Top Things to do in
Top Hotels in Southwest Michigan
- 1. Yelton Manor Boutique Hotel B&B
- 2. Historic Hotel Nichols
- 3. The Inn at Harbor Shores Resort
- 4. Boulevard Inn
- 5. Tru by Hilton Saint Joseph
- 6. SpringHill Suites by Marriott St. Joseph Benton Harbor
- 7. Hampton Inn South Haven
- 8. Holiday Inn Express & Suites St. Joseph
- 9. Country Inn & Suites by Radisson, South Haven, MI
- 10. Fairfield Inn & Suites New Buffalo
Countries
What to do and see in , Southwest Michigan: The Best Things to do
Discover the best top things to do in , United States including Silver Beach Carousel, Whirlpool Compass Fountain, Fernwood Botanical Garden and Nature Preserve, Michigan Maritime Museum, Silver Beach County Park, Weko Beach Park, South Haven Lighthouses, St. Joseph Lighthouses, Oselka Marina, Warren Dunes State Park.
Restaurants in Southwest Michigan
1. Silver Beach Carousel
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 574 reviews
MAKE A MEMORY ALL YEAR ROUND! The horses, the tigers, the hippocampus, the panda, the clown fish - in all, 48 unique carousel figures and two chariots - are whirling with excitement to see you. Come pick your favorite and ride beneath 1000 twinkling lights as the band organ's music happily soars and dips with the gears. Each figure is beautifully hand-carved and hand-painted by the artisans at The Carousel Works. Around the top of the carousel you can learn about our local history - told as no one else in the world has told it on a carousel - using historic photographs. As you gaze at those 18 rounding boards, you'll become part of our story, too.You'll find all the magic and wonder of the Silver Beach Carousel below the bluff in St. Joseph, just yards from Lake Michigan's Silver Beach, named one of the top 10 family beaches by Parents magazine. Open all four seasons, you can ride a different carousel figure or chariot every week and fill the year with a new memory each time. Our sea serpent chariot is wheelchair accessible so everyone can ride! Tokens are available for cash or credit card at the admissions desk or for cash from our token machine. To find us, click here for a map and directions.THERE'S SO MUCH MORE TO DO!Riding the carousel is just one of the fun things you can do at Silver Beach. Steps away from the carousel is Michigan's tallest kaleidoscope and Curious Kids' Discovery Zone by Curious Kids Museum, an entertaining place for toddlers to teens to explore water exhibits, a climbing wall and traveling exhibits. Next door to us is the beautiful Silver Beach Shadowland Ballroom, where special celebrations and wedding dreams come true. Across the road is the Whirlpool Compass Fountain where you can splash in the mist on warm days. And throughout the year, plan to join us for lots of fun events.Our Silver Beach Center packages let you create hours of fun at special prices. The Activities Room is an easy place to celebrate your child's next birthday or a special event. Just let us know what day you'd like to book by clicking here. You'll also find carousel gift ideas in our onsite and online gift shops. Or check out other gift ideas and sponsorship opportunities here.So come for the best ride in town - it's unforgettably happy! Visit our website for hours and more information about pricing and events.
Reviewed By JeffreyD127 - South Haven, United States
A recreation of a historic carousel that is well done and a joy to ride. Very distinctive and elegantly carved animals make this ride enjoyable. The animals ride up and down and children love it. When we were there, children could chose from an assortment of hats and figures to wear while riding, my grand children thought the hats were great. The music machine was made near my home town, North Tonawanda, and is a classic. Around the carousel are classica carnival machines. Also, the day we were there, a large leg display was set up. The carousel is next to the Curious Kids museum, another fun place for kids.
2. Whirlpool Compass Fountain
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 198 reviews
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.
3. Fernwood Botanical Garden and Nature Preserve
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 107 reviews
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.
4. Michigan Maritime Museum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 256 reviews
We strive to preserve, interpret, and invite the public to experience and learn about our Great Lakes maritime heritage from our Museum in South Haven.
Reviewed By thefamily3 - Lafayette, United States
Nice display of maritime ships and info about them. Loved the tall ship that u could ride on and crew was very informative and fun to talk to. Glad we choose to visit !
5. Silver Beach County Park
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 782 reviews
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
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 100 reviews
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. South Haven Lighthouses
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 674 reviews
Reviewed By gemcitydayton - Dayton, United States
A beautiful site during the day or night, when the pathway is lit with white lights. Charming to view either on the shore or out in the lake. A nice walk out to the light house with the lake lapping around the sides of the walk., and easy to reach from the public beach nearby. Love this lighthouse so much that I have a painting of it in my house!
8. St. Joseph Lighthouses
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 333 reviews
Reviewed By theoljohnnyboy - New Florence, United States
A beautiful spot to watch the sunset in the evenings. The lighthouse is well maintained and nicely painted. The first portion of the pier seems to be newer and and is quite level, the second portion is older, worn and quite a bit more narrow. Details on parking can be found in the Tiscornia Park reviews.
9. Oselka Marina
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 45 reviews
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.
10. Warren Dunes State Park
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 552 reviews
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.
