A Tour of Harbor County

The sweet name, coined and trademarked in the ’80s, denotes eight Michigan towns a mere 90 minutes from Chicago: Michiana, Grand Beach, New Buffalo, Union Pier, Lakeside, Harbert, Sawyer and Three Oaks.

Best Adresses

Anything on the lake: Harbor Country boasts about 15 miles of beach, which means there are a lot of options—but they don’t come up that often and they tend to go fast. Even in last year’s stagnant market, two Lakeside lakefront listings sold for $3.1 million and $3.250 million with 232 feet and 159 feet of beach, respectively. Right now, New Buffalo boasts the area’s priciest lakefront property on the market, an 11,000-square-foot Country French mansion with 200 feet of beach for $7.9 million. (Contact Will Schauble, 312-860-4192)

Lakeside: “The beachfront homes have the largest lots here, which means there are less of them,” points out broker Karen Strohl. It also means they cost more. Three are currently on the market, including the town’s largest estate, with 16 acres and a 467-foot-long beach for $8.6 million. (Contact Strohl, 312-368-5347) Perks

Dining Dish

Reservations required: The area’s standouts are the Bentwood Tavern in New Buffalo’s Marina Grand Resort (877-945-8600); Timothy’s at Union Pier’s Gordon Beach Inn (269-469-0900); and Soe Cafe in Sawyer (269-426-4878).

Dine as you are: Check out the Whistle Stop Grocery in Union Pier for gourmet takeout. For comfort food, try the Harbert Swedish Bakery in Harbert; Sweet William in Lakeside; Red Arrow Roadhouse in Union Pier; and Redamak’s Tavern, Brewster’s Italian Cafe and The Stray Dog Bar & Grill, all in New Buffalo.

Go local: Locavores will adore the Tabor Hill Winery & Restaurant in Buchanan and The Round Barn Winery in Baroda. In Three Oaks, don’t miss Dinges’ Farm’s fresh produce, Journeyman Distillery’s spirits and Drier’s Meat Market’s homemade sausages, bologna and bacon.

Shopping

Antiques buffs have rich hunting grounds that include highly touted new kid on the block Trilogy Antiques & Design in Three Oaks; The Plum Tree in Union Pier; It’s a Breeze, Charm Cottage and Lakeside Antiques in Lakeside; and Marco Polo and Harbert Antique Mall in Harbert. For home furnishings, hit Lovell & Whyte in Lakeside and Mix & Mingle in New Buffalo; and for edgy womenswear, head to French Twist in Three Oaks.