Luxe PLACES
TAKE TO THE LAKE
Discover waterfront luxury and wine galore in New Buffalo, located along the shores of Lake Michigan
BY ALISON BAILIN BATZ
Lake Michigan, the only Great Lake located entirely in the U.S. and touching Indiana, Illinois, Michigan and Wisconsin, offers more than 200 miles of sandy white beaches with water sports, wineries, breweries and resorts throughout. So, where does one even start when it comes to planning a visit? For those seeking to avoid the massive, tourist-laden areas while enjoying the absolute best Lake Michigan has to offer, consider New Buffalo, the largest of the eight Southwest Michigan communities that make up Harbor Country. Just over an hour from downtown Chicago and less than 30 minutes from the iconic University of Notre Dame in South Bend, Indiana, New Buffalo is located in Berrien County along 15 miles of pristine shoreline.
Stay and Play When staying in a town such as this, a lakefront room is a must. Marina Grand Resort (www.marinagrandresort.com) – located directly on New Buffalo Harbor and within walking distance of specialty shops and restaurants ranging from decades-old ice cream parlors (try Oink’s) to high-end dinner fare (don’t miss Bentwood Tavern) – is among the top when it comes to luxury area accommodations. Each room has a patio or deck overlooking New Buffalo Harbor, and there are suite options well worth the upgrade, including Mariner Suites, which sleep four, and The Loft Suite, which boasts a massive lakefront patio, a full European kitchen, a fireplace, a master suite, and a loft with two additional beds. Other hotel amenities include a rooftop deck, bicycle rentals, free beach chairs and towels, and a kid-friendly game room. Plus, you can indulge your sweet tooth with nightly s’mores offered at on-site fire pits and a Ben & Jerry’s hotline in each room, which delivers any flavor of the popular ice cream to your room at the touch of a dial. Marina Grand also boasts several partners along the harbor offering pontoon, speed boat and jet ski rentals as well as fishing charters, yacht cruises and a bevy of surfing, paddleboarding, and kayaking rentals and classes.
Sip and Savor Within 15 miles of the beach are nine breweries, 23 wineries and two distilleries. Given the sheer number of options, there is no substitute for local expertise. And there are no better insiders than the folks at Grape and Grain Tours (www.grapeandgraintours. com), a group of Lake Michigan experts whose families have
98
So Scottsdale! September ‘18