Portage Lake is between Mendon and Vicksburg, which have shopping, restaurants, and bars, including Main Street Smokehouse in Mendon. The village of Vicksburg promotes street festivals and other attractions in the summer. Angels Crossing Golf Club is two-and-a-half miles away in Vicksburg, and Island Hills Golf Club is about five miles away in Centreville. Swiss Valley Ski & Snowboard Area is eight to ten miles away. The lake is an easy drive to South Haven, South Bend, and Saugatuck.
An active homeowners’ association, Friends of Porter Lake (friendsofportagelake.org), a member of the Michigan Lakes and Streams Association, monitors and sustains water quality, hold an annual meeting, and host a July 4 boat parade. Portage Lake is two hours forty-five minutes from Chicago, one hour from Notre Dame.
