There is a gem of a place which allows the weary spirit to kick back at leisure, to get away from the spiritual wear and tear of living in the 21st Century.

That place is South Haven. Located on the shores of Lake Michigan , it’s a place apart from the big metro areas – a quaint resort just off the beaten path – yet alive with culture, the arts, shopping, good eateries and outdoor adventure. South Haven was made for weekend getaways or summer sabbaticals.

South Haven enjoys an abundance of respites from which to enjoy the water or the countryside with outstanding lodging properties, from hotels and resorts, cottages and condos to bed & breakfasts and inns. Time in South Haven means relaxing shoreline strolls, fabulous food and unique shopping: a vibrant culture of live theatre, a center for the arts, museums and galleries, and concerts on the riverfront.

Wherever your interests may lie, South Haven is a year ‘round place to get away from it all. Come, replenish your soul and find a welcome “Haven” here “By the Big Blue Water.”

Our Rich Heritage
Over the past 200 years, South Haven has defined resorting on Lake Michigan ’s eastern shore with majestic vistas and dazzling sunsets. You’ll feel this rich heritage as you gaze out over our 100-year old lighthouse and its welcoming beacon.

The place we now know as South Haven was originally settled by the Ottawa , Miami , and Pottawattamie tribes who christened this haven "Ni-Ko-Nong," "meaning beautiful sunsets."

South Haven’s history is centered on the water — from the streams of visitors who, over the years, have vacationed here from places like Chicago, Detroit and Milwaukee — to a shipping commerce with goods and produce bound for cities throughout the Great Lakes and beyond.

Generations of families and friends have found time throughout the year to get away and enjoy the beaches, the countryside, the weather, and the vibrant spirit of “Ni-Ko-Nong,” that enchanted place ... By the Big Blue Water.