BED AND BREAKFAST SIGHT-SEEING TOUR

Begin your day at T & R "Inn" Between the Lakes with a sunrise boating trip on peaceful Corey Lake.  Stroll through the Carnegie Center for the Arts then meander over to the Mendon Country Inn for a gourmet lunch.  Enjoy a little more sun with a canoe trip (rentals at Mendon Country Inn) and check out the historic Marantette House in Mendon.  Take a step back in time driving through Amish Country then finish up with a relaxing dinner at Bistro Rio.

BIRDWATCHING

River Country is an excellent place to birdwatch.   Watch for various species on our rivers and small towns.

Commonly sighted birds around River Country include: Great Blue Heron, Green Heron, Sandhill Crane, Double-crested Cormorant, Mute Swan, Canada Goose, Mallard, Wood Duck, Bald Eagle, Killdeer, Spotted Sandpiper, Barred Owl, Ruby-throated Hummingbird, Belted Kingfisher, Phoebe, Tree Swallow, Brown Creeper, Gray Catbird, Carolina Wren, Wood Thrush, Cedar Waxwing, Prothonotary Warbler, Warbling Vireo, Yellow Warbler, American Redstart, Red-wing Blackbird, Baltimore Oriole, American Goldfinch, Song Sparrow and Cardinal. 

Sanctuary at Wildwood,  a quiet bed and breakfast nestled on 95 acres, is the ideal spot for birding. 

For a unique birdwatching experience, check out Rainbows Aloft Balloon Company and fly with the birds themselves!

For more information on local birds and what to look for, contact Nottawa Wild Bird Seed at 269-659-8777.

GOLF WEEKEND

HISTORIC WATER TRAILS

Much has been said over the years about River Country’s unique ecology, its abundance of flora, fauna, fish and fowl, and its importance to local history, commerce, trade and development of the area. But what is it really about?

Contact the River Country Tourism Council, 800-447-2821, to get a copy of the Canoeing & Kayaking Guide.  This will offer you a variety of planned canoe or kayak trips of varying skill levels.  The guide also offers tips on the individual trails, detailed maps and information on the historical landmarks and sights you will pass.  Liquid Therapy Canoe Rental in Three Rivers offers canoes and planned routes for reasonable rates.

For even more information see the following links: http://www.wmich.edu/glcms/watertrails/rivercountrysj-trips.html
http://www.wmich.edu/glcms/watertrails/rivercountrysj.html, http://www.fotsjr.org/river/history.htm 

HISTORICAL TOUR

Travel through time as you learn about how Notre Dame originally planned on St. Joe County as it’s location of choice and then moved, how the “Trail of Tears” affected Michigan Native Americans, and what made the Amish settle here.

Start your visit with the St Joseph Historical Society and from there branch out to visit those places that interest you the most.  Choose from Marantette House, Memory Isle Park, Morse-Scoville House, Nottawa Stone School, Old New York Central Railroad Depot, St Joseph County Courthouse or Sue Silliman House, or create a plan that includes them all! 

Don’t forget the historical bridges in the area:

Buckner Rd. / St. Joseph River, 1900;

Balk Rd. / Fawn River, 1910;

M-86 / Prairie River, 1923;

Big Hill Rd. / Fawn River,1905;

Covered Br. Rd. / St. Joseph River, 1887; 

US-12 / St. Joseph River (Ped. Bridge), 1922;

M-86 / St. Joseph River, 1920. 

Each of these is historically important and worth a visit!

LITTLE BIT OF EVERYTHING TOUR

Start at Carnegie Center for the Arts then walk along the streets of Three Rivers for a little shopping.  Take a break and enjoy coffee and bagels at Stray Dogs Bookshop & Coffee Bar.  Head on over to the Langley Covered Bridge, Rawson's Mill and Abbott's Magic Company.  Take an afternoon and catch the Battle Creek Bombers at play in Kalamazoo.  Enjoy a relaxing lunch at Fisher Lake Inn then head on over to the Old New York Central Railroad Depot.  Finish your day in Sturgis, walk the streets and do some shopping. 

PEDDLE TOURS OF THE B&B'S

For the cycling enthusiast you can choose to cycle our Amish area instead as this is a very flat cycling area. You can bring your own bike or arrange for the hire of a bike through the Innkeeper. Fall colors or Spring Dogwoods offer scenic beauty next to none. Cycling Tours are offered to you where you can enjoy a unique “Bike Inn to Inn” tour taking in some of the most picturesque parts of Michigan. This is for experienced cyclists who enjoy a challenge as well as the novice who wants to expand on their biking capabilities. Start at an Inn of your choice and bike leisurely to the next Inn. Participating Innkeepers will shuttle your luggage and car to the next Inn whilst you enjoy your tour. Bike maps are available from the Inns or you can choose your own tour. Pricing is based on Lodging at each Inn, length of stay, any equipment needed, meals etc.  Be sure to stop in to Kickstand Schwinn Cyclery in Sturgis for any equipment needs or repairs.

SHOPAHOLICS TOUR

Calling all Shopaholics!!  Have we got a weekend for you!  There is so much great stuff to do you will want to be sure to plan for at least two days!!  Start your weekend in Three Rivers and check out such unique shops as Love Your Mother for natural and holistic items, Centsible Treasures for those antiques and Stray Dogs Bookshop & Coffee Bar for all of your book needs.  Enjoy lunch at Fisher Lake Inn and slow things down a bit and visit the Carnegie Center for the Arts.  Plan to have dinner and spend the night at Mendon Country Inn and rest up for another day of fun!  Give your second day a magical start at Abbott's Magic Company in Colon then do some down home shopping at Yoder’s Country Market in Centreville.  Maybe enjoy one of their special homemade barbeque or submarine sandwiches.  While in Centreville also check out Tree of Life, a unique store featuring all organic goods from coffees and teas to personal grooming and pet care products.  Finish your day with the wonderful shops in Sturgis, including Magic Moments Scrapbooking to record your wonderful weekend and don’t forget to check out Fishsticks Creations in Sturgis.   

SPORTS TOUR

Get your heart rate going and build a day around the sporting opportunities offered in the area.  Begin your day with a light breakfast at Stray Dogs Bookshop & Coffee Bar then get started with some skateboarding in a local skate park in Three Rivers.  Cool off with a swim at Sand Lake then enjoy some fishing at Klinger Lake.  Enjoy lunch at Fisher Lake Inn then continue on to Cade Lake County Park for some volleyball and hiking.  Try your hand at Frisbee Golf at Meyer Broadway Park.  Enjoy a leisurely trail ride at the Diamond D Ranch in Cassopolis.  Finish your day with a stay at one of our Bed and Breakfast Inns and do it all again the next day!

St. Joseph County has more to offer than just summer activities; there are plenty  of winter sites to keep you moving as well.  So bundle up the family and have a blast this winter with a Winter Wonderland Tour!

Start the morning out by heading over to Happy Landing Party Store in Three Rivers for fish bait and coffee.  Then head out to Corey Lake in Three Rivers and enjoy some great old-fashioned ice fishing.  After you catch enough fish, make your way to Swiss Valley in Jones for some Down-Hill Skiing and check out their Ski and Board Shop and Service Center.  Hungry for lunch? Stop into Fisher Lake  of Three Rivers where they have great daily lunch specials.

After you have filled your belly with great food, work some of it off at Meyer Broadway Park in Three Rivers with some Cross-Country Skiing.  Looking to do some shopping?  Timberly Tree Farm in Sturgis has a wonderful Treasure Market, custom-made wreaths, live reindeer and delicious hot cider.  Wind down and enjoy dinner at Bistro Rio and feast on some of their signature dishes.  Stay the night at Arrowhead Cove in Mendon.  Relax in peace and tranquility and take a load off... you have had a very busy day!