SOUTH HAVEN, Mich. — Just outside of South Haven, Michigan — in the back of a blueberry field — is the area’s newest and most unusual tourist destination.
Make a reservation, park your car, and a golf cart will take you to a place of peace, recreation, high-class camping and food.
It's The Fields of Michigan.
Irene Wood came up with the idea when she returned to Michigan from the Chicago suburbs to live at the family farm. Now, Wood and her small staff have carved out a "glamping" alternative to South Haven's bustling city streets.
It's a vacation with a purpose...and the guest decides what the purpose will be. For most, it's memories of now and of the past.
"A lot of what people love is what represents a memory for them that gets the itch scratched," Wood said. "So many people remember going to see granny or grandpa on the farm, and they want to return back, kind of that nostalgia of camping and those fond memories of their childhood."
PHOTOS: The Fields of Michigan
You will get that here, but you'll also get the big-city hotel amenities. Each tent is about the same size and look. They are heated and cooled with a king-size bed, desk and a bathroom. Consider it a resort in a farm field. There is a central building with breakfast and evening dining options, there is a small building with massage facilities, and there are bikes to ride around the South Haven area.
Got kids? They are welcome at certain times of the season. For the average couple coming here, Wood said it's a pretty immersive experience.
"The things they like to do, we are a quarter of a mile to the Kal-Haven Trail. We have bikes on the site. They can rent the bikes, it's three and a half miles to Lake Michigan as the crow flies, and a lot of our guests love being part of that bike network," Wood said. "Obviously, during the season, there is blueberry picking, but we want to send them off the property to see some of the local charm."
Even though there are local wineries and restaurants that are top-notch, the food at The Fields is a drawing point as well. Whether it is a delicious breakfast featuring homemade cinnamon rolls or a gourmet dinner set in the middle of The Fields' lavender patch, Mindy Trafman, the food and beverage director, makes sure the dining experience is fun and memorable.
"We have had a million different ones. I really enjoyed a blueberry dinner that we had a few weeks back, where every single course featured blueberries. We did wine with blueberry balsamic, pork with blueberry barbecue and tuna tartare with blueberry. It was interesting to use one ingredient in several different ways and showcase it," Trafman said.
There are a few more weeks to take advantage of this out-of-the-way experience. The Fields will close as the leaves change and before Michigan's rugged winter weather returns.
Rooms go for between $375 and $450 a night, and it's a memorable way to enjoy your southwest Michigan vacation.
For food, the great outdoors, and wonderful Michigan memories, The Fields just may end up on your bucket list.
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