Red Arrow Mich
Lake Life. Goods and Guide. An Exhibition.
There’s a sliver of the southwesternmost corner of the state of Michigan that doesn’t show up on many people’s radar. There’s no major towns. There’s no major attractions. It’s a gorgeous stretch of sandy coastline that happens to be nestled between two nuclear-ish power plants. To get there, if you’re coming from Chicago, you have to cross two state lines, make a time zone change, and pass through Gary. And if you are in Michigan’s metros of Detroit or Grand Rapids or Kalamazoo, you are far more likely to head north for your recreation than race to this part of the state. All this inconvenience and subtlety works in favor of keeping this Great Lake riviera at just the right level of low key glamour.
Running through this area is an old road called the Red Arrow Highway. It connects about a 15 mile stretch of unique but unassuming beach towns—New Buffalo, Union Pier, Lakeside, Harbert and Sawyer—the sum of which give the area its charm. There’s other nearby inland gems like the village of Three Oaks and the hamlet of Hesston, to name a few, but the rest hug the magnificent Lake Michigan, and each offers something different.
What makes this area great?
Sunsets. Sand Dunes. Secluded shores.
Beach bonfires. Old growth forests. Lake effect snow.
Fruit farms. Goat farms. Farms that serve gourmet feasts.
Dutch treats. A Swedish bakery. A Greek museum.
A distillery with its own putting green.
A bowling alley that only serves cider.
Antique shops, old timey movie theaters, and a deli that converts into a speakeasy after dark.
Great biking, great hiking, great dog walking, great paddleboarding, great porching.
It’s bookended in the north by a fun park with its own captain, and in the south by one of the world’s top golf courses.
There’s colorful characters like Andrew from Hearthwoods, Jacqui from Wine Sellers, Penny from Out There, and Pat & Ellie from—where else—Patellie’s.
It’s the kind of place where you can witness a thunderstorm, a seiche, and a moonset in the same evening.
The area is close enough to Chicago to tune into a Cubs game, yet far enough away to feel like you’ve stumbled upon an uncharted isle. And while you can enjoy four season splendor in the form of snowy winter walks, surveilling spring storms, applauding fall foliage and basking in summer’s abundance, you’d do just as well to spend the day enjoying the simple rhythms of the greatest of freshwater lakes.
Red Arrow Exhibition
This area, and the lake living that flourishes there, is the inspiration for a brand I created called Red Arrow. There’s a book, prints, apparel, postcards, stickers, pins, flags, and, of course, a map.
Thanks to the wonderful people at Den10 Studio, I’m about to open an exhibition of all things Red Arrow at their gallery in La Grange, Illinois. The opening night gala is Friday, June 13 from 6-9pm and you’re all invited.
If you can’t make it, feel free to peruse the goods at www.redarrowmich.com. If you like what you see, you can pre-order items that I can ship them your way later this month. Subscribers of Flags Candy Wine get $10 off orders of $50 or more with code FCW10.
Chicago>Red Arrow
Many people from Chicago choose to hightail the 80 or so miles to get to the area as fast as they can. But if you relish a little off-the-beaten path adventure, here’s a link to some interesting places to check out between Chicago and Red Arrow.
A Red Arrow Playlist
Bobbie Gentry. Bill Callahan. M. Ward. Kurt Vile. Tim Buckley. Etc.
The author living life to the lakest. Photo by Anthony La Penna.
