TRAVEL & ACCOMMODATION
GETTING TO THE AREA
Most common route: Chicago to New Buffalo
- Flights into Chicago: You have two options to fly into, Midway or O’Hare. Midway will get you closer to New Buffalo so you can hit the road and get to New Buffalo quickly. More flights probably go into O’Hare though, so just be mindful of Chicago rush hour traffic for times you land.
- Amtrak from Chicago: There’s a lovely hour-long Amtrak ride from Chicago Union Station right into downtown New Buffalo which could be a nice option if you’re avoiding renting a car!
Fly into South Bend:
- Flights into South Bend are harder to come by than Chicago but SBA is becoming more happenin’! You can rent a car at the airport and then you’re just a 40 min drive from New Buffalo
Fly into Grand Rapids:
- Would probably recommend this last but if you score a flight to Grand Rapids that’s cheaper than Chicago or South Bend, it’s an hour and 40 minute drive to New Buffalo, and you could make some stops in other amazing Lake Michigan towns along the way.
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DO I NEED A RENTAL CAR?
A car is certainly a plus to enjoy the surrounding area and make things easy for you (we’ll post our to-do recommendations soon!). But it is not necessary to get to the wedding from New Buffalo or Union Pier (the neighboring town that’s basically New Buffalo as well). We’ll have a bus organized to and from Journeyman, the venue, so you aren’t stranded and don’t have to worry about drinking that open bar. Ubers are hard to come by in this area, but not non-existent.
Accommodation recommendations are below, but we mostly recommend places in New Buffalo or the neighborhood north called Union Pier. Everything we’re doing this weekend is within a 10 minute drive of these places:
- New Buffalo to Journeyman (Venue): 10 min
- New Buffalo to Firefly (Welcome Drinks): 7 min
- New Buffalo to Saturday Brunch / Beach Day: 7 min
ACCOMODATION RECOMMENDATIONS
We recommend staying in New Buffalo or Union Pier. New Buffalo wins for the cute harbor town vibe, but there’s tons of stuff along the “Red Arrow Highway” which goes through the next neighborhood Union Pier and then up to more towns. New Buffalo has some nice AirBnb’s etc. and it’s your best bet for the hotels. Union Pier has more house rentals if you want to go that route, and many have private beach access so you’re more likely to score that there.
Please note for Saturday, we have a large house with a pool for the brunch, and a private beach we can use later (weather permitting 🤞), so don’t feel like you won’t get that experience if you don’t book Oprah’s beach house.
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HOTEL BY THE WATER
THE HARBOR GRAND HOTEL
This isn’t the cheapest hotel in the area but it is WOW from head to toe, incredible design. We stayed here in 2021 and loved every minute in this historic yet newly renovated space. They welcome you with local gifts and bring you breakfast in bed in a picnic basket. It’s also right across the street from The Stray Dog and by the water and town. June is high season though, so it’s a 3 night minimum.
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HOTEL – ROOM BLOCK!
HOLIDAY INN EXPRESS & SUITES – NEW BUFFALO
A mile from the heart of New Buffalo and ten minutes to Journeyman, this is an easy option! They offer a variety of rooms, and we locked in a room block for Thursday June 23 and Friday June 24, with rates of $119.95 and $199.95, respectively. Check in time starts at 4pm eastern and checkout is 11am eastern. To book: Either call this hotel at (269) 469-1400 and mention the Griffith/Ernest room block, or use the code ECW in checkout. Block expires May 19th.
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HOUSE RENTAL (GREAT GROUP OPTION!)
AIRBNB, VRBO OR BLUEFISH
Emily grew up vacationing in New Buffalo with family friends, and can attest to the number of cute vacation rentals in the area, ranging from rustic cottages to fancy flats. We recommend staying close to downtown New Buffalo or in Union Pier, but there are some cool options the next neighborhood north in Lakeside. The Firefly Resort (welcome drinks) and Saturday brunch will be in Union Pier, so if you stay in that area you may be able to walk or bike to the events!
We put together some favorite options for AirBnb and VRBO, linked below, but you may just want to do a search on each website in case anything new became available.
Another option is Bluefish Vacation Rentals. They mostly offer full-week stays but incredible options. If you want to inquire about available, please email Jason at: escape@bluefishvacations.com
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HOTEL… SLASH CASINO
FOUR WINDS CASINO
If you are looking for a classic casino resort with big rooms, a big pool and a big casino, this is it! On site restaurants include the Copper Rock Steakhouse and the
Kankakee Grille. Minors are allowed to stay here. This is a seven minute drive to downtown New Buffalo, and a twelve minute drive to Firefly in Union Pier, so you would likely want to have a car if staying here.
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HOTEL BY THE WATER
MARINA GRAND HOTEL
Harbor Grand’s sister hotel next door, this historic but recently renovated hotel sits right on the harbor. Every room here has water views, and they also have a great restaurant inside, The Bentwood Tavern (reservations recommended!). As with the Harbor Grand, beach cruisers are included, and it’s a classic New Buffalo spot!
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CUTE INN
NEW BUFFALO INN & SPA
This affordable and adorable inn is in the heart of New Buffalo, just two blocks from the beach and right by the Amtrak station. There’s no breakfast here, but some rooms have kitchenettes. During your stay, why not book a treatment at the spa: they offer massages, facials, hydrotherapy, infrared sauna and have an oversized hot tub. Note that June is high season, so it’s a three-night minimum.
Another standard hotel option is the Fairfield Inn & Suites in New Buffalo!
NOTE: Emily already contacted these four independent inns which are all unfortunately booked solid June 24th – 25th: The Lakeside Inn, Gordon Beach Inn, Lake Country Inn, Inn At Union Pier
They’re open every other weekend in the summer though, so worth checking them out one day!