7 Fun Things to Do in Southwest Michigan This Fall

We watch Southwest Michigan turn gold, orange, and deep red every October, right outside our own windows. Our sixty-five acres are only the start when you're craving fun things to do this fall. The whole region turns into one long, beautiful drive.

We could point you straight to our favorite orchard or the prettiest drive in the county. But we'd rather let you settle into the idea first.

Start dreaming up your next getaway, then keep reading for seven of our favorite ways to spend a fall day nearby.

We send our guests out chasing some of the state's prettiest fall foliage every October. By mid-month, the maples and oaks between Fennville, Douglas, and Allegan turn the county roads into a blaze of red and gold.

We always route guests through the Allegan State Game Area first. Its quiet two-lane roads wind past marshland and thick forest. Drive to Saugatuck Oval Beach; the drive is especially scenic in the fall. Or you can hike the dunes to Saugatuck State Park. We check a fall foliage forecast map before sending anyone out for the day.

Come back before dark. Our porch and gazebo, strung with fairy lights, give you the best seat in the house for watching the last light fade. Couples who wander down to the water often end up on the dock, or tucked inside our screened lakehouse instead.

Apple picking tops our guests' list of fall activities, and we understand why. Fresh cider, warm apple-cinnamon donuts, and a bag of apples make for an easy, joyful afternoon.

We send couples to a few favorite orchards nearby:

• Crane Orchards: A guest favorite for its corn maze

• VerHage Fruit Farms and Cider Mill: Smaller, calmer, and perfect for a quiet morning

• Dutch Farm Market: Fresh produce and baked goods worth the stop

Browse our full orchard guide for more of our top picks before heading out.

We love pairing a fall wine tasting with the season's slower pace. We keep a few go-to tasting rooms within thirty minutes of the Castle, each with its own personality.

Here's where we usually send our guests:

• Fenn Valley Vineyards: Year-round Fennville tastings with scenic vineyard views

• Modales Wines: A relaxed, small-batch feel in Fennville that's easy to fall in love with

• St. Julian Winery: A cozy indoor tasting room in Paw Paw, perfect for a cool afternoon

Any one of these makes a lovely afternoon stop, with hours and seasonal pours listed among our favorite wineries near the Castle.

A few of our top fall things to do happen at the table. Our neighboring small towns serve up hearty, comforting menus this time of year to tempt your taste buds.

We point guests toward a few favorite spots nearby:

• Crane's Pie Pantry: The pie we crave every October, served warm, in Fennville

• Salt of the Earth: A farm-driven, seasonal menu worth the stop in Fennville

• Schaendorf Brewing Co.: Our pick in Allegan for a locally brewed pint, just about a six-minute drive from the Castle.

Of course, Saugatuck and Douglas round things out with some of our favorite outdoor dining spots, too. However, outdoor dining is best enjoyed before the weather turns, so plan accordingly. Each stop gives you one more reason to slow down and stay a while longer.

Fall festivals and markets fill our local calendar all season long. We love sending guests off for a few hours before they head back to the Castle for the evening.

Douglas hosts a lively Halloween parade for adults every year, full of costumes and local color. Just down the road, Saugatuck's Art Coast Food & Wine Festival brings tastings and gallery stops to the waterfront each fall. The same two towns are just as fun for an afternoon of antiquing and boutique shopping. However, if galleries are more your pace, then take a day trip to Kalamazoo. The Kalamazoo Art Hop fills downtown with local artists for one festive evening.

Between the parade, the festival, and the galleries, these are some of our favorite fun things to do each fall. And, of course, the drive back to the Castle always feels like the best part of the day.

Why?

Maybe it’s the idea of snuggling up with a glass of wine next to a crackling fire. Or maybe it’s sinking into that two-person jetted tub. Whatever the reason, couples return year after year, sometimes to celebrate a milestone, and other times to simply get away together.

Some of our favorite fun things to do never require leaving the property at all. Our wooded trails wind right from the Castle Keep building back toward Emerson Lake, where you’ll find the screened lakehouse and dock.

Nearly three miles of trails offer quiet, easy walking or a fat-tire bike ride through the fall colors.

Prefer to stay closer to your suite? We don’t blame you. Our five-acre lily pond makes a peaceful stop in its own right. It’s the whole reason couples love sitting in those Adirondack chairs and watching the sun setting on the horizon. The peacefulness of our property surrounds you.

The Kal-Haven Trail near Gobles is another option, if you bring your own bikes. It offers miles of flat, wooded path for a longer outing, if you're up for adventure.

After a full day of orchards, wine, and color, there's nothing like returning to your suite. A fireplace and that jetted tub we mentioned are waiting for you both. In the morning, a chef-prepared gourmet breakfast makes it easy to stay wrapped up in each other a little longer. It's also easy to see why so many couples choose a bed and breakfast over a hotel for a trip like this.

Some couples never leave our grounds during their stay. Transform your stay into a romantic spa getaway for a morning built entirely around the two of you.They play cornhole on the lawn and have a picnic in the gazebo. Many also have a romantic dinner delivered to their suite to fill the hours just as well.

With so many fun things to do nearby and on our own grounds, Southwest Michigan in October and November is worth building an entire romantic fall getaway around. However, rooms do fill fast, so don't wait. Reserve your fall weekend today before the best dates are gone.