| Those of you who do a little of your own web publishing may find some of the following web sites helpful. |
| The best browser on the net! |
| Christian songs and lessons for kids. |
| Pop-up blocking! Easy-to-use tabbed browsing! Awesome add-ons and extensions! Privacy and security features! Google toolbar! Bookmarks toolbar! |
| Visit our Magical Little Website Here you will find a cool eBay misspelling search tool that may help you find a great deal! You will also find the ClickBank Marketplace with thousands of digital products on a wide variety of topics. Check it out! |
| Copyright ©2008 All Rights Reserved. All trademarks, brands and logos are property of their respective owners. |
 | |  | |  |
| Click on an image above to find out more. |
| Welcome to swmichiganfun.com If you live in or visit the Southwest Michigan area, click on one of the images below to find ideas for seasonal and year-round activities. Check the monthly calendars to find dates and links for fairs, festivals and other activities happening around the area. Be sure to check the calendars a few months in advance-some events require advance registration and planning. The monthly calendars are updated as we find new information, sometimes at the last minute, so bookmark this page and check back often to make sure you don't miss out on anything. You can click here to sign up to receive updates by email. The information provided is centered around St. Joseph, Michigan, but also includes some ideas for northern Indiana, the Chicagoland area and even Wisconsin. Contact us if we can help you find something! |
| FAIRS AND FESTIVALS There are many family-friendly festivals throughout Southwest Michigan. Some celebrate a regional specialty such as tulips, wine, strawberries, blueberries or peaches. Some celebrate a season or something special like arts & crafts, antiques or hot-air ballooning. Whatever the celebration may be, you can count on plenty of food, music and special activities such as car shows. County fairs feature animals, musical acts, exhibits, amusement rides and, of course, plenty of fair food! And for something really different, try one of the renaissance festivals for medieval period food, shopping and entertainment. |
| Click here to see links for Indiana, Chicagoland and Wisconsin ideas. |
| Find volunteer opportunities at the Volunteer Center of Southwest Michigan Look for a * for volunteer opportunities or visit our volunteer page |
 | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  |
| Featured suggestions for May 2008-Check below for links to the appropriate websites-Let us know if we can help you plan a family outing! The 2008 Southwest Michigan Super Book is now available! Save money on restaurants, hotels, golfing, retail services and family activities in the SW Michigan area! Click here for more information or call 269 983-1188 to order. Surfari Joe's Indoor Waterpark is now open. Featuring a tube slide, body slide, lazy river, kiddy playland, activity pool and hot tub, the Ramada Inn in Watervliet boasts the only indoor water park in Southwest Michigan. You must be a guest of the hotel to use the water park. The festival season has begun! Start May off with the Blossomtime parade in St Joseph or the Tulip Time festival in Holland. Other outdoor activities, events and festivals are happening all month long. Check the May calendar for more information. The South Haven and Niles Farmers' Markets also begin this month. Start planning your summer activities by looking ahead on the calendars. As always, if we can help you find something, let us know! Spring is here! Browse our Gardening page to find numerous sources for seeds, plants and other gardening supplies and information. Don't forget to look ahead on the calendars. Many camps, races and similar activities offer discounts on entry fees for early registration. Take a few moments to explore our volunteer page. Learn how to donate blood and/or sign up to be an organ donor! |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| Save money on restaurants, hotels, golfing, retail services and family activities in the SW Michigan area! |
| Silver Beach Carousel Society and Silver Beach Museum St Joseph |
 |
| Pictures throughout this site provided by various sources including PublicDomainPictures.net, PDPhoto.org, BurningWell.org and Dreamstime.com |
| WINTER ACTIVITIES Just because it's cold outside, it doesn't mean you can't have a little fun. Try ice skating, skiing, tubing, or tobogganing. You can also do some cross-country skiing or snowshoeing at a nearby nature area or winter sports area. |
| MUSEUMS, THEATER AND THE ARTS There are many choices for both children and adults when it comes to museums in Southwest Michigan. Kids will enjoy 'learning-by-doing' at one of the hands-on children's museums. There are also museums specially dedicated to cars, boats or airplanes. If you are looking for a little 'culture', there are art centers and galleries, symphony orchestras, and theater companies, with special opportunities for children to participate in the arts. |
| FARMS, FARM MARKETS AND U-PICKS Some of the finest fruits and vegetables in the country are grown right here in Southwest Michigan. Michigan asparagus, strawberries, blueberries, peaches, apples, tomatoes, sweet corn and many other fruits and vegetables just can't be beat. Many of the farms, orchards and vineyards located throughout Berrien and Van Buren counties allow you to purchase the freshest produce right at the farm and many even offer you the chance to pick the fruit or vegetables yourself. |
| SPECIAL TREATS If you're looking for a special treat, there are many unique, locally-produced items to choose from. Ice cream, chocolates, honey, baked goods, jams and jellies, and a number of specialty items produced from local and regional products can be purchased at stores and many farm markets throughout Southwest Michigan. |
| NATURE AREAS Southwest Michigan has ample opportunities to get out and enjoy or learn about nature. Nature areas, botanical gardens, zoos and other facilities, both private and governmental, offer a wide variety of opportunities to attend special events and programs, learn or try something new, or just go for a walk in the woods. |
| WINERIES The 11 wineries and 8 tasting rooms that make up the Southwest Michigan Wine Trail are part of a region that is a designated American Viticultural Area called 'Lake Michigan Shore' (like 'Napa Valley') that boasts 10,000 acres of grapes. Many of the wineries offer opportunities to sample their wine and take tours to learn about the wine making process. Several of the wineries even host their own special events featuring wine tasting, food, music and other special activities. |
| Click here for local, regional and state visitor organizations |
| MOTORSPORTS There are numerous racetracks in Southwest Michigan, both dirt and paved, for cars or motorcycles. There also several places where you can take a jeep ride through the sand dunes or even take a tour where you get to drive the jeep yourself. For those who really like adventure, check out one of the off-road parks. |
| SPORTS AND FITNESS Indoor or outdoor, summer or winter, there's always a chance to be active. Try the YMCA for swimming, basketball, volleyball or aerobics. The YMCA has classes for both members and non-members. There are also several other indoor aquatic facilities and several communities have outdoor skate/bike parks. |
| CAMPING, HORSEBACK RIDING, CANOEING Southwest Michigan offers many opportunities to spend a little time in the great outdoors. There is camping available at a number of private campgrounds as well as state and county parks. Canoe outfitters offer a variety of trips on local rivers and there are several choices for horseback riding, whether it be for a few hours or an entire weekend. |
| MUSIC VENUES From small nightclubs and intimate theaters to large arenas, there are many different places in Southwest Michigan to enjoy the hottest local, regional and national music acts all year long. Included in this section is a list of top name bands coming to the area as well as many of the summer music festivals. |
| Create your very own favicon (the little logo/icon that shows up in the address bar, bookmarks and tabs of your viewer's browser). No special html tools needed. Just provide an image of any resolution and they do the rest! |
| Free on-line image editor. Resize, crop or add numerous other effects. |
Free Webmaster Tips and Tutorials - Lots of free tips, tutorials and articles on web design, promotion, earning revenue, PHP, JavaScript, and CGI. Best of all, they're all free.
| FUN PARKS How about a little miniature golf? Or go-karts, arcades, paint ball, laser tag, bumper boats or batting cages. There is a variety of places to enjoy these family activities at in Southwest Michigan. There are also several indoor aquatic areas, outdoor water parks and amusement parks in the area. |
| ** indicates Super Book participants |
| Berrien County Super Book $38.95 269 983-1188 Kalamazoo Super Book $39.00 269 345-3555 Battle Creek Super Book $39.00 269 968-3300 |
