Lakeside B&B recs

November 14, 2006 2:36 PM

Looking for a lakeside B&B (or cottage or hotel) with lake view room in WI, IN or MI. Should be within two hours from Chicago roughly. This would be for early January. Any recommendations or cautions? Ideal prices would be in the $125 or under a night range.
posted by agregoli to travel & transportation (7 comments total)

How important is a like view? Is a short walk to the lake a problem? I stayed here and liked it.
posted by rbs at 2:57 PM on November 14, 2006

I'd suggest staying on the west side of the lake if you're going in January. The east shore can get buried in snow when Chicago and central MI are clear and sunny.
posted by jlkr at 4:06 PM on November 14, 2006

Although the cabins are not lake shore, I'd highly recommend Potato Creek State Park outside South Bend.
Nice trail system, lots of wild life, access to town within 15 min., and a short woodland trail to the beach. Cabins are about $95 a night, have wood burning stoves and skylites.
we've been going there for about 10 years, at least once a year. No tv, and very quiet and peaceful. This is in the lake effect snow zone, which I think is a plus. There is a sledding hill and many miles of cross country ski trails.
posted by readery at 4:41 PM on November 14, 2006

Were you thinking of any lake in particular? How about Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, home of Gary Gygax?
posted by billtron at 6:58 PM on November 14, 2006

The east shore can get buried in snow when Chicago and central MI are clear and sunny.

Isn't this a plus?

Potato Creek is nice (my family goes there for a hike every Christmas), but if you want a lake view it probably isn't what you are looking for.

Your probably more likely to find what you are looking for in Indiana or Michigan, the touristy areas in Wisconsin tend to be north of Milwaukee, (e.g. Door County).
posted by afu at 7:47 PM on November 14, 2006

Check out the Wisconsin Bed & Breakfast Association website.
posted by Kibbutz at 9:10 PM on November 14, 2006

Thank you to everyone for suggestions so far. I wanted to follow up on a couple of things.

A Lake Michigan lake view is preferred, but near the lake and/or wineries would also be nice. We are hoping to find a place with a Jacuzzi and a fireplace in the room. The Sandpiper Inn (Michigan) is the only place I have found so far that had all of those things.

I have absolutely no aversion to the snowy side of the lake. =]

The Michigan & Wisconsin Bed & Breakfast sites have been very helpful. If anyone has any other personal recommendations, I would love to hear them.

(Lake Geneva is a definite NOOOOOOO as it is too near family and not the same feeling of escape! Potato Creek cabins look very nice even though the amenities we are looking for are not there.)
posted by agregoli at 9:45 AM on November 15, 2006