Attractions and Places To See around Paw Paw - Top 5

Paw Paw's historic downtown features several notable landmarks. You can see the Old Village Hall (built 1842), the magnificent Van Buren County Courthouse (1901), the First National Bank of Paw Paw (1903), and the historic 1927 Strand Theatre. For a unique historical experience, visit the Paw Paw Tunnel, an engineering marvel from 1850 along the C&O Canal.

The Paw Paw River and Maple Lake are central to the town's natural landscape, offering opportunities for kayaking, canoeing, and fishing. You can also visit Paw Paw River County Park for hiking trails and a barrier-free kayak launch. The Paw Paw Prairie Fen Preserve provides a unique wetland habitat for hiking, snowshoeing, and birdwatching. For scenic views, consider the View of the Potomac River.

Yes, families can enjoy Maple Island for picnics on Maple Lake, or visit Fruit Acres Farm Market for seasonal activities like hayrides and corn mazes. The View of the Potomac River and the Treed Section of the C&O Canal Towpath are also suitable for families.

Paw Paw is known for its rich grape and wine industry. You can visit two of Michigan's oldest wineries: St. Julian Winery and Distillery, and Warner Vineyards, both offering tours and tasting rooms. The town also hosts the annual Wine and Harvest Festival, a signature event celebrating its agricultural roots with tastings, arts and crafts, and live music.

For hiking, the Paw Paw River County Park offers hard-surface trails. The Paw Paw Prairie Fen Preserve provides trails through a unique wetland habitat. Additionally, the Kal-Haven Trail offers scenic pathways through forests and meadows for hikers and bikers. For a more remote feel, explore the trails within Green Ridge State Forest.

Yes, there are several cycling opportunities. The Kal-Haven Trail is excellent for scenic bike rides. For more challenging routes, you can explore cycling tours around Paw Paw, including routes like the 'Paw Paw, WV Visitors Center – Evitt's Creek Campsite loop' or the 'Paw Paw Tunnel loop'. You can find more details on these routes in the Cycling around Paw Paw guide.

Beyond the Paw Paw River and Maple Lake, you can visit the Paw Paw Prairie Fen Preserve, a unique wetland habitat known for its biodiversity. The Green Ridge State Forest offers a heavily wooded, backcountry feel with abundant wildlife. You can also enjoy the scenic View of the Potomac River, which stretches over 400 miles.

The Paw Paw Tunnel is a 3,118-foot man-made monument along the C&O Canal, completed in 1850. It's an engineering marvel built to avoid a difficult section of the river. Visitors can explore the tunnel, which is best done with a flashlight or headlamp due to its darkness, to see historical features. The two-mile Tunnel Hill Trail nearby offers stunning views of the Paw Paw Bends.

Paw Paw hosts several seasonal events. The Wine and Harvest Festival, held the weekend after Labor Day, celebrates the town's agricultural heritage. In July, Paw Paw Days features a classic car show and arts and crafts. During the summer, the Maple Lake Amphitheater hosts the 'Concerts by the Lake' series, and a Sunday Farmer's Market offers local produce downtown.

Yes, golf enthusiasts can enjoy a round at Hawkshead Golf Course or Lake Cora Hills Golf Club, both located in the vicinity of Paw Paw.

The downtown area of Paw Paw features a variety of local shops, coffee shops, sandwich spots, and ice cream parlors. For dining, you can find various restaurants, including 120 Taphouse and Bistro, offering local flavors and experiences.

In areas like Green Ridge State Forest and the Paw Paw Prairie Fen Preserve, wildlife is abundant. It's common to spot bald eagles, deer, and wild turkeys, especially in the more remote and heavily wooded sections of the trails.