First trip to Michigan Coast
 

My husband and I an East Coast transplants living in Chicago. We've grown up spending time on Cape Cod, Martha's Vineyard and Watch Hill, Rhode Island and we are craving some small-town beach time this summer.

We've heard that the Michigan coast is perfect for this, but we're confused by all of the options out there. We like charming small towns where we can go for long walks, and enjoy lounging and swimming on the beach and have great meals at night. We aren't into the junky souvenir shops or fried-food dives that so many beach towns have. We'd like to find someplace that's an easy drive from Chicago -- maybe 3 or 4 hours.

So, with all of this, where should we go?

Try Harbor Country (New Buffalo, Lakeside, Union Pier) only about an hour/hour and a half away, or South Haven. None are cheesy beach towns, South Haven is bigger than the others.

Further north, and all fit your requirements are Traverse City, Charlevoix, Petoskey and Harbor Springs. Traverse City features beautiful Sleeping Bear Dunes. The area has orchards and the best summer weather in the country. Better decide soon as autumn arrives early on the North Coast.

Please consider Saugatuck/Douglas. These are two separate towns but often mentioned together because they so very close to one another. See www.saugatuck.com for details.

Much more dining options than many of the smaller towns listed above - however, you pass right through them to get there. Saugatuck also has one of the highest rated beaches in the nation - Oval Beach.

If you wanted to go a little inland, I like taking a trip to Fennville, which is about 10 miles from the two. Particular note for Crane's Pie Pantry for a bucolic meal (see cranespiepantry.com for info) and Fenn Valley Vineyards (www.fennvalley.com).

BTW, Saugatuck is known for being a haven for artists primarily because of Ox-bow, which is associated with the School of the Art Institute in Chicago. It's a little too late in the season now, but if you wished, you could go there for a 1 or 2 week session for painting, sculpture, glassblowing, etc. Here's the website for more details in case you (or anyone) is interested: www.ox-bow.org.

Also look at Door County, WI. even though its a longer drive.
We used to go over to Michicagn's Harbor Country from downtown Chicago on Sundays for a beach escape and nice lunch.

This is great -- thank you all.

Saugatuck sounds particularly intriguing.

If you go to Saugatuck/Douglas, Everyday People Cafe in Douglas is well worth the visit (no reservations).

I'm an East Coaster and I loooove the Lake Michigan shore! South Haven is a great little town with lovely beaches and a pier. It feels very New England-y to me. We stopped in Saugatuck for lunch and I liked it there, too.

If you have a little more time I'd recommend visiting Sleeping Bear Dunes. The dunes are just gorgeous, as is the Caribbean-blue water of the lake.

After I read the above reply, I thought I had better (again) mention the issue with swimming in Lake Michigan, especially since the OP specifically mentions swimming in the Lake.

Here's the recent thread:

http://www.fodors.com/community/unit...tjoseph-mi.cfm

As you can see, there was another fatality at one of the South Haven beaches just recently. The Chicago suburban man who died was trying to save some young children from drowning and he himself lost his life. Those who attempted to save him and retrieved the others from the lake almost didn't make it as well. The beach where this happened did not have life guards.

Please do not swim at any beaches which don't have lifeguards on duty. Just as in the oceans, Lake Michigan has extremely strong rip currents, etc.

Wowie, that's disturbing news, exiledprincess. We're going to South Haven on Saturday. Dang, I *love* swimming in the waves. Now I'm really nervous. Thanks for the heads up.

SZ - I don't know the case of the recent drowning, but I believe nearly all of the drownings have occurred when people went into the water under red flag conditions. Red flags mean STAY OUT OF THE WATER. I don't know why people can't figure that out. Anyway, green flags and yellow flags allow swimming.

A three year old just drowned at a waterpark in Ohio surrounded by life guards. Sadly, tragedy can strike any time, anywhere.

kelliebellie, yellow flags mean to exercise CAUTION. Not that it's just OK to jump in.

The conditions in Lake Michigan can change very quickly, sometimes in a matter of *minutes*.

In addition, there are dangers such as "inshore holes" and trenches caused by erosion. And Lake Michigan has a *lot* of erosion - just ask any of those homeowners along the lakeshore there.

Listen, some people may think that I am super cautious about this matter - but if it saves even just one life...I hope that others feel the same way.

SZ, South Haven's website indicates that North Beach does have lifeguards - but they may be only for limited hours. Why not give them a call to confirm?

I'm sorry I don't agree with you Princess, but I grew up swimming in Lake Michigan. I know you feel strongly about this, but I firmly believe you are unnecessarily scaring people. I don't think you are giving people the correct information. It wasn't a lack of life guards that killed those people. It was there ignoring warning signs and swimming when they weren't supposed to that killed them.

Death is about the odds. Dying while swimming during a green or yellow flag (which does yes mean take caution) has to have the same odds as getting attacked by a shark in the ocean or getting hit on the head by a coconut in the tropics or skiing, snowmobiling, etc., etc. And those odds can't even begin to approach the odds of dying in the car on the way to the beach.

Maybe you would want to drive up the coast and stay in more than one place. South Haven, Saugatuck (we love Saugatuck)Traverse City including Old Mission Peninsula http://www.wineriesofoldmission.com/ (this was also a favorite of ours)If you have time keep driving to Mackinac Island for a day!

If you want to go up the other side, Door County is great! Fish Creek, http://www.doorcounty.com/plan/commu...ish-creek.aspx or Egg Harbor were our favorites. You have so many choices! You will love whatever you chose.

Thanks everyone for your advice. We've booked the Old Harbor Inn in South Haven. We're lookig forward to it!

kelliebellie, I gave these nice people information which is posted on all of the authorities' and municipalities' websites. And it is posted at each of the beaches as well. Please just read them. Here's the one for the US government about Lake Michigan (under Safety Tips):
http://www.nps.gov/indu/planyourvisit/swimming.htm

If that isn't enough here is an article on that recent drowning. Take a look at the South Haven police sargeant's comments: www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=311060

As I mentioned on the first thread and as you yourself know, not all of these drownings were when there were choppy, rough waters.

I am not telling people to stop swimming in Lake Michigan altogether - but I am urging them to take precautions.

You might also want to read all the reader comments on that Daily Herald article.

On a happier note, I'm glad to report that Fenn Valley mentioned above just won several awards, including the Best of Class for dessert wine, at the Michigan Wine and Spirits Competition in East Lansing. www.michiganwines.com

One of the nicer things to do in this area of Michigan is the opportunity to sample the wines of the region.

I'm happy to report that my extended family of 12 had a safe, happy trip to South Haven last week. We were all cautious about rip currents and high waves, and we never had any trouble.

jenmoore, you should have a great time in South Haven.

A girl friend just this last week took 4 of her older women workmates and took them on a 2 day- 1 overnight wine tasting tour of her own design and they stayed overnight in South Haven.

This is fruit picking time coming up, as well. Lots and lots to do, besides walking on the beach- if you'd like. You will like it.

Also there is a new big Casino with 5 restaurants just off the expressway in New Buffalo- if you have an inkling.

I have a tiny house on a lake inland in Cass County and we do this drive every other week. Sometimes the 4 Winds is a perfect stop or alternative to days of outdoors. St. Joseph and New Buffalo have lots of big personal craft. And do not forget you will always have those beyond description sunsets.

The sunset coast is awesome.

Thanks everyone for your advice on South Haven. We just back back. Although the weather wasn't very good (rainy on Saturday and cool/overcast on Sunday, so no swimming), we had a really good time. The town was charming and we had a nice time going to the farmer's market, walking along the beach, and just enjoying being away from the city.

I was disapointed, though, in the food options within walking distance of town. We had delicious pasteries from a bakery in town, but lunch and dinner were a struggle. Most of the menus in town were all the same -- fried fish, hamburgers and pizza -- and the food was pretty average. We went to the fancy Italian restaurant in town (Tello) for dinner one night, which was OK, but we were surprised there weren't more "nice" options or charming sandwich shops for lunch.

This didn't ruin the trip, but I want future researchers to know what they're getting into food-wise.

You need to go inland. There's a lot about SW Michigan and Harbor Country especially that is a fairly well-kept secret. And that's the fact that nearly all the good restaurants (and that doesn't have to mean high end either) are inland. Although I think there are a couple outside the towns on BlueStar Hwy. But Kevins, for instance, in Paw Paw is awesome.
And Drop Anchor in tiny Marcellus has the best steak and fresh market vegetables, all the time. Also Dowagiac has numerous high end as well as variable.

But that's one of reasons I go to New Buffalo or South Haven in Oct. or Nov. to walk the waves and that's about it. It isn't my cup of tea. Too crowded and all the services, not just the restaurants, seem exactly as you describe in high tourist season. In the small beach towns, especially- sometimes the meals are mediocre and the places are packed with lines to get them.

We got the rain too. I had about 20 baby frogs in a sinkhole near my sea wall. They loved it.

I live in the Holland, MI area and vacation near Traverse City...also love food! :) I know many, many "Chicagoans" travel up the coast and stay south of here (in which I'm not familiar)- but many seem to like it up here in Saugatuck/Douglas and Holland areas. I've never been impressed with any of the restaurants in S.Haven...with that said, here are some good "foodie" ones if you head a little further North...(if the economy is kind, they'll still be here!)...
Everyday People Cafe (Douglas)
Phil's Bar (Saugatuck)
Wick's Park Bar& Grill (Saugatuck)
The Piper (Macatawa)
Butch's (Holland)
Perredies (Holland)
CityVu (Holland)
Via Maria (Holland)
And...rumor has it, a new "pub" will be opening in Fennville under the same owners who opened JourneyMan (which was a fantastic organic food restaurant)...but no word yet! ;)

Thanks tons, Merox.

Next summer I will get over to Holland and North of Holland much more frequently. Fennville too.

Also Featherbone in Three Oaks, MI- inland just a couple miles from New Buffalo is also good variable bar and grill food.

Merox: that would be good if Journeyman II were to open. Hopefully the previous owners will have learned they really should remit those payroll taxes to the government after all.