Chris and Candi’s Guidebook
Favorite Beaches
Southwest Michigan has many white sandy beaches. Here are a few of our favorites.
Beautiful beach, boardwalk, and trails. Nice bathroom/shower/changing area. Show up at sunset and hear a live bugler plays taps!
52 locals recommend
Weko Beach
5239 Lake StBeautiful beach, boardwalk, and trails. Nice bathroom/shower/changing area. Show up at sunset and hear a live bugler plays taps!
Silver Beach is most popular beach in southwest Michigan, for good reason. A wide walk way extends the entire beach, leading to the pier. Large clean bath and shower buildings. You can rent all kinds of water sports options nearby. Plenty of sand volleyball courts. For kids there are play sets, the Splash Pad, and the Carousel just a short walk away. Dinner at Silver Beach Pizza could finish up a perfect day at the beach. If it gets too crowded, move 200 yards south to Lions Beach.
140 locals recommend
Silver Beach
Silver Beach is most popular beach in southwest Michigan, for good reason. A wide walk way extends the entire beach, leading to the pier. Large clean bath and shower buildings. You can rent all kinds of water sports options nearby. Plenty of sand volleyball courts. For kids there are play sets, the Splash Pad, and the Carousel just a short walk away. Dinner at Silver Beach Pizza could finish up a perfect day at the beach. If it gets too crowded, move 200 yards south to Lions Beach.
2 miles of secluded white sandy beach lined with dunes. Only the locals know about it. Take John Beers Road west toward the lake. The paved road ends at North Lake Park (a nice picnic destination). Continue on the dirt road til it dead ends. Park to the left of the road (you will get a ticket if you park on the right side). There is a hard to see entrance the park at the dead end, or a sandy path between two homes to the beach. At the lake, turn south (left). Update: High water levels cut off the easy access to this beach. The only way to this beach now is through the park, a bit of a hike.
67 locals recommend
Grand Mere State Park
7337 Thornton Drive2 miles of secluded white sandy beach lined with dunes. Only the locals know about it. Take John Beers Road west toward the lake. The paved road ends at North Lake Park (a nice picnic destination). Continue on the dirt road til it dead ends. Park to the left of the road (you will get a ticket if you park on the right side). There is a hard to see entrance the park at the dead end, or a sandy path between two homes to the beach. At the lake, turn south (left). Update: High water levels cut off the easy access to this beach. The only way to this beach now is through the park, a bit of a hike.
Warren Dunes is another really popular beach. The 3 mile stretch of beach is beautiful. There are also nice facilities and beach food options. Be sure to climb the 250 foot Dune that overlooks the lake. The view is stunning. If you feel adventurous, walk south on the beach til you find a creek, then hike through the water up the creek for a quarter mile til you come to the clay banks. Then goop up with clay and make your way back, washing off in the lake. Don't worry, you won't be the only one covered in clay; it's kind of a thing we do.
289 locals recommend
Warren Dunes State Park
12032 Red Arrow HwyWarren Dunes is another really popular beach. The 3 mile stretch of beach is beautiful. There are also nice facilities and beach food options. Be sure to climb the 250 foot Dune that overlooks the lake. The view is stunning. If you feel adventurous, walk south on the beach til you find a creek, then hike through the water up the creek for a quarter mile til you come to the clay banks. Then goop up with clay and make your way back, washing off in the lake. Don't worry, you won't be the only one covered in clay; it's kind of a thing we do.
Hiking
This is hikers paradise, with great trails around woods, lakes and dunes. You can stay on flat valley trails, or climb the ridges for a great workout. Or just walk the beach and find beach glass. What I love about this Park is the isolation. Most people don't know about this gem. You can enter from the north by taking John Beers Road west til it ends and park off the road. Or park in the lot from Thorton. Or enter from the south on Wishart Rd.
67 locals recommend
Grand Mere State Park
7337 Thornton DriveThis is hikers paradise, with great trails around woods, lakes and dunes. You can stay on flat valley trails, or climb the ridges for a great workout. Or just walk the beach and find beach glass. What I love about this Park is the isolation. Most people don't know about this gem. You can enter from the north by taking John Beers Road west til it ends and park off the road. Or park in the lot from Thorton. Or enter from the south on Wishart Rd.
This park offers 6 miles of trails through woods and dunes along the lakeshore. Or just walk the 3 mile white sandy beach. Just beautiful! Be sure to climb the dunes and get the breathtaking views from the top! This is a large park, but is also a busy park in the summer season. Grand Mere State Park is also very nice and not as busy.
289 locals recommend
Warren Dunes State Park
12032 Red Arrow HwyThis park offers 6 miles of trails through woods and dunes along the lakeshore. Or just walk the 3 mile white sandy beach. Just beautiful! Be sure to climb the dunes and get the breathtaking views from the top! This is a large park, but is also a busy park in the summer season. Grand Mere State Park is also very nice and not as busy.
Well maintained trails along a beautiful river through a primeval forest. This is another one of those special places that is off the radar for most people. Enjoy!
51 locals recommend
Warren Woods State Park
Elm Valley RoadWell maintained trails along a beautiful river through a primeval forest. This is another one of those special places that is off the radar for most people. Enjoy!
I have this under hiking because this really is a walking trail. Check out Mount Tabor Trails at moerschhg.com/trails
167 locals recommend
Round Barn Estate
10983 Hills RdI have this under hiking because this really is a walking trail. Check out Mount Tabor Trails at moerschhg.com/trails
Food scene
Great food just a few minutes away in Baroda. Take out and delivery on line at round barn.com/pubhouse
63 locals recommend
Round Barn Brewery & Public House
9151 1st StGreat food just a few minutes away in Baroda. Take out and delivery on line at round barn.com/pubhouse
The best tasting most unique pizza ever! You might find better pizza in Chicago... maybe.
135 locals recommend
Silver Beach Pizza
410 Vine StThe best tasting most unique pizza ever! You might find better pizza in Chicago... maybe.
If you are looking for Italian, this is your place. Worth the extra drive to New Buffalo. We like to put the top down and drive back along the lake (you'll have to go through a few private neighborhoods and a camp ground, but its okay, just drive slow and act like you know where you’re going). If you want good Italian that is close and casual, try Emmas Hearth.
87 locals recommend
Brewster's Italian Cafe
11 W Merchant StIf you are looking for Italian, this is your place. Worth the extra drive to New Buffalo. We like to put the top down and drive back along the lake (you'll have to go through a few private neighborhoods and a camp ground, but its okay, just drive slow and act like you know where you’re going). If you want good Italian that is close and casual, try Emmas Hearth.
If you are in the mood for a creative unique delicious hamburger, this is your place. Enough said.
33 locals recommend
Buck Burgers & Brew
412 State StIf you are in the mood for a creative unique delicious hamburger, this is your place. Enough said.
The food is off the charts amazing, and its a fun atmosphere.
62 locals recommend
Silver Harbor Brewing Company
721 Pleasant StThe food is off the charts amazing, and its a fun atmosphere.
We go here a lot, a 7 minute drive from our door.
21 locals recommend
D'Agostino's Navajo Bar & Grille
8970 Red Arrow HwyWe go here a lot, a 7 minute drive from our door.
Another great place for lunch when in St Joe for the day. Best Asian grill ever!
18 locals recommend
Tim's Too
511 Pleasant StAnother great place for lunch when in St Joe for the day. Best Asian grill ever!
Favorite Breakfast / Brunch Spots
For breakfast or lunch, this is one of our favorites. Very close, in downtown Stevensville. Great food and coffee, and we like the vibe. Outdoor seating in the warmer seasons.
20 locals recommend
Full Circle Café & Espresso Bar
5729 St Joseph AveFor breakfast or lunch, this is one of our favorites. Very close, in downtown Stevensville. Great food and coffee, and we like the vibe. Outdoor seating in the warmer seasons.
This is a hole in the wall. Locals love it. Old style diner. Very small. But seriously, it's not classy at all, just good food. Best crispy hashed browns ever! It is super close by, in Stevensville.
7 locals recommend
Bert's Breakfast Korner
2814 Kimmel StThis is a hole in the wall. Locals love it. Old style diner. Very small. But seriously, it's not classy at all, just good food. Best crispy hashed browns ever! It is super close by, in Stevensville.
Okay, if you like doughnuts, then you have got to visit Red Coach. They have the most unique doughnuts, and are out of this world tasty! they have coffee and doughnuts, and that is it, no other food.
15 locals recommend
Red Coach Donuts
5811 St Joseph AveOkay, if you like doughnuts, then you have got to visit Red Coach. They have the most unique doughnuts, and are out of this world tasty! they have coffee and doughnuts, and that is it, no other food.
If you are in St joe for the day, and you like a good old fashioned diner, this is your place. Generous portions of really good food.
Thornton's Hometown Cafe
613 Pleasant StreetIf you are in St joe for the day, and you like a good old fashioned diner, this is your place. Generous portions of really good food.
Breweries
This is a super fun brewery. A lot of locals bring the whole family here. Very close to us, in downtown Stevensville. There are so many great breweries nearby. If you just get on the old highway (Red Arrow Highway) and travel south, you will discover half a dozen great breweries. I don't want to attempt to list them all. So here is a web site you should check out.
https://www.yelp.com/search?cflt=breweries&find_loc=Berrien+County%2C+MI
53 locals recommend
Watermark Brewing Company
5781 St Joseph AveThis is a super fun brewery. A lot of locals bring the whole family here. Very close to us, in downtown Stevensville. There are so many great breweries nearby. If you just get on the old highway (Red Arrow Highway) and travel south, you will discover half a dozen great breweries. I don't want to attempt to list them all. So here is a web site you should check out.
https://www.yelp.com/search?cflt=breweries&find_loc=Berrien+County%2C+MI
We just had to mention this one, because along with being a very popular brewery, the food here is outstanding.
62 locals recommend
Silver Harbor Brewing Company
721 Pleasant StWe just had to mention this one, because along with being a very popular brewery, the food here is outstanding.
Wineries
https://www.inspirock.com/united-states/wineries-and-vineyards-in-berrien-county
You are in the middle of wine country here! Round Barn is just one of many great wineries near us, too many to list here. There is a Wine Trail that you can enjoy if you like. Here is a web site with info.
https://www.inspirock.com/united-states/wineries-and-vineyards-in-berrien-county
167 locals recommend
Round Barn Estate
10983 Hills RdYou are in the middle of wine country here! Round Barn is just one of many great wineries near us, too many to list here. There is a Wine Trail that you can enjoy if you like. Here is a web site with info.
https://www.inspirock.com/united-states/wineries-and-vineyards-in-berrien-county