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When I originally wrote this article back in mid 2020, it was after my family’s first Day Trip to South Haven. Since then, my family and I have returned to South Haven several other times and each time, we participated in different activities in the area! My husband and I even were blessed to go on a romantic getaway to South Haven as well (more on that below!).
So now, this “Day Trip to South Haven” article has taken on a new life and offers *four* South Haven day trip ideas! One that is perfect if it is your first time visiting South Haven (great for all ages – even babies), another to experience South Haven’s hidden gems, a romantic day date for couples, and finally, a day trip idea if you visit South Haven during winter.
Location wise, South Haven is an hour drive from Kalamazoo and Grand Rapids, and only a couple hours from Chicago and Lansing. A perfect beachside town for a day trip any time of year! And if you’re vacationing further south in St Joe or New Buffalo or north in Saugatuck or Holland, don’t overlook how quick and convenient a day trip to South Haven can be! (And check out my related articles on these towns!)
Below are details of what we did during our past day trips to South Haven. I also offer a few alternative options plus local lodging options.
~ History of South Haven ~
But first, a little history! In 1787, settled by Ottawa, Miami, and Pottawatomie peoples, this area became known as “Ni-Ko-Nong”, which translates to beautiful sunsets. How can you not want to visit after learning that?
In the 1850’s, construction on the first sawmill on the Black River began and families moved into the region. After that, homes, schools, stores, and other industry sprang up. South Haven developed into a lumber town like many cities along the Lake Michigan coast. Their lumber help build Chicago and Milwaukee across the lake.
Following the end of the lumber boom, the cleared land converted into fruit farms. Besides fruit, tourism also became a major revenue generator for South Haven. By the 1920’s, South Haven developed into a summer resort town. A number of steamboats carrying passengers from Chicago came during the summer. To this day, South Haven is a popular summer destination for Chicago residents.
~South Haven Day Trip One: First Timer’s Guide~
Don’t miss these iconic South Haven staples if this is your first time visiting. After parking, walk the pier to South Beach and the lighthouse. Next, eat lunch at one of the restaurants within Old Harbor Village along the Black River. Options include enjoying tiki bar vibes at Admiral Jack’s Bar & Grill, an old former riverboat called Idler Riverboat & Dockside, or the South Haven Brewpub. After lunch, enjoy a river cruise aboard the Lindy Lou operated by the Michigan Maritime Museum. Before winding down your day trip, stop at Cogdal Vineyards for wine tasting.
Downtown South Haven
Pier & South Beach
Our first activity in South Haven involved walking up and down the pier to watch boats come in and out of the channel. While we didn’t get close to the lighthouse since we were pushing a stroller with our infant son, we did walk to where the splash pad is. Speaking of, the South Haven splash pad looks epic. It is a large, interactive, ship themed splash pad. Once Winston is older, I need to return to take him here! Also near the splash pad are several picnic areas and concessions to grab food.
Downtown Shops
After spending a few minutes taking in all the activity around us, we headed back towards town. The main street in South Haven is Water Street and is only a couple blocks long. Those two blocks are packed with restaurants, coffee shops, wineries, souvenir shops, and many more. At the time, many local businesses partnered with the South Haven Center for the Arts to display calla lilies, sunflowers, zinnias, elephant ears, and succulents as part of the Frida Kahlo Garden Walk.
Halfway down Water Street, there is a beautiful wall of flowers to check out. This is a popular location to take photos by visitors! There are also several interesting public art pieces and murals scattered through town.
Old Harbor Village
Old Harbor Village is located off Williams Street on the Black River. Look out for the wooden lighthouse or take the steps to enter down into it from the road. Old Harbor Village is modeled after a New England village and contains an assortment of gift shops, restaurants, and pubs.
At the end is the restaurant and microbrewery, South Haven Brewpub, which is where we ate lunch. Its menu consists of burgers, tacos, wraps, and pizza. My husband tried one of the burgers while I ate the pork tacos. We sat outside as most of the outdoor picnic tables are shaded from the sun in the early afternoon. We both enjoyed the food and atmosphere here! It is also a great place to grab a bite to eat if you’re with a baby. While there weren’t highchairs, outside seating consisted of picnic tables, which made it easy to roll the stroller up to the table.
Within Old Harbor Village, there are also a couple fun and unique bar/ restaurants. One is the Cajan-themed Idler Riverboat, a stationary bar on an old riverboat brought in after use on the Mississippi River from 1897 to 1981. The second is seafood-tiki themed Admiral Jack’s, a restaurant constructed on six steel barges welded together and permanently moored.
Michigan Maritime Museum
Next up, we chartered a boat tour aboard the Lindy Lou at the Michigan Maritime Museum!
Since our visit, the Museum started offering public cruises again. The cost per passenger varies depending on the boat, but generally prices range from $20-$37. If you still prefer to charter a private cruise, the museum offers those as well. Check out their website here for cost details and to book a charter online.
Because Winston is not 4 years old, we could only charter the river boat Lindy Lou at the time. The Lindy Lou is a replica Truscott fantail river launch. Used along the Black River from 1890s to 1930s, this boat brought summer vacationers arriving on large steamships from Chicago to their resorts, picnic spots, and everyday cruises along the Black River.
Lasting around an hour, the tour aboard the Lindy Lou took us along the Black River until we reached the Kal-Haven bridge. The cruise is calm and peaceful. Our son Winston even took a nap for part of it! We saw charming and interesting cottages, passed under a number of roadway bridges, and spotted a flooded pedestrian gazebo at a park (well, it once was a park).
The cost of the boat charter includes admission to the museum so after the boat, we toured the museum. Even if you don’t go on a boat tour, the Museum itself is worth touring!
Cogdal Vineyards
For our final stop of the day, we went to Cogdal Vineyards just outside the South Haven city limits. Not only is this the first winery I visited since COVID shut things down, it is also my first winery since my pregnancy!
When we visited, we both did a wine tasting, which was a little different due to COVID. We were given a disposable, paper menu and pencil where we indicted the wines we wanted to try. Then, one person from the party takes the menu to the bar where the samples are poured in compostable cups.
Now for the tasting! The winery indicated which wine is which on the paper tray and returned your menu to you. Overall, Cogdal offers a wide variety of both dry, semi sweet, sweet and dessert wines in both red and white. We savored the wines we tried from Cogdal! In my opinion, there is a wine for everyone here!
Another perk is that the winery is situated in the middle of the vineyard with surrounding grapevines. Before we left, we took a few photos at the entrance to a row of grapes.
~ Day Trip to South Haven Two: Hidden Gems ~
After your first visit to South Haven to get acquainted with the town, it’s time to dig in and discover some of South Haven’s gems. Many of these gems are located outside of downtown. Attractions to visit on this day trip include a gorgeous part botanical garden/part history museum, one of southwest Michigan’s most unique beaches, lunch from a delicious woman owned brewery, and ice cream from an icon!
Liberty Hyde Bailey Museum
The first stop you need to take on your hidden gem tour of South Haven is the Liberty Hyde Bailey Museum. This museum is the former home of the Father of Modern Horticulture who was born and raised in South Haven before he left to attend what is now Michigan State University and helped developed the field of botany and horticulture. Despite being from South Haven, he got really into different species of palm’s and even got to travel the world studying these tropical trees!
Today, the Liberty Hyde Bailey Museum is part museum, garden, and historic site. It’s interesting to walk around both inside and outside to learn about Bailey’s life and contributions. Outside, a variety of plants are grown in the garden. And an old, historic barn that remains from the days of when the former Bailey house was on an 80 acre orchard is still present too.
Unfortunately this museum is only open during the summer. Once it is open, it’s open Monday to Saturday between 10am and 4pm. Admission is free but donations are accepted. There is also a small parking lot present on site.
Pilgrim Haven Natural Area
While on the south side of town, visit the rare, stone filled beach at the Pilgrim Haven Natural Area. It is a fantastic destination to visit with small kids as they’ll love wading in the shallow waves and throw rocks into the water. Even if you aren’t with small kids, it’s a fantastic spot in southern Michigan to collect rocks and look for beach glass.
Connecting the beach with the large parking lot which has 45 spaces is a paved trail. Pilgrim Haven is a phenomenal park to visit for those with limited mobility. There are two accessible spaces making it easier to get closer to the beach using the trail. Leashed dogs are also welcome here.
Another cool sight and activity to do as a family is walk the short .33 mile trail to check out the ruins of the former Camp Pilgrim Haven’s Dining hall. Only a chimney remains but it’s cool to experience ruins in Michigan.
Three Blondes Brewing
After sightseeing, we were hungry!! For lunch we traveled to Three Blondes Brewing. This craft brewery and restaurant is conveniently located outside of downtown South Haven so you don’t have to worry about finding street parking or space in the busy downtown lots. Three Blondes Brewing also has its own large parking lot.
Founded in 2018, Three Blondes Brewing was started by three sisters (all blonde) to provide the community and visitors to South Haven a place to kick back and enjoy some good food and beer. And they definitely succeed! There’s both indoor seating and a huge outdoor patio to sit at. There are even some fire pits and lounge chairs for those who just want to kick their feet up and enjoy a beer.
Since we visited with a toddler, we appreciated the high chairs, booster seats, and baby changing rooms in the bathrooms here. Plus the kids menu is such a deal! My son (age 1.5 at the time) ordered a kids pizza and fries and it was only $8! (You know I promptly ate the leftovers when we got home later).
For beers, Three Blondes has 50 different flavors in development with 4 mainstays and a few rotating seasonals. The 4 mainstays include a Blonde Ale (of course), Pilsner, Hazy IPA, and Pale Ale. During my visit, which was right in the heart of the local cherry season, I tried a seasonal wheat ale with raspberries, basil, and glitter in it called Princess Juice. My husband is super simple and went with the Pilsner which their version is called Wake & Lake.
Their menu offers a variety of people pleasing items like burgers, salads, sandwiches, tacos, pizza, and more. Highly recommend giving Three Blonde’s a visit during a day trip to South Haven!
Sherman’s Dairy Bar
And you can’t visit South Haven during the summer without ice cream from Sherman’s Dairy Bar. Sherman’s is iconic to South Haven with memorable blue cows on the roof of the building.
Sherman’s got its start back in 1916 when its founder owned a herd of dairy cows and delivered milk locally throughout South Haven. After a couple generations, the family got into experimenting making high quality ice cream using all natural ingredients. Eventually they nailed their recipe and began focusing on only producing high quality, small batch ice cream and began selling it throughout South Haven.
Keeping up with the times, Sherman’s also offers dairy free, gluten free and no sugar added ice cream too. 29 different flavors of ice cream were available when we visited. And there is also a gift shop selling merchandise next to the ice cream shop. Seats are available outdoors to enjoy the ice cream from. Making a stop at Sherman’s super convenient, Sherman’s is located nearby the highway entrance so for anyone in South Haven on a day trip, its a perfect final stop before heading out of town.
Sherman’s Dairy Bar is open from mid spring through mid fall daily.
~ Romantic Day Trip Idea to South Haven ~
If you plan on escaping to South Haven with your significant other, this day trip is for you! My husband and I went on a romantic getaway one weekend and enjoyed shopping, eating and wine tasting in downtown South Haven, checking out the quirkiest space themed coffee shop, and touring South Haven’s Center for the Arts.
Public Art in South Haven
This romantic day trip adventure was part of our romantic getaway to South Haven. We had a full day to explore South Haven after spending the night at the Inn at the Park Bed & Breakfast. After breakfast at the Inn, we were off to explore.
Our first stop was to check out some public art around down. For anyone looking for the perfect artistic picture within South Haven, you have to seek out the Welcome to South Haven murals – which are not where you’d think they are. You can find this mural with the city logo and one mural painted of the Black River Harbor and another with blueberries on the wall behind a strip mall at 960 S Bailey Ave, South Haven, MI 49090. The easiest way to get to the murals is to park next door at the funeral home parking lot.
Then, a visit to the South Haven Center for the Arts is a must. The exhibits within the Center are frequently changing so this is one great to visit if you plan to return to South Haven. It’s also a great one to stop at if it’s rainy out. This center is free to visit and open Wednesday through Saturdays.
If you’re like me and notice how ornate and neoclassical the building is, you’re not alone. The Center, which has been around since 1951, moved into this building in 1990. Prior to housing the Center for the Arts, this building got its start as a Carnegie Library in 1905. After the library relocated, the building found new life as a community center until the Art Association moved in.
Cafe Julia
During the romantic day trip to South Haven with my husband, we indulged in a couple meals in downtown South Haven. After the obvious breakfast at the b&b (which was divine!), for lunch we headed to a local favorite – Cafe Julia. Cafe Julia is like the local version of Panera Bread but with a lot more personal touches. There are a variety of salads and sandwiches made to order as well as a cooler of grab and go. Plus there are baked goodies ready to order as well. Nearly everything under the sun in terms of non-alcoholic beverages are available at Cafe Julia too. There are lattes, coffee, and my husband raved about the fresh squeezed orange juice. You can watch them squeeze your juice right on site!
Cafe Julia is located about a block away from the Center for the Arts. For parking, there are a couple spaces in front of it right on the street, otherwise, parking is easy to come back in the farmers market parking lot (pending its not during the actual farmers market or a busy summer weekend.) Cafe Julia is open for breakfast and lunch daily between 7am and 3pm.
Enjoy Wine Tasting & Shopping in Town
After our mission to see local art and lunch, we wandered downtown South Haven to look for further gems we may have missed during past visits.
It is nice to take a breather and walk around town with my husband. Sometimes when traveling with our little one, we are too engrained in having a plan AND back up plan for our adventure. It’s nice to slow down and notice the unique features of a town.
One such spot we enjoyed was right across the street from the Bed & Breakfast we stayed at. Within Stanley Johnston Park we noticed so many amazing features. For one, it’s slightly hilly so when you climb up to the peak of the hill and look towards town, you’re treated to a spectacular view. And within the park, there is a fantastic historic sign that explains South Haven’s connection to the development of unique varieties of peach grown locally. Finally, there are a couple beautiful flower gardens to appreciate and we learned South Haven is listed as a Michigan trial town!
After checking out the nearby park, we headed to town and went shopping at an antique store called Eagle Street Market before wine tasting a little before dinner at Gravity Tasting Room. This winery makes most of their wines with local produce and is very berry forward in what they offered. For just $15 per person, you get to sample 6 wines and keep the glass!
The Flying Saucer Cafe
Because I like to balance my uppers with my downers (ha!), we had to check out the quirky and fun coffeeshop in downtown South Haven that’s been on my list for a year now. The Flying Saucer Cafe in South Haven did not disappoint! The Flying Saucer is a space themed coffee shop with cosmic decor hanging from the ceiling. Right by the register there is an alien with a seat across from it which allows for some fun photos. The walls are decorated with sci fi images. And in the back, there’s a cozy mid century modern couch with lava lamp to chill at and check out the UFO hanging from the ceiling.
Within The Flying Sauce Cafe, their coffee is roasted by Uncommon Coffee Roasters in Saugatuck with some custom blends for purchase. Besides coffee and lattes, they sell snacks including moon pies.
It’s easy to find The Flying Saucer Cafe as it’s located in downtown South Haven, right next to the Michigan Theater. During the spring and summer months, it is open daily. So make sure you stop by during a day trip to South Haven! (Especially if you want to try a fun, out of this world place for coffee!).
Tello Italian Bistro
Then for dinner, we went to Tello Italian Bistro, which is located right on vibrant Phoenix Street. Tello hand makes all its Italian style dishes in a romantic and upscale dining environment. Menu options include a limited number of appetizers, salads, pasta dishes, and entrees. The pasta can be made gluten free as well with a slight up charge. Following dinner, you can order dessert – hello tiramisu!
I ordered the pan roasted fresh fish which was roasted in olive oil with rosemary, garlic, fennel, veggies, potatoes, and tomato. You can see from the photo above, it was absolutely delicious and I left dinner relatively guilt free (again, hello tiramisu!). My husband is not much of a pasta guy so opted for the filet mignon which included cherry tomatoes, sauce and potato.
Tello is open daily between 4 to 10 pm. Unfortunately no reservations are accepted so be sure to plan your visit early, especially during summer or on the weekend.
~ Visit South Haven on a Day Trip Any Time of Year ~
If you’re curious what South Haven is like during winter, read on. South Haven is not a town that closes down once summer is over, but it does get a lot quieter. Take advantage of the shoulder season to score prime parking during this day trip. This one is also great for families as we recommend visiting the Mitten Children’s Museum, enjoying lunch at Clementine’s in downtown South Haven, go ice skating, then end with a scenic walk at the fully paved Casco Township Park Trail.
Mitten Children’s Museum
One of my family’s favorite children’s museums in Michigan is the Mitten in South Haven. This is one my son asks to return to. And, I can’t blame him! The whole theme is Michigan with fun facts about our wonderful state on the walls. And each room has a different theme that can be traced back to Michigan, such as Motown for the music room, camping, a model car to repair, a nautical room, and more!
There are many ways to play here from dressing up to building sandcastles. Upstairs the STEM room is one of our favorite spots as there are so many options of what to play with.
It’s a fantastic museum despite being on the smaller side. During the chillier months, it’s easy to drop by and play, but can get busy during the summer. There are only a couple places to park at the museum as it’s located in an historic former house. Unfortunately it is not easily accessible as there are stairs only to move between floors. Currently the Mitten is in the process of identifying another location it can one day move to.
The Mitten is open Wednesday to Saturday between 10 am and 3pm. Admission is $7 per person. They do participate in Museums for All, which is $2 per person.
Clementine’s
Dine in the most iconic building in South Haven – Clementines! The stunning red brick building that houses Clementine’s was built in 1896 and originally housed the Citizen’s State Bank, barber shop, dollar store, and painters office. Though those businesses no longer exist, Clementine’s does a fantastic job nodding to the building’s extensive history with its interior decor. Historic photos and antique memorabilia are on display on the walls.
In 1991, entrepreneur Al Ruppert purchased this building and moved Clementine’s into this space. As a restaurant, Clementine’s is a welcoming environment for everyone and can easily be enjoyed as an everyday occasion or dressed up for special occasions. On the menu, Clementine’s offers an extensive list of options with appetizers – including homemade onion rings. There are also soups, salads, chicken baskets, steak, fish, burgers, pasta, and even Mexican.
After starting with the homemade onion rings, I moved onto a hearty and warming Haymaker. This dish is with linguine noodles with Alfredo sauce, chicken, mushrooms, broccoli, and spinach. Gluten free and vegetarian options are available.
If visiting with kids, like we were, there is a kid menu that has a variety of popular kids menu favorites.
Clementines is open daily from 11am to 9pm. Reservations are not accepted.
Ice Skating at the South Haven Ice Rink
A fun thing to do during winter in South Haven is rent ice skates or go ice skating at the rink located near the South Haven Farmers Market. While the season of the ice rink depends on weather, in general the city aims to open it by mid December through the end of February. Skating admission costs $5 per person with an additional $5 fee for skate rentals.
Casco Township Nature Preserve
Before heading home, embrace the weather at the Casco Township Park, which has a phenomenal treat in store for you! Because this trail does not have a way to get down to the beach, it’s a beautiful spot to appreciate the view from and do with kids. Along the short, 1/3 mile paved, looping trail, there are signs indicating a scavenger hunt. So as you walk, look for the plants, birds, and animals that could make an appearance here.
If you are of limited mobility or looking to go on a walk while pushing a stroller, this is a great trail. Pets are also allowed on the trail too.
Other Things to do in South Haven
Beaches – Being right on Lake Michigan, it’s easy to make it a beach day when visiting South Haven. If you’re planning to arrive early or during the weekday’s, North Beach is a good option. However, South Beach is easily walkable from downtown South Haven. The lighthouse is accessible from South Beach.
Farmers Markets – South Haven’s Farmers Market is open every Wednesday and Saturday from 8am – 2pm. It is conveniently located in downtown South Haven at the Huron Street Pavilion. Alternatively check out the Phoenix Farm Market or Barden’s Farm Market to pick up local, fresh produce. Both are located near the highway exit.
Kal Haven Trail – If you’re looking for a great walking or biking trail in South Haven, the Kal Haven trail is it! The trailhead is conveniently located north of town with a large parking lot. Be sure to make it all the way to the wooden bridge over the Black River!
Kayak/Paddleboard Rental – Do you prefer outdoor activities that are on the water? You don’t have to worry about bringing your own paddleboard or kayak. You can rent one from the SoHa Surf Shop! They accept pre-booking online!
Outdoor Waterpark and Obstacle Course – On our list for the future (once our son is a bit older), is a day trip exclusively to Lake Arvesta Farms & Arvesta Sports Complex, which has an outdoor water obstacle course, watersports, putt putt, disc golf, kayaking, and dining facilities on site.
~ Day Trip to South Haven Map ~
Make it a Getaway! Places to Stay in South Haven
Some of the most popular places to stay in South Haven include:
- Historic Hotel Nichols – Historic hotel located in the heart of downtown South Haven that’s been recently renovated.
- Last Resort B&B – Located within steps of North Beach, this B&B is family friendly with a number of room options.
- Holiday Inn Express South Haven – If you don’t mind saving money and staying a little further out of town, the Holiday Inn Express is family and budget friendly. There’s also an indoor pool!
- Soot House Vacation Rental – Located only a 5 minute drive from downtown South Haven, Soot House is a 3 bedroom, 1 bathroom farmhouse that’s been renovated in an inspiring modern-nautical theme. It’s available to rent year round and has a phenomenal outdoor space. It’s also a great spot to relax at when you need space from how busy summer in South Haven gets.
Romantic Getaway to South Haven
And if you’re looking for a beautiful, yet convenient spot to get away together as a couple, check out Inn at the Park Bed & Breakfast! This adults only, modern Bed & Breakfast is cute and comfortable but is convenient to a beach, walking distance to downtown, and across the street from the Michigan Maritime Museum. After my husband and I stayed here during spring, we booked a getaway for my parent’s anniversary to enjoy! Learn more by watching the Reel above!
Bookmark or Pin this article to help plan your day trip to South Haven. And email me at frommichiganwithloveblog@gmail.com to let me know which other destinations and types of places you’d like to learn more about next!
Happy adventures!
from Michigan with Love,
Jackie
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Kindly Note: This article was originally published in August 2020 with additions and revisions in April 2024.
