The Perfect Weekend in South Haven, Michigan

A girls getaway filled with antiques, games, and snowy walks along Lake Michigan

Something you should know about me—I have a group of friends, and we call ourselves the Rockhounds. There are four of us, and we all share a love for hunting rocks and antiques, which tends to shape the way we travel.

This was our first winter trip together, and while we knew it would be too cold for serious rock hunting, we were looking forward to a cozy weekend filled with antiquing, good food, and time at the Airbnb. We ended up getting a ton of snow on our first night, which made everything feel even more magical. And even though it was freezing, we couldn’t resist being that close to the lake—we bundled up and made our way to the beach anyway, just in case we might find a few rocks.

Where to Stay

We stayed at The Brockway, a cozy two-bedroom cottage just a one-minute walk from Oak Beach.

The house sleeps up to six guests and was perfect for a winter girls’ getaway. It had everything we needed for a comfortable stay, and being so close to the lake made it easy to sneak in a quick beach walk—even in the snow.

Friday Evening

We arrived later in the evening, so we kept things simple and ordered Doordash. One thing the Rockhounds always do when we visit a new place is ask: “Who has the best pizza in town?”

For South Haven, we went with South Haven Brew Pub, and having it delivered was the perfect start to the weekend. Once we got settled in, we stayed in for the night—eating pizza, pulling out our crafts, and easing into the weekend.

Saturday

Start your morning at 6 Chicks Scratch Kitchen, a laid-back spot with a classic diner feel. Everything is made from scratch, and the brussels sprout hash was so good.

After breakfast, spend the day doing what South Haven does best—antiquing. Some great stops include Murphy’s Antique Mall, Eagle Street Market, and Rambling Rose. Each one has its own mix of finds, and it’s easy to lose track of time browsing.

For lunch, head to The Lodge, which is a great casual spot for food and drinks before heading back out for more shopping.

In the late afternoon, we went back to the house to relax and get ready for dinner. One thing we like to do on these trips is pick one night to get a little more dressed up—it makes the evening feel a bit more special.

Dinner was at Clementine’s, which is set inside an old bank building and has a really fun, historic feel. We went for martinis and dinner, and it ended up being one of our favorite meals of the trip.

After dinner, we headed back to the Airbnb for a cozy night in. Games are a must for us—Sequence, dominoes, and euchre are always in rotation—and it’s usually one of the best parts of the weekend.

Sunday

Before heading home, we stopped at Café Julia for breakfast. It’s more of a coffee shop and bakery with a smaller menu, but everything we had was delcicous.

The sandwiches were fresh, the coffee hit the spot, and we couldn’t leave without trying a baked good (the maple bacon cupcake was worth it). It was the perfect, low-key way to wrap up the weekend.

Final Thoughts

South Haven made for such a fun winter getaway, especially if you’re leaning into the cozy side of things—snow, games, good food, and time with friends.

That said, it also left us wanting to come back in the summer to experience the beach in a completely different way. Either season, it’s the kind of place that works for a simple, memorable weekend trip.