Silver Lake is one of those places where the adventure starts as soon as you see the massive sand dunes. Our favorite experience was Mac Wood’s Dune Rides, where we raced across the dunes with plenty of speed, sharp turns, and incredible views along the way. We also spent time exploring the dunes on foot and watching the ORVs tackle the sand.
We turned our Silver Lake visit into a bigger family adventure by adding a tour of Country Dairy Farm and a day at Lewis Adventure Farm & Zoo. Between dune rides, farm animals, hands-on experiences, and plenty of family fun, this area gave us much more to do than we expected.
⭐ Why I Recommend It
What I love about Silver Lake is how many completely different family experiences you can combine in one getaway. We got the excitement of racing across the dunes, time to explore them on foot, a behind-the-scenes look at farm life at Country Dairy, and a full day of animals and attractions at Lewis Adventure Farm & Zoo.
Quick Facts
- 📍 Location: Silver Lake and the surrounding West Michigan area
- 🏜️ Known For: Massive sand dunes and ORV recreation
- 🚙 Don’t Miss: Mac Wood’s Dune Rides
- 👨👩👧👦 Great For: Families, outdoor adventures and animal lovers
- ☀️ Best Time to Visit: Summer for the full Silver Lake experience; fall is especially fun at Lewis Adventure Farm & Zoo
- ⏱️ Plan For: A full day for Silver Lake or a multi-day trip if adding the nearby attractions
Visitor Tips
- 🎟️ Arrive early for Mac Wood’s Dune Rides. Tickets are purchased when you arrive, and wait times can be longer during busy summer days.
- 🏜️ Expect sand everywhere! Comfortable shoes are helpful if you plan to walk the dunes, but be prepared for a workout.
- 🚙 ORVs are a huge part of the Silver Lake experience. Even if you don’t plan to drive one yourself, they’re fun to watch out on the dunes.
- 🗓️ Give yourself more than one day if you can. Country Dairy and Lewis Adventure Farm & Zoo make great additions to a Silver Lake trip without feeling like more of the same.
Our Silver Lake Adventure
We packed this trip with dune rides, farm animals, and plenty of family fun. Here are the places that made our Silver Lake adventure so memorable.
Mac Wood’s Dune Rides
If you only do one thing at Silver Lake, Mac Wood’s Dune Rides would be our pick! The approximately 40-minute ride takes you on a seven-mile adventure across the Silver Lake Sand Dunes, with plenty of speed, hills and turns along the way.
We loved the combination of beautiful dune views and the thrill of racing across the sand. It was exciting for the kids, fun for us, and one of those experiences that made us laugh throughout the ride. You’ll also make stops along the way to enjoy the scenery and take pictures.
⭐ Why I Recommend It
Mac Wood’s is a great way for families to experience the dunes without having to drive an ORV themselves. Our favorite part was definitely the ride—the faster stretches, hills and turns made it much more exciting than we expected! At the same time, you still get a chance to slow down, take in the incredible views and appreciate just how massive the dunes really are.
Quick Facts & Visitor Tips
- 🎟️ No reservations are needed. Individual tickets are purchased when you arrive, so getting there earlier can help during busy periods.
- 😎 Bring sunglasses. Between the sun, wind and sand, you’ll be glad you have them!
- 🎒 Leave larger items behind. Backpacks, coolers, food and drinks aren’t allowed on the dune rides.
- 🌦️ Check the weather. High winds or heavy rain can delay or cancel rides.
- 🛍️ Don’t worry if there’s a wait. There is a gift shop, mini museum, photo opportunities and other things to check out while you’re waiting for your ride.
Exploring the Dunes
You don’t need an ORV to enjoy the Silver Lake Sand Dunes! We’ve explored the dunes in both summer and fall, and walking across the sand is an adventure of its own. The dunes are much bigger than they look, and climbing through the soft sand can definitely be a workout, but the views make it worth it.
Summer brings the full Silver Lake experience, with dune rides, ORVs and seasonal attractions in full swing. Our fall visit was much quieter. We enjoyed having more room to explore, but many of the businesses and attractions around Silver Lake are seasonal, so there were fewer things open.
⭐ Why I Recommend It
Walking the dunes gave us a completely different experience from riding them. It was fun to slow down, climb the sand, and really take in just how enormous the dunes are. If you’re not interested in driving an ORV, you can still experience one of the most unique landscapes in Michigan on foot.
Visitor Tips
- 🥾 Be prepared for a workout. Walking uphill through loose sand is harder than it looks, so take your time.
- 💧 Bring water. Especially during summer, you’ll want it while climbing the dunes.
- 🕶️ Bring sunglasses and sun protection. There’s very little shade once you’re out on the open sand.
- 🚙 Know where you’re walking. Silver Lake has separate pedestrian and ORV areas, so use the designated pedestrian area when exploring on foot.
- 🍂 Fall is a different experience. It’s quieter and can be beautiful for exploring, but many Silver Lake-area attractions and businesses are seasonal. Check operating dates before planning a fall trip.
- 🗓️ ORV season ends October 31. The state ORV area operates April 1 through October 31.
Country Dairy Farm Tour
Country Dairy gave us a fascinating behind-the-scenes look at where our milk comes from. During our visit, our tour included a wagon ride around the farm, meeting the cows and seeing how they are milked. We learned about the entire dairy process—from raising the cattle to producing the milk—and let’s just say some parts of farm life were a little more eye-opening than my son expected! 😂
Country Dairy now offers several different tour experiences, so it’s worth checking the current options before your visit.
⭐ Why I Recommend It
Country Dairy gave my kids a chance to learn about farm life while actually experiencing it. Instead of simply seeing cows from a distance, they got a behind-the-scenes look at how a working dairy farm operates. It was educational, hands-on, and definitely opened their eyes to where the food we buy at the store actually comes from.
Quick Facts & Visitor Tips
- 📍 Location: New Era, Michigan
- 🚜 Choose the tour that fits your family. Country Dairy offers several tour experiences; our visit included a wagon ride around the farm.
- 🐄 Expect an educational experience. You’ll learn about the cows, milking process, and how a working dairy farm operates.
- 👟 Wear comfortable shoes. You’ll be exploring a working farm, so dress accordingly.
- 📅 Check current tour options and schedules before visiting. Experiences may be different from the tour we took.
- 🥛 Save time for some dairy treats. We enjoyed chocolate milk and cheese after our tour.
Don’t leave without trying some Country Dairy favorites!
Lewis Adventure Farm & Zoo
Lewis Adventure Farm & Zoo is the kind of place where you can easily spend most of the day. With animals to feed, rides for younger kids, play areas, and plenty of other activities, there was always something our kids wanted to do next.
We’ve visited in both summer and fall and had a great time during both trips. Our daughter especially loved the rides when she was little, while feeding and interacting with the animals was something our whole family enjoyed. Fall adds even more charm with pumpkins, colorful decorations, and all the fun of the season.
⭐ Why I Recommend It
There really is something here for everyone in the family. We loved being able to mix animal experiences with rides and other activities instead of spending the entire day doing just one thing. We’ve enjoyed Lewis Adventure Farm & Zoo in two different seasons, and it was just as much fun the second time around.
Quick Facts & Visitor Tips
- 📍 Location: New Era, Michigan
- ⏰ Give yourself plenty of time. There is much more to do than you might expect, so I’d plan for several hours rather than treating it as a quick stop.
- 🐐 Animal lovers will have plenty to enjoy. Feeding and interacting with the animals was one of our favorite parts.
- 🎠 Plenty for younger kids. Our daughter especially loved the kid-friendly rides when she was little, while older kids can enjoy the animals and other activities.
- 🍂 Consider a fall visit. We enjoyed both seasons, but the pumpkins and fall decorations made our autumn trip especially fun.
- 📅 Check what’s available before you go. Attractions, hours, and seasonal activities can vary throughout the year.