What started as a drivable, socially distant vacation during the pandemic has turned into a five-year-long tradition with my family. Every summer in late July, we drive up to the southwest Michigan shoreline for cooler weather, calm beaches, amazing food, and a slower pace of life. I’ve been asked for my recommendations on the area from several friends, so instead of sharing the disorganized note on my phone through a text with you, consider this your guide to the area with lots of tried and true recommendations from a friend and mom of two.
The Towns
The Southwest Michigan shoreline is made up of a series of towns (Lakeside, Michiana, Harbert, Union Pier, Grand Beach, Sawyer, and New Buffalo), and they have their own beaches, towns, and businesses. The best part about this area is its concentrated nature, so anything you may want to do is no more than a 10-15 minute drive away. Most of my recommendations are in this area, but there are a couple that venture to towns more inland.
Getting There
It’s an easy 5.5 hour drive from St. Louis. We usually pack our lunches for the road and stop at the Limestone rest stops on 55 North on the way up and South on the way home. These rest stops have picnic tables and playgrounds!
Where to Stay + When to Go
We have always had great luck renting condos and houses on Vrbo. We particularly like the Gordon Beach community in Union Pier with its private neighborhood beach. Many of the homes in this area are in an HOA that gives them a beach flag to use at a private beach. It’s worth asking your rental if they belong to something like this if it’s not already listed.
A lot of the rental homes are stocked with beach gear, but we usually end up renting a beach cart from Red Arrow Ride. It makes getting all of our gear to the beach so much easier. They also rent out bikes, paddle boards, and more. We love to go to this area in July and August to escape the St. Louis heat, and we find the weather here is usually in the low 80s. Places book up quickly, so I make our plans in January.
Where to Eat – Grocery + Market
Barney’s Market (New Buffalo) – A full-service grocery store with everything you’ll need while you’re here!
Farmette (New Buffalo) – A farm, marketplace, bakery, and cafe with beautiful local products, fresh-baked bread, and coffee. Heads up, they are closed Tuesday-Wednesday.
Sawyer Garden + Home (Sawyer) – Another market, but they have particularly good local produce. Think local Michigan blueberries in 5-pound boxes 🙂
Where to Eat – Bakeries + Coffee + Ice Cream
Black Currant Bakehouse (Union Pier) – Our favorite place to walk to get a donut and coffee on cool mornings. They also have amazing vegetarian sandwiches starting at 11 am. Don’t be deterred by the line when you walk up; it goes pretty fast. Heads up, they are closed Tuesday-Wednesday.
Whistle Stop Grocery (Union Pier) – Stop to get a muffin and a latte and pick up some sandwiches to bring to the beach! They also have a small assortment of groceries and grab-and-go items. They make breakfast sandwiches, too, but they must be ordered online in advance. Bonus, they are open every day!
Red Arrow Roasters (Harbert) – The cutest stop for a cold brew along the Red Arrow Highway when you’re out and about antiquing. Heads up, they are only open Friday-Sunday.
Oink’s Dutch Treat (New Buffalo) – One of my kids’ favorite stops. A kitschy, cute ice cream, candy, and gift shop with pigs galore and signs from past celebrity visits.
Neon Moon Gelato (Union Pier) – Gelato and a walk-up coffee window with a cute patio.
Where to Eat – Family Friendly + Casual
Cafe Gulistan (Harbert) – An authentic Kurdish restaurant with delicious food that everyone will enjoy. Make sure you sit outside on their beautiful patio. There’s even a fish pond my kids love to watch while we eat. Call ahead to make reservations if it’s a weekend night or you have a big party.
Journeyman Distillery (Three Oaks) – A distillery in an old factory with a mini golf course, need I say more? With a family-friendly menu, Journeyman is worth the short drive to Three Oaks, a charming town about ten minutes inland from the shore.
Side Yard (Sawyer) – This place has it all–amazing food, kids meals, and a big outdoor seating area with foosball and corn hole. Don’t miss this one! Heads up, they are closed Tuesday-Wednesday.
Emma Hearth & Market (Bridgman) – This place is worth the 15-minute drive down Red Arrow Highway. Amazing pizza and a stellar Italian market with a wine and beer selection. We usually order for pick up but they have a nice seating area too! Heads up, closed Monday-Tuesday.
River St. Joe (Buchanan) – Located at Flatwater Farms, this brewery is such an escape. It’s about a 30-minute drive from Union Pier, but we’ve found it to be a favorite stop on our trip each year. With a full menu and beer list, their outdoor seating is magical with tetherball, fire pits, a pathway through wildflowers, and bocce ball courts.
PostBoy (New Buffalo) – A new addition to the area, PostBoy does not disappoint in its stellar menu and gorgeous aesthetic. With a patio for the kids complete with jumbo Jenga and corn hole, this is a fun dinner setting. This place gets busy so make a reservation online ahead of time.
Family Activities Beyond the Beach
Galien River County Park (New Buffalo) – We stop at this unique park every year. It’s a collection of wetlands and uplands with a canopy walkway that leads to an overlook of the wetlands and a boardwalk that you can also walk through. The paths are stroller-friendly! There’s also a fantastic playground and splash pad across the street from the entrance to the park at the New Buffalo Township office.
New Buffalo Beach Playground (New Buffalo) – At the entrance to the public beach at New Buffalo, there’s a playground structure right in the sand! It’s a fun stop if your kids are missing playgrounds after all the beach play.
Farmers Markets – Three Oaks on Fridays, New Buffalo on Thursdays – A great way to get local goods while you’re here! There’s also usually some local musicians playing as well.
Local Shops + Antiques
Sojourn (Sawyer) – A beautifully curated shop with home goods, pottery, art, and jewelry. I find something special for our home each time I come. Leave the kids at home for this one. Heads up, they are only open on the weekends.
Eastern Standard Time (New Buffalo) – While you’ll find your share of kitschy beach souvenir shops along North Whitaker Street in New Buffalo, I always stop into EST with its subtle and cool branded Michigan gear for adults and kids. My family all has shirts and hats from here that I love wearing to remind us of one of our favorite places.
Harbert Antique Mall (Harbert) – There are tons of antique shops along Red Arrow Highway. I have had good luck at this one (I scored an amazing vintage mahjong set last year), but it’s a fun strip to pop in and out of to see what you can find!
The Kids Stop (New Buffalo) – Anyone else’s kids obsessed with picking out a souvenir on a trip? This shop is a standard toy store with a variety of toys, books, and games that any kid would like.
