525312 Tue Jun 03 10:13:34 -0700 2008 8 8 Midwest 0 3745242 My family is taking a road trip and we're going to be in Saint Joseph, Michigan for a couple of days (I've heard the beaches in this part of Michigan are awesome) and I'm looking for god places to eat, Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner. We have 3 kids (2 boys 5 and 7) so they need to be kid friendly, but we're open to any type of food. Thanks! Tue Jun 03 10:13:35 -0700 2008 130746 bworp 1 3753951 bueller - bueller? Anyone been to Saint Joe, should I reroute the trip? Thu Jun 05 15:45:43 -0700 2008 3745242 130746 bworp 2 3754830 Don't know much about that area but go a bit south to Harbour County and there are quite a few places to choose from. Thu Jun 05 21:39:39 -0700 2008 3753951 195530 sharonmj 3 3767781 Sorry! Even as a southwest Michigan native, I don't know the Benton Harbor/St. Jo area too well...my family always went around South Haven and Saugatuck a half hour or so up the coast. If you feel like venturing a little bit, there's AMAZING Mexican homestyle soul food to be had at Su Casa on M89 in Fennville. CHEAP and deep. On the flipside of the coin on the same street in the same tiny town is Journeyman Cafe/Rye Public House. (http://www.journeymancafe.com/) They do the local food thing so well that they were featured in Gourmet magazine last summer. Truly amazing grub, especially if you spring for the more hefty dinner prices. If you want to go a little less expensive, they also make a mean wood-fired pizza. The Elbo Room in Saugatuck is a nice breakfast spot (overlooks the docks where boats park, helps entertain kids), and Kaliko Kitchen has plentiful, relatively reasonably priced food. How good it is depends on what you order. Dinner specials are generally especially good--they have an attached meat market, so the steaks are usually pretty great. Unfortunately, though, like I said...these are all a little bit north of where you're staying. I THINK Cafe Gulistan is still somewhere in the St. Jo area (Harbert, maybe?). They've got a great food reputation, and an owner who became a national cause for a while when he got caught up in post-9/11 hysteria and was wrongly imprisoned. he used to have a second restaurant here in kalamazoo and it was amazing. http://www.freeibrahim.com/cafe_gulistan.asp By the way, you won't regret the trip. The Lake Michigan coastline is amazing. It's like being on the ocean, but without the salt and sharks. Keep the kids out of the water on rough days--the undertow can be strong when the waves are coming fast and strong! Other than that, have a blast! Tue Jun 10 14:02:46 -0700 2008 3754830 156941 dingey 1 3770376 Hi, Check out http://www.sjtoday.org/ It lists events, hotels, dining, etc. Also if you visit the area, be sure to stop in at the Visitors Center which is located downtown near the bluff overlooking Lake Michigan. There are free bike rentals, menus for local dining establishments, etc. You'll enjoy your stay..... Wed Jun 11 10:03:23 -0700 2008 3745242 199838 MelS3 1 3770541 Forgot to mention.....nice wineries in the area too. There is a Michigan travel center as your enter Michigan from Indiana on I-94...lots of info on the area (it may close by 5 p.m.). You will be close to Warren Dunes State Park which has some awesome sand dunes. There really is lots to do around the area both locally and within 50 miles or less......canoe rentals, lots of fresh fruit markets, lighthouses, beautiful sunsets, St. Joe has concerts on the bluff overlooking Lake Michigan on Weds. noons, Friday nights, Sunday afternoon and evening, local art center, plus the Box Factory (old factory converted to working artists' studios) has Sat. evening concerts... Hope you can visit and enjoy the area.... Wed Jun 11 10:40:12 -0700 2008 3745242 199838 MelS3 1 3786987 Thanks for the tips - unfortunately the trip was derailed/postponed. My in-laws are in Des Moines and we headed south to help move stuff out of basement storage before the water came. Thankfully we were able to move almost all of the important stuff before any real damage was done, but the clean up will be messy. Tue Jun 17 06:48:34 -0700 2008 3745242 130746 bworp 2 3790761 Don't know if this will work for you but on the way back (I'm assuming you're going to use I80) and if you go north on I94, you will go past New Buffalo, Mi, just inside the Mi -In border. There's a little restored house that specializes in crepes. I thought the name was The Crepery but that's not quite it. Anyway, it's the only place like it in town, ask anybody. It's just off the main drag. The savory and sweet crepes are fantastic and the kids would probably get a kick out of the unusual meal. It would make a great lunch break. Also second all recs for Saugatuck/Douglas/Fennville. Donna and I visit there every year. Bob Wed Jun 18 09:29:24 -0700 2008 3786987 107452 SonyBob 3 3791953 Aw, man! Sorry to hear the trip got cancelled in favor of disaster preparedness! Hopefully you'll have a chance to come to Michigan another time. The coastline really is an incredibly beautiful area. Not sure where you're coming from, but lots of folks who aren't from the immediate Great Lakes region are stunned when they actually see the waters up close and personal. Natural wonder and whatnot! Wed Jun 18 13:57:59 -0700 2008 3790761 156941 dingey