Milw. to Chalevoix summer trip

Escapade

Escapade

Well-Known Member
SILVER Sponsor
Jan 10, 2007
1,260
Lake Michigan
Boat Info
44 Sundancer
Engines
QSC500
Once agian looking for your great suggestions. This time to the Charlevoix area near the end of July. We are a family friendy group approximately six - seven boats strong from a new 44 to a couple of 320's. We will have screaming kids in the plan as well. Kid friendly stuff would be helpfull. Our desire is keep this to 10 days. Non of our gang has ever been this far north and are looking for suggestions from Marinas, dinning, shopping, a dry land overnight stay, to just your best heads up for what to expect. We have Lakeland boating cruising guide and are thinking a few days at Charlevoix and a couple in short cruising range from there. We do enjoy and use all of your great input when planning, Thanks.
Mike and Gang.
 
Escapade,
Our SR Dealer out of Michigan City, IN has a rendezous trip to Mackinac the end of July. It's a 10 day trip. There are always a couple of boats from the dealer and mechanics on the trip which is a comfort. We've always had a great time on these trips. Just thought I would let you know of another option.
 
Charlevoix is very kid friendly. The city marina is brand new this coming spring. Lots of places to eat in all price ranges. Northwest Marina is around the corner as you exit Round Lake and takes reservations. It has a swimming pool, places to cook, nice facilities. Many stop there after putting their names on the list for the city marina which normally takes a day or two to get into. We usually just anchor out and read for a day and use the shopper dock for provisions. Harbor Springs and Petosky are near by and are as nice or nicer. Bearver Island is about 36 miles offshore and an interesting place to visit. This part of Lake Michigan is some of the best cruising in the world--big, crystal clear water..........
 
You are going to love Charlevoix- Just Like SBW1 said, the muni (downtown) tends to fill up quickly so make sure you give this part of the trip a few extra days. The Northwest Marine Yacht Club is a very nice place to stay and hang-out. We enjoyed going into and exploring Lake Charl. and wished we had an extra day just to see more of the lake. We took the digny over to Ironton to have lunch and watch the cable-drawn ferry moving cars. Oyster Bay is a good anchorage for lunch and swimming. It's "all-good" in Lake Charl. / Round Lake / area! It can be a bit tough to anchor out in Round Lake (Downtown area) when there are lots of boats there as its very deep and some don't pay out enough rode. Makes for some exiciting times-some evenings. Might as well hit Bay Harbor and Harbor Springs while your up that far, you are in some of the finest cruising waters around! Have Fun- I just warmed up a few degrees writing this post on this COLD winters day.
 
OK the City Muni is under new construction it has not restrooms yet and it won't for awhile, They moved to all floating docks and though the donwtown is a stones through away, the streets are very busy with cars constantly.......... Heading our into Lake Charleviox would be your best bet and to the right........But if your kids are Hogh maintanence nothing is going to work anyways.......If you Love shopping then Charelvoix is your place to be...When you here on this side check out Manistee, Elk Rapids and even Cheyboygan. great places to find Kid activity...
 
Boltman, Won't the the total project be finished this spring? Seems like the world's longest marina project. How long can it take to build bathrooms?
 
We we're just up there this weekend, and nothing has been done since the summer from what we can see. There is still equipment on site, but it didn't look like something is being done, we were there also for the venetian festival last summer, and now it still looks the same.............. I can keep you updated as we see things happening or you can call the city for updated notes on what is being done........

Robert
 
Reservations at the city Marina can be made 6 months in advance. 1-800-44-PARKS.
I hope they have the bathrooms done by July 4th. We will be there for 4 days.
 
I think we will wait until the whole project is done. People we've talk to said heavy equipment was pushing dirt around during their stay and and it was noisy and dust was blowing everywhere. It's interesting that such a relatively small project is taking sooooo long. Wonder what's holding things up.
 
Maybe Jenny put a hold on the funding? Possibly found some rare critter and had to reassess the environmental impact?
 
I did hear earlier that someone in Charlevoix got cross ways with the Guv. Heard same thing about Leland which has been held up for two years now. I think she may be spending our boating fund for other stuff.
 
Yes there still is heavy equipment there pushing dirt, as of this winter, We were there..in January. Still no bathrooms.... If we go up in the spring we can give you an accurate report aye?
 
Hey, Thanks for the great insight on the construction. Please keep us posted. Sounds like we may need some alternate direction here. Quick question- One in our group has a friend with a home on Charlevoix. What is your opinion of staying on the hook for a night or two in front of his place. I know that really depends on the location. I guess what I'm saying is if the location seems fit. Would it be acceptable for 5 boats to go on the hook for the night there?
Mike
 
We drop the hook in Lake Charlevoix all the time, but we do it in Oyster Bay which is well protected. Depending where your friend lives that would be a good or bad plan. You will probably never put your boat at risk, but the lake is so long that strong winds from the westerly direction can build three foot seas making sleeping all but impossible. Wakes can do the same thing to your comfort. Still, there are lots of bays that are protected, and I'm not aware of any restrictions on anchoring overnight other than the obvious ones such as an anchor light, and staying out of navigation channels. What part of the lake does your friend live on?
 
sbw1-
Sorry for late response. Our Friend Jim has the friend with the home on the lake there. He said, it was in Lake Charlevoix and the water was too low now to bing boats directly to shore. We would have to dink it in to the dock. He was to be meeeting with him this weekend and would share more details.

With this weather we are having it is great to have some thing to look forward to.

So far we have four boats in and two more on the fence for the trip.

Any more details are welcome, favorite restaurants, or land activities?

Thanks,

Mike
 
The town has good shopping as you probably know. The new marina may have a laundromat if they ever finish the building. Otherwise it's about a mile south of the marina on the main drag. There a number of places to eat on the main drag within easy walking distance from your boat. For breakfast you walk up the hill from Ward's gas dock and across the street in the strip mall is a cheap breakfast place. Up the hill and across the bridge there is a hotel that has very nice breakfasts. Again, not too expensive but the nicest breakfast place. Across the street is the Weathervane which is pricey and very nice for dinner. Pizza places on the main drag south from there. There is a seafood place in the middle of the block which is pretty good. North of town (need a car) is the Arragon Supper Club with all you can eat shrimp fixed many different ways with good drinks. Walking distance from the marina south three blocks is the Grey Gable, a good place with music. Maybe the best is up the hill from Wards across from the cheap breakfast place is a very nice dinner place with good wines and I'm having a block on the name (Terry's?). The locals eat there, at the Weathervane, Grey Gable and Arragon. As far as things to do, it's bars and dining. We like to walk out to the lighthouse and through the Chicago Club. Both are easy ways to get your 10,000 steps in. Lots of interesting homes. We also do dingy tours around Round Lake, drop the hook overnight in Oyster Bay. If you have kids, Northwest Marina has a pool and good facilities including grills. There is also a fish hatchery where salmon and steelheads are raised for Lake stocking. Pretty interseting. You should also run down both arms of Lake Charlexois. The south arm has some interesting houses and boats and is maybe 10 miles long. The main arm is probably 18 miles long and interesting as well. Hopes this helps.
 
Looks like they are making some progress finally. The Tiara Rendevous is in Charlevoix on July 30, 31 so it must be done by then or Tiara would not have scheduled the dates.
 
All I know is I wouldn't want to be caught anywhere on the lake near Escapade...ha ha ha...oh wait, he's my marina neighbor...

Looking forward to joining you for a day or so on that adventure... Thinking of doing Door County for a day - across to MI for a day with you - would love to hit up Mackinaw Island - then maybe down MI side - and back across??
 
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