Trip planning up river from Lake Erie

Oct 24, 2007
486
Sandusky Bay, Ohio
Boat Info
2018 Sabre 38 SE
2019 Blackfin 272CC
Engines
VP IPS400's
300 Merc Verado's
My family has scheduled a week off for a boating vacation in August. We thought of heading up to Detroit/Lake St. Clair and North.

I love to run the boat, but don't necessarily want to spend 8 hours a day going from point to point every single day. We are a family of 4 with a 8 and 7 year old and are looking for your input, suggestions as to where to go and what to do.

Help me plan my trip (nice marinas, fun places to visit, great beaches for kids etc.).

Thanks in advance.
 
Randy,

there are many nice places up this way! I will list a few, and not in any preference order.

-Jefferson Beach Marina (transient wells available)
-Metro Beach (offers wells/beach/pool/par 3 golf course)
-City of St. Clair (nicely redone sity owned marina, cute town, and shuttle service to a couple of nice restaurants, golf gourse w/in walking distance)
-Ontario has a few nice places for overnighting (not sure of the names/locations)

Enjoy!

Gregg
 
Randy,

You may want to check out the Nautical Mile in St. Clair Shores. We purchased our boat from a dealer located there. Several good restaurants, shops, etc., in the area. Not certain about transient docking - I am certain there is info on the web.

Metro Beach is also nice.

Enjoy your trip!
 
Randy,

The nautical mile includes Emerald City Harbor and Jefferson Beach Marina. Both are "upscale" marina's that I would recommend.

Before you get there, between the Grosse Pointe Farms Pier Park and the Grosse Pointe Yacht Club is a great spot to anchor and enjoy a day of swimming. Depth slowly goes from about 15 ft all the way down to 2 ft by the sea wall, and the bottom is nice and sandy. A great place to anchor, some beautiful homes in the background...(see my sig pic)

If you are a member of a club that has reciprocity, look at staying at the Detroit Yacht Club. It's a very nice, very nostalgic place that has recently re-invested in itself. (313)824-1200.

On the north end, Muscamoot Bay is a popular day destination, big party spot too... North of Metro Beach is MacRay harbor, another nice marina with ammenities. Algonac Harbor Club on the very north end of the lake is nice as well.

Feel free to PM me if you need any further info, LSC is a great destination!
 
Randy,

I'll just share my experiences and observations....most of these have websites where you can check them out yourself:
In Anchor Bay (Northwest part of Lake St. Clair), there is Metro Beach (no pool, but lots of other activities and inexpensive, but the shower/restroom facilities are showing their age); MacRay harbor is well maintained, has a restaurant, pool and nice sandy bottom out front if you want to swim off the boat. Not sure of the transient rates. Belle Maer is right next the MacRay Harbor and I'd have similar comments. Takes about 45-60 minutes from the mouth of the Detroit River to this area of the lake cruising at 26-28 mph.

On the Canadian side of Lake St. Clair, we've been to the Cove Marina on the Thames River in Ontario. Nice family place, reasonably clean, and has a pool.


Going up the St. Clair River, I'd recommend Algonac Harbor Club in Algonac -- nice facilities, pool, resaurants nearby, etc.. Again, running from the mouth of the Detroit River straight through to Algonac usuing the shipping channel (pretty steady freighter traffic), it would take about 60 minutes. Muscamoot Bay and Gull Island are a couple of spots on the way where people will drop anchor and swim...can get a little wild on the weekends though (particularly Muscamoot Bay).

St. Clair has a nice marina (no pool), Port Huron has a nice municipal marina (no pool). Algonac to Port Huron is about a 60 minute run. Across from Port Huron, on the Canadian side is Sarnia Bay Marina. Well maintained, friendly staff and small pool for the kids.

Hope this helps.
 
I'll second the Algonac Harbour Club and Sarnia Bay Marina. Further up on the Canadian side are Grand Bend and Bayfield. Grand Bend is known for their beautiful beach and lots of tourists while Bayfield is a bit more subdued. But, check the depths at Bayfield.
 
Depending on how long you want to travel the first day - Maumee Bay State park is a great location (my 12 & 14 year old daughter’s love going there for a day trip). They have beach, pools (in-out), hot tub, restaurant, nature trails, kid programs... This would let you get to the western end of the lake then start north! If you come there - stay north of "little" cedar point which is just east of the park - has a shallow sand bar that's been known to grab those not familiar (it's on GPS & charts - just have to be careful). There is a channel into the marina off the Maumee River if the shallow water has you concerned? Have Fun.
 
Randy,

That should be a lot of fun. I would normally make a run back to the area, but don't have any plans this summer. I sort of miss it.

The Detroit Yacht Club IS an interesting, kid-friendly venue with indoor and outdoor pools, tennis courts, restaurant and bar etc. They don't dedicate space to transients, but if there's an open well, I can help get you in if you're interested.

I'm not such a fan of Jefferson Beach Marina. With an often dirty asphalt parking lot going right up the docks, it just doesn't have much of a "resort" feel to me. No offense to dockholders there, but as a transient, I don't like sitting at the boat looking underneath SUV bumpers...

As a transient, I like being around other cruising boaters. Metro Beach Metropark is well-kept and also has things for your kids, and by not renting full-season wells, you won't find yourself in the middle of established cliques or vacant boats.

As someone mentioned, the same goes for The Thames River on the east side of the lake. Lots of transients and healthy "vacation" atmosphere.

MacRay Harbor imoh, is one of the best marinas in the Great Lakes. They have pools, a restaurant, hot-tub etc., but it's another marina that's designed to be a home port - you may be one of only a few transients at any given time. A bonus in that area (Metro Beach / MacRay) is that Harrison Twp has had a co-operative shuttle to drive boaters to stores, restaurants etc. I don't know if it's running this season, but someone who's been there more recently than I will probably chime in.

If you really want to get serious, Jaws hit it with the Lower-Lake Huron options of Grand Bend, Bayfield and on the Michigan side, Lexington. Those ports will make you feel like you went somewhere. I highly recommend them.
 
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My home port is MacRay Harbor. The shuttle is running and it's a GREAT spot to come and visit. Tons to do for kids and adults.
 
I would like to get as far north as Port Huron (or maybe into Lake Huron), but just don't want to consume the whole week "running" the boat to the next marina without some R&R time to enjoy each stop.

Thanks guys, this gives me plenty of information to start planning.

I will keep you posted.
 
Randy,

I agree 100%. The last thing you want to do is make your vacation stressful or more expensive. On the other hand, if you're willing to go all the way to Port Huron, you'll be really close to some great ports. Lexington isn't very far and has a great beach right at the marina and the town is a block away.


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Grand Bend has an even NICER beach and argueably more to do downtown. It's more touristy - think of the east end of Delaware Street - maybe starting from The Crescent or Round House or so.

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If your wife has any doubts about boating, a visit to Bayfield will change her mind. A friend of mine moved his boat there permanently when his wife started staying home. Now she almost lives at the boat and walks to town when he goes sailing. You won't find as much to do, but it's a nice port.

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If not this time, maybe next...
 

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