The hustle of the holidays is over…now what? First: enjoy the calm. Then, plan your next get away!
Winter in Southwest Michigan is magical. It’s peaceful, beautiful and lots of fun. Escape to The Neighborhood Hotel Grand Beach or New Buffalo where you’ll find the perfect balance between cozy, indoor hangs and exciting outdoor activities! As Alfred Wainwright says:
“There’s no such thing as bad weather, only unsuitable clothing.”
Bring your warmest parka and come on over!
Check out our winter top 10 list below and…
1. Sled @ Warren Dunes: Choose the main dune overlooking Lake Michigan or hike inland if you want the ‘hill’ to yourself. Both locations offer great climbs, amazing views and sweet rides.
2. Winter Hikes: As mentioned, Warren Dunes State Park is great for sledding and hikes – can’t get enough of those views. The Chikaming Township Park & Preserve is a cool spot to explore wetlands, woodlands, prairie, Galien River frontage, and an inland lake. Or, wander amongst beech maples at Warren Woods State Park.
3. Cross Country Ski: For beginners, Love Creek County Park offers rentals Wednesdays – Sundays + groomed trails. But if you’ve got gear and experience, Warren Dunes, Chickaming Township Park & Preserve and Warren Woods are also great choices with trails of varying lengths and terrain.
4. Fat Tire Bikes: These bikes are wider, heavier and slower than traditional mountain bikes so they’re able to provide traction and stability on terrain that’s off-limits to bikers (things like sand and snow). Find rentals + trails at Love Creek County Park or ride your own bike on the varying skill-level trails at Chikaming Township Park & Preserve. Fat tire bikes are also a fantastic way to explore the winter lakeshore (although they’re not allowed on the beach at Warren Dunes).
5. Majestic winter sun @ the beach: Don’t miss a winter sunset – completely worth the chill and just a 5 minute walk from the hotels!
6. Winter s’mores over our fire pits!
7. Private Chef/Cocktail/Mocktail Experiences @ The Neighborhood: Let us know what your heart desires and we’ll connect you with the right person to make your food/bev dreams come true! Our kitchen/living room is the ultimate spot for things like this!
8. Game Nights @ The Neighborhood: There really is never a dull moment here. Stay active with some ping pong (at Grand Beach) or get focused over board/card games. BYOG (bring your own game) or check out our stash!
9. Igloo Experiences @ Round Barn: Bundle up, bring your blankets and truly experience a “Michigan winter” in an Igloo at Round Barn’s Winter Village. Igloos are heated (weather depending), stocked with games, food/drinks to order and lots of fun.
10. Taste of Granor Farm Dinners: Taste of Granor features crops grown on the farm & is a true celebration of the food culture in southwest Michigan. The tables are long, conversation is good. Every meal is unique to the moment in time, featuring vegetables and grains grown by Granor and other ingredients from neighboring farms.
SAMPLE WINTER WEEKEND ITINERARY
BREAKFAST: Rise and shine w/ our cereal bar while the Moccamaster churns out a great cup of coffee made from local and delicious FLUID Coffee grounds.
MORNING ACTIVITY: Bundle up & head over to delightful Dudeck’s Pine Country and CUT DOWN YOUR CHRISTMAS TREE to bring home.
LUNCH: Hit FROEHLICH’S in Three Oaks (we dream about Colleen’s Pickled Chicken Sandwich) OR BEER CHURCH BREWING CO. in New Buffalo for a beer & cozy brunch!
AFTERNOON ACTIVITY: SLED or HIKE or FAT TIRE BIKE! [We’ll send you rental/trail info before you check in].
WARM UP: Gather around the living room fire while the kids decorate GINGERBREAD HOUSES!
DINNER:
Pick up classic and tasty Italian food @ Farina’s (or dine there)and enjoy a cozy meal at the hotel!
OR
Go to brand new Post Boy restaurant and feast on everything from delectable gnocchi to divine branzino!
OR
Head to Journeyman Distillery (in Three Oaks) and nurse a beer & burger (under the heat lamps) while the kids/everyone hits some balls on their famous putting green!
OR
Book a TASTE OF GRANOR Farm dinner which features crops grown on the farm + a true celebration of the food culture in southwest Michigan. The tables are long, conversation is good. Every meal is unique to the moment in time, featuring vegetables and grains grown by Granor and other ingredients from neighboring farms.
EVENING WIND DOWN: Fire up some S’MORES (yes, we have a communal pantry dedicated to s’mores ingredients and hot chocolate!) around our outdoor fire pits!
About The Neighborhood Hotel
The Neighborhood Hotel was founded in 2020 by travel enthusiasts who enjoy spaces that inspire, comfort and fuel. Each suite is well equipped for short and longterm stays (i.e. kitchens, laundry, etc.). The Neighborhood Hotel transforms old buildings with compelling history into well outfitted apartment style hotels that honor the old while representing the now. The vibe is fresh and fun with rooms that are stocked to support everyone from the homebody to the adventurer. The hotels provide a basecamp for the explorer and a sanctuary for the traveler who needs to recharge, reset or just chill. The suites are simple and clean, punctuated with accents that bring the right amount of pop. The Neighborhood Hotel has locations in Chicago: Lincoln Park, Little Italy, West Loop (2025 opening) and Southwest Michigan: New Buffalo and Grand Beach.
Read about TNBHD in: Architectural Digest, Midwest Living and CN Traveler!
Connect with @the.neighborhood.hotel on Instagram and LinkedIn!
