How to Spend A Holiday Weekend in Southwest Michigan with Lydia Knoll
Meet Lyd Knoll
Lydia Knoll is a creator based in the Midwest, helping others travel mindfully and sustainably. Follow along with her during her recent holiday visit to Southwest Michigan.
Day 1: Winery, Brewery & Distillery Tour
This itinerary makes a fun-filled day in Southwest Michigan, visiting multiple wineries and breweries. Start at the more casual Chill Hill Winery to ease into the day and then head to the more extravagant Round Barn Winery & Estate to experience a guided tasting inside one of their igloos! Break up your visit to Lehman's Farmhouse and Iron Shoe Distillery with a stop at Fernwood Botanical Gardens for a beautiful and impressive display of holiday lights. Might be best if you have a designated driver for this adventure :)
Chill Hill Winery
I visited Chill Hill Winery for the Christmas Market, and it did not disappoint! There were several local vendors selling their goodies like homemade candles, bath bombs and lotions, freeze-dried foods, wooden cutting boards, ceramic mugs and more. Even on a Saturday morning, the bar was busy! We walked through the vendors with glasses of wine and thoroughly enjoyed our time.
Round Barn Winery & Estate
One of my favorite holiday experiences in the Midwest! Perfect for a couple's date, a girls' outing, or a family afternoon (with adult kids). The igloos are super cute and stay cozy and warm despite the snow covering them! The service here was wonderful and our waitress customized a tasting for us that included a peach cream margarita, a cranberry martini, a spiked root beer float and apple whiskey with salted caramel cream. This was IN ADDITION to our hot cocoa with peppermint liqueur and mulled wine. So many amazing options!
Pro Tip!
Getting hungry? They'll order you pizza from their brewery down the road.
Lehman's Brewery & Farmhouse
Stop by Lehman's Farmhouse for a beer, some food and a browse through their farmhouse store, where you can find fresh goodies to bring home. We ordered the soup trio, which came with tomato soup, chili and potato soup. All three were delicious and we finished each of them! It was the perfect dinner for a chilly evening.
Fernwood Botanical Garden
This place is a real-life magical garden! Over the holidays, it transforms into a beautiful light display with music. Walk the paved path through the garden to take in countless decorations and designs. Then take a pit stop at the info center to make crafts and load up on hot apple cider, s'mores, cookies and other treats.
Pro Tip!
It took us an hour to walk through the whole thing, so wear warm clothes and comfy shoes.
Iron Shoe Distillery
End the night at Iron Shoe Distillery for dinner and/or drinks! Start with an appetizer, such as the fried cheese curds or Brussels sprouts, and pair it with a drink. I personally loved the white wine sangria! For dinner, we ordered fried cauliflower, the shrimp tacos and a salad. Everyone loved their dishes. Sidenote: This would be an awesome place to sit upstairs on the roof in the summertime.
See You In The Morning
You will find more fun to enjoy tomorrow.
Day 2: A Festive Day in St. Joseph, MI
From breakfast to dinner, this day trip will have you taking in all the festive holiday lights your heart desires! Start the morning at Caffe Tosi for coffee and breakfast and then spend the early afternoon shopping at the local vendors and boutiques in downtown St. Joseph. Once you've shopped till you want to drop, you'll take a short drive to Stevensville for dinner and drinks at Watermark Brewing Company, where they have their own impressive display of lights. Return to St. Joseph to catch the holiday lights along the bluff after dark!
Caffè Tosi
Start with a coffee and croissant breakfast sandwich at this cute cafe right in the heart of St. Joseph! I ordered the seasonal Peppermint Mocha with an egg and cheese croissant. The cafe is decorated for the holidays and you can even buy a few last-minute Christmas gifts like loose-leaf tea and local honey. It was the perfect way to get the day started.
Downtown St. Joseph
Stroll the streets of downtown St. Joseph and pop into the many local shops. There are multiple cute clothing boutiques, a lovely bookstore, a pet store, an antique shop and so much more! Whether shopping for Christmas gifts or just treating yourself, you're sure to find something down on State Street.
Pro Tip!
Forever Books is one of my favorite stops!
Watermark Brewing Company
Take a short drive out of St. Joseph for drinks and good vibes at Watermark Brewing Company. They don't serve food here, so consider ordering takeout from The Squeeze, located a couple of doors down. Build your own burger for a filling and tasty dinner! Then bring it to the brewery to enjoy while you sip a beer.
Lake Bluff Park
End the day back in St. Joseph at Lake Bluff Park, where the entire street is lit for Light Up the Bluff! This activity is best done once it's dark, so the lights are at their brightest. Approximately one MILLION lights are used in the decorations, so take a stroll and enjoy the festivities. Just be mindful... this is right by the lake and will be cold! Dress appropriately.
Pro Tip!
Check out the Krasl Art Center at the end to see beautiful pieces completed by local artists.
Thanks for joining us!
We hope you enjoyed your travels throughout Southwest Michigan. Check out other trips that you can take on our influencer itineraries page.
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