Beyond the Carousel: A Family Fun Day in St. Joseph
Do you have a trip planned to the Silver Beach Carousel and want to extend your vacation with more family fun in St. Joseph? Welcome!
Here’s a guide to must-do activities after a Carousel ride.
THINGS TO DO IN ST. JOSEPH, MICHIGAN
An energy-filled family may need more activity than the Carousel. Here are some places to keep children occupied and parents entertained.
SILVER BEACH COUNTY PARK | ST. JOSEPH
Silver Beach is one of St. Joseph’s largest tourist attractions. Silver Beach County Park offers more than 2,000 feet of beach including a playground for the little ones and sand volleyball courts for the teenagers. Enjoy a picnic, build sandcastles, or fly a kite, the opportunities the park offers are endless. Silver Beach even has a concession stand for those who build up an appetite. Additionally, the park has public access to St. Joseph’s South Pier, with beautiful views of the lighthouse and Lake Michigan. In the winter, admire the beautiful ice formations made by waves along the pier. On clear days, you may even see the Chicago skyline on the horizon.
CURIOUS KIDS’ MUSEUM & DISCOVERY ZONE | ST. JOSEPH
Next to the Carousel is the Discovery Zone, a hands-on learning center geared toward toddlers and elementary-aged kids. Enjoy the variety of activities for your kids to do, letting them play and learn at the same time. The children’s museum sits on the bluff in downtown St. Joseph. Let your children’s curious minds wander and experiment with all the interactive fun.
FREE SPLASH PAD | ST. JOSEPH
Not a fan of the sand? No worries! Across the street from the Carousel and right by the beach is the Whirlpool Compass Fountain, another big attraction for families. The compass-shaped water feature allows kids to play in the water while parents can relax and enjoy a seat on one of the many benches surrounding the area. The splash pad is open from May through September.
LIGHT UP THE BLUFF | ST. JOSEPH
Jump into the winter by walking the bluff of St. Joseph so see Light Up the Bluff. Beginning every December, over one million lights brighten Lake Bluff Park. Roam under arches and through illuminated trees. You may even see Frosty The Snowman from the Carousel windows.
WHERE TO EAT
Beach waves and the hot sun build a voracious appetite for all family members. Many restaurants in Southwest Michigan offer delicious food, but some of the best places are right by the bluff in downtown St. Joseph. Silver Beach Pizza, St. Joseph’s most popular restaurant is walking distance from the beach for a delicious post-beach pie with the family. Put your name on the waitlist and walk across the street to enjoy a Carousel ride in the meantime. The Buck, a burger joint that sits on the bluff on State Street and offers family fun for all ages.
Further away from the beach, St. Joseph has many other options for families, including Azul Tequila, Jimmy Johns, The Hot Dog Kart, and Clementine's, Too
Grab a bite for breakfast across the bridge in the Benton Harbor Arts District. One of the district's most popular is the Mason Jar Cafe, an eatery that offers delicious, local organic food as well as specialty lattes to kickstart your morning. Down the street is Clifford’s Coffee Canal, another homegrown breakfast joint. Clifford’s specializes in coffee, smoothies and juices, and offers breakfast and lunch, perfect to fill you up before a day in St. Joseph.
THE BEST ICE CREAM IN ST. JOSEPH
After a long day at the Carousel or in the sun, there is nothing better than an ice-cold sweet treat. Downtown St. Joseph offers several different creameries for everyone to find something they enjoy. Cabanas on Broad Street offers ice cream, milkshakes and smoothies for the whole family. Down the road, you can find Kilwins and try their Mackinac Island Fudge (made in St. Joseph) or get a scoop of their high-quality ice cream. Also in the same area is South Bend Chocolate Cafe, offering scoops of ice cream, baked sweets and even a chocolate fondue.
HOW TO SPEND RAINY DAYS IN ST. JOSEPH
Is the weather looking gloomy over your trip? No problem. St. Joseph allows for family fun in any weather. To spark your children's creative young minds, visit Krasl Art Center. Krasl offers a variety of galleries to see as well as classes for children and adults to take. If your family loves creating art, visit Water Street Glassworks. Watch in amazement of glass-blowing demonstrations, or sign up for a class if you are more hands-on. Water Street Glassworks offers classes for families and adults.
If your family is in need of some action, make your way over to Slackers Family Fun Center. Slackers offers a wide range of activities for children of all ages. Here you can find laser tag, arcade games and bounce houses to wear out the kids. They even offer pool tables to keep the adults entertained.
FUN PLACES TO EXPLORE
There are so many fun things to see and do in Southwest Michigan as a family. Plan to come a day or two early or extend your stay for a while. Besides going to the suggestions above, these activities bring you closer together as a family after a Carousel ride.
NORTH PIER LIGHTHOUSES | ST. JOSEPH
Southwest Michigan’s two most iconic lighthouses are on the North Pier, accessible from Tiscornia Park. There is the black and white outer lighthouse and the red and white inner lighthouse. Both are over 100 years old with lights that are still in service.
When Lake Michigan is calm you can walk out the pier to see both lights up close. Self-guided and guided tours are available from Memorial Day to Labor Day Weekend.
WHEEL & WATER RENTALS | DOWNTOWN ST. JOSEPH
While downtown St. Joseph is easily walkable, some people prefer paddling or pedaling as their forms of transport. Scooter Joes offers Surrey bikes and regular bikes for families to ride on St. Joseph’s brick streets. For those interested in water sports, Scooter Joes offers kayak and paddleboard rental for your family to cruise up and down the coast. In addition to kayaks, Third Coast Surf Shop offers surfboard rentals. For chilly days and frigid waters, you can also rent a wetsuit here to enjoy the waves in any season.
ICE ARENAS | ST. JOSEPH
Need to cool down? Go and skate at The Garden Ice Arena, an indoor ice arena that hosts ice skating on Friday evenings. Keep an eye out for their weekend schedule for an opportunity to play bumper cars on ice. In the winter, John and Dede Howard Ice Arena offers open skating every day. This half-enclosed rink is the perfect place to get some fresh air. Both rinks offer concessions and rental skates.
PADDLE SPORTS | ST. JOSEPH
Paddling the various lakes and rivers in the area is the perfect free activity for families. Paddleboard or kayak through the St. Joseph River and enjoy the views from the water. One of the best times to paddle is during the Fall when you can enjoy the season’s smooth waters, mild temperatures and colorful fall scenery.
PLAN YOUR STAY IN SOUTHWEST MICHIGAN
With a wide variety of food selections, places to explore and activities to fill your schedule, everyone can find something they enjoy in Southwest Michigan. Check our hours to plan your stay, and browse the many hotels the area has to offer.