Escape to New Buffalo and St. Joseph, where summer fun overlaps with great food and art
Published July 2, 2026 12:05PM
What makes a great summer beach scene? Activities for everyone, pristine shorelines and water, and welcoming communities. You’ll find all that and more in southwest Michigan, where the state’s Lower Peninsula has long been a haven for beach seekers. Whether you’re hopping on an Amtrak from downtown Detroit or Chicago or loading up the family van, getting to New Buffalo and St. Joseph is easy—and once you arrive, simply slow down and enjoy harbor-town energy that moves at your pace. Here are just a few of the highlights you’ll find.
Silver Beach
St. Joseph’s Silver Beach has the obvious draw on a hot day: the clear waters of Lake Michigan, offering the perfect way to cool off. And it gets better. Silver Beach is great for more than just a dip—it’s the kind of bustling beach that plays host to all-time summer days.
Rent kayaks and paddleboards to explore farther into Lake Michigan, or walk the South Pier to enjoy lake views from solid ground. It’s a great spot to get a closer look at the North Pier Lighthouse, which you can visit from Tiscornia Park across the river. The South Pier is also a popular fishing spot, offering opportunities to cast for coho and Chinook salmon, perch, brown and rainbow trout, and whitefish. Kids in tow? There are two playgrounds within Silver Beach County Park, along with the iconic hand-painted Silver Beach Carousel.
Warren Dunes State Park
Ready for a new kind of downhill fun? Try sandboarding. At Warren Dunes State Park, on the shores of Lake Michigan, the 260-foot dunes offer the perfect setting for beginners and experts alike. Rent boards and sleds at Third Coast Paddling inside the park—it’s a guaranteed good time for the whole family.
You’ll also find mellower thrills here, with six miles of nature trails throughout the park, three miles of shoreline (with some dog-friendly beaches), and two campgrounds. If you still have the hiking bug, nearby Warren Woods State Park offers a quiet nature walk by the winding Galien River.
The Galien and St. Joseph Rivers
Keep the multisport vibe going with a paddling adventure on the six-mile Galien River Marsh Water Trail, which offers a tranquil float for all ages and abilities. Follow the river as it snakes through the sprawling New Buffalo Marsh before reversing course back up the slow-moving current. Third Coast Paddling’s Galien River location has rentals available right at the put-in, making it easy to add this on-the-water excursion.
More paddling awaits at the St. Joseph River, north of Warren Dunes State Park. The 67-mile St. Joseph River Water Trail, from downtown St. Joseph to Niles, offers longer journeys while still affording easy access for shorter trips. Find numerous rental outfitters in town and by the water.
After a big day on the water, treat yourself to a great meal in New Buffalo. The community is quickly becoming a hub of elevated eateries, like PostBoy, home to 2026 James Beard Award semifinalist chef James Galbraith. Here, you’ll find regional favorites crafted with local ingredients and a global spin. (Tip: You can also start the Lake Michigan Shore Wine Trail in New Buffalo.)
Interactive Art in St. Joseph
The Krasl Art Center, a free public gallery specializing in contemporary sculpture, shows just how fun art can be, with interactive pieces like the enormous bronze hippopotamus snoozing by the entrance. Since 1994, “The Heavyweight,” as the 800-pound hippo is called, has delighted thousands of children (and more than a few adults) who crawl, climb, and sit atop it. You can see more interactive art in the Center’s East Garden, an outdoor space designed to inspire play and wonder with unique, rotating installations.
The Krasl Art Center encourages guests to continue their immersive art experience with a Public Art Scavenger Hunt. The official paid tour is a 90-minute quest on a four-person Surrey bike, but you can also consult the center’s free sculpture map and see the public art in St. Joseph and neighboring Benton Harbor however you’d like.
Nature Escapes
Need a big dose of quiet? The region is home to several scenic sanctuaries with peaceful nature trails. Explore complex ecosystems ranging from hardwood forests to freshwater wetlands at places like Jens Jensen Preserve, Turtle Creek Preserve, Robinson Woods Preserve, and other natural spaces protected by Chikaming Open Lands. Or get some fresh air on one of the area’s bike paths. The Harbor Shores Nature and Fitness Trails weave through wildlife-rich wetlands all the way into downtown Benton Harbor, while the recently opened Red Arrow Trail connects New Buffalo to Sawyer, just south of Warren Dunes State Park.
The only question when planning a getaway in southwest Michigan: What will you do first?
Your trip begins at michigan.org.
