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My husband and I took a little (miniscule) trip this past weekend and decided to drive up (and down) a few towns on the shore - ie, New Buffalo, Union Pier, harbor cities, St. Joseph, etc. Ended up stopping for lunch in St. Joseph and asked around for some recommendations. Husband dropped a generator off in Union Pier earlier in the year and we were going to drive back and see if any vacancy there at the cottages he saw during his work day. Of course we didn't have reservations... but, as luck would have it, someone mentioned a few B & B's in the St. Joseph area and we set off to find them as it was getting late. Never been in one. Always feared we had to share a bath... but anyways, we passed a few, I quickly tried to find them on my internet phone (picture memory of the place -no name could be found) and found one on the Lake with 1 room left. Fantastic place -South Cliff B & B in St. Joseph. Room faced the lake, quiet, had nightly Wine/Cheese Crackers; breakfast made by retired chef! Wow. Changed my perception of B & B's. Liked the Innkeeper and staff as well as hung out with some guests (went to dinner with some of them). Some pretty nice restaurants in that town. They were having the Epicurean shindig this year which is a major deal. We were tempted but decided to forego and watch from afar. Prices were a little high. Decided to do wineries, shop and drive around. Dinned for our anniversary, Friday at Port 412. Had Rack 'o Lamb. Oh My God! Just heaven! Anyone wants to hang around that city for a few days, check those places out. Maybe avoid Benton Harbor for now -It looked like Gary at one point. It's slowly making a comeback but... needs work. Maybe the water area is better. We ended up driving through instead of stopping.
How I wish, how I wish you were here. We're just two lost souls Swimming in a fish bowl, Year after year, Running over the same old ground. What have we found? The same old fears. Wish you were here.
Benton Harbor was slowly making a comeback 6-8 years ago. Never quite got there. It is now stalled and going backward like every other town.
We go to Union Pier often. Really is my favorite place to go. But the kids have been fighting the annual trip for the last couple of summers. They don't appreciate going to the same place every summer. Didn't go this year for the first time in years and years. When I was a kid....it was the place to go. Makes me wish that my kids were in college.
Posts: 9128 | Location: CLEA | Registered: November 04, 2004
What's the name of the place in Union Pier, if you don't mind me asking? Our goal was Pine Garth Inn cottages. My husband helped put toghether a party there a while back. When we got off and traveled on Red Arrow highway, he shot past it, even though he had been there before. I know there were side streets we had to take to actually get to the Lake Shore itself, since Red Arrow does not sit on the shore in that area.
How I wish, how I wish you were here. We're just two lost souls Swimming in a fish bowl, Year after year, Running over the same old ground. What have we found? The same old fears. Wish you were here.
We have stayed at The Inn at Union Pier, which is an upscale B&B, almost a hotel. Classy place. That was some 9 years back or so. 9708 Berrien Street.
Across and down the street is The Union Pier Summer House, a B&B without a breakfast, or at least, we didn't eat breakfast there if one was offered. 9663 Berrien Street. Good room for the dollar.
We miss the big fruit stand in downtown, which has gone bust recently.
If you are going up with the kids and never plan to be indoors, the UP summer House is OK. But it is currently in a downswing physically. Not nice at all when we spent a rainy week there a few years back.
Nicest place in UP is The Sandpiper Inn. As an added bonus...I don't believe they allow children.
Strangely enough, the nicest B&B I ever stayed in was in Moline, IL. A beautiful Victorian set in the middle of an ugly neighborhood, run by a very organized German lady, but just the cleanest, most luxurious place ever (and every room had a private bath that was 100% new and updated and full of every conceivable comfort). I just had to ask the owner why & how she stayed in business in Moline, of all places, and she informed me she mainly accommodates visiting professors to Western Illinois University there. (And I was staying there due to the university, as they brought me in to give a book reading.)
I think B&B's, these days, really are quite different than what they used to be. More like tiny little private hotels. You really don't have to mix & mingle with other guests if you don't want to. (And I usually don't want to!)
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