10/12/2020 - 10/17/2020: Indiana Dunes, New Buffalo, and Saugatuck
Table of Contents
In January 2020, I decided it was finally time to travel to Asia. After much careful consideration, I chose Japan for a two-week trip. Based on all the research I had done, Japan is one of the safest Asian countries for solo female travelers. Unfortunately, the world had other plans, and COVID-19 happened.
Since I couldn’t make it to Japan, I decided to pivot and take a mini-vacation to Indiana Dunes, New Buffalo, and Saugatuck to do all the hiking I could find out there, and more. I spent one afternoon at Indiana Dunes, two days in New Buffalo, and two days in Saugatuck. While it wasn’t the solo trip I had planned for the year, it was an exhilarating and wonderful experience, sparking a renewed obsession with hiking.
On Monday, 10/12/2020, I picked up a rental car from Avis and drove a little over an hour to Indiana Dunes. I arrived around 9am and headed straight to the parking lot for the 3 Dunes Challenge, an epic climb up the three tallest sand dunes at Indiana Dunes State Park: Mount Jackson (176 feet), Mount Holden (184 feet), and Mount Tom (192 feet). The views from Mount Jackson and Mount Tom are beautiful, while there isn’t much of a view from Mount Holden, as the top of that dune is covered with trees. The entire route is well marked with colorful “3 Dune Challenge” signs.
According to my Strava app, it took me 34 minutes to conquer the 1.5 mile sand dune hike, with an elevation gain of 552 vertical feet.
After completing the challenge, I hiked a mix of Trail 9 and Trail 10. Starting with Trail 9, I hiked through woodlands before branching off to the right to follow the signs for Trail 10. This section of the hike offers picturesque views alongside the Calumet River and leads northward to hike along the shores of Lake Michigan. As beautiful as it was to walk along the lake, it was quite windy that day. The strong winds prompted me to opt for the shelter of the forested trail, so I rejoined the path for Trail 9. The blend of the two trails showcased the diverse landscapes of the park. According to Strava, I hiked 6.33 miles in 2 hours and 14 minutes.
In total, I spent about 4 hours at Indiana Dunes.
I set off for Lake Country Inn (now unfortunately closed, at the time of this writing) in New Buffalo around 1pm CT. It was perfect timing, as it started to drizzle just then and turned into a pretty strong storm while I was driving to the inn. After checking in and freshening up, I watched the storm from the deck of the hotel while editing some of the photos I captured during my time at Indiana Dunes. When the rain subsided, I walked around downtown New Buffalo, heading towards New Buffalo Beach to catch the sunset. It really was a beautiful sight to see.
After watching the sunset, I walked to The Stray Dog Bar & Grill, a popular waterfront dining destination known for its laid-back atmosphere, delicious food, and picturesque views of Lake Michigan, for dinner.
On Tuesday, 10/13/2020, I caught the sunrise at New Buffalo Beach. I spent about an hour there walking along the beach and getting photos. It was such a wonderful way to start the day!
One thing to note is that it does cost anywhere from $7.50-$20, depending upon the time of year and the amount of time you stay, to park at the beach parking lot between 8:00am and 8:00pm. But, sunsets and sunrises are free.
Next, I headed to Warren Dunes State Park, located along the eastern shores of Lake Michigan. Its rugged dune formation, rising 260 feet above the lake, offers panoramic views of Lake Michigan and the surrounding landscape. I arrived at the park around 9:15am.
After hiking about 6 miles in about 4 hours, I headed to Greenbush Brewing Company for a well-deserved lunch, arriving there just after 1pm. The microbrewery offers craft beer, hand cured meats, and delicious BBQ.
Following lunch, I drove 12 minutes to Warren Woods State Park, a 311-acre nature preserve, featuring towering trees and peaceful trails. I spent a little over an hour hiking 2 miles in the park.
Journeyman Distillery, a renowned craft distillery housed in a beautifully restored historic factory, was my next stop of the day. I spent a little over an hour there, enjoying a whiskey flight and wandering around the factory and its picturesque outdoor space.
I had a dinner reservation at Bentwood Tavern at 7:45pm, but it was only 5pm when I left Journeyman Distillery, and would only take me 12 minutes to get back to the hotel. With time to spare before dinner, I drove to St. Julian Winery Tasting Room in Union Pier for a glass of wine and to read for a bit on their patio before dinner.
I returned to the hotel around 6:30pm to drop off the car and freshen up before heading back out for dinner. Bentwood Tavern, located at the Marina Grand Resort, was just a 12-minute walk away. The restaurant offers waterfront dining with views of the marina and serves craft beer and cocktails and elevated tavern fare. It was a delightful way to end the day.
On Wednesday, 10/14/2020, I drove to Galien River County Park, a Great Lakes marsh nature preserve spanning 86 acres along Galien River. One of the highlights of the park is its extensive boardwalk system, which allows visitors to explore the park's diverse ecosystems up close while providing stunning views of the river and surrounding marshlands, and excellent opportunities for birdwatching and wildlife observation. According to my Strava app, I spent an hour hiking 1.7 miles while at the park.
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.
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 the 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, a 75-acre picturesque vineyard, with a beautiful tasting room, was my next stop for the day. I spent 1.5 hours there, before heading to 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.
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 got to 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.
On Thursday, 10/15/2020, I drove a little over an hour from Lake Country Inn in New Buffalo to Saugatuck Dunes State Park, arriving a little after 9:30am. The park is home to 2.5 miles of sandy Lake Michigan shoreline, coastal dunes, forested areas, 13 miles of trails and the 300-acre Patty Birkholz Natural Area. While there, I hiked the 2.4 mile Saugatuck Dunes North Outer Loop Trail, which took me a little over an hour and a half to complete. The trail offers a scenic hiking experience through diverse landscapes, including dunes, forests, and the Lake Michigan shoreline.
Next, I drove 20 minutes to Mount Baldhead Park and climbed the 303 steps to the top of the Mount Baldhead observation deck. From there, I was greeted with beautiful panoramic views of Kalamazoo River Valley and Lake Michigan, and a 1 mile sandy trail leading to Oval Beach. It was a wonderful start to the Saugatuck portion of my trip.
I then retraced my steps back to the observation deck, descended the stairs to the car, and drove to the Maplewood Hotel to check in. I chose to stay there because it is centrally located in downtown Saugatuck and within walking distance to the Star of Saugatuck Boat Cruise, restaurants, bars, and other attractions. Additionally, I found it quite affordable, costing $454 for three nights in October 2020.
After checking in, I went back out to explore downtown Saugatuck.
As I walked south on Butler Street, I explored a couple of the boutiques before stopping at The Butler, a waterfront dining restaurant with views of the Kalamazoo River. I then ventured next door to New Holland Spirits - Saugatuck Tasting Room for a cocktail and then walked north on Water Street, capturing photos of the sunset along the way, and ended my evening at The BARge, a unique waterfront establishment.
On Friday, 10/16/2020, I started my morning by walking to the Star of Saugatuck Boat Cruise to secure a ticket for the 3pm boat ride. Not sure how crowded the boat might be, I figured it would be better to buy the ticket sooner than later.
Next, I enjoyed a delightful breakfast at Uncommon Roasters, a charming coffee shop right by Maplewood Hotel.
I then retrieved the car to drive the 15 minutes to Fenn Valley Winery in Fennville for a wine tasting. This family-owned and operated vineyard and winery complex spans 240 acres.
After spending about an hour at Fenn Valley Winery, I drove the 2 minute drive to Virtue Cider, where I spent 2 hours, trying some of their ciders, reading a bit, and walking the trails on the 48 acre farm.
At 2:30pm, I returned to the hotel to drop off the car and walk back to the Star of Saugatuck for the 3pm 90 minute boat tour. I had brought my winter coat and gloves on the trip, but hadn’t needed them at all thus far. Knowing it’s always colder by the lake in Chicago, I figured there was a chance that it would be quite cold on the boat, especially with it being October, so I made sure to grab those before walking there. I’m so grateful I did, as it was cold. It was worth it for all of the photos, though!
After the boat ride, I walked to The Mitten for a beer and to relax on their patio for a bit. I then made my way to The Southerner, a restaurant that serves Southern–style dishes and cocktails in an adorable cottage, for dinner. They don’t accept reservations and are a first come, first served restaurant. I put my name down at 5:45pm and was seated at 6:30pm. Following a delightful meal, I capped off the evening with a nightcap at Pumpernickels before retiring to the hotel for the night.
On Saturday, 10/17/2020, I checked out of Maplewood Hotel, stopped at Coghlin Park, a grassy riverfront park, to catch the sunrise, and returned to Chicago to drop off the rental car and head home.
Monday, 10/12/2020: Chicago to Indiana Dunes to New Buffalo
Drove from Chicago to Indiana Dunes
Spent the afternoon at the Dunes
3 Dunes Challenge
Trail 9, 10, and the Beach
Drove from Indiana Dunes to New Buffalo to spend the night
Left the Dunes at 1:03pm CT
Checked into Lake Country Inn at 2:40pm ET
Check into Lake Country Inn
Hung out on the deck until the rain subsided
Walked to New Buffalo Beach for sunset
Dinner at The Stray Dog Tavern
Tuesday, 10/13/2020: New Buffalo
Caught the sunrise at New Buffalo Beach
Warren Dunes State Park
Greenbush Brewery
Warren Woods State Park
Journeyman Distillery
St Julien Winery tasting room in Union Pier
Dinner at Bentwood Tavern
Wednesday, 10/14/2020: New Buffalo
Galien River County Park
Round Barn Estate
Lemon Creek Winery
Dinner at Ghost Isle Brewery
The Stray Dog Tavern to watch the sunset
Thursday, 10/15/2020: New Buffalo to Saugatuck and Saugatuck
Checked out of Lake Country Inn
Drove from New Buffalo to Saugatuck early morning
Saugatuck Dunes State Park
Saugatuck Harbor National Area
Oval Beach
Mount Baldhead
Checked into Maplewood Hotel
Walked around downtown
Stopped at
Fenn Valley Wine Tasting
Good Goods
James Brandess Studio
Jeff Bradford Gallery
The Butler for dinner
New Holland Brewery
The BARge
Friday, 10/16/2020: Saugatuck
Walked to Star of Saugatuck to get a ticket for the 3pm boat
Walked to Uncommon Roasters for coffee/breakfast
Fenn Valley Winery in Fennville
Virtue Cider
Star of Saugatuck at 3pm
The Mitten
Dinner at The Southern
Drink at Pumpernickel
Saturday, 10/17/2020: Drove from Saugatuck back to Chicago
Checked out of Maplewood Hotel
Stopped at Coghlin Park
Drove from Saugatuck home
