âIf it could only be like this always – always summer … the fruit always ripe…”
â Evelyn Waugh â
Summer is now officially here, so you and your family have some excellent options to choose from if youâre in Southwest Michigan and looking for fun!
Weâve put together a sample of some of the great things you can do throughout most of Michigan and Indiana’s towns along Lake Michigan. Enjoy these family-friendly summer activities.
Visit The Beach
The fact is, Lake Michigan and âfamily beachesâ could easily be synonymous with one another! And given there are so many popularâand truly magnificent âbeaches along the miles and miles of Lake Michiganâs gorgeous shoreline, weâre going to refer you to a recent post about that very subjectâŚâOur Hidden Treasures: Lake Michigan Beachesâ. Note: To ensure your family has a great time at any of the beaches mentioned in the article linked above, please check to see whether or not the beach listed has family-friendly facilities like restrooms, childrenâs playgrounds, picnic tables, grills, etc.
Go On A Hike
Hiking trails abound in Southwest Michigan, especially near and around the best family beaches along Lake Michigan. One of the best places to start is Warren Dunes State Park in Sawyer, MI. The parkâs 6-plus miles of trails feature rugged dune formations rising up to 260 feet above the lake, plus 3 miles of shoreline and 2 popular campgrounds. Warren Dunes State Park | Michigan Another superb spot for hiking is Saugatuck State Park between Saugatuck and Holland, where you and your family can enjoy any of a number of hiking trails (totaling 13 miles) that wind through 1,000 acres of rolling wooded dunes, some of which lead to fabulous views of Lake Michigan, as well as one ending up at a 2.5-mile stretch of beach. (Note: Lake Michigan beach is a minimum of a 0.6-mile hike from the parking area.) Saugatuck Dunes State Park | Michigan And if youâre in or near New Buffalo, there are many excellent ones, including Canopy Walkway in Galien River County Park, and Turtle Creek Preserve Pathe South. Best Hikes and Trails in New Buffalo | AllTrails
Explore Local Farms/Orchards
Looking for a ton of family fun while doing some summertime visiting? Pack up the kids and go to a local âPick-Your-Ownâ farm in Southwest Michigan! Besides being able to get literally the freshest fruits and veggies around (many of which are organically and/or sustainably grown), thereâs also the joy of picking it yourself off the vine or branch and joining in with your family as they do the same!
Beardâs Produce in Dorr, MI offers a nice selection of strawberries, blueberries, corn and pumpkins for parents and kids to pick from. And in Fennville, Dees Lakeshore Farm provides for your âpicking pleasureâ with raspberries and blueberries, as well as homegrown peaches, cherries, apples and pumpkins. At Hillside Orchards in Berrien Springs, you and your family can find apricots, sweet cherries, nectarines and peaches in the summertime. Also in Berrien Springs, Lemon Creek Fruit Farm has the same offerings and more, except no apricots. Hereâs where you can get more info about these and many more Southwest Michigan âPick-Your-Ownâ farms and orchards â Note: Itâs best to call in advance to ensure theyâre open for business. Southwest Michigan Southwest Michigan U-Pick farms: Find a pick your own farm near you in Southwest Michigan for fruit, vegetables, pumpkins, organic foods,local produce and more!
Visit a children’s museum: The Curious Kids’ Museum & Discovery Zone in St. Joseph
For some summertime hands-on fun and learning for kids 1 â 10 years old (and their parents), head on over to this popular childrenâs museum/discovery zone destination! And now through Labor Day, they have a new traveling exhibit in the Gast Traveling Gallery — The âBug Squadâ will be infesting Curious Kidsâ Discovery Zone with fun and interactive animatronic insects that speak and move when approached! Join them, their leader Scout and Agent Dan as they explore diversity within our ecosystem, all while learning about the unique abilities of bugs and interacting with them in this full sensory exhibit!
Thereâs also a âHead Westâ exhibit with a child-sized covered wagon, plus trains, mazes and more! Hereâs a link for detailed information: Curious Kids’ Discovery Zone Exhibits & Information | Curious Kids’ Museum & Discovery Zone – St. Joseph, MI
Take A Boat Tour
Last but not least, if youâre in or near one of Southwest Michiganâs best beach towns and want to take your family out on a Lake Michigan boat tourâwhere you can enjoy the lakeâs breathtaking beauty from atop the wavesâcheck out Oselka Marina in New Buffalo or Harbor Country Adventures in nearby Michigan City, Indiana. Both companies offer boat tours and private yacht cruises, as well as boat and jet-ski rentals. Nowâs the time for fun in the sun on the water, and these folks have you covered! https://www.oselkamarina.com/ or HOME2 – Harbor Country Adventures
