Montague, MI Real Estate, Homes For Sale, School & Area Information

Montague is brimming with fascinating history. A main figure in that history is Joseph Sadony, a legend in the White Lake area. Our own philosopher/scientist, the legends swirl around this man and stories abound. He did write a column for the Muskegon Chronicle for 30 years, and exchanged letters with some of the most famous thinkers in the world during his lifetime. The Muskegon Chronicle published a great article in 2013 (see link below), and more information can be found through the White Lake Historical Society.

There are plenty of excellent waterways to explore in Montague. You could paddle around White Lake or explore the White River watershed, both of which are perfect for a day out on the water. Now if you don't have your own water equipment, don't worry! There are two great places that you can rent equipment from. If you're looking for a scenic float down the White River, there is no better place to go than Happy Mohawk Livery located on Fruitvale Rd. From there you can enjoy the gorgeous views down the White River by either canoeing, kayaking, tubing, or rafting. They offer plenty of options that are great for the entire family. You could also go to WaterDog Outfitters in downtown Montague. They offer many rental options and purchase options for the water and land. There is plenty to explore and wildlife to see while relaxing floating down the river or exploring the White Lake coastline. Happy floating everyone!

Come and join Chef Valerie Hanson at Bygone Basics for a truly unique learning experience! Bygone Basics offers a hands on experience that goes into "history through heirloom culinary and lifestyle activities." Chef Valerie offers many different classes including canning, fermenting, cheese-making, sourdough bread artistry, and jam/jelly making. Also, you must be sure to check out her pie baking sessions, since she is one of Michigan's Top 10 Pie Makers. And if you are looking for an even more in depth experience you can stay at their on-site Bed & Breakfast, Amanda's Bequest. Be sure to check this out; you definitely don't want to miss out on this one of a kind experience, or on all of the tasty food!

Clear Springs Nature Preserve is one of the several areas for great nature walks in the White Lake area. Located in Montague, with the entrance off of Fruitvale Rd. and Henderson Rd., this preserve has lots of options for its guests. The 100 acre nature preserve features trails designed for hiking, dog walking, and trail jogging. You can also canoe in the small ponds and picnic with the family at any of the picnicking locations. Clear Springs offers up many scenic views and you can't go wrong spending the day out here! Be sure to check it out with the whole family, Fido included!

For the biking enthusiasts out there you don't want to miss out on the Hart-Montague Trail State Park. This trail takes you up through some of the best West Michigan scenery. It is a 22 mile paved trail that goes from Montague to Hart, passing through Rothbury, New Era, Shelby, and Mears. Along the way you are going to pass tree farms and orchards of many kinds: cherries, peaches, apples, apricots, and plums. Once you are past all of the farms the trail starts to get winding and hilly, offering up spectacular views of the woody areas, with many picnic spots on viewing platforms to really take in all of these views. And if all of this idyllic and peaceful scenery wasn't enough, during the summer you can stop by the trailside dairy bar in New Era for some homemade ice cream! Once you've cooled off with some ice cream you can continue heading north on the trail where you will then go into Mears, another great stop with places for refueling with food and water, and also many great rest spots featuring more country vistas. The trail ends in Hart, but from there you can visit the Silver Lake Sand Dunes and LakeMichigan, where your adventure could really begin!

Montague is brimming with fascinating history. A main figure in that history is Joseph Sadony, a legend in the White Lake area. Our own "philosopher-scientist", the legends swirl around this man and stories abound. He did write a column for the Muskegon Chronicle for 30 years, and exchanged letters with some of the most famous thinkers in the world during his lifetime. The Muskegon Chronicle published a great article in 2013 (see link below), and more information can be found through the White Lake Historical Society.

The Old Channel Inn is one of the most special spots in the wider Montague area. Sitting on the location that was once the Village of White River (1837), this restaurant serves up amazing food and is steeped in history. One of my favorite restaurants in the area, the comforting, almost rustic food is the perfect Sunday night meal. It is a bit of a drive down Old Channel Trail, but the scenery is worth it.

I recently attended the Montague Farmer's Market and Artisan Market. For those of you who are unfamiliar with the concept of either, a farmer's market is what is sounds like: a place where people come to sell goods, usually homegrown or homemade foods that you cannot find in supermarkets. An artisan market is very similar, but instead of foods, people usually homemade artwork or jewelry.

Most cities lack both of these nowadays, and people usually go to super stores such as Mejier or Walmart for their shopping, but after a trip to the Montague Farmer's/Artisan Market, I may have to reconsider. They had a wide variety of goods to choose from, selling everything from homemade brownies to fresh apples. In the Artisan Market, they had local artists selling handcrafted jewelry and doing henna tattoos. If you live in the Muskegon/White Lake Area, make sure to keep an eye out for any upcoming events like these. And if you're looking for a place that holds such events, Montague may just be the perfect place for you.

Downtown Montague is the picturesque center of Montague. Downtown features the Arts Council of White Lake, the Nuveen Community Center for the Arts, White River Yoga, Lipka's Soda Fountain, The White Lake Senior Center, the Montague Farmer's Market, the Montague Post Office, antique shops and some other small businesses. Get a haircut, mail a letter, take an art class, have an ice cream sundae, and say hello to your neighbors and friends!

One of the most popular spots in the White Lake area, the beautiful Book Nook & Java Shop and Best Wine Cellars is our locally owned bookstore, coffee shop and wine bar. Serving a variety of beverages and food ranging from breakfast to dinner, you could literally spend your whole day with a book and never have to leave. They also feature many book and activity clubs, special events, and full calendar of music. A popular meeting spot for committees and friends, you will always see someone you know at the Book Nook.

West Michigan is blessed to host an incredible community of artists. The White River Gallery is an artists collective in Montague where local artists display and sell their work. You can purchase all types of art, from handmade jewelry and dolls, to sculptures, paintings, and photographs. The gallery is also available for rent for parties and events if you are looking for a unique, intimate setting.

The Arts Council of White Lake is a wonderful advocate for the arts in our community, and one of their long-term projects is to install public art throughout Whitehall and Montague. Grab a map and take a walk or bike ride to see sailboat trees, a giant butterfly, artistic wind chimes, colorful metal flowers, and sculptural fish. Don't forget to look for our bike racks-- they are works of art, too.