williamscb13

My bf and I are really late to the game and are thinking of going from Chicago to lower Michigan to spend a few days next week. After the holiday weekend is over. Any hotels that are nice and on the beach? Can you swim in the water?

We are also thinking about doing the Michigan Wine trail. And maybe fishing?

any advice would be great. Neither of us are from the midwest so we have no clue and we are meeting in the middle to spend a few days together.

JJ5

Wow, SW MI doesn't have a whole lot of hotels that are resort types right on the beach. But more B&B's that have beach access.

You could do a google for SW Michigan Saugatuck or New Buffalo, or St. Joe and see what comes up.

There are tons of threads on this with all kinds of info, if you use the search feature. Fishing is done on inland lakes much more often by tourists, and travelers than on Lake Michigan, IMHO. There is a wine festival in Paw Paw the weekend AFTER Labor Day if that features.

I swim all the time and will this weekend, but it won't be in Lake Michigan. Lake Michigan is not ice cold right now, but it is not warm, and the temperature stays down soon, as it will be cool in the night hours.

MI has kept its shoreline rather pristine and is not a resort laden mileage, but more private and public beaches.

In South Haven there are large numbers of B&B's that have lake walk out/access to swimming. I would try South Haven if you are set on the Big Lake. Saugatuck isn't far either for the shops and circuses.

I think most of the lakefront restaurants are really overrated and packed with uneven service. There is a GREAT ambiance and good food restaurant in Paw Paw within the Warner Vineyards called Kevin's. If you are in that neck of the woods, hit it.

Brewster's in Dowagiac, and Bistro there too, they are good.

If you wine taste, make sure you hit Warner's. St. Julian and Blackstarr and several others are more "stuck in your face" but Warner's has some good stuff- tasting is free.

tomboy

Water temp at Saugatuck this A.M.=68

williamscb13

Okay, so no swimming for me!

I've searched the threads on here, but when you have no context, it's not much help. I have figured out that we won't be going as far as Traverse City.

Thanks for the info on the towns to look for. off to search!

JJ5

If you are interested there are large numbers of excellent B&B's in SW Michigan.

If you google B&B Michigan Southwest or Harbor Country MI hotel- you will see what I mean.

There is a place in Mendon, MI- and it is far from Lake Michigan- in Southern Michigan- but a decent ride from Chicago- that is called "Mendon Country Inn".

It is the historic building that was the roadhouse horse/barn stop between Detroit and Chicago since before the Chicago fire in 1871. Presidents, Elvis, and every Native American tribal chief and many celebs have stayed here.

If you stay in the old House quarters, and have their breakfast. Well, I can't tell you how memorable it is, and they also have kajaking and canoeing available right from that spot on the St. Joe River.

If I were young and with a BF, Mendon Inn is where I would be headed, and then off the next day maybe to see Lake Michigan and the wine country, beach areas, or the Amish in Shipshewanna. There is enough for a week.

Mendon has romance weekends were you can have gourmet picnic lunch packed in your canoe. Also NO phones, NO tv and REALLY like the late 19th century.

The owners are from South Africa and internationals and some of the most interesting people I have ever meet in my life have been at that place.

He is Paris cordon bl. trained chef and plays the baby grand in the Puddlington Room while you are served. There is a games room and much, much more.

I haven't been in 4 years now, because I've been 34 miles from there at my own place, but believe me- it is a gem.

Waterfront on Lake Michigan is doable in Sept. and much more tourist friendly than the mob scenes of July and August. But Lake Michigan water has never, ever been a swimming hole favorite unless you get up near Silver Lakes and the coves that are much farther North.

Warren Dunes is a place to stop and walk if you have never experienced dune conditions and hiking. FABULOUS! You can get there easily by any place within Harbor Country. Saugatuck has immense numbers of lodgings and B&B's- more than any other location.

South Haven is much preferred by myself, as I hate the T-shirt and Fudge shop mob scenario. Others don't.

JJ5

If you go to the Dunes I mentioned, think about this.

They were small sand hills, and then the Chicago Fire happened in 1871. In the next 2 years, 1000s and 1000s of trees were chopped and floated across Lake Michigan's lower end to Chicago to use for rebuilding. And the Dunes have been like that ever since.

Most people consider them a prize of nature, and in fact, they are far from that and have a large basis in man-made conditions. But because of the patterns of water in L. MI the Dunes are decreasing in some spots (near Sawyer, they have lost much beach in the last 30 years) and in other places the Dunes are growing.

Near Mears, farther North, is the greatest Dunes in USA. They are so awesome that there are 1000 acres just for walkers, and 1000 for dune buggies. You can go straight down in 9.9 seconds 100 plus feet. They rent.
It's many guys/girls favorite to experience this- if they are at all adrenaline junkies.