Lake Country Inn

With an adults-only policy, the Lake Country Inn draws mainly couples, especially on weekends. Converted into a bed-and-breakfast in 2005, this modern, two-story property still has an old-fashioned charm, with two tree-shaded porches with Adirondack chairs that flank the inn's entrance. Inside is a kitchen that doubles as a front desk. The owner-operated inn provides personalized service, which adds to the homey vibe -- the owners occasionally serve homemade cookies in the reception lounge, a small area with a couple of sofas. Board games are available in the lounge and there is a charming patio surrounded by flowering plants as well.

This hotel is located in a residential area of New Buffalo on a tree-lined street that’s within walking distance of the Amtrak station and the beach (three and 10-minute walks, respectively). The town has plenty of markets, shops, cafes, and restaurants, all of which are an easy walk from the property. The area gets noisy and busy on the weekends. Within a few blocks of the hotel are Evolve Spa and Revive Spa. There's a small parking lot connected to the property. A free shuttle offers round-trip service to the Four Winds Casino. Journeyman Distillery, which is near Acorn Theater, is a 15-minute drive. It’s about a 30-minute drive to the Contessa Wine Cellars and the Domaine Berrien Cellars. Chicago is about a 75-minute trip by car or Amtrak -- guests will also find the closest major airports there. 

Brightly painted walls in yellow, orange, red, aqua marine, orchid, saffron, and green coordinate with room names, and rooms are cozy and charming. Mostly queen-size beds have canopies, four-poster, or sleigh frames and take center stage in the rooms -- some of the rooms can feel quite compact. All rooms have generous windows and get great natural light. Bed linens are high-quality, and rooms have individually controlled air-conditioning, free Wi-Fi, flat-screen TVs with Netflix and Amazon’s Fire TV. Some rooms have mini-fridges, courtyard entryways, and porches. Yellow and Blue rooms have sofa beds, and the Orchid Room has an overstuffed armchairs and handsome hardwood furniture with antique lines. The Tower Suite has a fireplace in the living room. Bathrooms are small but well-maintained, with shower/tub combos or walk-in showers. An accessible room is also available. 

The Lake Country Inn feels like a residence, with seating on front and back porches and a metal dining table with an umbrella set amid a garden patio. Free breakfast -- cereal, coffee, yogurt, juice, and bagels -- is served in the lobby, where there’s a kitchen behind the front desk. The Common Room, which serves as an indoor lounge, has floor-to-ceiling windows, overstuffed armchairs and couches by a fireplace, dining tables, dinnerware, and board games. Outdoor parking is available on-site, but the lot is small and fills quickly. Free Wi-Fi is available throughout the property.