The Chicago Traveler

Concluding my southwestern Michigan series, great American wines don’t just come from the coastlines. There are actually a few wineries just on the other side of Lake Michigan.
The Round Barn winery in Baroda is a family-owned and operated business that specializes in hand-crafted wines. The barn itself, built in 1911 in Indiana, was taken down and reassembled in Michigan by an Amish construction crew. It houses a café where you can munch on sandwiches, salads, or specialty pizzas, while sipping delicious wine. The Round Barn offers much more than estate wine, however; they also sell sparkling wines, cognac, brandy, beer, …read more

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As I mentioned a couple weeks ago, I make a monthly trip to visit family in southwestern Michigan. The trip usually takes about three hours, and I pass through several small towns along the way. In fact, in that rural area, it is not uncommon for us to visit one town to go grocery shopping, another town for dining out, and yet another to go see a movie! Of course, all the towns are within a few minutes of each other, so driving from town to town is much like driving to different neighborhoods here in Chicago.

One road that we …read more

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I’m a big fan of road trips, allowing you to see small towns and businesses you might miss when traveling by plane. Even though my last long drive wasn’t exactly planned, there were still many parts of it that were enjoyable.
Once or twice a month, I visit family members who live in southwestern Michigan. Along the way, I drive by a town called Three Oaks. This historic village is located just off Interstate 94 and was first settled in 1850. If you have children, you’ll recognize the town from Prancer, a popular Christmas movie that is broadcast every year on …read more

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Brrr… it’s cold out there. You may be dreaming of warm beaches where you can sit in the sun and watch the surfers do their thing along the coastline. However, you don’t have to go nearly that far to see surfing in action. Just ask any of the folks at the Third Coast Surf Shop in New Buffalo, Michigan, about an hour and a half from the Loop.
A surf shop in Michigan?! That’s right, and you can get a lot more than just beachwear and accessories there. The shop actually carries gear, including surfboards and wetsuits, for surfers who can …read more

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