Open air waterfront or waterview places for Labor Day!

Make it to Saugatuck's Red Dock Cafe' this weekend or you will wait till next Memorial Day! Located next to the S.S. Keewatin Maritime Museum this is a must stop on the water bar with good sandwiches. Live music and one of a kind Key West type atmosphere.



Outdoor seating at a very nice place in Holland is Boatwerks Waterfront Restaurant overlooking lake Macatawa.








A great view of the boats, drawbridge and tall ship is available at The Idler Riverboat in South Haven. Nice drinks and some food. Try the South Haven Ice Tea!

How about an open air bar with great pizza overlooking one of the top 10 beaches in the U. S. at the Gelsosomo's Silver Beach Pizza which shares the still active Amtrack train station in St. Joseph.

If you happen into New Buffalo, try the rooftop of the Stray Dog Bar & Grill for a terrific view of Big Blue and all the boats going in and out. Nice bar with good food.

This Creamery makes their own Ice Cream-watch them!

I hope you will make the trip to this special place near Nashville, MI. A real dairy farm creamery called Moo-Ville Creamery. They even have a pipeline from the farm to the creamery. Very nice Ice Cream parlour with restaurant/store. Indoor and outdoor seating. We liked sitting outside while watching the kids in the petting zoo. This is especially nice for young children with all the farm animals! Check the guide for some of the 67 flavors and other details.

New Restaurant added in South Haven

A great new addition to South Haven's dining scene is the second location of Fennville's famous Su Casa Restaurante. This location is much smaller, but with many of the mexican favorites from the parent location. Fresh homemade ingredients is what they are known for (they own a mercado). No alcohol yet, but nice drink selection with smoothies and shakes. Also, serving Palazzolo's famous gelato in and takeout. Burrito's are great and so are the tortilla chips. Located next to the movie theatre. Check out the guide for more details.

Know of a great Fish place? I do!

If you like fish, you have to go to Captain Luey's Calabash Seafood! Located on Columbia Ave. in Battle Creek, just west of Hwy. 66 in a former Russ' Restaurant building. Real North Carolina Calabash style fish offerings. Their new menu has many steamed and broiled features to go with their Calabash favorites. I like the deviled crab with (salt and pepper breaded) catfish. Or the blue gill with (original breaded) shrimp. Clam chowder and hush puppies are very good as well. Check the guide for more details.

Take a drive in the country to this Great Restaurant

This place is really in the "sticks". However, the drive and risk of getting lost is worth it. The River Lake Inn Restaurant and Nature Trails has been around since 1976! We walked the nature trails, saw the hummingbirds, the coi and the butterfly gardens. Then we had a great meal from chef Mark. Check it out!

New Drive-In added

If you like driving around lakes and the Lake Michigan shoreline during the summer evenings and weekends like I do you may run across some neat places. Check out Eddies Drive-In near Paw Paw lake and Coloma. They make some pretty big claims....then back them up! Great olive burgers and they claim to have the best Ribs on the planet...GUARANTEED! Check the guide for hours and days they serve ribs. Big menu and roller skating carhops. Check it out!

Looking for some BBQ takeout for this weekend?

Check out some great takeout BBQ to go with your camping, beach or cookouts this weekend! One of my favorites is Hog Wild BBQ in Holland. I also like Ranch House BBQ in South Haven. Good pulled pork at The Walldorf in Hastings and Arcadia Brewery in Battle Creek as well. Nice addition to burgers and dogs! Check them out in the guide.