George Pomeroy (269) 469-3950
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New Buffalo, Southwest Michigan,
and Northwest Indiana Beaches
Beach access can be an important factor whether you are considering buying a home or whether you're just coming to visit. Harbor Country seems to be more and more the place to be every year. As our area becomes more popular, the area beaches get more crowded. On holiday weekends the parking lots fill up quickly, and people are turned away from the beach . Buying a home with beach access can give you easy access to one of our area's most inviting attractions.
Many people are not aware there can be a tremendous difference from one beach to another. Some of the beaches have stones rather than sand, other beaches require a long, steep climb on a bluff to enter or exit the beach. Sometimes there's abundant parking, other times parking is limited and other times parking is not available at all. Some beaches have lifeguards, most do not. Some beaches are open to anyone, some beaches are limited to residents and guests of a particular community, while other beaches are owned by a single household.
Most of the beaches between New Buffalo and the Indiana State Line are private beaches and are not open to public access.
The beaches in Indiana between Michigan City and the state line are either community beaches or private beaches and are not accessible to the general public. Michigan City has a public beach with ample parking in Washington Park with lifeguards on duty. Of course west of Michigan City are the National Lake Shore beaches and the beach at the Indiana Dunes State Park, all with ample parking. Click http://www.nps.gov/indu/home.htm for the Indiana Dunes National Lake Shore website. Holiday weekends are busy on any of these beaches, so you need to get there early to get a good spot.
The beaches northeast of the breakwater in New Buffalo are often times considered to be the best in the area. The New Buffalo Municipal Beach is just northeast of the New Buffalo Channel. There is ample parking on most occasions, although on holiday weekends you better get there early because even the overflow parking across the street from the New Buffalo Beach becomes full. There is a five dollar charge to park at the New Buffalo beach. The New Buffalo Beach has a snack bar offering non-alcoholic treats. There is a modest fee for parking at the New Buffalo Municipal Beach, however some folks try to avoid the fee by parking in the City of New Buffalo and walking to the beach. The only fee charged at the New Buffalo City Beach is for parking. New Buffalo City home owners are able to purchase an annual parking pass from New Buffalo City Hall for a very reasonable rate.
Chikaming Township beaches are some of the nicest beaches in the area. There are six Chikaming Township beaches located in Union Pier, Lakeside and Harbert. Basically the Chikaming Township Beaches are located where the public roads in Chikaming Township meet Lake Michigan. Parking is limited at the Chikaming Township Beaches. Cherry Beach is in my opinion the most beautiful beach in Chikaming Township, although a Chikaming Township Resident parking sticker is required to park at Cherry Beach. Cherry Beach has a lookout area over the bluff from which to enjoy Lake Michigan. The bluff is quite steep in Chikaming Township, although most beaches have steps leading down to the beach.
Just north of Sawyer is Warren Dunes State park with plenty of parking and life guards on duty during the season. Annual passes are available here to defer the parking fees for frequent visitors. For more information on Warren Dunes State Park click http://www.michigandnr.com/parksandtrails/ParksandTrailsInfo.aspx?id=504
Bridgman Michigan offers a wonderful county beach public park called Weko Dunes. Again there is a fee for parking, but again there is an annual parking pass available. To get to Weko Dunes take Red Arrow Highway to the main traffic light in Bridgman and turn toward the lake.
Of course I want everyone to have a nice time on our area beaches. One area of concern that could ruin a weekend and last for a life time is safe use of our beaches. Please click http://www.nps.gov/indu/rip.htm for information on rip tides, a potential spoiler to any vacation weekend which can be remembered for a lifetime.
Thank-you for visiting my Beach Information web page. For more information on things to do in Harbor Country click "Things To Do Here" on my Home Page. If there's anything I can do to help you have a nice time on our beaches, or to find a location near the beach, please email me or give me a call direct at 219-718-9452.
George Pomeroy
Cherry Beach, Chikaming Township (Example of a Township Beach)
Isobel Beach, Union Pier (Example of an Association Beach)
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