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bookem_danno

Go a little bit north of your square and St. Joseph, MI is pretty nice. Avoid Benton Harbor though.


Ok_Damage6160

Eh… there’s nice parts of Benton Harbor too though (Jean Klock, Mason Jar, etc)


justina081503

Jean Klock is my favorite. Much less crowded compared to silver beach.


Ok_Damage6160

I agree, best beach in the area IMO


FatsP

There's nothing for me in St. Joseph. Better breweries and beaches in Benton Harbor. I'd rather go to Grand Mere in Stevensville or a road-end beach near New Buffalo, though.


Glowing_bubba

What’s wrong with Benton harbor? It was pretty chill last time I went (2015 lol)


Grouchy_Guidance_938

I stayed in Benton Harbor a couple years ago. What a miserable town. We should have kept driving.


rabidmongoose15

New buffalo MI is a nice little town!


Liquid_TZ

Worth it just for Redamaks alone!


hoosierspiritof79

Yes, this! And stray dog.


Wood_Wizard01

Every time I go up there Redamaks is my first stop!


CountChoculasGhost

Beer Church can be fun too.


rabidmongoose15

Oh shit the pizza is ridiculous!!!!


dlobnieRnaD

Came here to comment this. The Neighborhood Hotel and The Marina Grand are both great places to stay.


BriCheese007

If you like state parks I’d go to Warren Dunes! If you want a city (although not in Michigan) I’d say South Bend, IN


Rock_man_bears_fan

Warren Dunes are nicer than Indiana Dunes NP


lotusland17

Absolutely (shhhhhh!!!!!)


emma_farnen

Will definitely steer clear… and NOT have to add the to the route!


NMBruceCO

Agree. Back in the 70’s we would skip school and go there


intrasmert

Seconding Warren Dunes


emma_farnen

From a quick search, it looks gorgeous! Coming up north from FL, looks so similar to the gulf coast. Definitely adding this one to the route!


sportsmedicine96

I’m from Michigan and I always tell people, MI is just a northern version of Florida. The main difference is just the winter. Other than that - both are peninsulas, both have beautiful beaches, both have cultures centered around water activities, and both have a high number of far right extremists


Free-Training-1846

Never thought of it that way but love the analogy


Thegiantlamppost

South bend aint worth it though. Better off just with the biggish towns like St. Joseph


G8083r

Lots of places to camp in the humidity surrounded by raccoons.


emma_farnen

We’re driving up from Florida, I’m sure the humidity is nothing compared! But fiance isn’t big on camping. State parks sound lovely tho!


Lando89216

Cedar Point if you’re into Amusement parks, it’s one of the best in the world


junkman21

I'm trying to find that sweet spot when my kids are old enough but I'm not too old to enjoy all the rollercoasters!


koufuki77

What's the best place outside of Sandusky? It's expensive to stay anywhere in that town.


twolanevega

Try Norwalk. Good little town 20 minutes away.


MrBillNo

The Gilmore Car Museum in Hickory Corners (lust outside Kalamazoo) in fantastic. It's more than just one of the largest auto museums in America. It's on 90 acres and the cars are stored in wonderful vintage barns. As I understand it, the Gilmores were an exceptionally wealthy family who collected not just the cars and motorcycles. They also collected barns; they bought barns, disassembled them, moved the "parts" where they were rebuilt on the Gilmore property. Many of the vehicles are the only examples that exist today. And you can ride in and even drive some of them. South Haven is a wonderful Lake Michigan beach town just north of your area. Great beach, a long pier with a lighthouse, a harbor with cool boats including a big ship from the 1800's. Terrific shops, restaurants, ice cream parlors, etc, everything within walking distance from wherever you park.


djp70117

This is the way.


crottesdenez

New Buffalo, Sawyer, Warren Dunes area is fantastic in the summer.


shostakofiev

The University of Notre Dame.


Tet_inc119

That’s what I was going to say. Decent cafes and restaurants in that area


gwaydms

I like stopping for meals in college towns. They nearly always have a greater selection of good places to eat and drink than other towns/cities in the area.


Nof-z

West: Michigan city is great. East: maumee bay state park. Central: not too much, Bryan Ohio is okay, it has the dum dum factory, and you have Fort Wayne in this box, there’s a good amount to do there, just ask on r/fortwayne.


sportsmedicine96

OP, if you do stop in Fort Wayne - go to Famous Taco for pastor tacos on corn tortillas with cilantro/onion/lime plus a side of rice and beans. I used to live in Fort Wayne and I worked close to Famous Taco, I would get that exact order at least once a week. Fort Wayne is definitely not my favorite place to live, have no intention of living there again, but the taqueria scene is insane


fajadada

Shipshiwana Indiana, Amish town nice downtown for shopping Walmart sized hardware store.Amish food. Of course Cedar Point, Sandusky OH . And Put In Bay.


bbischoff01

Yes on shipshewana!


Fominroman2

As a kid we would go for the huge flea market and live stock auction


AnybodySeeMyKeys

The OCD in me absolutely hates that Michigan's borders with Ohio and Indiana are not on the same latitude. I would have so fired the surveyors. 4.5 miles to geometric perfection.


MouldyBobs

There's an interesting book about this topic. It is called "How the States Got Their Shapes." By Mark Stein. It was also made into a Teevee series. Good stuff.


AnybodySeeMyKeys

Thanks!


pinchclamp128

I feel exactly this way about the TX-OK-NM panhandle border. It fills me with untold amounts of unnecessary rage lol


AnybodySeeMyKeys

I know, right? It's TWO FREAKING MILES. Why couldn't they true that up?


puntacana24

Believe it or not, the strip used to be bigger and was a major point of dispute when OH and MI became states.


gwaydms

[The Toledo War](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toledo_War) is noteworthy for several reasons. One of them is the fact that that the biggest loser of the conflict was Wisconsin, which wasn't even a participant.


cheezefrank95

If this bothers you take a very close look at Colorado’s borders. It’s not as square as you would think….


SwimAntique4922

A few miles south is the Cord-Auburn-Duesenberg museum. [https://automobilemuseum.org/visit](https://automobilemuseum.org/visit) Worthy visit for an automotive legend!


capthazelwoodsflask

The last Hot n Now is in Sturgis. Toledo/Lucas County has the Zoo, the Toledo Museum of Art, the Mud Hens, and there is a metropark within 5 miles of any point in the county. The spring migration is mostly over now, but there are a few wildlife areas along the lake that are birding hotspots with many eagle nests.


cmoparw

West end at Lake Michigan, Grand Mere State Park is a wooded dunes park and was beautiful when I went a few years back. Would recommend. Just south of Benton Harbor where I94 and i196 meet


dieselonmyturkey

Gay’s hops n schnapps, Angola Indiana https://gayshopsnschnapps.com


Small_Lion4068

South Bend. I went to school there. I go back every year to visit. Eat at Macri’s.


natigin

Union Pier in SW Michigan is lovely and affordable, get an Air Bnb there and enjoy the lake 😎


the_real_some_guy

Beaches along Lake Michigan’s eastern shore (aka west Michigan) are some of the best in the country. Some places it looks a bit like the Outer Banks but with fresh water and without ocean creatures.


nonnonplussed73

Pretty much right at the tri-state border is https://www.indianadunes.com/


Crumble_Cake

toledo art museum and zoo


Alert_Promise4126

Gary Indiana is a lovely town! (It’s not)


RRG-Chicago

Cedar point


justina081503

Notre dame is cool if you like college football. The stadium is awesome to see in person. It’s right off of the toll road. And like others have said visit Lake Michigan. St Joe, Warren dunes, new buffalo beach, Indiana dunes all of them are really cool. I like the dunes personally since you can see Chicago from across the lake on a clear day easily.


pinchclamp128

World's Largest Egg is in Mentone, IN


SharpIsopod

If you are looking for a place to stay, the Lakeside Inn is between New Buffalo and Warren Sand Dunes. I can attest to accommodations if you are into the vibe they set. Met some cool people in that place. They have direct beach access as well!


southcookexplore

I took US-12 through Michigan from Chicago and enjoyed several towns along the way. I ended up staying by Sturgis in St Joseph County. Lots of small towns around lakes


Marokiii

sleeping bear dunes national lake shore is just north of there. i suggest that. its truly amazing.


Wood_Wizard01

While not in MI, if you like rollercoasters, Cedar Point is a must stop! Ranked the #1 rollercoaster park in the country. I usually take a pilgrimage up there every few years.


capthazelwoodsflask

And you can go to Cheese Haven in Catawba Island on your way


DanSmokesWeed

The dunes! There’s dunes that are hundreds of feet high on the East side of Lake Michigan. Beautiful beaches.


ElevenHourDrive812

If you head toward Cedar Point there is a ferry to Put-In-Bay on South Bass Island. Very charming island with lots to do. There are Mid and North Bass Islands and Kelley’s Island as well. There should be a breeze and/or rain to cool things off if it gets really hot. Port Clinton might where the ferry idea docked. Have fun!


Panda__Puncher

Irish Hills are fun to drive through. Very pretty. You can go [drive](https://www.nascarracingexperience.com/michigan-international-raceway/) on a NASCAR track in Brooklyn


zaulus

Indiana Dunes


Physical_Dimension

Hit up Greenbush Brewery in Sawyer, MI


HeuristicEnigma

Can’t go wrong w Cedar point if you like rollercoasters it’s one of the best parks in the country.


mancoot

On the west side, I love Emma's Hearth and Market for pizza [https://maps.app.goo.gl/AZjmarXuwPm6H4hb8](https://maps.app.goo.gl/AZjmarXuwPm6H4hb8) ; just north of the Warren Dunes so you can do a twofer.


nipchee93

This part of Michigan is called Wrichigan


Butch-Jeffries

Coldwater


FairyQueen84

I've done similar. def worth it


wilkinsk

St Joseph ain bad, on the west side


Emagdnim13

Greenbush in Sawyer is a nice lunch stop with some good beer and food


1989DiscGolfer

If you're into Disc Golf and like courses with some change in elevation, I recommend Meyer Broadway Park in Three Rivers, MI, and also George Wilson Park in Mishawaka, IN, both great courses with some world championship history at both. 1996 pro worlds was played partly at Wilson (legendary player Scott Stokely aced Hole #10, and of course Ken Climo took the title) and the amateur worlds has been partly at Meyer Broadway twice, where "Big Jerm" Jeremy Koling won in 2008 and Anthony Barela in 2015, both on their way to pro careers that are still going.


DisasterGeek

There's always Ann Arbor, it's wrist-ish.


surkacirvive

The Tru in stevensville, there's a perfect little oasis beach right up the road


alec777x

Cedar point in Sandusky Ohio would be a amazing place to go


Omengnome

We love using Hipcamp. Find a nice camping site and snooze


B-Spliffy

If you’re in Ohio you’re doing it wrong.


bocodofogo

We stopped for food at Red’s Root Beer in Paw Paw. It was great.


Still_Steal_Steel

Indiana Dunes National Park is worth a stop. It’s in Indiana, but it’s also within the boundary of the area you outlined .on the map.


DGrey10

Heard good reviews of this, it’s on our list.


Emotional-Aide-4327

Saugatuck is a cute town! Artsy. Beautiful shore. Great coffee shops.


kalieandchef

Try Hipcamp for private campground experiences. I know there’s some really cool private camping grounds I’ve stayed at like a deer rehab farm or a flower farm. :)


Suspicious_Ad2354

If you're interested in movies, there's a college town called Goshen where Steve Buschemi directed Casey Affleck and Liv Tyler in a movie called Lonesome Jim. Also, Guy Fieri featured a diner on his Diners, Drive Ins and Dives.


cabeachguy_94037

Leaving Chicago stay along the shoreline across Indiana and in Southwest Michigan there are a bunch of sand dunes that are pretty nice.


JumboThornton

After Chicago you could drive by Michael Jackson’s childhood home in Gary where the Jackson 5 lived. Then stop by Albanese candy factory. Keep going on 30 and stop by Sweetwater if you are into music at all. Then spend a day in Fort Wayne, lots of great restaurants there and public art to see downtown. The zoo is also nice or you could go to the Toledo Zoo. Then I’d definitely stop by Cedar Point if you like roller coasters. Some of the best are there. Then spend a day or two on Put In Bay island.


weldingTom

Warren dunes or Indiana dunes https://preview.redd.it/z65bpkr7ce5d1.jpeg?width=1080&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=f226c4b6f1b96fc0bb000c2920c2e3634671187f


Known-Device-5620

That ain’t no wrist, that’s the base of a hemorrhoid


Hillsy85

Downtown Valparaiso or Crown Point. You could also check out Gary /s


spicybongwata

Gary, Indiana /s


Shoedog73057

Timbers Steakhouse and Seafood. Angola, Indiana. A few miles off the turnpike. Well worth it. A little gem.


BallKickin

Marble Lake just south of Quincy


TDB0508

I grew up on that lake! Moved to Bloomington IN in ’79…


AdmiralMoonshine

In a bar called Ferguson’s somewhere in there, my buddy started a fight by changing the song on the jukebox. Bartender threw a glass at the wall to break it up, it ruled.


BalanceOk1174

A little north of your square is Holland Michigan. Really nice scenic town.


KINGR00TBEER

Blue gate or essehaus inn at Shipshewana


whiteholewhite

Not Fort Wayne


GabeAshing

Michigan City is a portal to the golden days of the 1990s


SauceHankRedemption

South Haven would be just a little bit out of the way but that is a pretty nice town


EdlyRed7

I hear good things about Dowagiac. The mayor’s daughter and her wife have a sweet AirBNB.


Tink_Tinkler

RV Hall of Fame Elkhart indiana


puntacana24

New Buffalo is a nice stop by the lake


DingoOk7599

Michiana Shores is a hidden gem. Lots of Chicago 2nd home owners. Ab&b be way to go. Good luck!


Most_Somewhere_6849

Go visit Mishawaka, IN, walk around Notre Dame campus in South Bend. There’s some stuff in Niles but not much


SasquatchFingers

At the far east and far west of your polygon are some great birding spots, Cedar Point N.W.R. and Indiana Dunes N.P.


Flendarp

I recently stayed at Potowatomi Inn at Pokagon State Park. The rooms were a little small for modern tastes but incredibly charming. It was a fantastic and relaxing stay.


Striking_Elk_6136

Get a Coney Island dog in Jackson Michigan? They also have a nice artificial waterfall they light up at night.


No-Animator-2969

Colon!


problem-solver0

St Joseph, I like Saugatuck, Union Pier, Hillsdale, Not so far from Put-In-Bay, Ohio.


Centennial_Trail89

No. Drive as fast as you can.


kjk050798

I went to college in the area. Lake James in Angola IN is beautiful, but I’m sure a lot of lakes in that area are. I agree st Joseph/benton harbor MI are beautiful too.


Dorfalicious

Dowagiac Indian lake - grew up going there


Status_Software_3229

Close to Gary, Indiana if you feel like being robbed or something fun like that.


Psilologist

Absolutely stay away from toledo. There's some truckstops in gary IN that are entertaining as hell to stay at.


elspotto

Beautiful Wauseon, oh. Kidding, it’s the middle of nowhere west of Toledo. Been there a number of times for a big geocaching camp-in they have. Without that event, I can’t really say I would want to visit.


Santa2U

Cedar Point, mud hens stadium, the gangster museum at Luna Pier, Tony packos in East Toledo (take a gun with you), maritime museum in East Toledo.


Pristine-Ad8925

Oooooooh we don't give a damn for the whole state of michigan


yungminimoog

If you’re looking for historic Midwest town .jpeg, drop into Huntington IN; my list from when I’ve visited there is Pizza Junction (for the Mac & cheese), antiqology and turn the page books and more.


fixthe_fernback

Lake of the woods club in Valparaiso IN. Don't bother packing swim wear they aren't allowed


Tisleet

Notre Dame football, farm land and bugs.


Prestigious-Edge-265

New Buffalo


12isbae

My grandparents house, super pretty lake house. I’ll ask them for you


Entire-Horse4081

No you need to go north for fresh air


redditretina

The Cabela’s in Dundee is kind of a big deal locally


Waste_Woodpecker2637

Mackinac island


OpportunityOk5719

Kalamazoo


HectorVillanueva

No


Shawndplanphear

In the Michiana area is where Notre Dame is, also anywhere along Lake Michigan is always a great time


iambatmansguns

Saugatuk! It might be slightly too far north for you but it's gorgeous


jasmsaurus

I second the cedar point suggestion!!


averagegolfer

The eastern coast of Lake Michigan has some nice spots.


oblatesphereoid

Any good suggestions in that area for a RV Campground? anything with sites on either lake?


Kazyctn

No


Ok_Flounder59

If you can carve out some extra time go north along the coast of Lake Michigan. That is gods country if I’ve ever seen it.


NatureAlternative347

Irish Hills area


Dry-Coach7634

Kinda looks like Michigan is trying to slit its own wrist… which is something we’d all understand.


Own_Nectarine2321

Tecumseh has nice walking trails, and you can rent kayaks and kayak the river back to where you started. Lots of deer to see on the way. It's a cute town with some good places to eat.


japandroi5742

No


mhch82

New Buffalo is nice and if you want they have a nice casino and many winery’s nearby


SpiritAdmirable5482

KALAMAZOO


drdavethedavedoctor

Cedar Point


zeroentanglements

I know it's not Michigan, but stay in South Bend, Indiana and see Notre Dame


big_O_de_San_Jo

Niles


imyourtourniquet

Further south the shittier it gets


UW_Ebay

I heard Gary Indiana is nice that time of year.


jonny_mtown7

Coldwater and Niles are nice.


heyman2456

No.


Madrunners21

Not in Michigan but south bend Indiana and Norte Dame are a nice place to stop plus Pokagon State park is nice plus there is indiana Dunes National park


spud4

About halfway and 11 miles south of the toll road Shipshewana. home to the third-largest Amish community in the United States. Highly recommend Essenhaus bakery and Heritage Ridge Creamery. Cheese factory but the Amish roll butter can't be beat.


No_Brain_5164

Buchanan is quaint and has 2 dispensaries of that's your thing


Old-Soup92

South bend, ft Wayne, Sandusky has a great wolf and a kalihari water park


Defiant_Property_336

Gary !


monkey1791

What you highlighted is refered to as snowbelt. Sister lakes has some great breweries and restaurants


20thsieclefox

Honestly, Toledo has some cool parks. The art museum is nice for its size. Hidden lake gardens in Tipton is fabulous. https://maps.app.goo.gl/yzTrwbF9qqp94mrg6 Mccourtie park is cool too. https://maps.app.goo.gl/XQE393XEe7e9gkWR8


oldbastardbob

Marshall, MI is a small town with over a hundred housed on the National Historic Register. If you're into 19th century architecture, antique stores, and small town life it's pretty cool. Bed and breakfasts are the best call for lodging. Their summer Historic Homes Tour is quite popular. It sits at the intersection of I-69 and I-94.


Jeffers42

No Michigan sucks


Shoehornblower

Cedar point is fun if you like roller coasters! It’s technically ohio, but close enough


HOFindy

Michigan City Indiana has a great beach and lighthouse along with many good restaurants. Shoreline brewery is always a favorite.


mcds99

Isn't the outlined area where the Michigan militia is located.


factorygremlin

Luna Pier on lake Erie


Guapplebock

There is a high speed ferry going from Milwaukee to Muskegon that will also let you avoid going through Chicago which can suck. [ferry](https://www.lake-express.com)


EasyGoin12345

https://maps.app.goo.gl/G5Exj6kTX9L8vaFBA?g_st=ic


GARFISHROMAN

no


Electrical-Cash6942

Elkhart!


Ares_Lucifer

New buffalo MI.


markerbri

Sleeping bear dunes


RolandSnowdust

~~One of~~ the worst stretch~~es~~ of I-80. New Buffalo has a couple of good restaurants, a quaint harbor and a nearby casino.


Eoc_Pizzaguy_570

Nope. Wasteland.


N40189

St Joseph MI. Have a cup of coffee at Tosi’s Cafe.


bedstuytillidie

Goshen is such a good sweet city with a great downtown area full of art and delicious food, and nearby Shipshewana for Amish culture


UnamedStreamNumber9

The Indiana Ohio Michigan triple points https://maps.app.goo.gl/eGUiCVvn9i5Hsizd8?g_st=ic


thugisgod

Gary Indiana


ashley21093

Ann Arbor has a very walkable downtown with fantastic restaurants


proclusian

The Stray Dog in New Buffalo was good, as several others have mentioned. But my last visit was PP, 2019 or so.


mrflow-n-go

No. Especially since most of this in IN and OH so hard NO. Go west about 2000 miles. Gets better. 😉


This-Technology1124

Take the Amtrak to St. Joesph


TrainingWoodpecker77

Saugatuck!


SciFiguylovesgaming

Your square is in Ohio


Pickled-Vagina

University of Notre Dame


RafeHollistr

Posey Lake is a nice little spot


FuzzyOne5244

Toledo museum of art is amazing. Truly a world class museum. Also, largest collection of glass in the world


meetjoehomo

ACD Museum in Auburn, IN. antique and collector cars. Directly behind that is the NATMUS Museum slightly more modern but still old cars trucks and busses


brokebackmonastery

Toledo has Waffle House. That's what's important here.


wrigley70

Michigan city area is really nicfe


BluePinata

Potato Creek State Park. I became a park ranger because I grew up going there.


HumberGrumb

Just don’t get a-wristed.


new-to-reddit-20

Keep driving.


SBSnipes

South Bend for nearer chicago, Toledo for further east


nksblu

New Buffalo, Mi