Upper Lake Park

The one on the list with an actual view, and — surprisingly — with power. The pavilions are wired for it: six double-socket outlets each, plus overhead lighting.

That combination is rare enough to be the whole point of this entry. An outdoor workspace with outlets, restrooms, a Lake Michigan view, and no purchase expected is something no cafe in town can offer, for roughly six months a year.

Take calls here. It’s outdoors and nobody is trying to read at the next table.

Open questions worth a visit: whether there’s usable cell signal or you’re tethering, whether the pavilion outlets are actually live outside of rental hours, and how bad the screen glare is at midday. The pavilions can be reserved, so a booked party could also mean you’re out of luck — worth learning how to check.

Hours are a guess. Park hours are set by ordinance and I couldn’t confirm them.