Vacationers can’t help but warm to a waterfront resort where every room has a view of the marina.
Include in-room massages, nearby sightseeing and sleek interiors inspired by Scandinavian and modern design, and travelers start daydreaming of a way to turn their weekend near the water into a permanent escape.
Thankfully, the Marina Grand Resort, on the southwestern shore of Lake Michigan in New Buffalo, Michigan, offers the opportunity to do just that. The destination is known as a condo hotel: a spot that operates the same way as a traditional hotel, except that its 79 rooms and suites are also available for purchase. So, if guests find amenities such as the resort’s rooftop deck, game room and indoor/outdoor pools appealing enough, they can opt to make the Harbor Country getaway their home.
Those who make reservations for a simple overnight find plenty to make their stay a tranquil (if temporary) retreat. Guest rooms boast a clean and airy style —luxurious, ivory-colored bed linens and walls, paired with blue-gray furnishings and accents — and suites feature fireplaces, fully appointed European kitchens, living rooms with flat-screen TVs, and spacious soaking tubs in the bathrooms.
Fitness-loving couples may need a good soak if they opt to spend a day hiking the dunes at nearby Warren Dunes State Park, named for the 260-foot-high sand dunes offering panoramic views of Lake Michigan. Those still interested in burning carbs can head back to Marina’s fitness room for a workout, then schedule a massage at Harbor Grand, its sister property.
Later that evening, dinner awaits at nearby Bentwood Tavern, where the entrees — including Amish chicken with mashed yams and chard, and gourmet pizza cooked in a wood-burning oven — offer couples comfort food perfect for an autumn night.