Travel Tuesday: St. Joseph, Michigan

Now that the weather is getting warmer, I'm starting to plan for weekend trips this summer.  This summer we are focusing on exploring the local sites. Now that grad school is over, I need to concentrate on finding a full time job so long distance travel is out for the time being.

As I started to make a list, the first thing that came to mind is St. Joseph, Michigan. We took a road trip there last September to celebrate our four year wedding anniversary. Since beach season was over, there were few tourists and we had a great mini getaway. From the Chicago area, Michigan is only a few hours away by car so it makes for a great weekend trip. There are a string of towns to stop in along the way. On our way from Chicago, we stopped at the Indiana Sand Dunes for a picnic lunch and then a tour at Journeyman Distillery. The distillery is fairly new and operates in an old corset factory.     

When we arrived in St. Joseph, we checked into our hotel then enjoyed an early dinner at El Cozumel before heading to the beach.

It was too cold to lay out, but we had a nice walk along the beach. 

And my husband was brave enough to dip his feet in the water. It was a bit cold!

We walked up the street to the Whirlpool Centennial Park where we had fun playing in the water fountain.

My husband loves to pose for funny pictures. Don't worry, he's not actually drinking that water, although I think he did get splashed in the face! 

And who can resist a photo op at the SuperBoy Pizza Booth?
 

We ended the evening watching a beautiful sunset near the lighthouse. 

 Overall, it was a great little getaway to celebrate our anniversary. I can't wait to return this summer for another visit!

Have you seen this side of Michigan? What was your favorite experience?