See What the Buzz Is About

HAPPY DAZE HAPPEN HERE

The sandy shores of Lake Michigan are the perfect treat to compliment the sunsational summer activities in the region, including blueberry picking, camping, hammocking, grilling and so much more! Southwest Michigan is the place to be in the summer, which is why we’re shouting it loud and proud with our sensational lists of ideas.

  • Silver Beach in St. Joseph features a clean, wide beach on Lake Michigan and public access to the South Pier, making it a tourist destination with a hometown vibe. While you’re there, don’t miss the opportunity to indulge in some pizza at Silver Beach Pizza, voted the best pizza in Southwest Michigan.
  • South Haven’s North and South beaches are a popular destination for those from all around the region and beyond. With concessions, plenty of parking, a playground, restrooms and a pier for walking out to the historic lighthouse, South Haven’s beaches are the perfect day trip.
  • Grab your beach towel and umbrella and lounge at a local park to watch the boats float by. Woods Lake Park in Kalamazoo, Ramona Park in Portage and Willard Beach Park in Battle Creek are some fantastic options if you’re looking for an inland beach.
  • Rocky Gap County Park in Benton Township provides a wonderful place to enjoy Lake Michigan’s expansive shoreline with its bluff and overlook platform. Its lower park also has a sandy beach to kick back and relax.
  • The sandy beach and tall dunes at Van Buren State Park are only a short walk away from the site’s clean and spacious campground. The beautiful state park is also only a short drive from downtown South Haven which means no shortage of places to explore.
  • Luxury isn’t a word usually associated with camping, but The Fields in South Haven takes glamping to a whole new level. With complimentary homemade meals, cozy tents and local fresh fruit pie, we’re not sure you could even call this camping.
  • With over 50 beautiful acres along the Brush Creek in Lawrence, Brush Creek Campground has 125 wooded lots, both primitive and modern, for you to unwind and relax.
  • Black River Trails Campground in South Haven is a sanctuary for those who love the outdoors. You’ll fall even more in love with nature as peaceful walks, lazy river kayaking and star-filled nights around the campfire are all on the horizon.
  • Forest Lake in South Haven is a man-made lake built specifically for those who love waterskiing. This oasis also has reservations available to camp and enjoy all of the fun.
  • There are endless recreational opportunities at Warren Dunes State Park with three miles of shoreline, six miles of hiking trails and a rugged dune formation that rises 260 feet above the lake and offers spectacular views.
  • Camping is just part of the fun at Paw Paw River Campground and Canoes in Watervliet. Rent a canoe or tube and float along parts of the 68-mile canoe/kayak trail from Paw Paw to the St. Joseph River in Benton Harbor.
  • Dune Lake Campground near St. Joseph offers miniature golf, a playground, hiking trails, a volleyball court, horseshoe, badminton and a basketball court. That’s in-tents.
  • Harbor Country Cabins in Sawyer is another luxury camping experience that takes the mess out of camping. Here you’ll find tiny cabins equipped with all of the essentials surrounded by an area of Southwest Michigan with endless potential for fun.
  • Asylum Lake Preserve in Kalamazoo has 274-acres of land which means you shouldn’t have any problem finding a place to hang your hammock. Relax by the lake or deep in the woods!
  • In Texas Township, Al Sabo Land Preserve is a scenic preserve featuring wooded areas, meadows, wetlands and trails for hiking and cycling. It’s the perfect spot to chill.
  • Kalamazoo’s historic Milham Park has a network of walking paths and three bridges that cross the winding Portage Creek. Best of all, it’s covered with hundreds of mature trees.
  • Fort Custer State Recreation Area in Augusta is a 3,033-acre park that features three lakes, the Kalamazoo River and more than 25 miles of multi-use trails. You might want to bring your hiking shoes to find the perfect spot.
  • With pickleball courts and a 10-acre garden park, Crane Park in Kalamazoo is a fun spot to relax and enjoy beautiful flowers and shrubs, while also taking in the view perched on Westnedge Hill.
  • At nearly 186 acres, Spring Valley Park is one of Kalamazoo’s largest city parks and one of the best places to admire wildlife and the natural beauty of the area. Sounds like the perfect re-tree-t!
  • Corey Lake Orchards in Three Rivers not only has U-pick blueberries but also offers fresh slushies; hard cider, wine and brandy; and a marketplace with fresh baked goods, other produce and locally crafted goods. It’s jam-packed with goodness!
  • In Paw Paw, Leduc Blueberries has over 400 acres of both blueberries and strawberries! If you thought that was a whole bushel, they also have a retail store with a variety of delicious products.
  • Schultz Fruitridge Farms of Mattawan is offering online ordering and curbside pickup in addition to regular services. Go pick the best at the Schultz family farm!
  • Hartford’s very own Adams Blueberry Farms grows both conventional and organic blueberries and also has fresh maple syrup made on-site. It sounds like the perfect recipe for blueberry pancakes!
  • Harvey’s Farm in Tekonsha blue us away with their selection of fine produce and customer service. You will surely have a berry nice time at Harvey’s!
  • Farming is a way of life and a family affair at Brookside Farms in Paw Paw. Make your own family memories at Brookside picking blueberries and trying their blueberry coffee cake recipe.
  • Bumbleberry Acres, located in South Haven, promises family fun with farm animals, wagon rides, picnics and more. U-pick what you want to do first!
  • At DeGrandchamp’s Blueberry Farm in South Haven, you’ll find both blueberries and cranberries, a market store and a nursery where you can buy your own blueberry bush! Check out some of their favorite blueberry recipes too.
  • Pleasant Hill Farm in Fennville is offering U-Pick appointments to accommodate guests during the pandemic. Owners John and Joan Donaldson have also planted a four-acre field of gorgeous poppies in honor of their late son Mateo. It is breathtaking!
  • In Scotts, Sterling Acres Blueberry Farm not only has berries but offers horseback riding lessons for a new way to take in the beautiful landscape.
  • With seven acres of fenced-in park area, Prairie Acres Dog Park has plenty of space for dogs to socialize off-leash. Get your steps in too on the three-acre enclosed walking trail.
  • Not only can you explore The Bark Park with your pet, but while you’re at work, you can enroll your four-legged friend for Doggy Day Camp.
  • Featuring a separate area for under-25-pound dogs, River Oaks Dog Park is open year-round with plenty of shade for the warmer months.
  • Complete with agility equipment, competitive jump training and a 12,000-square-foot swimming pool, Meadow Run Dog Park’s 25-acres has it all.
  • With membership fees dissolved in 2019, Fairmount Dog Park offers 12 quiet acres to be enjoyed by dogs and their humans alike.
  • Another free option when signed up through Paver Pet Supply, The Lincoln Dog Park in Portage is available from 9:00 am to dusk, depending on the season.
  • Stroll around South Westnedge Dog Park with your pet on a leash or let them loose in one of the two fenced areas. The park is 100% ADA compliant with no breed restrictions.
  • Nonla Burger has nearly started a revolution in Kalamazoo and beyond with its fans that can’t get enough of their classic N.B. double and their Instagram-worthy daily specials. If you haven’t had a Nonla burger yet, what are you waiting for?
  • Featuring local pasture-raised beef, fresh-cut fries and hand-spun milkshakes, Lake Burger in Kalamazoo emphasizes the use of local ingredients by building relationships with local farmers.
  • No matter the time of day, Trak Houz’s Hole Shot—Breakfast Burger is just what you need to wake up!
  • Grilling out of Kalamazoo’s Eastside, Burger Bros. brings new life into the burger world with three important words: delicious, fast and affordable. Could it get any better than this?
  • Niskers Char-Grill has an amazing lineup of mouth-watering burgers and hockey-themed everything that will bring you back to the good ol’ days when live sports were a thing.
  • Gear up for a tsunami—a Tsunami Burger that is—from one of the Tap House’s three locations or just go with the traditional Tap House burger if you don’t want to catch that wave.
  • Priding themselves for bringing together people, food and art, Studio Grill also brings together the ingredients for a perfect burger, with over 20 unique burger options to choose from.
  • While we’re not sure Burger Town is a real place, Burger Town Grille in Portage is the real deal, offering an incredible lineup of hefty burgers that will take you to Flavor Town (which may or may not be a real place either).
  • The Double might have you doing a double-take after the joys of tasting “baconnaise” at Old Burdick’s Bar & Grill. Taste even more double with their two locations open in Kalamazoo!
  • Winning the trophy for Kalamazoo’s oldest bar, Louie’s Trophy House, and now Louie’s Corner Bar too, has been serving up delicious food and fun entertainment since 1918. With a legacy of over 100 years, we’re pretty sure they know a thing or two about how to make a good burger.
  • Main Street Pub has taken its burger excellence to more than a few main streets, with six locations across the region. Take a road trip and enjoy a burger at each location or take a trip and try each burger on their menu. We’ll let you pick!
  • In downtown Kalamazoo on West Main Street, it’s hard to beat the classics at Coney Island, Kalamazoo’s original hot dog stand. The dogs come in all styles: plain, Coney, Chicago and New York.
  • Go where the good old-fashioned root beer and hot dogs are served car-side at The Root Beer Stand in Kalamazoo. You’ll find all the goodness here, and you can even get your dog topped with chili and cheese if you need a little something extra.
  • 20 different specialty hot dogs? You gotta be doggin’ me! That’s what’s on the menu at Bill’s Hot Dog Shack in Lawrence. Dare to try them all—and save room for hand-scooped ice cream and shakes.
  • The fun happens at Hot Dogs Plus! This ketchup and mustard-colored diner in Niles serves Polish and Italian-style hot dogs and much more. Let’s be-ef frank: there’s always room for a shake.
  • Serving classic treats topped with a twist since 1971, Nagle’s Top Dog & Malt Shoppe in Kalamazoooffers a sautéed mushroom-smothered hot dog paired with your choice of thirteen milkshake flavors.
  • Chomp Gourmet Hot Dogs of South Haven thinks outside the bun with toppings that beat your average ketchup and mustard. With weekly specials including a mac and cheese dog, a swiss cheese fondue dog and French onion dip and potato chip dog, you’ll have to keep coming back to try them all.
  • Independent, family-owned and calling Kalamazoo home for more than 20 years, The Big Burrito offers unique, skillet-grilled burritos, tacos, tamales, vegan options and more!
  • With the belief that people of all cultures deserve real, homemade Mexican food, Quekas incorporates authenticity as the key ingredient in all of its dishes.
  • Lolita’s Tacos also brings the burritos and so much more! Placing high on locals’ lists, Lolita’s offers cuisine for one or a family.
  • Bringing the fast-casual Mexican restaurant to Kalamazoo, Que Buenos Fresh Mexican Grill delivers quality food at a reasonable price.
  • Serving up family dishes, La Pinata continues to focus on authentic Mexican food with the flavors and ambiance of Old Mexico while offering delivery and pick-up.
  • Offering carry-out orders, fans of Los Brothers rave about the green salsa and steak tacos as an affordable, delicious option.
  • With six different locations in our region, Taco Bob’s has grown over the past 30 years while remaining focused on providing a healthy, delicious dining experience.
  • Through the care and inspiration of a local family, La Familia Café serves up authenticity right in downtown Kalamazoo with breakfast and lunch options for all.
  • Known as one of Battle Creek’s favorites, Nina’s Taqueria is authentic Mexican cuisine at its finest─and you won’t want to skip their mouth-watering salsa.
  • Dishing out all of the flavors, Valentina’s Mexican Grill serves burritos, fajitas and enchiladas that are almost too pretty to eat. Almost. Crunch!
  • Moe Pritchett, owner of Big Moe’s BBQ Sauce and Catering, is an award-winning chef and master griller whose barbeque sauce was originated generations ago in the backwoods of Alabama. Big Moe’s has big flavor and you’re not going to want to miss it.
  • Dickey’s Barbecue Pit on Stadium Drive in Kalamazoo serves slow-smoked BBQ that’s cooked on site every night by Dickey’s certified pitmasters. There’s no messing around with this authentic Texas-style barbecue.
  • ‘Q IT UP! Catering brings the Santa Maria Style BBQ tradition to the Midwest by providing this unique attraction to your indoor and outdoor events. The appetizing aroma and delicious side dishes are perfect for any event.
  • Whether you’re craving a classic scoop or something with a twist, The Big Dipper in Schoolcraft serves up delicious ice cream any day of the week.
  • Schultz’s Treat Street in Kalamazoo serves local favorite family-owned Mooville Ice Cream. It doesn’t get any fresher than this!
  • Great Scott Ice Cream, an artisan ice cream, fruit bar and ice pop maker, sells pints of ice cream as well as its signature ice pops which can be found online and at the Kalamazoo Farmers Market.
  • Plainwell Ice Cream ties together its infamous homemade ice cream with an incredible sense of community.
  • Stroll down to the South Haven Pier with a cone from Captain Nemo’s to complete your day at the beach!
  • Vicksburg’s Apple Knockers Ice Cream Parlor scoops up authentic and homemade desserts from basic ice cream cones to The Apple Knocker Sundae.
  • When you see the Blue Moo cow on top of Sherman’s Dairy Bar in South Haven, you know you’re in for a treat. Sherman’s is famous for its old-fashioned ice cream with a multitude of flavor options and enormous scoop sizes.
  • You can find Lafayette Creamery’s delicious rotation of flavors in Texas Corners at Rykse’s & Co. and in Hopkins.
  • As if ice cream cones weren’t good enough, Bella Creamery in Portage serves ice cream cakes that look amazing enough to send a cow over the moon.
  • With over 24 flavors of soft-serve ice cream and even some of the best burgers in Gobles, Lickity Split Ice Cream and More is the perfect place to satisfy your sweet tooth and your hunger.
  • While waiting for your prescription at Westlake Drug & Giftshop, have a seat at the old-fashioned soda fountain and enjoy a treat, featuring Sherman’s Finest ice cream. It’s the only pharmacy in the Portage-Kalamazoo area that maintains a working soda fountain.