The Good Cold — Michigan Winter
West Michigan — Muskegon County, White Lake · Town edition

Whitehall

A lakeside lumber town with an old bank full of beer, serious burgers, and winter streets worth wandering.

Overheard in Whitehall
Whitehall and Montague share White Lake and many community traditions.
Why winter

Whitehall shares White Lake with neighboring Montague, making winter a two-town affair with historic storefronts, local restaurants, a waterfront, and wooded trails. November brings the White Lake Holiday Walk, while the December Christmas Parade moves between the two communities. Snow adds the finishing touch, although the lake-effect weather sometimes overcommits.

A random Saturday · 01

The Bank That Became a Brewery

Inspect the surviving bank architecture at Fetch Brewing, explore Colby Street, and finish with dinner at Pub 111. The neighborhood has found more enjoyable uses for old buildings.

A random Saturday

An empty Saturday, filled.

Or try · 02

Two Towns, One Winter Walk

Explore Whitehall and Montague during the Holiday Walk, using the free trolley on its scheduled November Saturday.

Michigan winter
Field note

The area's identity is rooted in its nineteenth-century lumber and maritime history.

One good day

Begin with breakfast at The Homestead, photograph downtown Colby Street, then walk Anderson Woods if trail conditions permit. Have lunch at The Gnarly Heifer and finish the evening at Fetch Brewing or Pub 111.

Make it a weekend

Saturday: Explore Whitehall and Montague, visit independent shops and restaurants, and enjoy a local brewery. Sunday: Take a woodland hike at Anderson Woods or head south for skiing and skating at the Muskegon Luge Adventure Sports Park.

Eat · good tables

Order the soup. Then order the pie.

  1. 01

    The Gnarly Heifer

    Burger restaurant · $

    Smash-style burgers, creative toppings, and loaded fries. A small downtown place doing very substantial things.

    306 E Colby St, Whitehall, MI 49461 · 231-292-1302 · Website ↗

  2. 02

    Bone Ends

    Barbecue and Tex-Mex · $

    Smoked meats, barbecue burritos, jerk-inspired tacos, and other combinations that ignore culinary borders.

    604 E Colby St, Whitehall, MI 49461 · 231-893-3000 · Website ↗

  3. 03

    Pekadill's

    Sandwich shop · $$

    A longtime sandwich shop serving soups, chili, and generously built sandwiches. The outdoor garden is lovely in warm weather; lunch remains the winter attraction.

    503 S Mears Ave, Whitehall, MI 49461 · 231-894-9551 · Website ↗

The winter table

What to eat, and how to make it at home.

Eat it at The Gnarly Heifer

Smash burger with crisp edges

Press small balls of ground beef onto a very hot griddle until deeply browned. Add American cheese and serve with pickles, onion, and a toasted bun.

Eat it at Bone Ends

Barbecue burrito

Fill a flour tortilla with slowly smoked pork, rice, beans, slaw, and a tangy barbecue sauce. Toast briefly to crisp the outside.

Michigan winter
Field note

Fetch Brewing occupies a converted bank.

Photo hunt

Three things most people walk past.

Downtown Whitehall and White Lake

  1. The historic bank details at Fetch Brewing
  2. Old commercial facades along Colby Street
  3. Winter reflections along the White Lake shoreline
A winter tall tale · as told in Whitehall

The Bank That Started Pouring Beer

Fetch Brewing operates inside an old bank in downtown Whitehall. The former financial institution became a place to gather over locally brewed beer. Its conversion preserved a recognizable piece of the downtown streetscape. The building still handles deposits of a sort, although they arrive in pint glasses.

Tall tales grow in the telling. Take this one with road salt.

Michigan winter
Michigan winter
After dark · places to land

Where the regulars thaw out.

  1. 01

    Fetch Brewing Company

    brewery

    A neighborhood brewery inside a converted historic bank. Craft beer in a building once devoted to considerably less enjoyable transactions.

    100 W Colby St, Whitehall, MI 49461 · 231-292-1048 · Website ↗

  2. 02

    Pub 111

    bar

    A casual downtown pub with food, sports, and occasional entertainment.

    111 W Colby St, Whitehall, MI 49461 · 231-894-8269 · Website ↗

  3. 03

    Hanson Hill Waterfront Grill

    cocktail

    A waterfront restaurant bar for a more polished evening.

    115 N Mears Ave, Whitehall, MI 49461 · 231-894-0946 · Website ↗

  1. 01

    Colby's Cafe & Brew

    Coffee & breakfast

    A welcoming coffee shop and café with breakfast, lunch, and room to settle in. The Chamber and business listings publish different phone numbers; the Chamber number is used.

    3311 E Colby St, Suite A, Whitehall, MI 49461 · 231-903-8436 · Website ↗

  2. 02

    BIGGBY Coffee

    Coffee & breakfast

    An early-opening coffee option with espresso drinks, pastries, and sandwiches.

    1315 Colby Rd, Whitehall, MI 49461 · 231-894-0301 · Website ↗

Coffee & breakfast · start here

Coffee, and a seat by the window.

Lake Effect mug
In the pictureLake Effect mugThe first cup of the day, and a forecast you can hold. Whitehall mornings run on refills.From the General Store →
  1. 01

    Winter hiking and cross-country skiing

    Outside

    A 76-acre preserve with approximately two miles of trails through oak and white pine forest. Skiing requires snow.

    Anderson Woods Nature Preserve · Website ↗

  2. 02

    Sledding

    Outside

    The visitor bureau identifies it as a local sledding destination; check conditions.

    Hanson Hill, Whitehall · Website ↗

  3. 03

    Muskegon Luge Adventure Sports Park

    Rent the gear

    Cross-country skis, skates, and snowshoes during winter operations

    462 Scenic Dr, Muskegon, MI 49445 · Website ↗

Outside · ways out the door

Outside, on purpose.

Rib-knit beanie
In the pictureRib-knit beanieSmall deer. Big ears covered. The Whitehall wind does the rest.From the General Store →
Michigan winter
Field note

The Old Channel Trail and surrounding waterways reflect the region's maritime landscape.

Local custom

The annual parade travels between the two neighboring cities.

Local customs
  • Whitehall and Montague celebrate the holidays together.
  • The community tree lighting invites residents to add ornaments.
  • Many locally owned restaurants operate shorter winter schedules than their summer counterparts.
  • The area's identity is rooted in its nineteenth-century lumber and maritime history.
  • Fetch Brewing occupies a converted bank.
  • The Old Channel Trail and surrounding waterways reflect the region's maritime landscape.
  • The Holiday Walk encourages visitors to explore two downtowns rather than just one.
  • The region receives significant lake-effect winter weather.
On the calendar · 2026–27

Dates worth the drive.

Circle it

November 20, 2026, 2–8 PM; November 21, 10 AM–4 PM

33rd Annual White Lake Area Holiday Walk

Holiday open houses, independent shopping, trolley rides, horse-drawn carriages, free cocoa, and Santa visits.

Add to calendar Organizer ↗

Circle it

November 20, 2026, gathering 6 PM; lighting 6:30 PM

Whitehall Community Tree Lighting

A community tree lighting with caroling, cocoa, and Santa.

Add to calendar Organizer ↗

Circle it

December 5, 2026, 2–3 PM

73rd Annual White Lake Area Christmas Parade

A procession of more than 50 illuminated and decorated community entries, with Santa bringing up the rear.

Add to calendar Organizer ↗

Circle it

November 20–21, 2026

White Lake Area Holiday Walk

Add to calendar Organizer ↗

Circle it

December 5, 2026, 2 PM

White Lake Area Christmas Parade

Add to calendar Organizer ↗

Dates come from organizers and change. Check before you drive.

Field note

The Holiday Walk encourages visitors to explore two downtowns rather than just one.

Michigan winter
Stay · places to wake up

A warm bed at the end of it.

  1. 01

    Whitehall Cottages Boutique Motel

    motel

    A renovated 1940s downtown motel with an unusually convenient location for walking between restaurants and shops. Confirm winter room availability.

    305 E Colby St, Whitehall, MI 49461 · 231-981-8228 · Website ↗

Some Assembly Required puzzle
In the pictureSome Assembly Required puzzleA thousand pieces for the night nobody is going out.From the General Store →
Bring a little Whitehall homeThe enamel camp mugDents add character. So does a little cocoa on the rim.Have a look ↗
We checked

michigan.gov · msports.org · naturenearby.org · whitelake.org

Good to know: The November and December 2026 events are confirmed by the White Lake Area Chamber. Some restaurant records have current map listings rather than independently retrieved official sites. Winter service exists at the listed restaurants, but individual weekday closures apply. Fetch's seasonal food partnership is not included as a year-round kitchen. Whitehall Cottages has a current visitor-bureau listing, but specific winter room inventory was not established. Muskegon Luge Adventure Sports Park is outside Whitehall and clearly identified as a regional trip. Restaurant price categories are approximate, not verified menu price bands.

Reviewed October 2026. Hours, prices and dates move; call ahead in January and February.