Lake Shore Resort
Saugatuck
Andrew Milauckas, a designer who divides his time between River North and Saugatuck, opened this sleek motel on a bluff with sweeping views of Lake Michigan last year. You can take in the scenery while enjoying a complimentary hearty breakfast under midcentury modern umbrella shades at the pool before joining a private yoga session on a platform in the woods. After exploring the two miles of hiking trails and hitting the sun deck at the water’s edge (where you can also set off on the motel’s kayaks), retreat to rooms decorated with work by local artist Meridith Ridl and Nelson Bubble lamps from Herman Miller. From $230 a night. 2885 Lakeshore Dr., 269-857-7121, lakeshoreresortsaugatuck.com
The Neighborhood Hotel Grand Beach
new buffalo
Sister property to the Neighborhood Hotel Lincoln Park, the Grand Beach location opens this May inside an old roadside inn, melding woodsy cabin and beach house vibes. Its 14 units have from one to three large bedrooms, Casper mattresses, stocked kitchens, and a Cowboy Cauldron fire pit to grill your own grub. In May, Zingerman’s Cornman Farms will provide a pancake breakfast to launch the hotel’s pop-up culinary series. From $355 a night. 19400 Ravine Dr., 773-231-7300, theneighborhoodhotel.com
Wickwood Inn
Saugatuck
Now under the ownership of upscale Chicago-based interior design firm Soucie Horner, the refreshed Wickwood reopens in May with a more luxurious twist on this charming B&B. The owners say it will remain unpretentious even as the renovated rooms feature Matouk linens, marble-floored bathrooms with Waterworks fixtures, and an infusion of art, antiques, and pretty fabrics. From $359 a night. 510 Butler St., 269-857-1465, wickwoodinn.com
Bluefish Vacation Rentals
Harbor Country
There’s no shortage of vacation home rental companies in Harbor Country, but you’d be hard pressed to find one that offers both the range of homes and the high-touch concierge service that Bluefish does. Dog-friendly options, places with a private heated pool or hot tub, even a loft next door to Journeyman Distillery — the list goes on. Bluefish has solid options for couples and small families, such as the one-bedroom Union Pier Cottage by the beach and downtown Union Pier ($200 a night), but it really shines for its luxury homes near and on the water. The five-bedroom Darby Cottage in Union Pier offers a massive cook’s kitchen and a nearby path to a private beach (sleeps 10; $929), and Water’s Edge in Harbert features a mod teahouse and access to a private slice of beachfront (sleeps 12; $1,422). Jason and Erika Milovich, the husband-and-wife duo behind Bluefish, have made it their mission to showcase the best of the local scene, too. Need a primo charcuterie board with Michigan wine on arrival? A birthday cake from a local bakery or a private boat charter for the celebration? Beach toys or rock paints for the kids? Just ask. 269-469-0468, bluefishvacations.com
The Harbor Grand Hotel
new buffalo
Entirely refreshed in 2021, this modern three-story resort offers amenities you didn’t know you needed, such as complimentary breakfast delivered to your room and a sun deck overlooking the harbor. The popular Stray Dog Bar & Grill is a block away, and so is the water. Take a dip at New Buffalo Beach (the hotel provides towels and chairs) and nab selfies with its lighthouse. Back at the hotel, it’s time for bruschetta and killer water views at Terrace Room or a treatment at the new spa, scheduled to open this summer. From $305 a night. 111 W. Water St., 888-605-6800, harborgrand.com
The Fields
South haven
Arguably the only true glamping resort in the Midwest is this idyllic 30-acre retreat perched by a pond on a blueberry farm just a 10-minute drive from Lake Michigan. Opened in 2019 by Irene Wood (also behind the new shop Haven), the Fields offers 19 stylish tents with full bathrooms, a complimentary breakfast, blueberry picking onsite (mid-July to August), and a new food truck hawking dinner three nights a week. Book a massage in one of three secluded spa tents with breathtaking forest views. From $329 a night. 154 68th St., 269-906-1911, thefieldsofmichigan.com