Visit Michiana Berrien Michigan and the surrounding area to see the top sights. Michiana, Michigan: Experience the natural wonder of Shipshewana-Amish area and enjoy traditional way of life!
Travellers from all over the world appreciate Michiana attractions due to their unique mix of rustic history and modern coastline. I have to admit that I have never really understood why each of the old railroad rails is blackening, but when you get the 19. Century tracks along the Lake-Michigan-Uferpromenade, you suddenly feel like a time traveler with a bad GPS. Michiana, which is actually a suitcase word from Michigan and Indiana, was born in 1920 when a few clever entrepreneurs took advantage of the border to benefit from the lower taxes in the neighboring state – a trick that still characterizes the city's flair.
When I first drove over the old US‐12, which is swept through the New Buffalo Township, I immediately noticed the slightly rusted sign “Welcome to Michiana” that radiates more charm than any glittering advertising board. The inhabitants of Berrien County like to tell about the early fishermen who threw their nets here in the 1800s, and I feel that the water still tastes a bit after their stories.
It's no wonder that I keep here more often to just inhale the air – that's the real “sighting” experience you don't find in a guidebook. When you arrive by train from Chicago, get off in New Buffalo and follow the signs towards Michiana; the ride is short, but the impressions remain longer than the next coffee stop.
The history of Michiana, New Buffalo Township, begins long before the modern beach bars and the overflowing holiday homes – it starts with a crumbling wooden ridge that was once used by fishermen to throw their nets into the cool wet, and today ends in a place where I spend more time feeling the sand between the toes than sitting in my own living room.
I have to admit that I have all the hype around the New Buffalo Beach not quite understand until I stood there on a windless afternoon, the sun was just hanging over the waves and a few children splashing loudly in the shallow water. This is the real highlight when you are honest: not an overpriced beach club, but a broad, open sand strip, where parking is usually a children's game – except for the hot Saturday afternoons, there is a small mess of campers and families who desperately seek a free place.
A short walk northward leads you to New Buffalo Lighthouse, an inconspicuous but charming lighthouse that has been guarding the ship since 1902. I once made a picnic there, while an old sailor told me that the light was turned by hand earlier – a detail that you rarely find in the tourist brochures. The ascent is not particularly strenuous, and the view over the lake is a real eye-catcher, especially when the sun glows red in autumn.
If you are looking for a place where you can feel the real everyday life of the locals, then it is New Buffalo Farmers Market That's right. Every Saturday morning, when the stands are placed, it smells of fresh bread, roasted coffee beans and a pinch of thorn berries. I once tried a local honey that was so sweet that I almost forgot that I was looking for a quick snack. The market is small, but the discussions with the sellers give you the feeling of being part of a small community.
A little further I land New Buffalo Harborwhere boats gently swing and the gulls loudly express their opinion on everything. Here you can rent a kayak and spend a few hours on the water – an experience I recommend to anyone who has enough of the usual beach walks. The harbour district also has a few nice cafes where I often drink my morning coffee while watching the fishermen throw out their nets.
For those looking for a little green and tranquillity, New Buffalo State Park an underestimated jewel. The park is located right by the lake, has well maintained hiking trails and a small picnic place that is almost always empty when I go there. I once read a book that I could not finish for months – that was the only time I actually finished the book, thanks to the peaceful atmosphere.
Another must for those who want to sniff a little culture is that New Buffalo Historical Society Museum. It is small, but full of curious artefacts from the founding period, including an old phone that was still operated with a crank. I remember standing there and thinking about an antique fishing gear that looked like it could come from a steampunk film. The museum is free, and the staff is so friendly that they almost give you the feeling that you would be a long-term visitor.
And yes, I can Michiana Attractions do not forget to make the whole area a special spot – from the small wineries along the Harbor Country Wine Trail to the hidden art galleries I accidentally discovered on a side street. I tried a glass of local red wine there that was so good that I almost forgot that I was looking for a quick snack. At the end of the day, when the sun sinks above the lake and starts flickering the lights of the beach bars, I am always grateful that I have discovered this place – with all its small macks, its honest beauty and the quiet, slightly cynical whispers that only understand locals.
Find more vacation destinations near Michiana Berrien Michigan using our map.
Villages, towns, districts, places and Vacation destinations you should visit.
©copyright by POI-Travel.de
info@poi-travel.de
