Looking to get one more great getaway on the books this year?

The Third Coast Vacations team has curated three great itinerary ideas so you can make the most of your fall weekend getaway.

Outdoorsy Excursions

The Harbor Country Area has so much to offer outdoors in the fall! 
 

Friday Night

• Check in to your Third Coast Vacations home and get settled
• Grill at the house or order Takeout from Song Asian Cuisine or Roma Pizza! 
• Head to the closest beach to watch the sunset 
• Sit around the fire with your preferred beverage of choice or play cards on the deck before heading to bed. 
   

Saturday

• Good Morning! Don’t feel like cooking? Head to David’s Deli or Black Currant Bakehouse for coffee and pastries or a freshly made breakfast sandwich. 
• Why not take a morning stroll on the beach with that coffee to go? Some less busy access points in the fall are Townline Beach, Berrien St Beach, and Cherry Beach. 
• Head back to the home and get ready for a day of hiking! Click here for recommendations & info about local trails in the area. But whatever you plan, don’t miss the fall views from the overlook & the boardwalk at the Galien River County Park
• Time to clean up for dinner! Where would you like to go? Depending on the weather, dinner on the roof at The Stray Dog is lovely, and you can catch the sunset over the lake! 
   

Sunday 

• If you booked a 2 night stay,Sadly it’s already time to start packing up, but there is still time to enjoy all that Harbor Country has to offer. 
• Enjoy breakfast in the home either by cooking up your favorite morning meal or have a Brunch board delivered by our local partner company, Bougie Boards. 
• Once you’re packed up and ready to leave the rental you are still welcome to stay and enjoy the area. Maybe check out a last minute trail at Warren Dunes or the more rustic, Grand Mere State Park. 
• Thanks again for staying with us, we are so glad you were able to soak up the beauty of the area using your Third Coast Vacations Home as a starting point. Reach out directly to us next time you’re looking for a getaway in the area. 

Wine-Tasting Weekend

Did you know that there are many local wineries in the area that offer year round tasting menus? If you’ve been looking for the perfect spot for your next girl’s getaway weekend, Harbor Country has it! 
 

Friday Night

• Check in to your Third Coast Vacations home and get settled, maybe open a bottle of wine to kick the weekend off right? We can easily arrange for a charcuterie board to be waiting for you in the fridge.
• There are so many great places to enjoy dinner and wine in the area! If you’d like to do wine tasting with dinner, head to Round Barn Restaurant in Baroda for great food and wine, beer, and cocktail flights!
• After dinner you are free to continue to explore the area, driving safely of course, or enjoy your final glass of wine back at your vacation home with some brownies and a movie or some board games! 
   

Saturday

• Good morning! Hopefully you’re feeling clear headed and ready for a beautiful day of fall wine tasting! Enjoy some breakfast before heading out for the day
• This itinerary involves booking a winery tour through one of the local businesses that offer this service, Grape and Grain, South Shore Brew Bus, Harbor Country Adventures, and others. Reach out to us and we can connect you with our concierge Mary who can arrange this all for you! 
• After a day of wine tasting, you can do a little window shopping and have some dinner out. We recommend strolling around the Sawyer Garden Center and checking out Greenbush for dinner, after all it’s right next door! You could also head back to your rental to cook dinner and hang out at your vacation home. 
   

Sunday

• Good morning! Hopefully you’re feeling clear headed once again and ready to enjoy one more day with friends and family. If you booked a 2 night stay, It’s sadly your last day with us.
• Grab some breakfast out, Black Currant Bakehouse in Union Pier does an amazing breakfast sandwich and breakfast at Brewster’s in New Buffalo is always delicious. 
• Thanks again for staying with us, we are so glad you were able to soak up the beauty of the area using your Third Coast Vacations Home as a starting point. Reach out directly to us next time you’re looking for a getaway in the area. 

Fall Family Fun 

Fall is one of the best kept secrets for family fun! So much to do outside to stay busy and enjoy the beauty of the cooler fall days and autumn harvest. 
 

Friday 

• Let’s be honest, traveling with kids can be rough! But you made it to your vacation rental in one piece, let everyone use the bathroom, explore the home, and have a loud conversation about who is sleeping where. 
• Head to the beach to run around and check it out! If this is the first time in the area, you can spend the evening explaining to your kids that Lake Michigan is not the Ocean, even though you can’t see the other side. 
• Now here’s where it can get tricky: What are we doing for dinner? Here is where we have given you options:
  • Your kids want to go out: Head to Red Arrow Roadhouse - it’s a family favorite, the food is great, and there is something for everyone! 
  • Your kids want to go back to the vacation rental: That’s cool! You can make up some Mac n Cheese or grab pizza from Roma Pizza, Villa Nova, or whatever local place is closest to your vacation home. 
• Now it’s time for family game night! Many of our homes have games, you can bring your own, or Third Coast Vacations can drop off a board game box for you to have on hand! Hopefully all winners are gracious and no tears are shed. 
   

Saturday

• Time for breakfast, and we’re on vacation so we are having doughnuts! We have a couple of great local options for handmade doughnuts so head to Black Currant in Union Pier or The Blind Pig in Michigan City to pick up a dozen for your crew! 
• Since it’s fall in Harbor Country we recommend checking out Dinges Fall Harvest for families with children! They have pumpkins, a corn maze, a hay ride, petting zoo, and more for kids and families! They have gourds, pumpkins, and all manner of fall fun! 
• This doesn’t sound like your cup of tea? Want a little different vibe? Check out Garwood Orchards in LaPorte, IN. They have an orchard with horse drawn rides to the apples and a store with fresh doughnuts and cider, produce, mums, pumpkins and more! 
• If your kiddos need naps or some downtime to reset, head back to your vacation home for a late afternoon break. 
• Dinnertime! You are welcome to cook at the home or head out for dinner! The Stray Dog in Downtown New Buffalo is very family friendly, as is Greenbush in Sawyer.
• Time to wind down! As long as the weather stays dry, enjoy a bonfire at your vacation home or stay in for a movie night! 
   

Sunday

• If you booked a 2 night stay, alas, it’s the day you’re going home! Time to start packing up a bit as you think about what to do for breakfast. 
• Once you’re all packed up there is still tons to do in the area, if you have time and they’re open - check out the Hesston Steam museum - Ghost train for for family friendly fall fun on your way out of town.
• Thanks again for staying with us, we are so glad you were able to soak up the beauty of the area using your Third Coast Vacations Home as a starting point. Reach out directly to us next time you’re looking for a getaway in the area.