Speaking of spirits, a unique experience exists in nearby Three Oaks, MI, in the old Featherbone factory.

And ending at Round Barn was a perfect place to also taste a few of their spirits and brews. My four sisters, Mom, and I gathered for the youngest 30 th Birthday last summer and spent an afternoon of wine tasting, with stops at Gravity, Tabor Hill, and Round Barn wineries, to name a few. Or, if wine is your thing, catch the Lake Michigan Shore Wine Trail and go “from the lake to the grapes”– beginning in Bridgman, extending eastward to Baroda. In nearby Sawyer, MI, moms can stock up on all things garden and gourmet foods at Sawyer Garden Center while dads (and all microbrew enthusiasts) find Greenbush Brewing Company just around the corner, or Tapistry Brewing, a few miles up the road. In my little town.) This is my idea of a great night out! But Harbor Country’s Four Winds Casino attracts world class talent, and spending an evening there, fine dining or listening to Sheryl Crow perform? (Yes, I said Sheryl Crow. And in addition to the beaches, an entire winery trail now exists from Bridgman to Baroda two new microbreweries have opened in the last few years, and add to that a distillery, and a casino, and we have instant adult activities to accompany the family environment. Head north on Red Arrow Highway to discover numerous beaches, including Warren Dunes State Park, also with camping, and one of the largest dunes in the area. Get a good burger at Redamak’s, and then sip cocktails and watch the sunset over Lake Michigan at The Stray Dog’s rooftop deck. You can drive your boat (or even take the Amtrak train) over from Chicago, and walk to the downtown to some of my favorites: dine at Brewster’s Italian Café, grocery shop at Barney’s, and grab a cappuccino at David’s Deli, a local coffee house and sandwich shop. “They are finding the beaches of the Midwest, rather than Florida since they can get there faster, they can stay longer, and spend less money.” The Stray Dog New Buffalo is unique “Maybe families don’t want to travel as far from home for vacation,” says Vanessa. Vanessa and Chris Thun, local owners of the rental company Beachcombers, whose small business is booming, credit the slower economy. Regardless of motivations, many are (re)discovering Harbor Country’s small area charm.

Some motivated to save money, others wanting be closer to aging family members, perhaps. In the last five years, there has really been a resurgence of families deciding to travel locally. Still beautiful as ever, I love being able to take my family back to this lakefront that I enjoyed as a kid. Specifically, I grew up in New Buffalo, MI, and as a teenage kid I spent my summers scooping ice cream at Oinks Dutch Treat, pumping gas at Oselka’s Marina, and lifeguarding at the New Buffalo Public Beach. Bordering Indiana to the south and Lake Michigan to the west, it has always been known for the beautiful beaches, marina and lakefront activities. Harbor Country, as it was named thirty-some years ago, describes the area of Michigan’s Southwestern-most area of the state. Although I still do identify with the area of Southwest Michigan and look forward to the vacations I get to spend there as an adult. When you’ve spent more years away than you have home, the concept of hometown sometimes gets lost. But like myself, who’s lived in nine different cities on two continents since becoming an adult, I’m not sure many folks even identify with the idea of a hometown anymore. New Buffalo Beach Homecoming: New BuffaloĮveryone is from somewhere. This is a guest post by my friend and former colleague at ABC7, Karla Oselka Walsworth of.

Stray dog new buffalo