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Most fun places in Southwest Michigan
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items Everywhere I like to go in the greater Southwest Michigan area. Anything from outdoor activities like beaches and disc golf, to bowling and pizza, you'll find it here! Perfect for a hot summer day, a great winter experience, or a casual rainy day, an...
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Outdoor Activities
Pizza places!
Other Food & Drinks
Arts & Entertainment
Local Favorites
Best Beaches
Outdoor Activities
U-Pick lavender farm! When you walk up to the fields of lavender here, it feels like you've entered a fairy landscape. It is magical! The soft purples and silvery greens, the gorgeous scent of the flowers awakening your senses, it is so serene. In ad...
Lavender Hill Farm of Niles, Michigan
An off-road vehicle dune ride experience! Bring your Jeep, dune buggy, truck, whatever you want! It's a blast to ride through the sand dunes! There is a great community of off-road enthusiasts and it is worth making a trip out! Quintessential Michiga...
Silver Lake Sand Dunes
I visit this park almost weekly! They offer pavilion space, a recently updated playground, a dog park, 2 great full length and a nice putting disc golf course, as well as a sledding hill in the winter! Just minutes from Three Rivers, there is a wonde...
Meyer Broadway County Park | St. Joseph County, MI
Located in the heart of beautiful Three Rivers, MI, this park is at the convergence of the Rocky and St. Joe rivers. There is a playground, a petting zoo, and pavilion space, as well as historical rock features. You can kayak on the rivers, fish the ...
Scidmore Park – City of Three Rivers Michigan
Great park for the whole family! Featuring a playground, sports fields, a paved path for walking, running and biking, public restrooms, and an 18-hole disc golf course! Located near the local movie theater and a Chinese restaurant, you can enjoy a fu...
Armstrong Park - Three Rivers
A wonderful little nature preserve! There is just a short dirt trail to a small observation pier into the wetland area. Known for its diversity in frog species, and a perfect bird habitat, this little spot is great for observing all kinds of wildlife...
Coon Hollow Preserve | SWMLC
Nice little local trail, goes along the river! Not much to it, just a dirt parking lot, and a dirt path in the woods and a little bench, but it's very pretty in spring! But people tend to leave their trash, which is rude! If you come here, help keep ...
Hidden Marsh Sanctuary
They have a farmers market every Saturday from 9-1, June-September. Stop by for local produce and goods! If you've never experienced fresh fruits and vegetables like you find at a farmers market, truly farm fresh, rather than imported and in transit ...
The Huss Project
This botanical garden is super charming! There are bricks around the circular walkway that represents each day of the year so you can find your birthday! It's a very popular location for gorgeous photos, from prom and senior pictures to engagements a...
DeFries Gardens ‒ River Preserve County Park
So many stairs! But so worth it. About halfway up, I saw 3 deer climbing in the woods beside me, and the lookout points are really nice! You can also hike to and from Oval Beach. A fantastic little spot to spend some time exploring!
Mount Baldhead Park
Pizza places!
I love pizza! It is one of the only food groups, right?!
If you have never been to Silver Beach Pizza, I fully recommend taking a beautiful drive through Michigan orchards to Silver Beach in St. Joseph, MI to spend a day shopping, at the beach, and eating delicious pizza while watching the sunset here! I m...
Silver Beach Pizza
A fantastic pizza place! They have other food, like sandwiches and small plates, but if you're into artisinal pizza, definitely try it! They also host various performances in the old theater, perfect for a romantic date night!
Riviera Theatre and Bar
I love Erbelli's pizza! Their Chicago style deep dish is so good, thin crust is delectable, and the wings are always amazing! I tried this at the suggestion of a local friend, and I'm so glad I did! As I was told, I'll tell you too: "You GOTTA get th...
Erbelli's Gourmet Pizzeria, Italian Bistro & Pub
Triple Creek Mart is a great secret local pizza spot! They also have a fryer and serve anything from chicken and mojos to catfish and mushrooms! And of course, they have all of your basic corner convenience store staples. The owners are really wonder...
Triple Creek Mart
This place is a gem! Lots of fun, it has bowling leagues, glow bowl, mini golf, an arcade, jukebox and pool tables! It also has good pizza and bar style food like burgers and chicken tenders, and great appetizers like zucchini fries and mac n cheese ...
South Lanes Family Fun Center
Ordered take-out pizzas here. We got a sausage, pepperoni, extra sauce, extra cheese, and the first bite I hear him say, "this IS goood." I asked for a recommendation between the Ortalana and the Italian vegetarian pizzas, the person taking my order ...
Mamma Mineo's Pizza
Other Food & Drinks
Come for the coffee, stay for the culture! Cute local coffee shop with a great restaurant upstairs. They have been around forever and are a local favorite! Located near a lot of student housing, it's a great place to grab coffee and study or meet wit...
Fourth Coast Cafe and Bakery
My friend brought a combination of various desserts to sample from the Victorian bakery for a girls' day, and if I'm being completely honest, I've been thinking about them on a weekly basis. I consider myself something of a dessert connoisseur and th...
Victorian Bakery
Came here for a girls' day, and everyone loved their meals! My friend and her husband come here regularly and it's such a gem! It is literally a brewery in an old church, it is really cool what they've done with it. Very cool vibes and there is both ...
Beer Church Brewing Co.
"The most spectacular fast food joint available," according to some locals. Famous for its affordable but delicious fast food options! This location was the very last remaining hot n now, but they are adding 2 more locations this year! You can't miss...
Hot 'n Now Hamburgers
Arts & Entertainment
The KIA museum is donation entry only, meaning you pay what you can. They have some incredible art, including a Georgia O'Keefe oil painting and Tiffany stained glass pieces. This is not a huge art museum, so don't be daunted if you have never been t...
Kalamazoo Institute of Arts
So cool! This place rescues alligators, and you can feed them here! They have so many, it's truly incredible! They also have several other fun animals to see, come check it out and make sure to ask for a tour! It is SO worthwhile!
Critchlow Alligator Sanctuary
Hosting multiple local art shows and competitions every year, visiting the Carnegie Art Center is a wonderful way to spend an afternoon and appreciate local art. It is small enough that the kids won't get too bored if you're just introducing them to ...
Carnegie Center for the Arts
The Air Zoo is a great way to learn about historical flight crafts, from airplanes to rockets, and they often have exhibits to involve the kids in a fun and interactive way! They even have an indoor theme park the kids and adults can ride to their he...
Air Zoo Aerospace & Science Center
Local Favorites
Such a fun place to explore. They have new, used, even rare books. I can always find something super cool here! They also have art supplies, toys, and other fun activities!
Lowry's Books
Great place to buy delicious fresh produce, direct from the source! Just off M-60, it's the perfect spot to swing by on the scenic route between Chicago and Kalamazoo!
Hubbard's Corey Lake Orchards
Super cute locally owned book and plant store! Find anything from Michigan ghost lore to children's classics, new novels and vintage guidebooks, along with lots of cute plants, all in a cute vintage café setting! Only minutes from downtown New Buffal...
Flourish Books & Plants
Erica is so great! She listens to what I want (no matter how disorganized my thoughts are about it) and strives to make sure I love the end result every time I come in. She is also very nice! If you're looking for a stylist who cares about how you fe...
Vadala Salon + Spa
Great little stadium to come see the future stars of the MLB! If you like baseball, you should come check out a game! They have a lot of fun events during the season, tickets are affordable, you can get buffet dinners, and there is a playground direc...
Kalamazoo Growlers Baseball
Great place to take the kids for a fun and educational day! You can learn about traditional Dutch life, and even learn how to Klompen dance and become an honorary Dutch dancer! They have a little ferris wheel and carousel, a petting zoo and so much m...
Nelis' Dutch Village
Best Beaches
THE SPOT for the Fourth of July! I don't think I know anyone who hasn't been to this fireworks show. Spend the day at the beach, watch the sunset roll in, and watch Southwest Michigan's most famous fireworks display just after dusk! It is magical! Ge...
Silver Beach County Park
One of my favorite places to go growing up! This park is great because it offers a spacious, sandy beach, camping, a concession stand, woods you can explore, and even a creek that features a clay deposit that kids LOVE to play on like a natural water...
Warren Dunes State Park
A beautiful beach on Lake Michigan's southern shoreline, this is the perfect spot for a romantic sunset on the water! You can park right at the beach, check out the scenery or go for a dip, then walk downtown and find cute shops, great restaurants, a...
New Buffalo Beach
Fine, I'll say it: Stone Lake has the cutest inland lake beach in southwest Michigan! Not a large beach, and the only beach parking is roadside parking, but its a great spot to get out and play! There is a restaurant/ice cream place literally right o...
Stone Lake | Cassopolis MI
There is a place right off the road here where wild roses grow, leading right to the beach. It is one of my favorite places. It feels magical. It probably is. Please do not disturb nature 💖
Ludington State Park Detail - Department of Natural Resources