Hotels or Homeaways

homeaways

We are partial to staying in homes away from home when we can since these small homes often offer great insight into the area and a nice cozy home base when traveling. In fact, during our wedding weekend, we will be staying in Sawyer in a small cottage.

We recommend looking up options in any of the areas we mentioned above, and we’re also happy to answer questions about the area and other neighboring towns, if you are interested in booking an Airbnb or Homeaway.

HOTELS

There are several great hotel options in the area. For those friends and family who are interested in a hotel stay, we are highlighting a few hotels in the area below. For a full list of hotels in southwest Michigan, check out the Southwest Michigan tourism board website's list of hotels, motels, bed and breakfasts, and more. 

Fairfield Inn and Suites
4408 Red Arrow Highway
Stevensville, MI 49127
Website
(269) 429-1111

Hampton Inn St. Joseph
5050 Red Arrow Highway
Stevensville, MI 49127
Website
(269) 429-2700

Southwest Michigan Tourism Board
Full list of hotels, motels, bed and breakfasts, campgrounds, and more
Website

Benton Harbor and Saint Joseph

These twin towns are great for stopping through. St. Joe offers more traditional lakeside town shopping and spots to eat while Benton Harbor’s downtown is beginning a renaissance. Benton Harbor also sprawls into convenient suburban shopping spots like Target, Walgreens and TJ Maxx.

Food and drink

Silver Harbor Brewing Company – St. Joseph

Opened last year, this newer spot offers house-brewed beer and solid food options.

The Mason Jar Cafe – Benton Harbor

One of our favorite spots for brunch, the Mason Jar gets busy early so be aware there may be a wait. The restaurant also houses some artist studios and exhibits, which are nice to poke your head in, if you do have to wait.

Things to do and see

Silver Beach

Great for our friends and family with kids, the Silver Beach area has a public beach area as well as a small kid’s park, including a mery-go-round.

Shopping

Downtown St. Joseph’s shopping area is busy with nickel and dime stores, local artists shops, candy and ice cream parlors, music shops and more. This is a great spot to hit to pass a morning or afternoon.

House of David

Southwest Michigan is no stranger to weirdness, and the House of David is no exception. Home to an early 20th century religious sect that hosted a now-demolished amusement park and boasted a very successful baseball team, the remaining House of David buildings is another decent spot to see some of the area’s strange history.

Stevensville and Bridgman

These two towns hold down the middle of the coastline. Nick grew up visiting Stevensville as a kid, and we’re of course partial to Bridgman, where you’ll often find us visiting Nick’s mom.

Food and drink

Cultivate

Slightly in-land from the beach, this brewery is very popular with tourists and locals alike, particularly because the brewery is kid-friendly with a playground for kids to enjoy while parents sip their beers. Cultivate serves beer only, but a featured local food truck sets up shop there daily. Check out their website to see what food truck is on-site.

Lake Street Eats

Good lunch and dinner option in downtown Bridgman, Lake Street Eats is kid-friendly and boasts a cocktail that is bright blue and called the Lake Street Breeze.

Meijer – Stevensville

An area necessity and weekend godsend. Caitlin loves Meijer. Ask her to sing the “Jewel of Southwest Michigan” theme song for you.

Things to see and do

Lakeshore Lanes and the Copper Cove Lounge – Stevensville

The owners keep odd hours, but the lanes are a good spot to beat the heat. Nick’s family bowled here when he was young. Other local legend is that Caitlin once scored over 100 left-handed here.

Haymarket Brewery – Bridgman

The Chicago brewery opened a Bridgman location just off Red Arrow Highway.

Dablon - Bridgman

Local winery, in-land from Bridgman.

Roller World - Bridgman

OK, so we’ve never been here, but Caitlin really wants to go, and maybe you do too.

Sawyer, Lakeside and Union Pier

These lakeside towns are increasingly hip while still offering the traditional trappings of lakeside hamlets. Connecting the towns is the Red Arrow Highway, which we recommend over I-94 to get you from town to town. You’re more likely to stumble across something interesting on this four-lane road.

Food and drink

The Whistle Stop

A local grocery and deli, the Whistle Stop is a great lunch spot or place to stop for local coffee and other goodies. A small shaded area with picnic tables is perfect for enjoying a sandwich. Caitlin stops here on Monday mornings on her way back to the city after a Michigan weekend and recommends an Americano and almond croissant to take the edge off leaving the sunny shores of Michigan.

Greenbush Brewing Company

This brewery and restaurant is a favorite spot for taking our friends and family. We recommend the black IPAs and any of the pizzas. Stop at the main restaurant, or visit the satellite bar and patio across the street, and sit tight while the occasional Amtrak blows by on its way to Detroit or Kalamazoo.

The Roadhouse

Right next to the Whistlestop, the the Red Arrow Roadhouse is a good option for lunch or dinner.

Things to do and see

Granor Farm

Stop by our friend Katie Burdett’s organic farmstand at Granor Farm to have some ridiculously good veggies and fruits.

The Sawyer Farmer’s Market

A favorite of Nick’s mom, this farm market is the real deal with local farmers bringing in their goods. We also like the farmers market at the Whistlestop, but be ware the Jackson Farmstand—that stuff is bought on Maxwell Street in Chicago and trucked up to Michigan!

Area public beaches and state parks

Weko Beach

Public beach in Bridgman, fairly decent in size and has a small food stand.

Lakeside Beach

Public beach in Lakeside, smaller than Weko and no food stands.

Warren Dunes

This state park near Sawyer boasts dozens of trails and gorgeous expansive beaches. It does cost a small entry fee so be sure to make the most of your time there, if you do go visit.

Grand Mere State Park

Another state park near Stevensville with lovely rolling sand dunes and forest trails. We usually park in a small gravel parking lot accessible by following Grand Mere Road (map available from Michigan DNR) which has never for us required payment upon entry. Follow the trail to the left to explore the woods (bring mosquito repellant!) or the trail to the right to the beach.

Other spots to check out

Warren Woods

An in-land drive from the Lakeside area, Warren Woods has wooded trails and claims some of the only old growth trees in the area.

Michigan City Outlets

A good shopping stop, if you’re on your way to and from Chicago.

Michigan wineries

There are numerous wineries in the region. We somehow have never done a winery tour, but we have heard good things about Dablon, slightly inland from Bridgman, and love the scenery around Tabor Hill.