The 10 Best Nature & Parks in , Southwest Michigan

January 17, 2022 Oliva Fomby

Discover the best top things to do in , United States including Whirlpool Compass Fountain, Dowagiac Woods, Madeline Bertrand County Park, Fernwood Botanical Garden and Nature Preserve, Silver Beach County Park, Weko Beach Park, Oselka Marina, Wolf Lake State Fish Hatchery, Warren Dunes State Park, Kal Haven Trail.
Restaurants in Southwest Michigan

1. Whirlpool Compass Fountain

333 Broad St, Saint Joseph, MI 49085-1083 http://stjoetoday.com/discover/family-fun/556-whirlpool-compass-fountain
Excellent
81%
Good
17%
Satisfactory
2%
Poor
1%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

5.0 based on 198 reviews

Whirlpool Compass Fountain

Reviewed By MzMBB - Chicago, United States

This is a great place for the family, it caters to the adults and children, so much to do here and the whirlpool Compass Fountain is hours of fun especially on a hot summer day! Endless fun then grab pizza or ice cream.

2. Dowagiac Woods

Frost Street, Dowagiac, MI http://www.michigannature.org/home/sancts/dowagiac/dowagiac.shtml
Excellent
50%
Good
50%
Satisfactory
0%
Poor
0%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 4 reviews

Dowagiac Woods

3. Madeline Bertrand County Park

3038 Adams Rd, Niles, MI 49120-4115 +1 269-683-8280 [email protected] https://www.facebook.com/MadelineBertrandPark/
Excellent
67%
Good
17%
Satisfactory
17%
Poor
0%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 6 reviews

Madeline Bertrand County Park

4. Fernwood Botanical Garden and Nature Preserve

13988 Range Line Rd, Niles, MI 49120-9020 +1 269-695-6491 http://www.fernwoodbotanical.org
Excellent
76%
Good
19%
Satisfactory
6%
Poor
0%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 107 reviews

Fernwood Botanical Garden and Nature Preserve

A living museum of delicate ecosystems.

Reviewed By marjieP

There is so much to see and do SAFELY at Fernwood Botanical Gardens! If you're not a member, buy a membership. It's inexpensive for so much PLUS you have reciprocity in many gardens throughout the states. There a Frog Pond. There's a hiking path, formal gardens, a prairie, herb gardens, statuary and sculpture throughout the acreage, water wheel, creeks, nature center, and an education center. The education center has a window wall through which you can view birds feeding, flying, squirrels, etc. PLUS a library, seating area for reading, and a huge meeting room. Fernwood is also an excellent place for weddings, large gatherings with social distancing and masks during COVID times. On Saturdays, 8-10 AM members can walk their dogs, sit at a fire pit. OMG I forgot: There's a RailRoad Garden with trestles, waterfalls, creeks, replicas of local landmarks including Notre Dame , Buchanan Pears Mill, the wonderful old depot in Niles, drawbridge. $ HO gauge trains have tracks that weave in and out of 'mountains'. It's just a good Place to BE, summer and winter ( Cross Country Skiing in Winter !) another oops: the Children's Garden : a mobile huge Elephant sculpture, Giant Daffodil Sculpture, a Captain's prow with a slide, hopscotch, sand box , etc. et. I better stop.. Go see for yourself. I'd say to stay the day, but if you only want to go for an hour... do that.

5. Silver Beach County Park

101 Broad St, Saint Joseph, MI 49085 +1 269-982-0533 https://berriencounty.org/1295/Silver-Beach-County-Park
Excellent
74%
Good
20%
Satisfactory
4%
Poor
1%
Terrible
1%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 782 reviews

Silver Beach County Park

Reviewed By PalmTreeSeeker4ever - Maumee, United States

We took our kids to Saint Joe’s as young kids 30 years ago. Now we are taking our grandkids to Saint Joe’s and boy, has it grown! We highly recommend this area... between Silver Beach pizza, the Compass splash pad, the wonderful beach with nice restrooms, snack stand and the carousel we couldn’t ask for any more fun. They were too old for the great playground right on the sand! The only down side is that I think the beach could be cleaner. So many cigar tips, and other debris. I think they need a beach Zamboni (like in Florida) to clean the sand... or people to quit polluting it! Hotels are very pricey near the beach. We stayed just off of 94 and it was much more reasonable. Only a 16 minute drive to the beach and they have free parking downtown if you don’t mind walking a bit or on the beach parking for $12.00/day. We liked that they had lifeguards posted also. We will go back again... ????

6. Weko Beach Park

5239 Lake St Off Red Arrow Highway, Bridgman, MI 49106-9772
Excellent
68%
Good
22%
Satisfactory
6%
Poor
3%
Terrible
1%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 100 reviews

Weko Beach Park

Reviewed By christyjoy68 - Elkhart, United States

Such a great beach. Clean and uncrowded. I love that the restrooms are centrally located and easily accessible. One of the great benefits to this beach is that there are a few trees along the edge of the parking lot, giving lovely shade to the hot sand. A resource officer made the rounds regularly and kept things under control. All in all, a great experience.

7. Oselka Marina

514 W Water St, New Buffalo, MI 49117-1089 +1 269-469-2600 [email protected] http://www.oselkamarina.com/
Excellent
69%
Good
16%
Satisfactory
4%
Poor
4%
Terrible
7%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 45 reviews

Oselka Marina

Oselka Marina, located on Lake Michigan in beautiful New Buffalo, Michigan, is a full-service marina. Amenities include:*** Boat & Yamaha Waverunner Rentals ****• Seasonal and transient floating slips with swimming pool, cable TV and wireless internet • Valet Boating In/Out Service • Indoor Heated Winter Storage, Indoor Non-heated Winter Storage, and Outdoor Winter Storage with Shrink Wrap • Valvtect Gas & Diesel Sales • Certified Mercruiser Service & Parts • Ship's Store & Snug Harbor Mini Mart including Hershey's Ice Cream • New, Pre-owned and Brokerage Boat Sales on site, presented by Basa's Marine and The Mariner Network • Marina Grand Resort, on site luxury accomodations, including Bentwood Tavern, and offering luxury residences for sale

Reviewed By U4665WHsamh

My friends and I did the yacht cruise with captain Bill. The yacht was in great shape and made for a great experience, and captain Bill was exceptional. Would highly recommend anyone to do this in the future and I look forward to doing it again.

8. Wolf Lake State Fish Hatchery

34270 County Road 652, Mattawan, MI 49071-8756 +1 269-668-2696 http://www.michigan.gov/dnr
Excellent
70%
Good
30%
Satisfactory
0%
Poor
0%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 20 reviews

Wolf Lake State Fish Hatchery

Reviewed By 270mindied

Our family has been here many times for fish related activities, but recently we discovered the amazing birding opportunities the grounds have! My 13 year old son wants to be an ornithologist, so when I saw they were having a birding event we decided to make another trip. While the weather wasn't great (very cold and windy) we had a great time with the staff at the hatchery and members of the Kalamazoo Audubon! The ponds on the property are wonderful for watching migrating waterfowl. We also had the chance to see some shore birds, cranes, an bald eagle, a heron, and many other interesting birds.

9. Warren Dunes State Park

12032 Red Arrow Hwy, Bridgman, MI 49125-9166 +1 269-426-4013 http://www.michigandnr.com/ParksandTrails/Details.aspx?id=504&type=SPRK
Excellent
56%
Good
30%
Satisfactory
7%
Poor
4%
Terrible
3%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 552 reviews

Warren Dunes State Park

Reviewed By A2196MXevas

We loved the Dunes!! My teen daughter and i drove less about 1 1/2 hrs from Chicago and it was a very nice getaway. We went on a Wednesday and there were some people but not crowded. Family-friendly beach. People were considerate of COVID and wore their marks to the bathrooms. I will definitely come back and explore their campgrounds next time.

10. Kal Haven Trail

66 N Bailey Ave, South Haven, MI 49090-1589 http://www.vbco.org/government364491.asp
Excellent
64%
Good
30%
Satisfactory
6%
Poor
0%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 280 reviews

Kal Haven Trail

Reviewed By 673randyf - Pinckney, United States

We rode 20 miles, 10 out 10 back. Lots of shade. Not to difficult, no big inclines. Well maintained, no trash. A really nice way to start the day.

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