GingerMan Raceway – Experiences

Built in 1995, GingerMan Raceway in South Haven, Missouri, is one of the safest racetracks in the country. Its wide, smooth pavement creates an ideal experience for everyone, from experienced professionals to even the most amateur drivers.

In addition to fantastic driving conditions, GingerMan Raceway’s 300-acre location is ideal. It’s less than 10 miles from downtown South Haven where visitors can enjoy the beach, classic museums, and satisfying meals. There are enough destinations and activities to spend an entire day experiencing all this little city has to offer.

 

Morning

Noon

Night

 

Morning

GingerMan RacewayA 12-minute drive from GingerMan Raceway is Cafe Julia. It’s a charming, local cafe known for its freshly baked pastries and outstanding coffee. Cafe Julia chooses their coffee beans by hand before grinding them up to create irresistible coffee.

For breakfast, choose from their simple menu of homemade items. For example, the Fiesta Wrap contains fluffy scrambled eggs, pico de gallo, bacon, avocado, and Cheddar cheese. With a hot cup of coffee and one of Cafe Julia’s freshly baked cinnamon rolls, your breakfast is complete!

After filling up on breakfast, walk it off with a 10-minute stroll to the Michigan Maritime Museum. However, if you’re heading over from GingerMan Raceway, it’s going to be about a 12-minute drive.

The Michigan Maritime Museum consists of five separate buildings, each containing different educational exhibits. These displays focus on the history of South Haven, important nautical events, and educate visitors about various maritime skills. The Michigan Maritime Museum is a distinguished establishment known for its research on, preservation of, and educational efforts regarding the nautical history of South Haven.

In addition to touring the exhibits, visitors can go on a boating tour. Michigan Maritime Museum’s excursions vary in price and length, allowing visitors to experience maritime life firsthand. This unique feature attracts hundreds to the museum, thus making it a must-see for any naval fan at GingerMan Raceway.

Once you’ve learned about the nautical life, you may want to head down to the beach yourself. Luckily, South Beach is only a four-minute drive or an 18-minute walk from the museum. Some tourists recommend walking, since South Haven’s picturesque downtown is filled with unique shops and quaint restaurants. Those traveling from GingerMan Raceway, on the other hand, have a short 12-minute drive.

South Beach is a well-maintained destination located in a family-friendly area, making it popular for visitors. Even in the off-season, you can find people stopping by to enjoy the area. The beach features concession stands, restrooms, a playground, and spacious parking lots.

While visiting South Beach, you probably noticed the red lighthouse at the end of the pier. That’s the South Haven Lighthouse, built in 1872 and operational to this day. This diligently maintained landmark is a point of pride for the South Haven community, making it a must-visit location. Take a quick walk down the pier to get there or drive 15 minutes from GingerMan Raceway.

 

Noon

After exploring the main marine-related attractions all morning, you may have worked up an appetite. Clementine’s, a popular, old-timey restaurant is just a five-minute drive from South Haven Lighthouse. Again, many recommend the 11-minute walk from the lighthouse to Clementine’s in order to enjoy the quaint atmosphere of South Haven.

Clementine’s is a restaurant with a lot of character. It’s located inside the former Citizens State Bank, which was constructed in 1896. In 1989, the current owners bought the building and completely restored it to its original glory. They refurbished the classic tin ceiling, brick detailing, and ornate woodwork. This spacious, vintage venue gives Clementine’s an antique atmosphere that transports guests back in time. Previous diners highly recommend the restaurant, saying the service is as outstanding as the food.

First, try out the homemade onion rings, served on a wooden peg. Matilda’s Cheese Dip with multiple cheeses, red peppers, and spinach is another great choice. Among their other outstanding menu items are the Clementine’s Club, featuring their own oven-roasted turkey, and the South Beach Grill sandwich, which contains Fontina cheese, sauteed apples, fig jam, and mixed greens.

Once you’ve finished your lunch at the enchanting Clementine’s, take a four-minute drive over to Liberty Hyde Bailey Museum. This museum is located inside the birthplace and childhood home of Liberty Hyde Bailey, considered by many to be America’s father of modern horticulture.

Bailey’s lifetime of work studying horticulture is prevalent in the beautiful gardens at the museum. This hidden gem is bursting with beautiful flowers in the spring and summer, creating a calm escape for visitors. Spend some time taking a quiet and contemplative stroll through the Liberty Hyde Bailey Museum’s nature trail. It’s certainly a change of pace from GingerMan Raceway, which is less than a 15-minute drive away.

This Liberty Hyde Bailey Museum is free to enter, so anyone with a green thumb or admiration for nature should pay a visit.

Night

GingerMan Raceway

After touring museums all day, you may want to unwind with some friendly competition. Lakeside Entertainment, a three-minute drive from Liberty Hyde Bailey Museum and 15 minutes from GingerMan Raceway, is the perfect place for that.

The most popular attraction in this spacious entertainment complex is its 16 bowling lanes. Recently, Lakeside Entertainment also added an 18-hole mini golf course, beautifully landscaped with ponds, fountains, and waterfalls.

In addition to activities, Lakeside Entertainment is the perfect place to enjoy some beer and fried appetizers. You might even be lucky enough to stop by during one of their specials, such as half-price pizza on Tuesdays and all-you-can-eat fish and shrimp on Fridays.

GingerMan Raceway

While these delicious deals are hard to pass up, you may want to end your night with a healthier, sit-down dinner. If that’s the case, take a five-minute drive over to Taste.

Taste is an award-winning restaurant run by a husband and wife team. With their combined experience they were able to win the State of Michigan’s “Restaurant of the Year Award” only a year after Taste had opened.

One of the unique things about Taste is their menu, which focuses on small plates. Examples include a Michigan cheese plate and sweet and spicy shrimp. Their shareable sushi menu includes a crunchy veggie roll or a crab roll with avocado. Healthy salads and tons of sandwich options are also on the menu, along with an extensive martini list. Since you’re in the area, try the South Beach martini. This cocktail contains vanilla vodka, pineapple juice, and grenadine.

Honestly, what better way is there to end a night than with a meal and a martini? After this delicious meal, a drive to GingerMan Raceway should take only 12 minutes or so.

Without a doubt, South Haven has plenty more to offer beyond this one-day itinerary. You could spend an entire day soaking up the sun at the beach or learning more at the rest of South Haven’s museums. No matter what you’re looking for, you’ll surely find something to enjoy. So after your visit to GingerMan Raceway, explore the rest of the South Haven area to make your time spent there as meaningful as possible.