Berrien Springs

A Village with a Global Heart

For over a century, Berrien Springs has been celebrated for the sweetest strawberries, sun-ripened peaches, crisp apples and juicy grapes. But it’s not just farm fresh fruits and vegetables that bring visitors here — avid anglers know this stretch of the St. Joseph River as a premier fishing hotspot.

Yet, Berrien Springs offers more than abundant harvests and fishing retreats — it’s a gateway to global experiences. Anchored by the diverse community at Andrews University, this small village bridges cultures from Canada to Brazil, Jamaica to South Korea and Russia to Australia.

Beyond campus, its international culture comes to life through its European-style winemakers, cross-country ski trails, ethnic eateries and specialty markets. Berrien Springs brings the world to you — come see where it takes you.

Where is Berrien Springs

Along the banks of the St. Joseph River, Berrien Springs is 12 miles south of St. Joseph, Michigan, 30 miles north of South Bend and 90 miles northeast of Chicago. Surrounding orchards and vineyards create a scenic backdrop.

Top things to do

Wine tasting at Lemon Creek

Discover European-style wines on the Makers Trail

Berrien Springs is surrounded by craft wineries, breweries, distilleries and cideries on the Makers Trail. Visit the award-winning Lemon Creek Winery & Fruit Farm and Domaine Berrien Cellars for French-, German- and Australian-style vintages. Make them a date destination for live music and wine festival revelry. Check-in with the Makers Trail Passport at each stop to earn rewards.

Pick the sweetest strawberries, crispest apples and plumpest pumpkins

This is one of the most bountiful fruit-growing regions in the country. Arrive in late May and early June to pick the sweetest strawberries at Bixby Farms and Stover’s Farm Market & U-Pic. Then return from late-June through October for the freshest flowers, fruits, vegetables, herbs and more. The taste difference is amazing!

Enjoy prime river fishing and easy boat launching

Seasoned anglers know the St. Joseph River is home to rainbow trout (steelhead), brown trout, chinook salmon, smallmouth bass, walleyes, channel and flathead catfish.

Shamrock Park has the closest boat ramp to the Berrien Springs fishing dam and fish ladder. If you prefer shoreline fishing, you can do that here, too. Private charters are available to increase the chances of taking home trophy-sized keepers.

For non-anglers, the park offers outdoor volleyball courts, a playground and an open-air picnic shelter perfect for gatherings.

Lift your spirits with music and plays

You don’t have to be in a big city to appreciate the past, listen to soul-stirring music or attend standing-ovation performances. Enter a life-sized Bedouin tent filled with authentic Jordanian Bedouin antiques, walk into a replica Egyptian tomb or experience the days of Christ in the Siegfried H. Horn Archaeological Museum.

Explore the early days of Southwest Michigan at the History Center at Courthouse Square where history is never boring.

Or attend local and guest music and theater performances at the Howard Performing Arts Center.

Fat tire biking at Love Creek.

Be active

Berrien Springs offers lots of ways to get moving. Do the activities you love or give new-to-you sports a try.

Find year-round adventures at Love Creek County Park & Nature Center. The over 100 acres of meadows, forests, marshes and creeks give you up-close views of what makes the heart of our countryside so wildly beautiful. Seasonally hike, cross-country ski and snowshoe on five miles of scenic trails or mountain bike or fat tire bike on 3.5 miles. Rental equipment for Nordic-style skis and fat tire bikes is available in youth and adult sizes. The trails are a haven for bird watchers and wildflower seekers. Toddlers to grandparents will happily spend indoor time in the Nature Center with its displays, exhibits and a mesmerizing wildlife observation window.
Andrews University Trails and Disc Golf Course are ranked among the best for miles. The campus’s 11-mile multi-use trails are open to walkers, hikers and thrill-seeking mountain bikers. For bikers, the cardio challenge isn’t lots of jumps but the elevation gain.
Winding through campus, the free-to-play disk golf course is 18 baskets of chain-rattling, skill-building competition. Rental discs are available at the Andreasen Center for Wellness; the course is closed for the Sabbath on Saturdays.
Fernwood Botanical Garden and Nature Preserve is a popular place for forest immersion in the St. Joseph River Valley. Enjoy quiet time in the woods, daydreaming by the pond and listening to the soothing splash of the waterwheel and lyrical songbirds. A year-round railroad garden and a glimmering holiday light display will lure you back.
Range Line Park attracts families with its tranquil trails, a newer playground, picnic pavilion and scenic overlooks along Townsend Creek and Lake Chapin. A new 18-hole disc golf course will open soon. If you want to fish in a lesser-known spot, bring along your fishing pole, tackle and Michigan fishing license.
Shamrock Park offers prime river fishing and boating access. First-timers to seasoned anglers will have opportunities to reel in steelhead, brown trout, smallmouth bass, walleyes, channel and flathead catfish. Private charters are available to increase the chances of taking home trophy-sized keepers (though fishermen don’t always reveal their favorite spots so easily).
This park has the closest boat ramp to the village’s fishing dam and fish ladder, but if you prefer shore fishing you can do that here. For non-anglers, there are outdoor volleyball courts, a playground and an open-air picnic shelter perfect for gatherings.
Paddle for miles. Launch your kayak, canoe, paddleboard, jet ski or motorboat from the Berrien Springs Boat Club. You will find yourself on Lake Chapin, a 600-acre reservoir between Niles and Lake Michigan. The smoother water, when it’s not teeming on weekends with watercraft, is a good place for beginners to get hooked on paddling. More advanced paddlers can test their endurance journeying to Jasper Dairy Road boat launch. Wear sunscreen and bring plenty of water and snacks.
Local Tip: The trees along the river and Lake Chapin will wow you with their fall colors.
Are you a pickler? Bring your paddles to Berrien Springs. Pickleball’s popularity is surging and locals and visitors can find 16 free outdoor courts at Berrien Springs High School and two free indoor courts at Ruth Murdoch Elementary School.
Ask a local mom where to take the kids for a picnic and they will direct you to Wolf's Prairie Park. Fresh air, family togetherness and history will fill your day together. Take tranquil walks through a Michigan prairie, spend hours climbing, chasing, sliding and swinging at the playground and learn how this was the site of a Potawatomi village led by Chief Big Wolf. It’s easy to unwind along Lake Chapin’s peaceful shores.

Must-try restaurants, cafes and coffee shops

A plate of tacos.

Global flavors

Beijin Palace: Authentic Szechwan, Mandarin, Cantonese and American Chinese favorites.
Mabuhay Oriental Store: Asian dishes, bubble teas and specialty groceries.
Melendez Imports — International Food Market & Restaurant: Fresh Mexican and Caribbean cuisine with a full international market.
Revive Coffee & More: Fair-trade coffee, teas, smoothies and baked goods.
Sammy Arepas: A food truck that serves Venezuelan arepas, empanadas and vegetarian-friendly bites.

Local Tip: Visit Andrews University’s International Food Fair in April or dine at its affordable cafeterias for delicious vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and international dishes. You will meet people from all over the U.S. and the world.

American favorites

Nikki’s Cafe: Hearty breakfasts, lunches and Friday fish fries.
Hopper’s Family Restaurant: Pancakes, omelettes, burgers and homemade soups.
Town Hall Pizza: Family-favorite pizzas with Italian beef and vegan options.
The Garage on Ferry Street: Specialty cocktails, beer buckets, American fare and fun events like trivia, karaoke, musical BINGO and dueling pianos.

Natural and international ingredients and more

Stock up at Apple Valley Vegetarian Foods Emporium or bring home Asian groceries, exotic spices, sauces, noodles, mochi and bubble tea from New Berrien Springs Oriental Supermarket.

Rides at the Youth Fair.

Family-friendly annual festivals and events

July 4th Holiday: Berrien Springs Pickle Festival. Michigan is the largest producer of pickles in the U.S. and Berrien Springs makes a big “dill” over it. Activities you will relish include the Miss Pickle Pageant, Pickle 5K, Pickle Fling, pickle tastings and, of course, a pickleball tournament.
Local Tip: Get a pickle ornament to carry out the German tradition of hiding it in your Christmas tree each year.
July 4th Fireworks: Some of the best in the region. Park and watch from the Berrien County Youth Fair grounds.
Mid-August Berrien County Youth Fair: All ages look forward to this agricultural showcase every year. There are thrilling midway rides, mouthwatering fair foods, grandstand entertainment and blue-ribbon exhibits from local youth ages 5 to 20 years old.
Local Tip: Stop in the Wonders of Birth pavilion to see newborn animals all week.
October Fireside Tales & Trick or Treating at the Museum: The History Center at Courthouse Square hosts family-gathering events and entertaining ways to learn the county’s history.
December Kindle Your Christmas Spirit: The History Center at Courthouse Square. This evening of forged jingle bells, a hot chocolate bar, scavenger hunt and sing-a-long makes everyone merry.

More Nearby Events

Berrien Springs Weather

Lake Michigan to the west of Berrien Springs keeps the climate temperate all year round — so it’s very rarely bitter cold or blistering hot. The best time for warm-weather activities is late May through September. To see fall color, visit late September through mid-October. And for playing in the snow, come in January and February.

Summer: Our warmest time of year is from mid-June to mid-September. Fahrenheit temperatures range from lows in the mid-60s and a high of 78 degrees. July has the most sunshine.
Autumn: It is comfortably warm at the beginning of September, gradually cools through October and becomes frosty in November. Temperatures range from a pleasant 72 degrees at the start of fall and dip to the mid-30s as Thanksgiving approaches.
Winter: This season is snowy and mostly cloudy with an average annual snowfall of 70 inches. January is the coldest and snowiest month, perfect for cross-country skiing, snowshoeing and fat tire biking. Average temperatures range from a high in the low 40s in December to lows in the 20s in January.
Spring: This season eases into Berrien Springs starting in March with cold, wet and windy days and becoming comfortably warm in May. Average temperatures across the season range from the upper 20s to low 70s. It’s our blossom season so roll down the car windows and breathe in the sweet fragrances of our orchards and vineyards from early to late May.

Places to stay

With over 25 lodging choices nearby, you will easily find a place that fits your needs. Rooms fill up quickly in the summer, so make reservations early. Or book during the other seasons to find the rates and amenities that will enhance your vacation.