Harbor Country Travel and Events Info

ENJOY WINE COUNTRY
CLOSE TO HOME

You’re enjoying a beautiful glass of white wine with a few close friends. The coolness of the wine produces condensation on the outside of the glass giving it a frosty look and the wine refreshes you as you look out over acres of vines, heavy with grapes that will be harvested in another month or two. With every sip you inhale an intoxicating aroma—hints of citrus or peaches. So where are you? The Napa Valley? Sonoma? Tuscany? No—you’re in the verdant wine country of southwest Michigan. You feel like you’re in a different world, yet you haven’t left The Beach Coast.

The Southwest Michigan Wine Trail begins just a few miles past the state line. There are about 20 tasting rooms and wineries along the Wine Trail and they are close enough together that, technically, you could visit every one of them in a day.

Check out the article on theBeachcoast.com

ESCAPING THE GRIND OF CITY LIFE — FOR A WEEKEND IN HARBOR COUNTRY!

Residents of the East Coast escape to the Hamptons, the Jersey Shore, or Cape Cod for summer beach weekend getaways. Chicago residents are fortunate enough to have easy access to many of our city beaches alongside Lake Shore Drive but where do Chicagoans go if they are looking to slow down their weekend by a few notches? A place where they can still enjoy summer time play on the beach? Visiting one (or a few) of the eight quaint beach towns that make up Harbor Country® in Southwest Michigan can be the answer for those who seek a change of pace away from the grind of their busy city lives.

Whether you take just a day trip or decide to stay the weekend, this article details what Harbor Country has to offer.

Check out the article on Gozamos

West Michigan Pike Dedication
April 30 in New Buffalo, MI

For 100 years, the West Michigan Pike has served auto tourists along the Lake Michigan shoreline from the state line in Berrien County, nearly 450 miles north to Mackinaw City. To commemorate this historic route, an official state historical marker will be dedicated at 11:00 a.m., Lions Park in New Buffalo.

“The West Michigan Pike historical marker is one of five erected as part of our project to learn the history and identify historic sites along this historic roadway,” stated State Historic Preservation Officer Brian Conway, who will be at the dedication ceremony.

Funded by the Michigan Historical Marker Fund and Michigan BeachtownsTM, the marker in New Buffalo is the latest to be erected in Southwest Michigan as part of the West Michigan Roadmap project. Two other markers will be erected this summer, one for Scenic Drive and Muskegon State Park and the other for Jewish Summer Resorts in South Haven. Two were erected last year, at Winsor McKay in Spring Lake and the other at John Gurney Park in Hart.

Learn more about what Michigan is doing to promote the West Michigan Pike

LAKE MICHIGAN SHORE
WINE FESTIVAL DATES SET!

Lake Michigan Shore Wine Festival is a showcase event where guests sample (tastes or by the glass) all of the wonderful Lake Michigan Shore Wine Trail locally-grown-and-produced varietals and wines from Tabor Hill, Contessa, Domaine Berrien, Fenn Valley, Karma Vista, Lawton Ridge, Lemon Creek, Round Barn, St. Julian, Free Run, Hickory Creek and Warner.

(Update: Live Chef Demonstrations from the KitchenAid Outdoor Cooking Area will also be taking place.)

Wrap this into a day filled with sun & sand, extraordinary cuisine from local restaurants, jazz, blues, R&B, and a dazzling sunset and you have one fantastic family festival.

Get event schedule and ticket information here

NEW AMTRAK STATION OPEN

On October 26, 2009, new Amtrak "New Buffalo" station opened and is located at 225 North Whittaker St., New Buffalo, MI. The Amtrak Station Code also has changed from "NBM" to "NBU". Currently, Trains 354 and 355 (Wolverine), 364 and 365 (Blue Water) provide service to/from New Buffalo. Trains 370 and 371 (Pere Marquette) no longer stop at New Buffalo.

The New Buffalo stop was relocated from the CSX (Pere Marquette) line to the Amtrak-owned (Wolverine/Blue Water) line. The new location is in a more attractive, downtown area.

The revised schedules, replace those published in Amtrak’s Fall 2009-Winter 2010 System Timetable. Revised schedules are also available at Amtrak.com or by calling 1-800-USA-RAIL (1-800-872-7245).

For more schedules and details, click HERE.

HARBOR COUNTRY IS OPEN!

After the summer months, some businesses and restaurants in New Buffalo close. But others stay open year-round – and the New Buffalo area is offering plenty of attractions for the holidays to draw tourists.

"The doors don't close on Harbor Country on Labor Day. People still continue to come up," said Viki Gudas, with the Harbor Country Visitors Bureau.

Some other attractions throughout New Buffalo and Harbor Country include surfing (which is a big draw in winter months); snowshoeing; cross-country skiing and tubing. Many wineries are open throughout the winter, as well.

Click to Watch Harbor Country on WNDU-TV

FEATURED BEACHTOWN

Harbor Country is a featured Michigan Beachtown! Close by, yet a world away, the eight communities of Harbor Country® invite you to experience a relaxing, fun-filled getaway.

Life slows down here long enough to unwind and enjoy a day at the beach, an afternoon visit to world-class wineries, art galleries, and antique shops, and an evening of fine dining at five star restaurants or casual cafes. Discover the natural beauty of this 15 mile stretch along Lake Michigan from a kayak on the river, a walk in the woods, or a slow sail on the lake.

Check us out - Michigan Beachtowns

TAKING TIME TO UNWIND

NEW BUFFALO, Mich. - The hectic pace of modern life slows to a leisurely crawl in southwestern Michigan's Harbor Country, where travelers can relax and unwind for a few hours — or while away an entire summer.

Visit wine shops and sample locally produced reds and whites. Eat at elegant restaurants and kitschy diners. Wander antique shops, art galleries, farmers markets, gift shops and fine apparel stores. Explore sand dunes, lounge on beaches, then retire to family-friendly cottages or romantic bed-and-breakfasts.

Read Full Article - MSNBC

MIDWEST TRAVEL GUIDE

It's only an hour-and-a-half away, and it's got more wineries (some of whose product is a bit underripe, but still...) than you can shake a corkscrew at. Replete with all the typical vacation activities--antiquing,beachcombing, lakeside dining, et al--Harbor Country (a.k.a. "The Hamptons of the Midwest") fosters the easiest weekend getaway--or day trip--a Chicagoan could hope for.

Read Travel Guide - Chicago Tribune

THIRD COAST SURF SHOP

With its recent rise in popularity, lake surfing has been featured by national and regional news sources like NBC Today Show, The CBS Early Show, Newsweek, National Public Radio, newspapers like The Chicago Tribune and The Indianapolis Star, and The Honolulu Star Bulletin. The notion of surfing on freshwater lakes in the heartland of America, especially in winter, tends to catch peoples’ attention! 

Visit Third Coast Surf Shop - New Buffalo