It’s not easy to pick favorite spots in the town, but these places have left an impression on us. Even better, practically everything listed here is within walking distance from our place!
Breakfast spot: For a large group, Phoenix Street on Broadway offers some bigger tables plus a delicious menu. Six Chicks Scratch Kitchen delivers a diner-like vibe with delicious food, quick and cheerful service, and family-friendly atmosphere. (Tip: Kids will be delightfully surprised by the kids’ pancake meal.) Browse through the South Haven Farm Market (open Wednesdays and Saturdays in summer) for vendors serving breakfast tacos, homemade donuts, pasties, fresh-squeezed juice, and more. Next door, Julia’s at the Pavilion offers counter service coffee, sandwiches, and pastries all day.
Drinks on the water: Captain Lou’s and Admiral Jack’s on the river are go-to spots for a laketown feel. Otherwise, Black River Tavern is usually lively and a great place for a beer. (They also host music on a regular basis.)
Restaurants: The Lodge on Blue Star Highway has captured our hearts. The food (including delicious broasted chicken) is on point and their large, fenced-in outdoor patio (with yard games) is great for families. Or, you can share lots of small plates at Taste in downtown South Haven. Los Ranchos is another good option if you’re craving Mexican food (bonus: lots of big tables for a large crew), Barrio across the road serves more modern, hip Mexican, and Clementine’s is a historic gem with good eats (and usually long lines). The River Bottom is a super cozy Mediterranean food spot for small groups.
Water activities besides the beach: The pirate ship-themed splash pad, located along the river just off South Beach, is a great (mostly-enclosed) spot for little ones to run around and get wet. For the little older kids, the nearby Lake Arvesta Farms Recreation Park offers floating obstacle courses, wakeboarding, and all kinds of adventures.
Quick meal walking home from South Beach or downtown: Chomp Gourmet Hot Dogs, served from a window at the back of Taste, is an easy grab with creative dogs (including vegetarian options), chips, and drinks.
Parks: Van Buren State Park has steep, gorgeous dunes for climbing (or, if you prefer, a more direct route to the beach), Pilgrim Haven Natural Area is a stone beach with a pretty walk in the woods, and Deerlick Creek Beach is a cute little beach off the beaten path with a stream emptying into Lake Michigan.
Antique shopping: The Eagle Street Market and Murphy’s Antique Mall are such fun to browse through. In fact, you’ll notice a few pieces in our house from the shops!
Great run route: If you’d like to log roughly 5K (nearly 4 miles), run or walk with water views through downtown South Haven, over the Dyckman Bridge, past the Stanley Johnston Park, to the North Beach. Bonus: Take an intermission with a Starbucks brand coffee and some famous coffee cake at Bunde’s Good Eats and Coffee as you stroll along the North Beach. (See the route on Google Maps.)
Family-friendly boat ride: The SunSetter Scenic Cruises offer a calm, shaded, 70-minute ride along the Lake Michigan shore and the river. It’s a great activity for families or anyone who’d like to see South Haven from the lake. Reasonably priced, and it runs several times a day from the marina just blocks away from the house.
Brewery: Three Blondes Brewing, located a short drive from the house on Phoenix Street (right by the Sherman’s Dairy Barn mentioned below!), boasts a great selection of beer and super tasty pub fare, and a patio with yard games. The newer Harbor Light Brewery in downtown is a great spot as well, offering board games and a relaxed atmosphere.
U-Pick fruit orchards: Bumbleberry Acres, Overhiser Orchards and DeGrandchamp Farms are each located just a couple miles from the rental house. Bumbleberry has animals, a playground, and lots of fruit to pick. Overhiser offers u-pick cherries, peaches, plums, pears and apples, plus a petting zoo and a by-appointment fishing pond. DeGrandchamp has u-pick blueberries and cranberries that run from approximately July through mid-August.
Takeout pizza: Maria’s Taste of Italy is pretty reliably good. Pizza Hut might be the only place that delivers.
Groceries: We’re still on the hunt for a cute, more local option, but the Meijer right off the highway is still the best bet for loading up on everything you’ll need for your stay. Barden’s Farm Market, just a few doors west of Meijer, has some great produce, plants and homemade baked goods.
Beer/liquor store: The Depot near the Dyckman Bridge has a great selection, plus serves up some tasty deli sandwiches.
Summer snack: Score some Sherman’s ice cream at the concession stands on South Beach and North Beach. Or, if you’d like to take a drive, check out the Sherman’s Dairy Bar near the highway.
Bike rentals: Rock ‘n’ Road Cycle rents bikes, scooters, and a bunch of other stuff.
Rainy day outings for kids: The South Haven Memorial Library has a good-sized children’s room and regular story times and music classes throughout the week. The Michigan Theater offers three screens, an old-school vibe and family-friendly pricing. Rocket Arcade offers a bevy of classic games and amusements, while The Mitten Children’s Museum features Michigan-themed, play-based activities for children of all ages and abilities.
Day trips: Saugatuck/Douglas is another great beach town just 25 minutes away, and Holland is another 10 minutes north of there.
CAPE HAVEN LAKEHOUSE 