New Buffalo, Michigan
About New Buffalo
New Buffalo, Michigan is this quaint little harbor town at Exit 1 when headed east from Chicago to Michigan. I’ve been going there with my family since the 1990’s and while its evolved a ton since then, it is still the absolute perfect location for a weekend getaway with your date, your besties, or your whole family. I tell people often it’s like “The Hamptons of Chicago.” The sunsets are some of the most glorious in the world.
Getting to New Buffalo
Getting to New Buffalo is easy. Driving from Chicago is about one hour door-to-door. You can also take the Amtrak from Union Station in Chicago and get dropped off right downtown. The lesser-known route is to take the South Shore Line from the Millennium Park (or Grant Park) Chicago Metra Station to Michigan City, Indiana, from there having a friend pick you up, taking a cab or getting an Uber. Note: as of this writing Uber has just recently been introduced to the area.
Know before you go
New Buffalo is the most western town in the Eastern Time Zone. Literally once you cross over the border between Indiana and Michigan, you flip to Eastern time. SO, this means if it’s 6PM in Chicago, it’s 7PM in New Buffalo. For reservations, etc. keep this in mind. I know some friends who’ve missed hard-to-get dinner reservations and tee times because they forgot about the time change. It’s rare this happens, but if you are on the beach or water (Lake Michigan) your phone might get confused and flip back and forth between time zones.
Eat
There are so many phenomenal places to eat. I’m listing just a few here so you can choose your own adventure.
Iconic New Buffalo Spots: Stray Dog, Redamaks, Oinks.
My Personal Favorite New Buffalo Spots: The Bentwood Tavern, The Terrace Room, The False Front
Stay
Ronnie and I actually own a home in New Buffalo, and my parents have a vineyard nearby, I’d recommend staying at either of these places above all! That said, here’s some ideas for where to stay based on the vibes you are looking for:
Great for big groups: Our Airbnb (sleeps up to 16)
Great for couples wanting a romantic getaway on a private vineyard: My parent’s vineyard (sleeps 2)
Boujee and right downtown New Buffalo: The Harbor Grand Hotel
Cozy and completely unpretentious, yet delightful, a few miles from downtown New Buffalo: The Lakeside Inn
Workout
There are so many great options for you if you want to book a formal workout. That said, there are also great options just outside from hikes, to nature paths, to the walk that I recommend in the Play section, below. Here are a few ideas to consider:
Go on All Trails and find a nearby hike on the Michigan Dunes or nature paths
Kayak or Standup Paddle Board Rentals on the Galien River
Grab your most adventurous friend and take the 8 mile round trip walk I outline in the Play section below
Take a class at Prana/Life Studio Yoga and Pilates
Take a class at Dancing Feet Yoga Studio
Get your lift on at Equilibrium Fitness
Play
This is what I would do in a single day if I was really trying to send it in New Buffalo, you’d be better off splitting all this fun into two days, but hey, here goes nothing.
Exercise (and get coffee) before breakfast: Walk from downtown New Buffalo towards Lake Michigan and follow the road that turns off to the right on foot into one of the most beautiful lakeside neighborhoods in the US. Keep walking (for about 4 miles) until Townline Rd. in Union Pier. Here you will find The Black Currant Coffee House and the best coffee and donuts in all of Southwest Michigan. Pick your poison! My recommendation: their version of the ‘boston creme’ donut. Mind blowingly good!
Breakfast: Keep walking until you hit The Whistle Stop. Pick up a breakfast sandwhich, their jalapeno cheddar scone, perhaps another coffee, and any other partitions you may need for the day. This cute little grocery store has lots of what you’ll need from wine to light bites.
Relaxing morning adventure: Once you get home from your long walk, you’re going to want a massage. Make sure to book in advance at Evolve Spa.
Lunch: After you’ve been pampered at Evolve, head to The Bentwood Tavern for a light lunch with outdoor dining at the harbor. You can’t go wrong with anything on their menu, I tend to love their salads. Tell Chef Alberto that Stef Caldwell said hi!
Afternoon adventure: With a full belly, you’re ready to head to the nearby wine country, plan an excursion in advance or better yet, pick a sober friend to schlep you and your crew around, and head about 30 minutes north to wine country. My favorite vineyards to check out are: Dablon, Tabor Hill, and Roundbarn. There are plenty of others, and no shade to any of them, but these are top three for sure. If you’re looking for a private party / private event, my parent’s vineyard could be a great option for you, it’s not open to the public, but it is available for private events and their wine is actually the best, and one of the most award-winning wines in the whole region — Mahan Family Wines.
Before you head home from your adventure: Once you’re nice and wine drunk, but before you go to the hotel to change for dinner, spend a little time beep-bopping around downtown New Buffalo, peek into stores like Lakeside Goods and Eastern Standard Time for some lovely home-goods and souvenirs that aren’t your run-of-the-mill tchotchkes.
Dinner: You’ll need a reservation, but to me, there’s no better place than the Terrace Room. An italian menu, incredible drinks, the most amazing ambiance. This is my go-to spot, especially when New Buffalo Newbies come to visit.
Drinks: For the best drinks in town head to The False Front, which is actually David’s Deli, but flipped for the night crowd. Their craft cocktails will make you wonder why you still live in Chicago and you haven’t up-and-moved to Harbor Country.
Dessert: Head to Oinks for the best ice cream in town. It’s walkable from the False Front — just across the mainstreet and about 4 blocks away.
Party: If you’re looking for a lively bar scene to do some shoulder-rubbing, flirting, or dancing, there are just three tickets in town — 1) The rooftop at the Stray Dog is bar vibes only, but you’re guaranteed to fight for room at the bar and enjoy close encounters with other travelers, 2) The backyard at Casey’s offers a Juke Box and on many nights live music, inside or outside, you are guaranteed to have a good time and great service, 3) if you are the gambling type, take the bus from The Harbor Grand Hotel (where the Terrace Room is) or the Marina Grand Hotel (where the Bentwood Tavern is) to The Four Winds Casino (and Hard Rock) at the edge of town, the Hard Rock has live music all the time and the dance floor is always a vibe.
Sleep: Go home, you’re exhausted. Lay your head on the pillow at our Airbnb, conveniently 1 block from The Marina Grand Hotel where the Casino bus will drop you off once you’re ready to call it a night.
Note for boaters and fisherman: If you, like me, are a water baby and want to spend some time out on the water (fishing or just having a good time), but don’t have a boat of your own, you can charter one through Oselka Marina.
Summary
To summarize, New Buffalo really has it all — everything you could want or need to Eat, Stay, Workout and Play. I hope you enjoy your lakeside adventure!
