Saturday, June 24, 2017, Zeeland, MI (Holland)
Day 44

After a 30 minute drive we arrived at the Dutch Treat Campground in Zeeland. We checked in and headed to the 8th Street Farmer’s Market in downtown Holland. After sampling some goodies, we walked around town, had a tasting at the Warner Vineyards shop, tasted and purchased some olive oil and vinegars at Fustini’s and stopped for lunch at the Alpen Rose, recommended by a local couple we met in Grand Rapids. I had two white brats with sauerkraut, onions and spaetzle. Rosemary had crepes stuffed with eggs, spinach, mushrooms and havarti cheese and topped with artichoke and roasted red pepper salad.  A great and filling meal. After lunch we walked to the Windmill Island Gardens. It turned out to be a 30 minute walk - it did not look that far on the map! The main feature is an original Dutch windmill “De Zwann”. The windmill is centuries old and was transported to Holland, MI, in 1964 from the Netherlands. It was the last time the Netherlands authorized the export of a windmill which are now considered national treasures. It is the only original Dutch windmill in operation in the U.S. A tour allowed us to climb up and view the inside and outside. There was also a stable of Friesian horses, a breed originating in Netherlands at the Gardens. After a hike back to the car, we headed to the 157 foot Mt. Pisgah Sand Dune where after a short hike we climbed 239 stairs to the top which offered nice views of Lake Michigan and Lake Macatawa.