2025-08-22 – South Haven, MI – Lake Arvesta Farms
Today we moved to a Harvest Host named Lake Arvesta Farms & Sports Complex (a family recreation park). The owner, also a landscape business owner, developed some of his land into a sports complex during the pandemic. He built a series of four lakes which now feature a couple of huge inflatable floating obstacle courses, a pair of 240 foot long, 85 foot high water slides and a wakeboarding course. In addition, there are an innovative miniature golf course, eight pickleball courts, a bar and grill, a band shell and much more.
Sandy needed some additional beach time and “steps” so she returned to Van Buren Sate Park, where we were camped the day before, to walk the beach. Bill found a comfy seat in our host’s Fire & Ice Grill where he spent the afternoon writing blog content, editing photos and reading a book.
That evening we chose to have dinner at the same grill where Bill had spent his day. The food was good and there was live music nearby in their performance venue.
2025-08-23 – South Haven, MI – Lake Arvesta Farms
Sandy decided to take advantage of the eight pickleball courts and to play with a regular Saturday morning group. Play started but shortly thereafter so did the rain. End of pickleball! Very disappointing.
Benton Harbor’s Jean Klock Park was rumored to have an especially pretty beach so we drove there after the rain ended. It is, indeed, a beautiful, long beach with almost no one there. It reminded us of the beaches of Hatteras in North Carolina’s outer banks.
Not far away, the town of St Joseph’s has a Saturday farmers’ market. It is arranged along a narrow park on a bluff overlooking Lake Michigan. We walked the market without buying anything but then descended the long stairway to Silver Beach Park and the beach below. The park area has lots of activities for families including restaurants, a splash fountain and a beautiful carousel.
And, like all the lakeside towns, they had piers to protect their harbor. Sandy walked the pier while Bill found a comfortable bench in the shade and read. That evening was a rainy one. Bill sautéed some tilapia for dinner while Sandy microwaved some fresh corn on the cob and sliced some tomatoes. Delicious!
2025-08-24 – South Haven, MI – Lake Arvesta Farms
The rain continued most of the night. We decided to go out for breakfast to Six Chicks Scratch Kitchen. They did a nice job serving up traditional breakfasts with gluten free options.
It was windy and the red flags were posted at all the beaches. The surf can be surprisingly heavy on the lakes. Sandy drove in to South Haven to walk the pier and check out some shops. Bill stayed at the camper to do his usual writing and reading.
We decided to have dinner again at the Fire & Ice Grill.