It finally feels like summer and nothing makes summer better than a quick road trip. My boyfriend, Russell and I went on a quick weekend trip in February to Nashville, Tennessee and since then we have been longing for another quick trip. There’s something about leaving town for a couple days that allows you to refresh and recharge.

Since I chose Nashville for our first trip, Russell chose this second location. He chose a northern location and off we drove towards a New Buffalo, Michigan weekend getaway. I’ll be honest, I had no idea where we were headed until we were about 30 minutes out. Russell kept it a secret which made it fun but also caused me to pack my entire bedroom because I wasn’t sure what kind of clothes to bring.

We left from work on Friday evening and drove the 3 hours north on US 31. If you’re from the Indianapolis area, this is a great road trip idea. The drive is really simple and not too long. Put on a podcast or two and you’re there before you know it.

We pulled into the small town of Union Pier. Russell got us a cute AirBnB that was on the main street in this tiny town. It was located across the street from The Black Currant Bakehouse and a quick 10 minute walk from the beach. Perfect!

The Airbnb was an eclectic storefront that was turned into a small apartment. It had a loft-style second floor with a bed and an access to a rooftop breakfast area. Definitely the perfect size for a couple. They decorated the place with unique pieces of art and handmade furniture. On our first night, we went straight to bed. We were both exhausted from a full day of work and travel (I know, we’re wild!).

Morning arrived and the sun was shining bright. We decided to grab some coffee (for me) and breakfast at The Black Currant Bakehouse across the street. The bakehouse was quaint. Due to the pandemic, they only allowed 8 customers at a time, but fortunately for us, the early risers were already there and gone by the time we arrived. Russell opted for a coffee cake and breakfast sandwich while I chose a Maple Latte and two donuts (cinnamon sugar and chocolate frosted). We ate breakfast on the rooftop of our airbnb as we watched the town slowly wake up.

After breakfast, we decided to walk down to the beach. The beach was called Townline Beach. You walk down a flight of wooden steps from the street down to the beach where about 25 - 30 visitors were setting up camp for the day. I snapped a few pictures of Russell stepping into Lake Michigan for the first time (pictures or it didn’t happen, right?) and we walked along the shore allowing the water to wash up over our feet. The water was freezing so we both agreed that swimming was no longer on the agenda for the day.

As the day started to warm up, we decided to rent some bikes and go for a ride toward New Buffalo. We rented bikes from Red Arrow Ride. The staff there was very pleasant and informative. Apparently, Unior Pier just finished a brand new bike path that took you all the way to New Buffalo and the goal is to connect it all the way to Chicago eventually. So, we got on our bikes and headed towards New Buffalo for a little exploring.

About a mile into our ride Russell noticed a farmers market on the side of the road so we stopped to take a look. The market was filled with fresh produce, flowers, local cheese, and handmade jewelry. I was half tempted to snatch up some cheese but decided I didn’t want to ride my bike with a bag full of warm cheddar.

After the market, we continued our ride towards New Buffalo. We took Marquette Drive where we were greeted with mansion after mansion, each with a waterfront view and impressive landscaping. We felt a little out of our element. It’s a little over 4 miles to get from Union Pier to New Buffalo and the ride is fairly easy and peaceful.

Food in new buffalo

Fortunately for us, we were pretty hungry from our bicycle ride. We couldn’t decide where to go but finally decided on a place called Casey’s. We sat in the back courtyard area that was decorated with blue umbrellas and patio lights. They have an impressive bar setup that looks like a garage-turned Man Cave. The staff was really pleasant. Russell ordered a Blue Moon and some mahi-mahi tacos. I ordered a House-Infused margarita and Lake Michigan perch sandwich with sweet potato tots. I didn’t realize until a huge gulp in that my margarita was actually infused with jalapenos. I don’t handle heat very well. Thankfully, Russell took over my spicy margarita and I ordered a normal one (which was delicious and strong). We both loved our food and left with full stomachs.

We also ate at the famous Stray Dog Bar & Grill on Sunday afternoon. I think everyone would have given us a hard time if we would’ve left New Buffalo without eating there at least once. The thing about the Stray Dog though is that you have to get there early to beat the crowd. We waited in line 25 minutes before they opened and got a table with a beautiful view of the harbor. Russell ordered a pulled pork sandwich, onion rings and chips, and guac. I ordered the Windward Burger which had guac and Colby jack cheese. The food was absolutely delicious. And, of course, we swung by the Stray Dog gear building to snatch some t-shirts before we left.

Another restaurant that we tried was called Fiddlehead Restaurant in Michigan City. Now, I realize that it isn’t located in New Buffalo, but it’s a quick 17-minute car ride. Russell ordered the meatloaf and I went straight for my usual fettucine alfredo with grilled chicken (which never disappoints). If you’re in the Michigan City area, grab some delicious cuisine from Fiddlehead and then walk the Michigan City Pier at sunset. It doesn’t disappoint. The lighthouse is one of my favorite spots in Indiana. Keep in mind that if you visit during peak tourist season the beach is flocking with people.

Shopping in New Buffalo

New Buffalo is filled with small shops and boutiques. We popped into a few of them. We went into one called The Hidden Gem - I was on the hunt for a magnet. The staff wasn’t very friendly and were openly discussing how drunk they got the previous weekend. Unimpressed, we left the store empty-handed. Next, we headed to a shop called Sweetwater where we purchased a couple of t-shirts and a New Buffalo lighthouse magnet (of course). On Sunday, while waiting for the Stray Dog to open, we walked to Color Pop which was a cute little boutique/salon filled with whimsical knickknacks, purses, wine glasses, and unique gifts. The owner of the shop was beyond friendly and welcoming to every single customer that walked through the door and there’s even an adorable dog named Petty Netti that greets you at the door. We, unfortunately, didn’t purchase anything, but they had the coolest wine glasses there. Definitely a great shop if you’re looking for gifts.

Things to do and see in New Buffalo

If you’re anything like me, you want the sights! Whenever I travel I’m always on the lookout for some great scenery - maybe that’s the photographer in me. Well, you can’t go wrong with any sort of beach views, amiright? I did enjoy Townline Beach because it’s not crowded at all and is almost like your own private beach. It’s so calm and peaceful and a little bit on the sleepy side - which I enjoy more and more as I get older. If you’re looking for something a little more exciting, New Buffalo beach is the place to be. There’s a great setup with outdoor bathrooms, a lighthouse, and Dippin’ Dots. New Buffalo beach is swarming with people and activities.

If you’re more adventurous, there are so many activities that you can participate in. You can rent mopeds or golf carts and cruise the town. You can rent paddle boats if you want to get out on the water. Or if you’re looking for some adult time, try the Lake Michigan Wine Trail! Russell and I did try the trail but only made it to two of the wineries before they started to close for the evening. Our favorite of the two was called Tabor Hill Winery which has a beautiful setup and friendly staff. They even have a 3-mile trail through the woods to a connecting winery. We didn’t venture off onto the trail because we were tired and hot and definitely ready for some air conditioning.

Overall, the trip was beautiful. We ended the trip asking ourselves “where are we going next"? If you aren’t a big traveler, I do recommend these short weekend trips. I’m so thankful that we were able to getaway for a couple of days and spend time with each other in such a gorgeous place.