• Menu
  • Skip to left header navigation
  • Skip to right header navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to secondary navigation
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Before Header

  • Explore Chicago
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

The Local Tourist

Experience the fascination of a tourist; Feel the comfort of the local

  • Travel the U.S.A.
    • The Midwest
      • Illinois
      • Indiana
      • Iowa
      • Kansas
      • Michigan
      • Minnesota
      • Missouri
      • Nebraska
      • South Dakota
      • Wisconsin
    • The South
      • Arkansas
      • Mississippi
      • North Carolina
      • Oklahoma
      • Texas
    • The West
      • Arizona
      • California
      • Colorado
      • Montana
      • Nevada
      • New Mexico
      • Utah
      • Wyoming
  • Travel Tips
    • Travel Now
  • Road Trips
    • Two Lane Gems
  • Cultural Travel
    • Arts and Culture
    • Attractions
    • Food and Drink
    • History
    • People
    • Roadside Attractions
  • Great Outdoors
    • Camping
    • Hiking and Active Travel
    • U.S. National Parks
  • Shop TLT
    • Travel Two Lane Gems
  • Travel the U.S.A.
    • The Midwest
      • Illinois
      • Indiana
      • Iowa
      • Kansas
      • Michigan
      • Minnesota
      • Missouri
      • Nebraska
      • South Dakota
      • Wisconsin
    • The South
      • Arkansas
      • Mississippi
      • North Carolina
      • Oklahoma
      • Texas
    • The West
      • Arizona
      • California
      • Colorado
      • Montana
      • Nevada
      • New Mexico
      • Utah
      • Wyoming
  • Travel Tips
    • Travel Now
  • Road Trips
    • Two Lane Gems
  • Cultural Travel
    • Arts and Culture
    • Attractions
    • Food and Drink
    • History
    • People
    • Roadside Attractions
  • Great Outdoors
    • Camping
    • Hiking and Active Travel
    • U.S. National Parks
  • Shop TLT
    • Travel Two Lane Gems
  • Contact
  • Work with TLT
  • Travel Writing
Boats in Harbert Michigan

Get to Know Harbor Country: Carl Sandburg’s Harbert, Michigan

Harbert, Michigan, is Harbor Country’s mini slice of Scandinavia. 

January 9, 2019 //  by Theresa Goodrich//  Leave a Comment

0shares

This series by guest contributor Blagica Bottiglierio covers the gorgeous area of Southwest Michigan known as Harbor Country. Eight towns along Red Arrow Highway come together to create a magical world of food, nature, serenity and history.

Harbert, Michigan, is Harbor Country’s mini slice of Scandinavia. It’s been a secret to many, and if you close your eyes, you might miss the Harbert sign.

This is the surprise of the Red Arrow Highway – little whispers that remind you that what may look like a small sign represents a treasure waiting to be discovered.

Vineyard in Harbor Country, Michigan; photo by Megan Zink, Moderately Excited Travel Blog
Vineyard in Harbor Country, Michigan; photo by Megan Zink, Moderately Excited Travel Blog

Harbert is located towards the top end of Harbor Country, 76 miles away from Chicago. Starting out as a railroad town, then booming with orchards and vineyards, Harbert was also home to a pickle factory. Yes, pickles.  But there are two other pieces of Harbert that may surprise many. The first is its most famous resident – Carl Sandburg.

Sandburg began to visit Harbert with his family, but he ended up staying for two decades. It’s in his Harbert home that Sandburg completed his Pulitzer Prize winning four-volume series on Lincoln, The War Years. Sandburg’s family had Scandinavian roots and Harbert continues to celebrate this heritage as it did years ago.

Swedish Coffee Pot, where Carl Sandburg hung out in Harbert, Michigan
Photo credit: Don Harrison

In 1912, The Ericksons opened the Harbert Swedish Bakery.  I could write a novel on the amazing goodies available at the Bakery. The breads. The cookies. All made fresh onsite.  Just next to The Bakery is Luisa’s Cafe. Ambitious scrambles, fresh produce and even a gluten free menu. All in one place.

View this post on Instagram

🥐🍰A NYE baked goods miracle from the lovely people at @luisascafe 🥐🍰 Michael was sent on a mission to bring home some New Year's Eve dessert and baguettes for a cheese dish. We checked the website and it said that Luisa's was open. Upon arrival, Michael learned that the bakery closed a few hours early and the lovely owner, Vivian, gave all the desserts to her staff.❤️ When she learned of our dilemma, Vivian came back with a baguette and managed to find a berry crostata that was left over🍓.❤️❤️❤️ Another surprise was that Vivian sent Michael home with both items and didn't charge a thing. What a lovely and unnecessary surprise on New Year's Eve. 🥖 🥖 Luisa's is located right next to the famous Harbert mainstay, Harbert Swedish Bakery. Thy will be closed for winter break January 1st through February 14th 2019 and reopening on February 15th 2019. See you in February!! #harbert #luisascafe #swedishbakery

A post shared by The Southeast Shore™ (@thesoutheastshore) on Dec 31, 2018 at 1:37pm PST

Harbert is a small, but mighty place to explore. First, let’s start with antiques and treasures.

The Harbert Antique Mall has everything from dishes, decor and furniture. Up the road, you have another place to find treasures, Millie’s Antiques. Let’s not stop there. You have Dunes Antiques Center and Alchemy Antiques near the same stretch of the Red Arrow Highway. Your antiquing and collecting heart can be fulfilled in one afternoon. But this imposes a dilemma. Recharging with food. Have no fear, Harbert has you covered.

View this post on Instagram

Editing. #alchemyantiques

A post shared by Alchemy Art + Antiques (@alchemy_art_and_antiques) on Nov 16, 2018 at 10:44am PST

We already introduced the lovely and delicious world of Luisa’s Cafe and Harbert Swedish Bakery. Who knew that in a small town in a corner of SW Michigan, you can not only get Swedish goodies, but also Italian and Turkish? Well, you can.

Enter the world of homemade sauces, care of Capozio’s. An Italian restaurant on Red Arrow, it’s been in the area for generations. Feeling like Turkish? Hop to the other side of Red Arrow and enter the world of Cafe Gulistan. Cafe Gulistan has a warm vibe on the inside, but is a setting where your kids can walk around, check out the ponds (and fish) while waiting for your meal.

Photo credit: Cafe Gulistan in Harbert, Michigan
Photo credit: Cafe Gulistan in Harbert, Michigan

Ready to get to shopping again? Head up to SO (Stockholm Objects). Tapping into the area’s Swedish roots, Stockholm Objects is inspired by European style and lines. It mixes Scandinavian Design with current trends, creating a fun and inspiring shopping experience.

View this post on Instagram

Just a glimpse of our Harbert Store today. Open Friday through Sunday with lots of new Fall/Winter Merchandise. ❤️ to see you! . . . . #stockholmobjects #soharbert #harborcountry

A post shared by Scandinavian Lifestyle. (@stockholm.objects) on Nov 15, 2018 at 2:34am PST

Searching for some custom wood pieces? Well then you need to visit Center of the World Woodshop. Pottery, leaded glass lamps and contemporary art complement the custom wood furnishings in the shop. This jaunt may have your art collection bug hopping. This is why you should head over to a gallery.

View this post on Instagram

Cherry and leaded glass details on the Skara Brae china cabinet. #woodworking #centeroftheworldwoodshop #customfurniture

A post shared by Center Of The World Woodshop (@centeroftheworldwoodshop) on Jun 8, 2017 at 11:31am PDT

The Judith Racht Gallery displays various works of art from local artists and beyond. Take a lovely stroll in the gallery in between shops. Exhibits change often, check the website to be sure.

So much shopping and eating. You must be EXHAUSTED:). Harbert has you covered, too. A bevy of cottages and home rentals are waiting for you. In addition to places you may find on AirBnB and VRBO, here are some additional selections:

  • Corky’s on Harbert
  • Harbert House Bed and Breakfast

After some beauty sleep, you may realize that a Spa Day is exactly what the travel doctor ordered. Harbert has you covered with that, too. Say hello to MAK Salon and Spa. They offer hair, nail and massage services. If you have a wedding or special group fest coming up, they can handle this, too. My advice: book early. MAK Salon and Spa also has a location in Three Oaks.

View this post on Instagram

When preparing for a formal makeup application, your makeup artist wants you to come with a fresh face, a blank canvas if you will! From your foundation to your last touch-up, your makeup artist is delivering a whole package and will create your look from start to finish. Pro tips for the night before, lots of water, light exfoliation and Vitamin C with moisturizer will set you up for a successful morning glow. So you just need to bring your beautiful (CLEAN) face. ♥️ Behind the scenes photo by: @thomaswrench . . . #gloskinbeauty #temptuairbrush #mua #bridalmakeup #journeymandistillery

A post shared by MAK Salon and Spa (@maksalonandspa) on Jan 1, 2019 at 3:44pm PST

Sometimes, we drive up and down a road, see a small sign and wonder what lies beyond the trees and the gravel roads. Something about Harbert, Michigan, made Carl Sandburg remain for two decades. The magic has only grown since he walked the woods and enjoyed authentic pastries from Harbert Swedish Bakery.

I don’t think the word ‘magic’ is used enough. I promise that after a day of finding fun treasures, enjoying international food and getting pampered at the spa, you’ll find your own magic in Harbert, Michigan. Enjoy!

Blagica Bottigliero

About Blagica Bottigliero

Blagica (blah-gee-tsa) Bottigliero

After 20 years in Chicago, I moved back to my home state of Michigan, specifically Harbor Country. We love sharing the finds and treasures from this little corner of the Midwest. 

Harbor Country is a collection of eight beach towns in Southwest Michigan. The area is known for cute boutiques, delicious wineries, and creative craft beer. It's a resort community just about an hour or so from downtown Chicago. #Michigan #Midwest #USA

Featured photo: Boats and grasses on Lake Michigan, Harbert, Michigan, John Menard

0shares

Category: MichiganTag: Harbor Country

Related Stories

Lakeside, Michigan: Jane Addams, Al Capone, and Fish Club

Sawyer, Michigan: Land of Dunes, Brews and Garden Greatness

Beach in Southwest Michigan

Touring Southwest Michigan Wineries, Breweries, and More

Castle In The Country

Previous Post: « A Much-Needed Winter Glamping Getaway in North Iowa
Next Post: San Diego Museum Month Offers Half-Price Admission in February »

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Primary Sidebar

Your Cart

  • Contact
  • Work with TLT
  • Travel Writing

Site Footer

Disclosure

We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.

Privacy Policy

© 2021 · The Local Tourist · Experience the fascination of a tourist; feel the comfort of the local