Planning a family trip to the New Buffalo Michigan area? Great! We’re so happy that you’ve chosen to explore southwest Michigan with your kids. From sweeping beaches and scenic nature trails to children's museums and farmers markets there is no shortage of family fun to be had in our area.
With family-friendly Michigan vacation rentals dotting the Lake Michigan coastline from Michigan City, Indiana to South Haven, Michigan, we also have the perfect family-friendly vacation rental to serve as your home base for exploration! There are so many family things to do near New Buffalo Michigan!
To make it a bit easier, our local team has curated a list of the best family friendly activities to enjoy in the summer and all year long!
Hit the Beach
Heading to the beach is at the top of our list! The soft golden sand of Lake Michigan is perfect for building sandcastles and making moats! The cool Freshwater is perfect for splashing, waiting, paddle boarding, and more. Add to the fun by renting a Maui Matt for splashing, jumping and sunbathing. We partner with Weekends Harbor Country for gear rentals and they offer free delivery for our guests!
Public beach access is located all along the coastline including New Buffalo Beach, Silver Beach, Washington Park Beach, South Beach in South Haven and more! You’ll have no trouble finding the perfect spot but whatever you do, don’t forget the sunscreen!
Learn about the land with Agritourism
Further inland, the soil of Southwest Michigan is perfect for growing grapes, berries, veggies, and more. From weekly farmer’s markets to blueberry and apple picking you can make memories with your kids while supporting our local farmers.
Explore the Trains
The New Buffalo, Michigan area is ideal for train loving kiddos and adults alike! Ride antique steam trains at I Love Toy Trains store! Heston steam museum, visit the new Buffalo railroad museum, and head home with some new trains from the I Love Toy Trains store!
Visit a Children’s Museum
Looking for things to do in St Joseph with kids? The Curious Kids Museum is the perfect place to spend an afternoon. With two locations within walking distance to Silver Beach you can explore Curious Kids and then visit the carousel before enjoying the best pizza in the area at Silver Beach Pizza!
Spend Some Time at a Park
The charming towns along the Lakeshore have great parks for families to check out! With playground equipment, splash pads, hiking trails and more your family is sure to burn some energy. Pack a picnic lunch or grab sandwiches from a local deli and make an afternoon of it! Some of our favorites include New Buffalo Township Park in New Buffalo, Harbert Park in Harbert, and the Kids corner playground in South Haven!
WASHINGTON PARK ZOO
This historic zoo in Michigan City is perfect for an afternoon of exploration. From big cats to reptiles, wolves, monkeys, and birds, there’s plenty of animal fun for all ages. Feed the parrots in the outdoor aviary and enjoy views of Lake Michigan from the top of the zoo!
Lake Arvesta in South Haven
Fun for the whole family all day long at Lake Arvesta Farms in South Haven! Master the 500-foot floating obstacle course, zoom down huge water slides, try the wakeboarding course, waterskiing, golf, disc golf, pickleball and more! Family fun is guaranteed! Lake Arvesta Farms is located near our South Haven homes, one hour north of the New Buffalo area.
Score Big at The Arcade!
If your family enjoys pinball, skeeball, and arcade games we have several great options for you! Full Tilt in LaPorte, Indiana is a Pinball arcade with tons to do! In South Haven, check out Rocket Arcade with Retro pinball, crane machines and more!
Rainy Day? Visit the Library
One guest question we are regularly asked is “what do we do if it’s raining?” The New Buffalo Public library has a fabulous children’s area and the librarians love it when guests come to visit.
Captain Mike’s Fun Park
Just north of New Buffalo in Bridgman, MI you'll find Captain Mike’s fun park! This vintage gem is a Harbor Country favorite and offers go karts, mini golf, bumper boats, batting cages and an arcade!
Peat’s Cider Social
Show off your bowling game at Peat’s Cider Social in Stevensville! This meticulously restored bowling alley is clean and ready for family fun! Parents, enjoy a house made cider while you bowl and put up the bumpers for the kids to ensure a strike or two.
Take a Hike!
Foster a love for the outdoors by taking your family hiking during your Southwest Michigan getaway. Chikaming Open lands is dedicated to preserving the natural landscape of our area and offers more than 13 trails throughout Southwest Michigan including Robinson Woods preserve. Enjoy the best of hiking near New Buffalo Michigan.
Enjoy some Ice Cream
Nothing says vacation like ending the day at a local ice cream shop. Each town has their favorite spot to grab a cone. In New Buffalo, check out Oinks or Nancy’s! In Union Pier, Neon Moon gelato is delicious!
Go to the Gardens
Our area has several picturesque gardens you won’t want to miss! In Michigan City, Friendship Gardens features some spectacular strolls and one of the best playgrounds in the area! For more options, Fernwood Botanical Gardens in Niles MI has so much to offer including an Education Center, café, and gift shop all with 105 acres of trails and natural areas for you to explore.
Ready to enjoy all these ideas and more? Need a home base for your adventures? Third Coast Vacations has the perfect Michigan lake house rental for your family! Contact our local team today to learn more of to book one of our 80+ michigan vacation rentals!