Harbor County, Michigan

Pure Great Lakes small town perfection. Easy trip from Chicago or IN. Numerous public swimmable beaches and sand dunes bordered by tall forest. If you go in the fall, you can book a lakefront airbnb for cheaper and sauna/hot tub with a view. In the summer, Sawyer Home and Garden is not to be missed: the best organic farm stand and a local superstore had a baby. Also hit Milda’s Corner Market (Eastern Euro grocer + deli, Flagship Foods (fish market) Cafe Gulistan (Kurdish restaurant), and the Whistle Stop Cafe (which feels like Rustic Bakery in Marin)