Lakeside beaches and vibrant St. Joseph make for delightful summer days of accessible family fun

Again and again, my daughter splashed through the edges of waves, leaped through sparkling summer sunshine, and lobbed handfuls of sand into the ever-retreating, ever-advancing waters of Lake Michigan. All around us, locals and visitors went for walks, relaxed on blankets and in beach chairs, and enjoyed snacks on a fine August morning.

Vacationing in Southwest Michigan, at one of America’s Great Lakes, brings together the best of beaches, big water, and a small town. Not only did our family of four find kid-friendly adventures throughout Silver Beach and St. Joseph. We took advantage of flat streets, broad beachside paths, and easy parking, so that my wife Jodie, who uses a prosthetic leg for her walking mobility, could enjoy our time in Silver Beach and St. Joseph too.

We want to thank Southwestern Michigan Tourist Council for sponsoring our visit. However, this article reflects our personal opinions and experiences.

Family and accessible travel: A quick note about our little family

Anthony, Jodie, Connor, and Aster St. Clair: We are the Learners and Makers, and we empower families and the mobility disability community to travel confidently their way. Our kids are 12 and 9. Jodie is an above-knee amputee. She and Anthony love showing their kids as much of the world as they can, while we can all travel together as a family. And this was our first family vacation in Southwest Michigan!

We’ll share observations about mobility accessibility from our experience in Silver Beach and St. Joseph

Does your travel planning include taking into account a disability or a mobility impairment, such as a prosthetic leg (like Jodie), joint or back issues, or other mobility considerations, such as being a new parent using a stroller or baby carrier? Throughout, we’ll share accessibility notes about our experience visiting St. Joseph and Silver Beach.

Arrival, parking, and enjoying Silver Beach

From a playground in the sand to the broad, paved path that runs past the beach and up the south jetty, Silver Beach County Park is right next to St. Joseph yet feels tucked away in its own little world of waves, sun, and fun.

Far-from-water playground

Our daughter immediately dashed over to join other kids at the playground. Sand sprayed up like little clouds as children ran around the equipment. Giving peace of mind to parents who may be water-wary with their kids, the playground is at the back of the beach, far from the lake’s edge.

Big beach and calm lake waters for a range of recreation

Silver Beach itself has the grandeur of an ocean beach but with the calm of lake waters. There’s room to kick or throw a ball, or simply relax on a blanket or in a chair and read a book.

We decided to divide and conquer. Jodie and Connor relaxed in chairs near the concession stand. Aster and I went down to the water, so she could wade, romp, and splash.

Silver Beach isn’t just about the sand though. The path continues north, along the backs of the dunes. When you reach the Shadowland Pavilion and adjacent signature public sculpture (not to mention the excellent selfie spot) “And You, Seas”, you can choose your own adventure.

River and jetty walks

The paved, broad, flat path can be accessible for a range of mobilities. Turn right, and the path continues along the southern edge of the St. Joseph River, back toward St. Joseph itself. We headed left, toward the southern jetty and its views of the St. Joseph Lighthouse, just across the channel at the end of the north jetty near Tiscornia Beach (more on that later).

Benches line the broad path. For a side trip back to the main part of Silver Beach or the parking lot, a dune’s beachward side has a paved path that curves up and around the front face. It gives a lovely, slightly elevated vantage of the beach and the water (and has a convenient bench). There will be upslope and downslope, and the path can be sandy.

Mobility tips

Parking: The large parking lots have accessible parking spaces located close to curbside inclines, for easier access to the paved path that runs parallel to the beach and dunes, along with the buildings at the back of the beach that house restrooms, a gift shop, a concession stand, and the park office.

No beach mats, but there is a beach wheelchair: You might encounter info online that talks about accessibility mats, or Mobi-mats, at Silver Beach. Park staff confirmed that they used to have a couple but no longer do. A free, fat-tire beach wheelchair is available to borrow from the Silver Beach County Park Office. When facing the beach, the park office is the last building to the right, and the entrance is on the dune-facing side.

The approach to the water can be arduous through thick sand: Silver Beach’s sand is deep, fine, and spans at least a couple of hundred yards from the parking lot to the water’s edge. If you have mobility considerations or impairments, it can be an arduous walk to get to the lake itself.

Here’s a shorter way to get closer to the lake: If you park at the northern end of the parking lot, closer to Shadowland Pavilion, consider going north up the path and turning left at the sculpture. Just past the dune, the edge of the path is flush with the sand. The sand is still deep and fine, but this can be an easier way to get on the sand and closer to the lake.

Just behind Silver Beach, enjoy pizza, an accessible carousel, a discovery zone, and a splash fountain

Inside the Curious Kids’ Museum and Discover Zone, kids of all ages can get hands-on with science, art, and other exhibits. But for our daughter, it was all about the indoor Silver Beach Carousel.

Yes, this carousel is accessible

The Silver Beach Carousel can be a great way to get everyone inside for a spell. The Wizard of Oz-themed decor throughout the indoor space reminded me and Jodie that we need to watch the movie with the kids. (Though the carved animals of the carousel itself had Jodie imagining that we might just start bouncing away in a Mary Poppins-style adventure.)

Carousel tokens are available from the gift shop on the far side of the carousel from the entrance.

Mobility tip

The carousel is accessible, for wheelchair users, and additional accommodations are available depending on the assistance that helps you access the carousel. When you enter, speak with staff/volunteers about your mobility needs. Near the operator area, they can set up a ramp so wheelchair users can board the carousel. On the sleigh-style bench, the seat folds up and has anchor straps.

Hint: The word is that as a nod to the work it takes to secure a chair, wheelchair users can ride twice.

Slices and splashes

Across the street from the carousel, a cargo and passenger train depot has become the all-aboard pizza-please spot for Silver Beach Pizza. Voted best pizza in Southwest Michigan, it can be popular. Reservations can be especially handy for the 21+ rooftop (you can also check in on Yelp before heading over). Reservations can be a good idea to check ahead for. Or, if it’s time for a little cool-off, the nearby Whirlpool Compass Fountain is a great place for the kids to have some splashy fun.

Wander a sunset trail and take the accessible paved path to St. Joseph Lighthouse at Tiscornia Beach Park

That paved path that runs alongside Silver Beach? It’s part of a longer path system, called the John and Dede Howard Recreational Trail. Our walks along it gave expansive views of the lake, plus the even, level surface made it easier for Jodie to enjoy the walk. (This trail can also count toward prizes as part of the Southwest Michigan Trails Challenge.)

Just north of Silver Beach, Tiscornia Beach Park offers another accessible trail and a great way to add a lighthouse to your view of a Lake Michigan sunset. From the main parking lot, a wide paved path meanders through one of the sand dunes, providing easier access to the beach.

Water conditions here vary depending on season, time, and day. While our sunset visit had a lovely view of the lighthouse, the waters had gotten rough and were splashing over the far end of the jetty. We’d hoped to get up toward the lighthouse (and during the day, the first floor can be open to visitors, depending on conditions). However, our view of the lake and the lighthouse from closer to shore was a lovely finish to a day at the beach.

Mobility tip

The path is near the far left end of the parking lot, and it is broad and level throughout. Depending on conditions, it can be possible to go all the way down the jetty to the lighthouse. For daily conditions and to see if tours are operating, check The Heritage Museum and Cultural Center website, or call 269-983-1191.

St. Joseph: Plenty to do and eat

Dine in St. Joseph

When the town is right next to the beach, we found it easy to enjoy the best of both worlds. St. Joseph itself is full of quiet streets, free parking lots, and locally owned shops and restaurants. Plus, a vehicle-free area often hosts live music and weekly outdoor markets during the summer months.

An array of restaurants and cafes open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, depending on what you have a taste for and when you have a taste for it, such as:

• Silver Harbor Brewing: Right at the vehicle-free zone, with great outdoor seating.
• Tim’s Too: Build your own noodle, protein, and veggie bowl, buffet style, then set it at the end of the counter. A few minutes later, a large, perfectly cooked dish will be set in front of you.
• Hot Dog Kart: This local icon is especially fun to grab a dog from before enjoying a show at the John E.N. Howard Band Shell Brown Bag Concert Series.
• The Copper Pot Breakfast Cafe: Lovely menu, especially the smoked salmon and capers omelet.
• The Buck Burgers & Brew: Over 70 beers on tap, plus a full menu, but they had us at the Mushroom Swiss Burger and the Smoked Gouda Burger.
• Dairy Korner: Since 1956, this kid-friendly spot has been where you can watch the world go by, enjoy tasty and simple meals (such as the grilled chicken sandwich), and of course, feast on some ice cream!

Make candles at Lilac Loft

Scent can underlie some of our most powerful and enduring memories. Maybe that’s why it’s no surprise that making poured wax candles at a Lilac Loft workshop has quickly become a favorite vacation memory for our little family.

The shop itself is calm and welcoming, and shelves around the front of the Lilac Loft offer soaps, oils, art, jewelry, and more. From a menu of 30 scent blends (organized as floral, coffee, perfumey, sweet, or earthy), we each chose our particular fragrance combo:

• Jodie, #4, Japanese Cherry Blossom (lemon, ginger, jasmine, honeysuckle)
• Connor, #5, Lavender (lavender, citrus, camphor, eucalyptus)
• Aster, #22, Chocolate Fudge (vanilla, cream, hazelnut, chocolate, praline)
• Anthony, #7, Lemon Verbena (citrus, lemon verbena, lemongrass)

To color our hot wax, we whisked crayons into the mix. After pouring our scented, colored wax into its jar, the candles went into the fridge for 20 minutes to set up. Connor and I went for a quick stroll up and down the block, window shopping and pondering tasty treats.

“We could get a summer place here,” said Connor. “It's got so much to offer. The lakes and rivers, the cafes, there's lots of coffee, we can make candles and pasta, and we can go kayaking.”

Wise words.

Mobility tip

Lilac Loft is on State Street, which has many options for nearby free street-side and lot parking. The shop door has barrier-free access.

Visit The Market to make (and eat) pasta at Culinary Cottage

On the east side of downtown, on the corner of Main and Pleasant Streets, The Market has become a community hub for locals and visitors alike. At one of the many tables in the open central gathering area, while sipping afternoon coffee from Infusco Coffee and nibbling treats from The Cheese Lady, the four of us watched folks doing their evening shopping, picking out gifts, or meeting up for a beverage.

We, on the other hand, were ready to get our hands… not dirty, but washed and clean, ready to mix up fresh batches of fettuccine, focaccia bread, chopped salad, and lemon ricotta cake.

Pasta making class

We arrived about 10 minutes early for our 2-hour class at Culinary Cottage. While Tara and her daughter Grace finished prep, they chatted with us about the week-long kids' cooking camp they were hosting. Soon, Connor and Aster were measuring and mixing ingredients, and then we all took turns kneading the dough that would become our evening’s pasta course.

Splitting into teams, Aster and Jodie whipped up cake batter. Connor began whisking vinaigrette and slicing cucumbers, green onions, and tomatoes for our chopped salad. I spiced up our yogurt and self-rising flour focaccia dough with garlic, rosemary, and coarse salt. All the while, we conversed about Lake Michigan, pasta, Italy, and the joys of cooking and traveling with kids.

“This place gets a five-star rating,” said Aster later, as we gathered at a set table in the open gathering space in The Market itself. “This is one of the best meals I’ve had in a long time. After all, nothing beats something you made yourself.”

Mobility tip

Culinary Cottage chef and owner Tara Newman understands accessibility as both a daughter and a small business owner. When designing the Culinary Cottage prior to opening in 2022, Tara reflected on experiences being out with a relative who used a wheelchair. In turn, Tara put accessibility front and center, from Culinary Cottage’s sliding doors to the spacing of its varying height counters, and floor space that can fit a wheelchair’s turning radius.

Her goal? Have a space where as many people as possible could connect with each other, and with the delicious food they made themselves.

Silver Beach and St. Joseph shine in our family vacation memories

Southwest Michigan is home to many vibrant communities and calm lakes, winding rivers, and other outdoor spaces. But for your family vacation here, or as a visitor who has a mobility disability, don’t be surprised if Silver Beach and St. Joseph become the epicenter of your visit.

As a family who considers mobility access in all our travel plans, we found that Silver Beach and St. Joseph made it pretty easy for us to get around. (Though we suggested that new Mobi-mats for Silver Beach would make it easier for folks to access the sand and water.)

We found Silver Beach and St. Joseph to be welcoming to people who mobility needs, as well as safe, friendly, and fun for families. Whether wandering a beachside path or enjoying downtown, eating the pasta we made, or lighting one of the scented candles we poured ourselves, our family vacation in Silver Beach and St. Joseph gave us the best gift: ease of getting around, so we could focus on making memories that we’ll treasure for years to come.