(SOUTH HAVEN, MICHIGAN) — While April showers have arrived, we know what comes next here in the Midwest. Hot, humid months coupled with kiddos being out of school.
With Bennett starting school this past year, we’re about to experience our first “summer vacation” for our kids. With that being said, we all know how important summer vacation can be to families and traveling.
We found the perfect place for your next family adventure. And while we traveled in the “off-season,” this list will serve you well if and when you choose to go here: South Haven, Michigan.
In this article, I’ll share one AMAZING rental property that is so close to the beach. Along with places to eat and explore, let this article act as your travel guide for your next Southwest Michigan journey.
Where to stay: Coastal Blue (owned and operated by Relax Relentlessly)
If you’re looking for the perfect, beachfront location in Michigan, you’ve found it. With four bedrooms, this three-story home sleeps up to 12 people. Fitted with three bathrooms and two main living spaces, Coastal Blue has all the amenities you could want or imagine for your needs inside the house, as well as anything you’d want for the beach. The kitchen cabinets are all labeled, so you know exactly where the kids’ forks are, or the pots and pans. The beauty of being across from Lake Michigan means you get top tier views of the sunset. Take a walk along North Beach to the North Pier, and get close-up views of the South Haven lighthouse. Our kids favorite part? The swings and playground directly in front of Coastal Blue.
This is the type of place you’ll never want to leave. It was the first time I’ve seen my 3-year-old son ever be sad to leave a vacation! That tells you something, since he’s been to Disney World twice. Thank you to Carri for being a fantastic host! She and her husband Dan have additional properties listed on their website.
Where to eat:
Let’s go down the list from where we ate breakfast, lunch and dinner chronologically.
The concept of Chalkboard Kitchen is really cool. If the staff or chefs have an idea for food… write it up on the chalkboard and then see it come to life. The monkey bread was fantastic, and you have great breakfast and lunch options to choose from.
#2: Taste
Known for its small plates and martinis, we had a great experience at Taste. It’s such a popular spot, you can only get a table by making a reservation! My recommendation is to order the crispy artichokes and sweet & spicy shrimp.
Let’s be honest, cooking on vacation can be a lot. Yet sometimes you just want to have a meal inside the house, or in this case, overlooking the beach! Venezia Restaurant is located right downtown (across the street from Taste, actually), and is a spectacular option for takeout pizzas, sandwiches, salads and kids’ meals. The Final Boss pizza was my favorite, but we also really enjoyed the General Crab. Think crab rangoon… but on a pizza! Incredible.
#4: Black River Tavern (BRT)
Remember when I said Venezia Restaurant is across the street from Taste? Well, Black River Tavern is right across from Taste… just across Phoenix Street this time (Phoenix is the main road running through downtown). I enjoyed the seafood trio, stacked with perch, cod and shrimp (both of my kids loved the seafood, too). Mattie got a fish & chips kids’ meal, can you tell my kiddos love seafood? This is one of the only spots that will have Guinness on draft. The Brussels sprouts were fantastic, too!
#5: South Pier Creamery & Market
If I’m not hinting enough that everything is in close proximity, just know that South Pier Creamery is literally right next to BRT. For the ice cream lovers out there, you have to get the novelty ice cream bucket. Loaded with five scoops of ice cream (that’s on top of waffle cone bits), this is a great way to get all those flavors you and your group want. Not sure what to choose? Then go crazy and get as many samples beforehand that you want! The staff is SO NICE and great resources to help you decide what to do in South Haven.
Where to get coffee:
We loved the coffee scene in South Haven. Stopping by for your morning cup of Joe is a great way to get inspiration for your South Haven adventures!
A place where you can order a coffee (or energy drink) and have a conversation with an alien? Sign me up. If you are a fan of energy drinks, try The Little Dipper. It’s apple & kiwi and absolutely delicious. Make sure to ask for the coffee bread as well, terrific.
Located in the South Haven Meijer, sits a locally-run coffee shop called Bearclaw. With four locations across Michigan, Bearclaw offers shoppers coffees, smoothies, bagels and more. Brenda, the owner, was so kind and did a wonderful job taking care of us during our visit! Make sure to try the S’mores latte (Rachel ordered it frozen). Mattie thoroughly enjoyed her strawberry smoothie and I loved the frozen peppermint mocha I ordered.
#3: Bean Box Coffee
Specializing in coconut cold brews and coconut cold foam, Bean Box was a wonderful treat. I’m not a cold brew fan at all, let me clear about that. However, their coconut cold brew was the first one I’ve ever actually enjoyed. I went with a vanilla mint iced latte (with the coconut cold foam of course) and it was amazing. Shop from local items in their in-store market, and Callie was so kind! She became instant buddies with Mattie.
What to do:
We promise, we do a whole lot more than just eat and stop by coffee shops! As a family with young kids, we’re always looking for ways to get our kiddos outside or doing fun activities. But sometimes, mom and dad need some time to get out and be refreshed. We were blessed to visit South Haven with my parents, which gave us the freedom to do so.
#1: Get a massage at Jo Marie Massage
Rachel and I had fun doing a “massage swap” one day in South Haven. Located on the edge of downtown, Jo Marie Massage is in a great location to drop off person A while person B takes a stroll downtown to stop by a few shops. Both Rachel and I agreed that our massages were fantastic, and the room was very calming. It’s not everyday we get to treat ourselves to a massage! And while traveling can be hectic, spending 60 minutes to get refreshed seems like a great investment to me. Jo Marie’s prices are very reasonable, as well.
#2: Play retro games at Rocket Arcade!
It’s not often you get to play some of the most classic arcade games around. Well, those dreams become a reality when you step inside Rocket Arcade. Did I mention everything is nearby? Rocket Arcade is located one parking lot over from Bean Box Coffee, and right down the street from Chalkboard Kitchen. Bennett and I bonded over the racing games. Get an all-you-can-play wristband, and have all the fun you want!
Finishing thoughts & photos:
If you can’t tell, I’m a planner. I love to plan our trips and find all the best places to eat, get a cup of coffee, explore, you name it. However, there are some spontaneous things I’d recommend staying open to.
- Play at the playground on North Beach: As mentioned, the North Beach playground is located just across the street from Coastal Blue. The ship-shaped playground was a massive hit for our kids, who wanted to slide down the slide every day, and swing on the swingset right next to it.
- Catch a Lake Michigan sunset: When staying at Coastal Blue, you’ve got a lot of options. You can catch the sun going down over Lake Michigan from the house. The second and third floors are your best views, each equipped with porches overlooking the beach.
- Take a walk to the North Pier: It’ll just take you a few minutes to walk the sidewalk to reach the North Pier. This is a great place to catch views of the lighthouse, see the waves, and get a glimpse of the sunset closer.
- Get up close and personal to the lighthouse on the South Pier: The two piers are split by water where Lake Michigan comes inland and becomes the Black River. There’s no way to cross the river from North Beach to South Beach, so you’ll need to take a 5-minute drive through town and go park near the South Pier lighthouse. It’s worth it! And there’s another amazing playground there your kiddos will love.
- Take a stroll downtown: The shopping scene is great in downtown South Haven. You can find all the souvenirs you can imagine, do some shopping for that clothing item you’ve been wanting to buy, and stop by one of the eateries along the way. It’s very stroller-friendly, which we really appreciated.
Off-season notice: We came to South Haven in late March, which means we were still in the off-season for Southwest Michigan. Unfortunately, that meant that certain establishments weren’t open for the season yet. But that’s okay for your sake, especially if you’re planning a summer vacation!
We appreciate all the amazing people we met along the way during our trip to Southwest Michigan. Thank you to all the business owners who were gracious with their time, helping us really get a taste of the culture and have a memorable adventure.
We will definitely be back!
Are there any local favorites we missed? Comment them below or send me an email.
Matt Sheehan Official 