The scenery can’t be beat in Harbert at three-bedroom Water’s Edge, a splurge-worthy find tucked into a forested bluff overlooking a private stretch of Lake Michigan shoreline spend $750 a night in winter verses the nearly double rate of $1,429 a night in summer. ![]() In winter, most of their homes can be had at low season rates and don’t require summer’s usual full week stay. Where to Stayīluefish Vacation Rentals (from $100 a night) is your best option for a well-curated assortment of homes throughout Harbor Country, plus the bonus concierge-like guidance of the local husband-and-wife team who run it, Jason and Erika Milovich. As everyone does, give into the pull of the lovely Lake Michigan coast, where dune walks and sledding at Warren Dunes State Park should be high on your list. Even better, book an igloo for outdoor dining at small-batch Beer Church Brewing, try alfresco wine tastings at Round Barn Estate, or get takeout from Red Arrow Roadhouse (try the buffalo cauliflower and nachos) and locally made whiskey from the Journeyman Distillery to bring back home. Sans summer crowds, this is the time to stop at the harborside Stray Dog Bar & Grill. Take your pick of towns on the state’s south coast like Union Pier, New Buffalo, and little-known Harbert. HARBOR COUNTRY, MIĪ view of Lake Michigan from the Water's Edge house Courtesy Bluefish Vacations What to Doĭidn’t score a Michigan beach house last summer? Winter isn’t hot, but it’s a gorgeous and secluded time to experience the dramatic Lake Michigan coast from the comfort of a luxury beach home, most of which can be had now at low season rates. The family-friendly DunesWalk Inn at the Furness Mansion ( from $125 a night-you can also rent the entire place out on Airbnb) is another historic option that balances digs in an 1881 mansion with modern comfort, just a few minutes from the beach. Within walking distance to restaurants and shopping, Riley's Railhouse Bed & Breakfast ( from $140 a night) is housed in a former New York Central style freight station and has rooms in real rail cars. Nearby Chesterton offers a good location central to both parks, and interesting B&B’s are the way to go. Often confused with the national park, the two-acre Indiana Dunes State Park, immediately next door, is also open and admission is waived on weekdays in winter. ![]() Douglas Trail, which takes you to the beach through a rolling black savannah, one of the rarest habitats in the country. All of the park’s 50 miles of trails are available for winter activities, but opt for a one-mile loop or three-mile route on the Paul H. Douglas Center for Environmental Education. Venture out on cross-country skis or snowshoes-the latter of which can be borrowed for free at the park’s Paul H. Time your visit with cool winter conditions, when snow cloaks the park in white, and there’s a chance to see spectacular shelf ice formations on the water, not to mention you’ll get a far more secluded experience. The dunes overlooking Lake Michigan at Indiana Dunes National Park Getty What to Doĭrive just 60 minutes and find yourself surrounded by beauty in the 15,000-acre Indiana Dunes National Park, which packs in an astounding amount of botanical diversity thanks to its variety of lowlands, highlands, prairies, wetlands, forests, and Lake Michigan shoreline. Guests at the hotel can also reserve the inn’s hidden cellar for a new, private, and totally custom cocktail or wine tasting paired with dinner that's led by Deer Path’s fun and expert chief spirits officer, Jorge Centeno. Patio dining in the English Garden at Deer Path is scenic and doable in winter with heaters. Spacious, modern, and sophisticated rooms offer upscale amenities (think Frette linens and bathtubs that fill from the ceiling) recently, the inn began in-room delivery of its popular Afternoon Tea service, complete with a tower of tea sandwiches, petit fours, and tartelettes. Opened in 1929 with the style of an authentic manor house, the elegant inn feels as storied and local as it does far-flung and English. ![]() ![]() The main reason to go to Lake Forest now is a weekend away at the 57-room Deer Path Inn ( from $329 per night), a fabulous, little-known gem that puts you in arm's reach of the shops and lake, and offers many experiences available only to guests. Being here also puts you 20 minutes closer to the 385-acre Chicago Botanic Gardens, where the Japanese and dwarf confider gardens are especially sublime in winter. No doubt Lake Forest is fancy with its sprawling estates, Market Square, and upscale shops (check out the all-women-run Lake Forest Bookstore and Valentina boutique), and coveted waterfront views. In less than 60 minutes by Metra or just over 30 minutes by car, find yourself feeling far from the city in this pretty Northshore town off of Lake Michigan. The Deer Path Inn Courtesy Deer Path Inn What to Do
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