A Guide to Nature Centers

Nature is always close at hand in Southwest Michigan, whether you want to walk through peaceful woodlands, explore vast wetlands or wander through beautifully cultivated gardens. Three of the best places to experience this are Sarett Nature Center, Fernwood Botanical Garden & Nature Preserve and Love Creek Nature Center & County Park. Each offers miles of trails, indoor exhibits and year-round opportunities to enjoy. 

For added adventure, take part in the Trails Challenge. Download the Visit Southwest Michigan app, snap selfies at trailheads and earn prizes as you explore trails across the area.

Sarett | Fernwood |  Love Creek

Sarett Nature Center | Benton Harbor

Sarett protects more than 1,000 acres of forests, wetlands and river bluffs just north of Benton Harbor. About eight miles of trails weave through marshes, floodplains and upland forest. Boardwalks and overlooks bring you close to sensitive habitats, while a treetop walkway offers views across the canopy and wetlands below. Sarett also manages two nearby natural areas, the 173-acre Brown Sanctuary and the 20-acre Black’s Woods, which provide additional quiet spaces for wildlife viewing and exploration.

Each season reveals something different: spring wildflowers and migrating birds, butterflies and shaded walks in summer, a burst of color in autumn and snow-covered trails for cross-country skiing and snowshoeing in winter. Equipment rentals are available, and Sarett’s lighted snowshoe event is a seasonal favorite.

The interpretive building offers indoor live reptiles, amphibians and birds, plus interactive exhibits that highlight the habitats found across the property. Large windows overlook a busy bird-feeding station, giving close-up views of local species throughout the year.

The building also hosts gatherings. The Jordan Tatter Great Room, with its forest views and stone fireplace, accommodates weddings and community events. Additional spaces, including the Schmuhl Lower Level Learning Center and the Edna Norris Room, offer flexible space for meetings, parties and programs.

In the warmer months, the Butterfly House is a must-see stop. This netted garden features blooming flowers, a small pond, fish and native butterflies in flight. Guests can walk the gravel pathway, pause to watch butterflies up close and even look through a special window into the chrysalis area, where you may catch the moment a butterfly emerges. Tickets are available at the Nature Center’s front desk.

Fernwood Botanical Garden & Nature Preserve | Niles

Along the St. Joseph River valley, Fernwood spans 105 acres of cultivated gardens and natural preserve. Trails wind through restored prairie, woodlands and wetlands, with ponds and streams adding variety. Spring brings daffodils and primroses, summer blooms with perennials and herbs and autumn highlights ornamental grasses and colorful foliage. Birdwatching is a favorite pastime, and binoculars are available to rent, free to members, for a day of exploring the trails.

Winter brings quiet beauty to the trails and the magic of LIGHTS at Fernwood, a dazzling nighttime event with radiant tunnels, nature-themed sculptures, festive music, warm fire pits and family-friendly activities. Guests can enjoy hot chocolate, winter treats and light-up merchandise while experiencing one of the region’s most magical holiday garden light shows.

Showcasing diverse designs, Fernwood features everything from a Japanese dry garden to the Stan Beikmann Herb and Sensory Garden, where over 200 herbs awaken all five senses. An exciting new Stumpery Garden is also set to open in 2026, expanding Fernwood’s hands-on, outdoor teaching experiences for all ages.

Indoors, visitors can browse galleries with rotating art exhibits and explore a conservatory filled with tropical plants and ferns, complete with a pool, waterfall and miniature train. An on-site café offers meals, homemade pies and warm drinks, making it easy to extend your visit.

Love Creek Nature Center & County Park | Berrien Center

Near Berrien Springs, Love Creek offers several miles of trails through meadows, forests and marshes. In spring, wildflowers line beech-maple woods; in summer, the shaded paths are popular with hikers and mountain bikers. Autumn colors the forest canopy and in winter the park grooms trails for cross-country classic and skate-style skiing, snowshoeing and fat-tire biking, with rentals available.

Naturalist-led wildflower walks, owl prowls and talks about amphibians, reptiles and the frog pond add to the experience. Indoors, the interpretive center features exhibits and large windows for viewing wildlife year-round.

Plan Your Stay

Book a hotel to stay nearby all three nature centers and the many trails featured in the Southwest Michigan Trails Challenge. Spend your days hiking, skiing or snowshoeing or by exploring the indoor exhibits at the nature centers. Fill evenings shopping, dining or catching a local performance. A hotel stay gives you the flexibility to enjoy nature and culture with us in every season.