The week after Christmas is when the holiday magic really begins. Obligations are few. Days are blissfully open-ended. When you’re free to float, the lake is the perfect place to be.

Whether cozy is the only goal, or it’s time for movement and winter adventure, our picks for New Year’s week guarantee a memorable escape to the lakeshore.

New Year’s Eve Dinners and Parties

Bask in the firelight over a luxe Italian prix fixe dinner at Terrace Room, where details (bubbles, stunning courses, unskippable desserts) are always considered. Settle in and enjoy the intimate harbor views. Reservations | Explore Terrace Room

Toast 2026 marina-side at the elegantly low-key Bentwood Tavern. Here, pub fare gets a celebratory glow-up. Think Michigan trout, Maine lobster, and a selection of Champagnes to say cheers to the new year. Reservations | Explore Bentwood

Be dazzled by a chef-curated dinner in Granor Farm’s glimmering glass greenhouse, where the evening’s family-style meal is inspired by jewel-toned ingredients from around the globe. Tickets | Explore Granor

Bid a fond farewell to Three Oaks’ beloved Patellie’s Pizza, serving their last New York-with-a-Michigan-twist pies and slices on December 31. What’s next after eight years in the pizza biz? Pat and Ellie Mullins will expand P&E Bottle Shop with more wines and rare bottles than ever, coming soon. Visit Patellie’s

Count down to 10pm (yes, 10!) with a keg drop at Round Barn Brewery and Public House. Brew Year’s Eve is a kid-friendly outdoor fest with music, fire pits, ice sculptures and more. Tickets | Visit Public House

Party like it’s 1899 in Journeyman Distillery’s historic Featherbone Factory with three rockin’ (definitely not from 1899) DJ sets and cocktails crafted from Journeyman’s award-winning spirits. Tickets | Explore Journeyman

New Year’s Day Happenings

Sit back with real buttered popcorn and one of history’s greatest love stories at Vicker’s Theatre during their annual New Year’s Day screening of Casablanca. Before the show, share a few recs for this year’s movie lineup on the community suggestion chalkboard. Tickets | Explore Vickers

Swing by Out There to celebrate the release of their small-batch pét-nat collab with Stranger Wine Co. Then order a bowl of Hoppin’ John and fresh oysters for the table. Legend has it both bring luck and prosperity. Details | Explore Out There

Weeklong Winter Adventure

Bundle up and go for a stroll on one of nine New Buffalo area beaches. The winter shoreline is gorgeous and surprisingly dramatic. Depending on the day and the waves, you might catch a glimpse of an icy Great Lakes surfer. Explore Beaches

Take a challenging hike and a big, deep breath of fresh air at Warren Dunes. When the trees are bare and the woods are quiet, the lake views and sense of calm are equally spectacular. If there’s snow, bring a tube for a sled ride down the steeps. Explore Winter Adventures

Cruise the countryside on a fat tire bike at Love Creek County Park, where sweeping landscapes and groomed trails await. Bikes, snowshoes, and cross-country skis are all available to rent so you can choose the speed that suits you. Explore Love Creek

Wellness and Relaxation

Reset with a deep stretch in a candlelit barn at Skybird Yoga, Elizabeth Nuti’s yoga destination that draws fans from across Michigan and the rest of the U.S. Visit Skybird

Honor your resolution to take excellent care of yourself and book a massage, facial, or body treatment at the quietly luxurious Foundation Spa. Be sure to give yourself plenty of time to linger with a cup of tea, book, and private view of the harbor. Reservations | Explore Foundation

Feel the heat in warm pilates and hot yoga classes at Prana/Life Studio, also offering restorative body work, sound baths, and healing sessions under an infrared blanket. Visit Prana

Take in views of the frosty harbor from a steamy saltwater hot tub at The Harbor Grand. Open to both hotel and spa guests, a float in the heated pool feels pretty nice, too. Reservations | Explore Harbor Grand

Shopping and Crafting

Get reacquainted with your inner artist at Handmade Studio, an artist-run shop and crafty space offering beginner-friendly workshops on screen printing, cyanotypes, perler beading, needle felting, and paper marbling. Visit Handmade

Hunt for your next vintage score. Renowned designers and regional aesthetes travel to the lakeshore for its exceptional collection of vintage and antique shops. Spend an afternoon getting inspired. Explore Vintage & Antique

Window shop or sale hunt at our favorite locally owned boutiques, curating handcrafted, one-of-a-kind, small production, and emerging designs along with other delightful goods. You’ve gifted your people; now it’s time to treat yourself. Explore Shopping

No matter how you spend this special week, we hope it’s peaceful, happy, and shared with folks you love. We’ll see you by the lake.

words  Lena Singer
images  Jodi Bodtke, Daniel Kelleghan, Alexander Kramer, Eric Davis
December 2025