A Guide to Southwest Michigan

Welcome to Southwest Michigan, a lovely corner of the Midwest located on Lake Michigan where I was fortunate enough to grow up. I am biased and consider the St. Joseph/Stevensville area the best to visit, but will include some highlights in other nearby towns as well. Summer and fall are definitely the best times to visit to soak up the beautiful beaches, hiking, and outdoor dining. Let my guide to Southwest Michigan help you plan your trip!

To get to this part of Michigan, the most convenient airports that are each within 1.5-2 hours away are: Grand Rapids (GRR), Chicago O'Hare (ORD), and Chicago Midway (MDW). There are also closer regional airports (45 minutes away) in South Bend, IN, and Kalamazoo, MI. From these airports, or wherever you are located in the Midwest, your only option would be to drive unless you are coming from Chicago. From Chicago, it is possible to hop on an Amtrak train which drops you off right downtown St. Joseph. As long as your accommodations are downtown as well, everything you would need for a fun weekend is within walking distance.

Downtown St. Joe is situated on a bluff with easy stairs or ramp down to the Silver Beach area. Views from the bluff, and therefore many downtown restaurants, are great! In the summer growing up, my favorite activity after a day on the beach was to explore the shops downtown, grab some ice cream during golden hour, and walk down to Silver Beach to catch the sunset from the pier.

A summer sunset at Silver Beach

Where to stay:

The Boulevard Inn and Bistro

• The only hotel downtown St. Joseph that I would stay in, though it is usually on the pricier side

• The attached restaurant is very good

• Walkable to the beach and everything downtown, including the Amtrak train station

Holiday Inn Express and Suites St. Joseph

• Close to downtown, but not walkable

• Has a nice restaurant next door

The Inn at Harbor Shores

• Close to downtown, but not walkable

• Close to the Jack Nicklaus Signature Public Harbor Shores Golf Course, if that's your thing!

• The attached restaurant is very good

• Closer to Tiscornia beach, but also the beautiful Jean Klock beach

Tru Hotel St. Joseph

• A bit father from downtown/the beach, more affordable

There are also plenty of cute Airbnb's in the area! I would focus on St. Joseph proper and the neighboring village of Stevensville

Favorite places to eat:

Mason Jar Cafe

• My favorite restaurant by far; every visitor I have brought here loves this place. They serve amazing farm-to-table brunch and lunch; everything on the menu is delicious.

Tosi's Cafe

• The best chicken salad sandwich possibly ever. They use great bread--it's huge!

Silver Beach Pizza

• Connected to the Amtrak train station and usually a very busy spot, no matter the time of year

• They take some reservations for the very cool 21+ upper deck/bar area

• Their pizzas are large round pies cut into small, square pieces

• Make sure to get a drink in an ice-cold schooner!

Schu's Grill and Bar

• Great views of the bluff

221 Main Restaurant

• They have a lovely rooftop

Silver Harbor Brewing Company

• I had my wedding rehearsal dinner here!

Grand Mere Inn

• Fancier restaurant located in Stevensville

Honorable Mention: Culver's

• The best fast food! Great burgers and ice cream; I miss them dearly being on the East Coast, so I make sure to always stop by

View of the lighthouse from Tiscornia Beach

Favorite things to do:

Silver Beach

• The most popular beach, within walking distance of downtown St. Joe. There is plenty of parking at the beach as well, which you have to pay for during the summer season.

• Has bathrooms, changing areas, and a concessions stand during the summer

• The Shadowland Pavilion is a great place to catch an outdoor concert

Watermark Brewery in Stevensville

Tiscornia Beach

• The pier at this beach has our famous lighthouse! You can tour it on weekends in the summer

• Less developed than Silver Beach, so there are only some bathrooms; usually less crowded

For the kids, located right next to Silver Beach:

• Krasel Art 's Curious Kids' Discovery Zone

• Historically restored-Carousel

• Whirlpool Compass Fountain/splash park

Wineries + Breweries:

This corner a Michigan is full of wineries, breweries, and even some distilleries! Some of my favorite in the immediate area are below. There are local options for tours that include transportation.

• Round Barn Estate (my favorite)

• Tabor Hill

• Watermark Brewery--a very local hangout with great outdoor seating

• North Pier Brewery

Sunset at Grand Mere State Park

Grand Mere State Park

• A bit under-developed, but beautiful trails that start in the woods, wander through dunes, and end at the beach

Shop downtown

• Favorite ice cream is Cabana's

• Favorite stores:

  • Wanderlust Outfitters

  • Perennial Accents

  • Forever Books

  • Fuzzy Buttz Dog Bakery

  • The Market

  • 1232 Broad St. Mercantile (not quite downtown proper, but very fun)

Jollay Orchards (fall)

• A fun farm with plenty for kids to do include petting animals, hayrides, pumpkin and apple picking, and of course apple cider donuts

• They have a small haunted house that is a stop on the hayride; I have tons of fun memories here as a kid!

Fun Festivals:

• Antiques on the Bluff--first Sunday of the month May-October (located on the bluff downtown)

• Krasel Arts Festival--usually held mid-July

• Chalk the Block--usually first weekend of August

• Reindog Parade--usually first weekend of December

• Ice Fest--usually first weekend of February

Silver Beach lighthouse view in winter

Other SW Michigan towns to visit + highlights:

• Saugatuck--an artsy escape situated on the Kalamazoo River just off of Lake Michigan (45 minutes from St. Joe)

  • Downtown has fun galleries, shops, and restaurants--I always have fun stopping at Swell Times antique store!

  • Oval Beach

  • Saugatuck Dunes State Park

    • Dune Rides--a bit cheesy, but a hit for families of all ages

  • Duck Boat Rides--a fun tour on an amphibious vehicle

• Holland--charming Dutch-inspired town located on the inland Macatawa Lake, with Lake Michigan beaches nearby (1 hour from St. Joe)

  • Holland State Park

  • Nelis' Dutch Village

  • Windmill Island Gardens

  • New Holland Brewing (my dad's favorite beer ever is Dragon's Milk!)

• New Buffalo--a bit closer to Chicago, also accessible by Amtrak train (30 minutes from St. Joe)

  • New Buffalo Beach

  • Kayaking at Galien River County Park, or enjoy the beautiful elevated walkways

  • Bentwood Tavern for a nice dinner out

  • Oink's Ice Cream

  • Warren Dunes and Warren Woods State Parks (between New Buffalo and St. Joe)

  • Journeyman Distillery