From the quiet beach towns of Harbor Country in Michigan and Door County in Wisconsin to the bright lights of Chicago, the shores of Lake Michigan offer a bounty of vacation opportunities and destinations. You'll find on the shores of this Great Lake a host of small towns to visit, miles of sandy beaches and dunes to explore, and a large Midwestern urban area to tour.
Located 90 minutes from Chicago, lakeside Michigan towns such as Union Pier and New Buffalo and a variety of beaches comprise the region in Western Michigan known as Harbor Country. In Harbor Country you can find dockside cafes, art and antique shops dotting the streets of small villages, wineries, farm markets, and outdoor recreation. There are 15 miles of beach to explore, including New Buffalo City Beach, the Road End beaches of Union Pier and Lakeside, and 2.5 miles of shoreline at Warren Dunes State Park. The coastal shores are also filled with quaint towns and many lakeside rentals. Among the many rental companies to choose from is Lake Michigan Vacation Rentals, which offers scores of cottages and vacation homes in the region in a variety of destinations convenient to local beaches and attractions.
Lake Michigan Vacation Rentals
P.O. Box 163
Three Oaks, MI 41928
269-462-1429
lakemichigan-vacationrentals.com
Located north of Green Bay, Wis., on the western shores of Lake Michigan is a community of quaint harbor towns, including Sturgeon Bay in Door County, Wisconsin, one of the top vacation destinations in the region. With 10 lighthouses, five state parks, and miles of beaches, Door County offers a variety of opportunities for a family vacation. Sturgeon Bay is what locals refer to as the "quiet side of the county." If you are interested in a resort experience, Glidden Lodge Beach Resort in Sturgeon Bay offers a private beach with shallow water for comfortable swimming as well as beach volleyball, tennis, outdoor grilling and a heated pool. The resort is within walking distance of Whitefish Dunes State Park, featuring hiking and biking trails and miles of beach. The resort also offers one, two, and three-bedroom condos with amenities as a gas fireplace and whirlpool tub. Dining is also nearby and the resort is within driving distance of all the Door County peninsula attractions.
Glidden Lodge Beach Resort
4676 Glidden Drive
Sturgeon Bay, WI 54235
920-746-3900
gliddenlodge.com
If you are looking for an urban experience on the shores of Lake Michigan, the city of Chicago offers a variety of cultural and popular attractions, sporting events and venues, dining, shopping, lodging, ethnic neighborhoods, and, of course, waterfront attractions. A downtown hotel such as the Fairmont Chicago offers you a convenient location to all Chicago attractions as well as elegant, but pricey accommodations. The hotel features fine dining, a wine room, sushi bar, and a luxury spa experience. All the rooms have been redesigned and feature one or two bedrooms, living and dining rooms as well as lakefront views. Located in the Millennium Park neighborhoods, the Fairmont is also near Navy Pier, Chicago's lakefront and shopping on the Magnificent Mile.
Fairmont Chicago Millennium Park
200 N. Columbus Drive
Chicago, IL 60601
312-565-8000
fairmont.com/chicago
