The Best Things to Do This Winter in Southwest Michigan

When the winter winds make their way across Lake Michigan, a beautiful frosty landscape emerges across the beachfront towns of Southwest Michigan and Indiana — along with fewer crowds, open reservations at favorite restaurants, fun winter activities, and low-season rates at the best homes with Bluefish Vacation Rentals. These are just a few reasons why winter is an ideal time for a quick road trip to the Southwest Michigan coast, just a short drive from Chicago. Whether you’re an outdoor adventurer excited to explore snowy trails and beaches or a cozy-on-the-couch indoor enthusiast ready for a warm fire and a luxurious nap, here are some of the best things to do this winter in Southwest Michigan.

Get Outside for Winter Adventures

Pile on the parkas and enjoy the beauty of Michigan’s wintery outdoors, starting with a stroll or extended hike through the paths and trails of Fernwood Botanical Garden & Cafe in Niles. The 55-acre nature preserve will give you plenty to take in as you pass streams, ponds, pines and a tallgrass prairie. After you’ve worked up an appetite, grab a hot soup or a sweet treat at the garden’s cafe, Grateful Pie. If you want to add a little more adventure to your outdoor experience, visit Love Creek County Park in Berrien Center. The 200-acre park features a nature center, groomed trails for cross-country skiing and fat tire biking, and paths for hiking and snowshoeing.

For a fun all-ages activity, head to Howard Park in South Bend, Indiana, for a 16,000-square-foot ice trail with hills, declines and curves as well as an attached ice pond. Open seven days a week, admission includes a pair of rental skates or bring your own. 

Beach lovers should traverse the dunes at Indiana Dunes National Park. Explore its extensive trail system, which includes the Paul H. Douglas Trail, Cowles Bog Trail, and West Beach Trails. Find a free guided tour or set off on your own adventurous winter activity along 15 miles of Lake Michigan shoreline in the country’s 61st National Park. 

Head Indoors for Hot Food, Cold Beer and Karaoke

Ready to cozy up? Find the comfiest of chairs for reading a book or having a fireside chat over coffee, wine or beer with Michigan-made snacks in The Living Room at Marina Grand Resort in New Buffalo. 

Have a group to entertain? Make a reservation at River Saint Joe for your crew of two to six to play at the microbrewery’s outdoor River Rocks “Shuffleboard on Ice” in Buchanan. Enjoy craft beer and locally-grown food as part of the experience.

For a taste of the local New Buffalo nightlife, visit the Speakeasy at Sonny D’s Bar & Grill for a variety of evening activities. Depending on the night, you could be playing bocce, listening to live music or the star of the show singing karaoke.

Discover Harbor Country Culture and Boutique Shopping 

Start your discovery of distinctive housewares, gifts and clothing at the collection of upscale Michigan Mercantile Shops: Shore, Eastern Standard Time, and Lakeside Goods in downtown New Buffalo. Or, find great eats to bring back to your winter retreat, from curated, locally made foodie finds at 6 Linden in Three Oaks to great tastings and wines at Whitaker Wine Merchants in New Buffalo.

Ready for a dose of entertainment? Visit Vickers Theatre for classic films and new releases in a comfortable setting. You can also support exceptional live music with regional and national acts performing in the intimate space at The Acorn Theater.

Stay in and Let Bluefish Create the Ultimate Winter Escape

If your ideal winter escape has you cozied up by the fire and never setting foot outside, let the experts at Bluefish Vacation Rentals bring a range of custom experiences to your door. Imagine arriving with your family to a fully stocked kitchen with all your favorite snacks, drinks, and essentials, complete with a custom-made charcuterie board with local Michigan specialties. 

For a relaxing start, unwind with a massage, facial, or any number of treatments, provided by a professional spa service that sets up the experience just for you in your vacation home. 

Craving something sweet? Let us bring you freshly baked donuts and hot coffee, delivered to your door from our favorite local coffee and pastry shops. Or, do something daring and venture outdoors to your home’s fire pit, equipped with a delivery of s’mores kits, blankets, and hot cocoa.

When in Michigan’s wine country, don’t miss out on sampling the region’s best pours — something you don’t even have to leave the house for. Enjoy a guided wine tasting for a local wine expert in the comfort of your rental with selections from Southwest Michigan’s best vineyards. For an event you’ll always remember, celebrate a special occasion with a gourmet, in-home dining experience. We’ll arrange for a private chef, who arrives fully stocked and handles everything, including preparing and serving a custom meal of your choosing, right in your very own kitchen.

Visit us online or call 269-469-0468 and book your winter vacation getaway today.