West Michigan: A Water Wonderland

Aug. 14, 2008 - PRLog -- Michigan has more registered boats in Michigan than any other state. Michigan boasts hundreds of miles of white sandy beaches, some of the highest sand dunes in the world and more than 100 lighthouses around Lake Michigan alone!

Michigan has some of the most spectacular, clean and breathtaking boating areas in the United States. If you are considering a boating vacation, Michigan has many outstanding waterways. Take for instance the Inland Waterway System near Indian River.  This is Michigan's longest chain of rivers and lakes, more than 40 miles long. It can handle boats up to 65 feet long and welcomes 17 species of fish. At the waterway’s north end, you’ll find yourself in the midst of several exciting destinations; just 15 miles from Mackinac Island, 18 miles to the Mackinaw Bridge, 21 miles to the Les Cheneaux Islands, 60 miles to the North Channel and 80 miles to the Soo Locks.

If you are a history buff, the many lighthouses that dot the shorelines are great places to visit and maybe even spend a weekend. West Michigan has a rich nautical history and seafaring culture.  Shipwreck sites, maritime museums, submarines, tall ships and more all tell the history of the Great Lakes. For a comprehensive guide of the Lake Michigan Circle Tour visit wmta.org or call 800-442-2084 and request West Michigan Tourist Association’s Lake Michigan Circle Tour & Lighthouse Map.

Michigan and its lakes—both Great and small—are unlike any place in the world. An abundance of boating-related attractions abound in West Michigan. Whether you are looking for a leisure excursion filled with wildlife and picturesque settings, a weekend fishing trip, an active journey using a rental boat or your own, or simply a reason to celebrate the season of boating, discover the beauty and splendor of boating West Michigan.

Starting toward the top of the Lower Peninsula and working your way down, try these leisurely adventures on West Michigan waters. Beaver Island is the state’s most remote, inhabited island with a rich history and abundant natural beauty is available to visit. The Beaver Island Boat Co. is a passenger/car ferry service that takes visitors from Charlevoix to Beaver Island. In Traverse City, the Grey Hare Inn offers four-hour cruises on a 42-foot sailboat as well as “Sail ‘n Stay Packages” to interest those looking for a new twist on a traditional Bed-and-Breakfast stay. Also “up north,” you will find tours that take passengers to beautiful islands along Lake Michigan’s Lakeshore. Manitou Island Tours takes visitors on a historic expedition to Lake Michigan islands and lighthouses around North and South Manitou Islands. They can even drop you off and pick you up the next day if you want to stay on the islands to camp, hike, fish or kayak.   

Around the Southwest side of the state you will find various leisure boat rides open to the general public. The Harbor Steamer in Grand Haven provides a scenic, narrated cruise on the Grand River and Spring Lake. Each trip offers a relaxing and unique reminder of America’s heritage of river travel and on the weekend, they have live entertainment and special dinner cruises. As you continue south along the lakeshore you reach Holland, where you will find the Holland Princess, offering a delightful cruise in a 65-foot riverboat vessel with a narrated tour of beautiful Lake Macatawa and its charming lake homes, historic landmarks and nature at its finest. Continue south and you’ll reach the City of Saugatuck, where the Star of Saugatuck  will give you a completely different view of the beautiful city and majestic Lake Michigan.

Maybe you’re looking for a little more excitement around these splendid bodies of water. You’re in luck—Michigan’s tens of thousands of square miles of Great Lakes and inland waterways are full of more than 140 varieties of fish. Unbeatable fishing opportunities provide hours of casting and reeling excitement. Ranging from finger-sized smelt to 30-pound salmon and lake trout, you’ll find excitement in many sizes when you take time to fish West Michigan.

The Michigan Charter Boat Association is a great resource for those who want to try sport fishing on the Great Lakes. One of Lake Michigan’s top producing ports is Ludington, and the Therapy Too Sport Fishing Charters  is equipped to get you where the fish are quickly and safely!  Fish with Nelson Charters, out of Grand Haven for King Salmon, Coho, Lake Trout, Steelhead, Brown Trout and Perch. Co Hooker Charter Service in Saugatuck offers hands-on experiences that will teach you how to hook the fish of your dreams!

If you have your own watercraft, Michigan offers more than 1,300 public access sites, which is more than any other state. For information on full-service marinas in West Michigan, visit our website at wmta.org.  Visit the West Michigan Tourist Association website for all your boating excursions and for help planning the rest of your trip in West Michigan. Also on our website, request a free copy of our West Michigan Carefree Guide for all the best places to stay and play in West Michigan.

# # #

The West Michigan Tourist Association exists to market and promote travel to West Michigan and to enhance the image and economic success of its members. Representing Michigan from Northwest Indiana to the Straits of Mackinac - We Know West Michigan!