108,000 acres located in Newaygo County. Nearby are 48 miles of the North Country National Scenic Hiking Trail. The Hardy Dam Rustic Nature Trail is a three-mile round trip through a unique combination of wetlands, springs and towering trees.

Just a short walk from the cottage is Sailor's Pines, named after the family of the original owners. Here, a large stand of white pine has been lovingly cared for since the 1920s. These pines are now as large as those lumbermen of the 1800s would have seen --some standing over 100 feet tall. It's a lovely place to walk and perhaps catch a glimpse of whitetail deer or wild turkeys.

The Town of Newaygo is a delight in itself. Here you can hunt for antiques, stroll through interesting shops, have lunch in a local eatery, buy fresh produce at the Farmer's Market, rent a canoe or kayak for a river trip and walk along the refreshing Muskegon River. On Friday evenings during the summer you can listen to live music in Brooks Park, then watch a movie al fresco.

Arts & Crafts Show, during Memorial Day weekend, Children's Bicycle Parade, Duck Race off the M-37 Bridge, Sidewalk Sales and more!

4th of July Celebration includes Canoe & Kayak Races, Chicken BBQ, Sidewalk Sales and Fireworks over Croton Dam.

Newaygo Logging Fest during Labor Day weekend celebrates our logging heritage with Lumberjack Competitions, an Arts & Crafts Show, BINGO, Chicken BBQ, Golf Outing, Parade, Kids' Activities and--of course--Sidewalk Sales.

The Park at Hardy Pond features a swimming beach, fishing pier, picnic shelter, parking lot and vault toilets. There is no fee for use of the park, and no animals are allowed. Anglers visit the reservoir and the river below Hardy Dam for walleye, bass, perch and other fish.

Muskegon River below Croton Dam is one of the best salmon fishing spots ever. Anglers also catch steelhead and brown trout here. Tube rentals are available near this site for floating down the Muskegon River.

There are several public boat launch sites on Croton Pond and the Muskegon River within a short drive. You can rent a boat, canoe or kayak in Newaygo and take a shuttle to launch it up river.


Upcoming Newago County Events

Date Event Location Contact
       
       
January-February Ice skating & groomed trails White Cloud 231-689-6607
January 24-28, 2012 Winterfest: chili cook-off, dinner dance, Wii contests, euchre tourney, karaoke, raffles & more Newaygo 231-652-3068
February 17-18, 2012 Dam to Dam Celebration: ice fishing, chili cook-off, fish fry on the ice, fishing for kids, live music, drawings & more Croton 231-652-7776
March Community & Business Expo Fremont 231-924-0770
April Newaygo Chamber Home & Garden Show Newaygo 231-652-3068
April Troutfest-Blessing of the Poles: Fishing contest & Fish Fry Newaygo 231-652-3068
May 25-27 Memorial Day Arts & Crafts Show, Brooks Park/Downtown Newaygo 231-652-3068
May 28 Memorial Day Parade Fremont 231-924-0770
June Kids Free Fishing Day White Cloud 231-689-6607
June Summer Concert Series 7:00 pm, Veterans Memorial Park Fremont 231-924-0770
June NCCA Arts Festival, Art of the Automobile & Motorcycle Rally Fremont 231-924-4022
June West Michigan's Longest Yard Sale: Bailey-Irons Newaygo County 231-652-9298
June Newaygo County Kids Day, Brooks Park Newaygo 231-652-3068
July-October Newaygo Farmers Market, Brooks Park Newaygo 231-652-3068
July Hesperia Family Fun Fest Hesperia 231-854-3693
July Croton Dam 4th of July Celebration & Fireworks Croton 231-652-7776
July Summer Concert Series, Veterans Memorial Park Fremont 231-924-0770
July 4 Annual Pig Roast & Tractor Parade at The Shack Jugville 231-689-6607
July National Baby Food Festival Fremont 231-924-0770
August PUrple Heart Pow-Wow White Cloud 231-689-0344
August Newaygo County Agricultural Fair Fremont 231-924-4550
August Grant Frontier Festival Grant 231-834-7904
September 1-3 Newaygo Logging Festival Newaygo 231-652-3068
Sept 7-9 Hot Boat Weekend Hardy Pond 231-689-6470
Sept Fremont Fall Harvest Festival Fremont 231-924-0770
November Holiday Arts & Crafts Festival Fremont 231-924-0770
November 15 White Cloud Buck Pole White Cloud 231-689-6871
December 7-9 Holiday Festival; Christmas Walk, Santa Shuffle, Contests & Auction Newaygo 231-652-3068
December Santa's Headquarters Open Fremont 231-924-0770
December Santa Fly-In & Horse-Drawn Wagon Rides White Cloud 231-689-6871
December Santa's Storybook Saturday White Cloud 231-689-6607
December Christmas Stroll & Santa Parade 6-8:30 pm Fremont 231-924-0770
December Santa Train & Hometown Christmas White Cloud 231-689-6607
December Breakfast Wiith Santa, 9 am Fremont 231-924-0770
December Santa's Headquarters, Veterans Park, 6:30-8:00 pm Fremont 231-924-0770
December Dinner With Santa & Friends, 4:30-6:30 pm Fremont 231-924-0770

For more information

Newago County Convention & Visitors Bureau
Contact 231-652-9298

www.NewaygoCountyTourism.com