Day 3: New Buffalo
Galien River County Park
On Wednesday, October 14, 2020, I drove to Galien River County Park, a Great Lakes marsh nature preserve spanning 86 acres along the Galien River. One of the park’s highlights is its extensive boardwalk system, which allows visitors to explore its diverse ecosystems up close. The boardwalk provides stunning views of the river and surrounding marshlands, along with excellent opportunities for birdwatching and wildlife observation.
According to my Strava app, I spent an hour hiking 1.7 miles while at the park.
Round Barn Winery & Estate
Next, I drove 30 minutes to Round Barn Winery & Estate, a family-owned and operated winery, distillery, and brewery. The centerpiece of the estate is its iconic round barn, a beautifully restored historic structure that serves as both a tasting room and event venue. I arrived just after 11:30am and spent about an hour there, indulging in a tasting and walking around the grounds.
Tabor Hill Winery
The Mt. Tabor Trails connect Round Barn Estate and Tabor Hill Winery with 3.6 miles of trails that wind through woods and vineyards. I opted for the shortest and most direct route and walked 0.7 miles to Tabor Hill Winery for lunch. As one of the only wineries in Michigan to offer a dining experience in the heart of the vineyard, the picturesque setting provided the perfect backdrop for a delightful meal before walking back to Round Barn Estate to pick up the car.
Dablon Winery & Vineyards
My next stop for the day was Dablon Winery & Vineyards, a picturesque 75-acre vineyard with a beautiful tasting room. I spent about an hour and a half there, enjoying a glass of wine and reading, before heading to Lemon Creek Winery.
Lemon Creek Winery
First established in 1855, Lemon Creek Winery is now home to 170 acres of vineyards and 24 different wine grape varietals. I spent a little over an hour there relaxing and wandering around the grounds.
New Buffalo
I then made my way back towards the hotel, stopping at Ghost Isle Brewery, a family-owned brewpub with a full food menu & bar, for dinner. I arrived at the brewpub around 5pm.
After spending an hour and a half at dinner, I drove the 2-minute drive back to the hotel to drop off the car and walk over to The Stray Dog Bar & Grill, heading straight to the rooftop. I arrived at the restaurant around 6:45pm, just in time to catch the sunset. It was the perfect way to end my time at New Buffalo.
