Southwest Michigan Road Trip Adventures

From New Buffalo to Saugatuck — and everywhere in between — the state’s southwest region is loaded with small-town charm, family-friendly attractions, and natural beauty waiting to be discovered and explored!

Three Oaks, which sits 7 miles inland from New Buffalo, is the artistic hub of the region, with two noted theaters and an award-winning distillery, among other locally owned businesses.

Journeyman Distilling — one of nearly 50 beverage producers in a regional Makers Trail — also occupies a space in the historic 1883 Featherbone Factory building. Here, certified kosher spirits are crafted into signature cocktails like the Lavender Gimlet, Founding Father, and Purple Rain. Welter’s Folly, a 30,000-square-foot, 18-hole, family-friendly putting course inspired by the well-known Himalayan putting green at St. Andrews in Scotland, adds to the summer fun. Behind-the-scenes tours, which include spirit samplings, give insight into the distillation process and the menu at the Staymaker Restaurant, serving up favorites such as bagels and lox for brunch or Detroit-style pizza with Featherbone Bourbon crust for dinner.