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🗺️ Farm Day Trips guide
Things to Do Near the Lavender Farms of Berrien County, Michigan
Cut lavender near Bridgman in early summer, then climb 260-foot dunes at Warren Dunes or walk the old beech woods along the Galien River.
9 places · updated October 17, 2026
Berrien County fills Michigan's southwest corner, where Lake Michigan beaches and tall dunes sit a few minutes from fruit farms, cider mills and small river towns like Niles, Berrien Springs and Three Oaks. Red Arrow Highway and I-94 run along the shore, so most stops in this guide are within a half-hour of each other.
Lavender here is an early-summer crop. Lavender Bliss Flower Farm near Bridgman lets you cut your own bundle from 14 varieties, Lavender Hill Farm of Niles runs a you-pick field, and Hickory Creek Lavender Farm in Stevensville grows more than 3,000 plants and opens for you-pick in summer (its 2026 season has ended). Lavender Fields Farm in Berrien Springs is taking 2026 off and plans to reopen in 2027. Pair a morning in the lavender with a dune climb, a beech-forest walk or a cherry-picking stop and you have a full day.
The lavender farms
- Lavender Hill Farm of NilesLavender farm · Niles
- Lavender Bliss Flower FarmLavender farm · Bridgman
Open in season Wednesday–Sunday, 10 AM–5 PM (2026 season opened May 29). Cut-your-own lavender and cutting gardens priced by the stem; ticketed yoga, distilling demonstrations and evening events in June and July.
- Lavender Fields FarmLavender farm · Berrien Springs
Closed for the 2026 season, including U-pick; the farm plans to reopen in 2027. Earlier seasons offered U-pick and photographer passes.
- Hickory Creek Lavender FarmLavender farm · Stevensville
early summer through late summer, depending on variety
Open for U-pick and farmstand sales during the summer lavender season; closed after the 2026 bloom season ended.
Best time to visit
Late June through July is the window for lavender: Lavender Bliss says its cutting gardens begin around the end of June, and Lavender Hill Farm of Niles has described its English lavender opening in late June with hybrid varieties blooming heavier from the first week of July and peaking around mid-July. July also brings U-pick tart cherries at Lehman's Orchard (from about July 4) and blueberries there from about July 21, while strawberries come earlier, in June. Beach season at Weko Beach and Silver Beach runs Memorial Day to Labor Day, when parking fees apply and paddle rentals open. From late August through October the Coloma and Berrien Springs orchards switch to peaches, apples and pumpkins with wagon rides. Spring is the time for wildflowers under the beech-maple forest at Love Creek, and in winter the county grooms ski trails at Love Creek and Madeline Bertrand.
Places to see nearby parks, trails, beaches and landmarks
- Warren Dunes State Park🌳 State park · Sawyer · about 4 mi, 10 min drive
Three miles of Lake Michigan shoreline below dunes that rise about 260 feet above the lake, with 6 miles of hiking trails. Leashed dogs are allowed on the 2.5 miles of beach north of the northernmost swim buoy.
Open year-round; paddle rentals mid-May through Labor Day
Michigan Recreation Passport required for vehicle entry
- Grand Mere State Park🌳 State park · Stevensville · about 7 mi, 15 min drive
A 1,200-acre National Natural Landmark of high dunes, inland lakes and wetlands about 6 miles southwest of St. Joseph. The lakes draw migrating waterfowl and songbirds, so spring and fall are good for birding.
Open year-round
Managed as part of Warren Dunes State Park; Michigan Recreation Passport for vehicles
- Weko Beach🏖️ Beach · Bridgman · about 3 mi, 10 min drive
Bridgman's city beach on Lake Michigan, with kayak and paddleboard rentals in summer and a campground. There are no lifeguards, and dogs are not allowed on the beach.
Daily 5 a.m.–11 p.m.; parking fees and rentals Memorial Day to Labor Day
$15 per vehicle in season (card only at the kiosk)
- Warren Woods State Park🌳 State park · Three Oaks · about 10 mi, 20 min drive
A 311-acre stand of tall beech and maple trees along the winding Galien River, with a quiet one-mile trail and a footbridge less than 100 yards in. In winter the Elm Valley Road entrance closes, so park along Warren Woods Road near the trailhead.
Open year-round; Elm Valley Road entrance closed in winter
Michigan Recreation Passport
- Fernwood Botanical Garden🌷 Garden · Niles · about 15 mi, 30 min drive
Gardens, an arboretum, a tallgrass prairie, a stumpery and woodland trails with a nature preserve, plus a garden railway for kids. The on-site café serves lunch Tuesday through Sunday.
Tuesday–Sunday 10 a.m.–5 p.m.; closed Mondays and some holidays
Adults $12, seniors $9, youth 5–12 $7, 4 and under free (2026 listing)
- Silver Beach County Park🏖️ Beach · St. Joseph · about 18 mi, 30 min drive
A wide Lake Michigan beach with about 1,600 feet set aside for summer swimming and a walk out the South Pier for views of the St. Joseph Lighthouse. The Silver Beach Carousel is a short walk away.
Dawn to dusk year-round; restrooms early May to mid-October
May–September parking $15 per vehicle for non-residents, $8 for county residents; walk-ins free
- Love Creek County Park🏞️ Park · Berrien Center · about 16 mi, 30 min drive
About 200 acres of mature beech-maple forest outside Berrien Springs with 6 miles of hiking trail, a 3.5-mile mountain bike loop and a nature center. Spring wildflowers are the highlight; in winter the trails are groomed for skiing and fat biking.
Daylight hours year-round; nature center Wednesday–Sunday 10–5
$5 per vehicle for non-residents, $3 for county residents
- Sarett Nature Center🌲 Preserve · Benton Harbor · about 24 mi, 35 min drive
Nine miles of trails, including an accessible trail, plus a nature playground and a Butterfly House. Pets are not allowed on the trails.
Trails dawn to dusk daily; building Tuesday–Saturday 10–5, Sunday 1–5
No general admission fee listed
- Fort St. Joseph Museum🏛️ Museum · Niles · about 21 mi, 35 min drive
Housed in the carriage house of the Chapin Mansion, with finds from the Fort St. Joseph archaeology project, a hands-on fur-trade fort and pictographs drawn by Sitting Bull.
Wednesday–Friday 10–4, Saturday 10–3
free
- Madeline Bertrand County Park🏞️ Park · Niles · about 23 mi, 35 min drive
Pine and oak woods along the St. Joseph River with hiking and biking trails and an 18-hole disc golf course. Trails are groomed and lighted for cross-country skiing in winter.
April–October daily from 10 a.m. to about sunset; November–March Wednesday–Sunday 10–5
$5 per vehicle for non-residents, $3 for county residents
Where to stop: farms, food and stays
- Lehman's OrchardU-pick farm · Niles
A family orchard since 1929 with U-pick tart cherries from about July 4 and blueberries from about July 21, plus its own fruit wines and ciders.
- Stover's Farm Market & U-PicU-pick farm · Berrien Springs
A Berrien Springs fruit farm with U-pick from late spring into October, easy to pair with Love Creek.
- Jollay OrchardsFamily fun farm · Coloma
Eighth-generation farm near Coloma with summer cherries, blueberries and peaches, then apples, pumpkins and cider in fall.
- Froehlich'sBakery · Three Oaks
A scratch bakery and pantry in Three Oaks, handy for lunch before or after Warren Woods.
- Grande Mere InnRestaurant · Stevensville
A family-run dinner spot since 1980 with Lake Michigan sunset views; open Wednesday to Saturday from 4:30.
A one-day plan
- 10:00 AMLavender Bliss Flower Farm
In late June or July, cut a lavender bundle and a few garden stems, then have a lavender lemonade. Allow about an hour, and check their website for open days first.
- 11:15 AMWarren Dunes State Park · about 10 min drive
Climb the big dune for the lake view and cool off on the beach. Plan about 1.5 hours.
- 1:00 PMFroehlich's · about 15 min drive
Lunch in Three Oaks: a sandwich or prepared dish and something from the bakery case. About 45 minutes.
- 2:00 PMWarren Woods State Park · about 10 min drive
Walk the one-mile river trail under the beech and maple trees and cross the footbridge. About 45 minutes.
- 3:15 PMFernwood Botanical Garden · about 30 min drive
Wander the gardens, prairie and woodland trails until closing at 5. Closed Mondays.
- 5:15 PMSilver Beach County Park · about 35 min drive
Walk the South Pier for a view of the St. Joseph Lighthouse and stretch your legs on the beach. About an hour.
- 6:45 PMGrande Mere Inn · about 15 min drive
Dinner with a Lake Michigan view, Wednesday through Saturday; they ask you to call for reservations.
Tips
- Bring a Michigan Recreation Passport for Warren Dunes, Grand Mere and Warren Woods; county parks charge their own daily fee, and a $35–$40 annual county permit covers them all in 2026.
- Lake Michigan beach lots fill on hot summer weekends: Silver Beach parking is first come, first served, so arrive early or walk in, which is free.
- Check dog rules before you go: Weko Beach bans dogs on the sand, Silver Beach keeps leashed pets on the sidewalk, Fernwood and Sarett allow no pets, while Warren Dunes has a 2.5-mile stretch where leashed dogs are welcome.
- Lavender seasons are short and weather-driven, and some farms skip a year (Lavender Fields Farm is closed for 2026), so look at each farm's website or social pages the week you plan to visit.
- Weko Beach parking is paid by card at the kiosk, and there are no lifeguards on duty.
Checked in October 2026 against official park, tourism and business websites. How we check listings
Questions
When can I pick lavender in Berrien County?
Mostly late June through July. Lavender Bliss starts its cutting gardens around the end of June, and Lavender Hill Farm of Niles has said its hybrid lavender peaks around mid-July.
Which lavender farms near Bridgman and Niles are open to visitors?
Lavender Bliss Flower Farm (Bridgman), Lavender Hill Farm of Niles and Hickory Creek Lavender Farm (Stevensville) offer summer you-pick. Lavender Fields Farm in Berrien Springs is taking 2026 off and plans to reopen in 2027.
Do I need a pass for Warren Dunes?
Yes. Vehicles entering Michigan state parks need a Recreation Passport. Grand Mere and Warren Woods are state parks too.
Can I bring my dog to the beach?
At Warren Dunes, leashed dogs are allowed on the 2.5 miles of shoreline north of the northernmost swim buoy. Dogs are not allowed on the beach at Weko Beach or on the sand at Silver Beach.
What else is in season with the lavender?
Tart cherries at Lehman's Orchard start around July 4 and blueberries around July 21, so a July trip can combine lavender and fruit picking.
🪪 Collect a stamp at every stop
The free Lavender Passport keeps a stamp for each farm and stop you visit, in real life and in the Lavender Farm Simulator. At the farm, play Field Quest to collect plant varieties as you walk, climb the leaderboards and unlock sponsor rewards.
Open the Passport🏡 Own a farm, café or inn here?
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