5 Things to Do This Spring in New Buffalo
Lilly DeLano
| 3 min read
Key Takeaways
- New Buffalo, Michigan, offers various activities and attractions for a fun and family-friendly trip to the lakefront town.
- Visitors can explore the Washington Park Zoo, which features animals from around the world, a safari train and an aviary.
- Other attractions include Third Coast Paddling, which offers kayak and paddleboard rentals, and Galien River County Park, which has a marsh overview platform and canopy walkway.
Located in the most Southwest corner of Michigan is the quaint town of New Buffalo, which lies along the coast of Lake Michigan.
Home to Four Winds Casino Resorts and Silver Creek Event Center, New Buffalo has countless activities to keep you busy this summer. Here’s a guide for a fun, family-friendly trip to the lakefront town.
Established in 1928, Washington Park Zoo is home to animals from all over the world. The staff create a safe and happy environment for every species they rescue.
The zoo offers various activities to keep you busy for an afternoon:
- The Safari Train: This ride takes kids on a short loop through the zoo.
- Wings of Wonder Aviary: More than 200 parakeets and cockatiels roam around in this immersive experience. It will reopen in July after construction.
- Peacock Café: Many options for when you need to pause and get food.
- Observation Tower: Sitting on top of a sand dune and overlooking Lake Michigan is the observation tower that reaches 220 steps above street level. You can find the tower near the zoo’s entrance.
One of eight waterfront locations across Michigan, Third Coast Paddling creates a place open to all and aims to ensure everyone has an adventurous, memorable experience in kayaks and paddleboards on Lake Michigan and the Galien River.
Rental types:
- Single/double kayaks, starting at $25 an hour.
- Stand-up paddleboards, starting at $25 an hour.
- Sandboards/sand sleds, starting at $25 an hour.
The company also offers summer camps to more than 6,000 kids ages 6 to 12 are welcome in both locations in Southwest Michigan.
On the edge of the city lies an 800-foot beach that’s a great place to spend summer days. The beach has a spot to rent kayaks and paddleboards across from the city beach parking lot.
New Buffalo also has six miles of water trails for paddling.
Galien River County Park has 86 acres filled with wetland and upland habitats first established in 2001.
It’s free to visit daily. Features include a Marsh Overview Platform, Canopy Walkway, Marsh Boardwalk, and a fishing platform. There are about 1.2 miles of trails in the park for walking.
No pets are allowed in the park.
Founded in 1989, the Harbor Country Museum of History + Rail has been a staple place in the New Buffalo community, containing local history of the greater New Buffalo area.
In the museum, you will find historical records of the railroad and how those tracks helped build the city, a Replica of the Pere Marquette Railroad Depot, a refurbished C&O Boxcar, a Pullman WWII Troop Sleeper Car, New Buffalo High School Collection and more.
New Buffalo is a great place to spend time outdoors and with your family. If you're looking for an adventurous, family-friendly place to go this summer, New Buffalo might be your new spot.
Photo credit: Getty Images
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