Cheboygan, located at the northernmost tip of Michigan’s Lower Peninsula, has a great maritime history, with unspoiled rivers and unpretentious charm. This lakeside oasis is far removed from the hectic traffic of the big tourism cities, where you’ll really experience something of Northern Michigan’s lake-life.
When you’re trying to get your summer vacation plans just right, you’ll find that getting in touch with Nautical North Family Adventures is the secret to discovering the best and most furtive wonders in the country.
These are just a few ideas for how to make a perfect summer day in Cheboygan. Here are some of the best ways to enjoy a perfect summer day in Cheboygan:
- Fuel up in Historic Downtown Cheboygan at 8:30 AM
The perfect summer day starts from the ground up. Go downtown Cheboygan in a friendly, easygoing neighborhood, and lovely historic brick buildings line the streets. Enjoy a coffee in the morning at one of the local cafés on Main Street and a substantial breakfast. The egg, hash browns, and standard fare of the local diners, or the freshly baked Michigan cherry pastry, will serve as the perfect fuel for an active day out on the water.
Following breakfast, walk to Main Street and explore the local stores, such as bookstores, outfitting and gear shops.
- 10:00 AM – Registration begins in the Nautical North Headquarters Galleria.10:30 AM – General Final Race Start.
Walk over to the Nautical North Family Adventures main office and dock, which is directly on the Cheboygan River at N 123 S. Main Street. It’s a ship-filled place here! Take a few minutes to take in their on-site shop filled with one-of-a-kind nautical mementos, clothing, and concessions.
- Before you get ready, add any and all items to the facilities here or on board, and wear light layers. Lake Huron’s breezes may be fresh on a hot summer day.
- 10:00 AM – Take a trip on the Glass-Bottom Shipwreck Tour
Get on board the Yankee Sunshine, Nautical North’s signature glass-bottom boat, to literally look through time. Once the boat has moved away from the dock, your 1.5-hour trip through time starts.
A beautiful cruise along the Cheboygan River is the first part of the tour. Another early highlight takes place in the town itself: the captain gives the order to open the historic State Street Bridge; then it’s a front-row seat to watch the massive drawbridge swing open to let your boat out into the Great Lakes.
Come and discover the secrets of the deep and the lighthouses.
- 10:30 AM to learn about the secrets of the deep and lighthouses!
As the Yankee Sunshine rolls out across the virtually clear waters of Lake Huron, where the visibility is as great as 30 feet underwater, the landscape unfolds in a dramatic way. The Cheboygan Front Range Light, the Cheboygan Crib Light, and three other iconic, historic lighthouses pass under you as you cruise by, making amazing photos for the family.
- 11:30 AM – Post-Cruise Lunch & Brews
Come on board with a new appreciation of the Great Lakes. The fresh air in the lake will have stimulated your appetite by now. Fortunately, the search for a destination doesn’t have to be far out. Across the street from the Nautical North docks is one of the local breweries that is popular in the town.
Enjoy this underwater showcase on a row of outdoor patio tables while refilling with a playlist of locally brewed Michigan ales, some lively pub burgers, or a fresh whitefish basket. The ambiance is casual, sunlit, a perfect summer relaxing.
- From 1:30 PM, explore the Inland Waterway or Hike Duncan Bay
Quit your day with a fun hike through the variety of nature found in Cheboygan. For travelers, there are two great choices:
You could walk along the beach and trails (Option A). A few minutes’ drive away from downtown is Cheboygan State Park.
Kayak the River is the other alternative. Hire some kayaks and paddle the gentler, pretty parts of Cheboygan River. If you choose to go south, you’ll find excellent access to one of Michigan’s unique resources, the entire stretch of rivers and lakes known as the Inland Waterway through the peninsula—the “Gateway” stands for Michigan’s famous locks.
- 7:00 PM – The ends meet at dinner
Relax and enjoy dinner and views at a riverside restaurant as the sun starts setting in the late afternoon. Toward the docks are several very good restaurants with seats placed on the water to observe the sleek modern-style pontoon boats, venerable tugs, and coming home fishing charters drift lazily up and down the channel. Try to get some pan-seared walleye or lake trout.
Take the opportunity to watch the Grand Finale: A Golden Hour Sunset at 8:30 PM.
It has been a staple in Northern Michigan’s summer skies; a day without seeing the sun ignite over the water. Pick up a soft-serve cone at a neighborhood walk-up cone shop and head to Gordon Turner Park.
This park is situated in the spot where the Cheboygan River meets the Straits of Mackinac and has a panoramic view that cannot be beat anywhere else. Take the walk to the Cheboygan Crib Light.
Day of nautical discovery.
Completely customize a day for a client.
When visiting as a big family, you make it a special trip or are just craving an exclusive day out on the water, then consider upgrading your trip to a Private Charter sailing experience organized by Nautical North.
They can let you customize your day completely, using the two boats—the Yankee Sunshine, which seats up to 28 guests, and the Huron Explorer, which accommodates intimate parties of up to 6.
In the end
There are numerous ways to plan a personal trip to Mackinac Island, including a trip to the lighthouses, a lighthouse tour, a water-adorned fireworks show, or a nighttime sailing cruise to the docks. Regardless of your pick, early bookings mean spectacular summer days in Cheboygan.