We will be in Chicago at the end of September and would like to plan a 1 night excursion to a charming lake town? I've often seen pictures of the midwest lake towns and would like to visit one. Any suggestions not too far from Chicago? relaxation, food, exploring, kayaking?

Harborcountry.org

East side of the lake...New Buffalo, South Haven, Saugatuck

A 4hr drive from Chicago is Door County, a great place to explore: http://www.doorcounty.com/

St Joseph, MI is pretty cute -- around 1 hr 50 min if you time your drive so you are not in traffic either way. (traffic can be really horrible) My experience in New Buffalo and S Haven are that the towns aren't that charming (although swimming in the lake is great) but maybe things have changed.

Lake Geneva, Wisconsin isn't far.

Yes, exploring Door County for art and ambiance and Lake Geneva for scenery and though not a lake town certainly Wisconsin Dells. Longer drive would be around Lake Michigan into lower Michigan shoreline.

Sagatuck looks cute. We are looking to bike or kayak. Harbor Country - what town? Any lodging recomendations?

We like the following

Lake Country Inn in New Buffalo
The Inn at Union Pier
Lakeside Inn in Lakeside

We also rented small cottages and when it was a bigger group a 4 bedroom beach house all in Union Pier.

Also, Sagatuck is very nice but it's about 3 hour drive from Chicago. Harbor Country is about 1.5 hours drive. Better for just an overnight stay.

Harbor Country has everything you are asking for. Biking on the back roads. River kayaking, beautiful Lake Michigan beaches especially at the Warren Dunes SP, upper scale restaurants and many very casual restaurants, art and antique shops, wineries, etc...

Just one more question? My friend has a family member that used to go to the Oak Park Hotel on Fox Lake. Is this a nice place? Which would you go to New Buffalo or Fox Lake?

I do have some great memories of spending Sundays in the Fox Lake area with my parents and their friends and kids boating on the little lakes.

Later in life, I camped with my friends around there and we had a good time,

BUT the best camping weekends with friends were in the Warren Dunes State Park in Harbor Country and later at some of the Inns with my wife. The area is just majestic IMHO.

I would definitely pick Harbor Country over Fox Lake area but if I wanted to head in the direction of Fox Lake I would pick Lake Geneva area over Fox Lake area.

The only thing I can tell you about Oak Park Hotel is what my old friends told me few years ago. It became more of a transient hotel recently. I don't know that for a fact because I never stayed there or even knew of it's existence but supposedly back in the day it was a grand hotel and it was full of Chicagoans escaping for the weekend. Not so anymore according to my friends, but again I don't know that for a fact.

Whatever you chose, have a wonderful trip!

Can any of you compare Lake Geneva to New Buffalo?

Galena. It's not on the lake, but it is delightful.

HTtY