mackinaw city lighthouse tours

Shepler's Lighthouse Cruises

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Shepler's Lighthouse Cruises - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)

• (0.09 mi) Brigadoon Bed and Breakfast
• (0.09 mi) Welcome Inn
• (0.12 mi) “The Carriage Haus Studio” downtown Mackinaw City!
• (0.19 mi) Lamplighter Motel
• (0.20 mi) Deer Head Inn
• (0.06 mi) Mackinaw Bakery & Coffeehouse
• (0.12 mi) Key Hole Bar
• (0.11 mi) Pancake Chef
• (0.08 mi) Dixie Saloon
• (0.07 mi) O'Reilly's Irish Pub

LIGHTHOUSE TOURS

Lake huron lighthouse tours by boat.

Hey there lighthouse enthusiasts, an exciting new opportunity awaits you right here in Northern Michigan! Tackle that bucket list and write down ‘Get up close to a Lake Huron lighthouse’ on your list of things to do in Northern Michigan. Nautical North Family Adventures can get you out on the water and up close to some of the most magnificent lighthouse tours Michigan has to offer!  

On board the Huron Explorer, you and five of your friends (or new acquaintances) depart from Mackinaw City to tour area lighthouses on a four-hour cruise. On this professionally narrated tour, you and your friends will experience the awe-inspiring beauty of Lake Michigan, stopping for pictures underneath the Mackinac Bridge and cruising near to St. Helena Light, White Shoal Light, Greys Reef Light, McGulpin Point Light, and Waugoshance Light. Check out our website to see some of the stunning views awaiting you.  

Nautical North Family Adventures provides one of the few lighthouse tours Lake Huron has to offer, going out as far as Spectacle Reef Light! In coordination with the Spectacle Reef Preservation Society, we are able to actually climb up this light. On the Lake Huron Tour, you will encounter the Cheboygan Front Range Light, Cheboygan Crib Light, 14 Foot Shoal Light, Poe Reef Light, Spectacle Reef (available), Bois Blanc Island Light, and Round Island Light.

While you’re here, some things to do in Cheboygan MI include taking a glass bottom boat ride aboard the Yankee Sunshine-one of the best glass bottom boat tours Michigan has to offer! Nautical North Family Adventures offers 1.5-hour long excursions passing three lighthouses and over three sunken shipwrecks-all with a professionally guided tour experience.

We are currently working on an exciting possibility in connection with St. Helena Island Keepers for a possibility of a day on the island with lunch prepared at the light. Call and let us know if you’re interested!

*Round Island Light

*Bois Blanc Island Light

*Poe Reef Light

*14 Foot Shoal Light

*Cheboygan Crib Light

*Cheboygan Front Range Light

*You can add on Spectacle Reef Light for an extra $100 (add on another 45 min, too!)

*Add on different lights for additional cost. Call to set up your lighthouse adventure!

• SIGN UP FOR THE EVENING CRUISE TO CATCH OUR SPECTACULAR SUNSET ON THE WATER! We are available to visit any or all of the following lights departing from Mackinaw City at the Hook Lakeside Grille dock. Cost is $595 for the boat, (carries up to 6 passengers) with an extra $100 fuel charge.
• Gray’s Reef Light
• White Shoal Light
• Waugoshance Light
• St. Helena Light **Take a GUIDED TOUR of the actual light for an additional $10. (This money will go directly to the restoration of the light). We can pull right up to St. Helena Island and let you enjoy a welcoming guided hour long tour inside the light. Make it part of your lighthouse tour package!

*Cost is  $695  per trip with a maximum capacity of 6 people

*Outside food and beverages are welcome

*Tours last approximately 4 hours

*Restrooms available onshore and small head (restroom)on board!

*Have more than 6 people? The sister ship Yankee Sunshine can accommodate up to 28 passengers. Check out the private charters tab or call 231-444-3400 to book your excursion!

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Shepler's Lighthouse Cruises

Virtual brochure and information for Shepler's Lighthouse Cruises, one of many online travel brochures for tourist information in Mackinaw City, MI. Provided by your source for Mackinaw Information and Mackinac Information.

Virtual PDF brochure of Shepler's Lighthouse Cruises

556 E. Central Ave. P.O. Box 250 Mackinaw City, MI 49701 Toll-free: 800-828-6157 (U.S. only) Phone: 231-436-5023 Fax: 231-436-7521 Website: www.sheplersferry.com E-mail: [email protected]

Shepler’s Mackinac Island Ferry - See the Straits of Mackinac’s historic lighthouses - View lighthouses so close you can almost touch them - Learn about their fascinating history - Cruise under the Mackinac Bridge - Choose from 7 different routes - Discover our new extended routes

The Best Seats In History For close to three centuries, the Straits of Mackinac has been a vital nautical thoroughfare, providing passage between Lakes Huron and Michigan. But traveling its famed blue waters has not come without risk.

Over the many decades, lighthouses were built to protect mariners from dangerous shoals and reefs. Each has a story to tell.

Shepler’s exclusive Lighthouse Cruises are voyages of discovery. Guests are treated to awe-inspiring views and the fascinating history surrounding these Great Lakes guardians.

Professional on-board narration! Each lighthouse cruise is narrated by members of the Great Lakes Lighthouse Keepers Association. A portion of all proceeds is donated toward lighthouse preservation and restoration efforts.

Sail the Straits of Mackinac! Fifteen historic lighthouses lie within easy cruising distance of Mackinaw City. Travel in comfort and safety on Shepler’s large, spacious vessels during these fascinating tours.

Be sure to bring your camera! Ships cruise in as close as possible to each lighthouse, providing stunning and rare photo opportunities.

Each cruise passes directly under the Mackinac Bridge. You’ll learn of the climactic struggle to build it as you’re treated to this rare sight.

Icebreaker Mackinaw Maritime Museum now open! - Moored at Shepler’s Railroad Dock, the long-serving US Coast Guard Cutter Icebreaker Mackinaw is now a floating museum, providing a detailed look at its illustrious 62-year history. Daily tours available. Call 231-436-9825 or email: [email protected] for more information.

Navigate Mackinac From home or on the go. Check out our Lighthouse page on facebook.

Westward Cruise Departing from Shepler’s Mackinaw City dock, you’ll bear west past the historic Old Mackinac Point Light. Built in 1892, this light was of particular importance to car ferry services running from the mainland to St. Ignace. The completion of the Mackinac Bridge, with its highly visible navigation lights, made Old Mackinac Point Light obsolete. A few minutes later, you’ll find yourself directly beneath the Mighty Mac, for a breathtaking view of girders and superstructure few people experience.

A 20 mile westward run brings you to White Shoal Light. With its trademark "candy cane-stripe" design, it is among the most instantly recognizable lighthouses in the Great Lakes. Built in 1910, it serves as a replacement for Waugoshance.

To the south lies Gray’s Reef Light. The shoal on which it sits was deemed so treacherous that it received an early Federal lightship. Built in 1936, Gray’s Reef Light replaced a lightship placed there in 1891.

Your ship will then double back towards the eerie and forbidding Waugoshace Light, built in 1851. This structure is encased in iron plates as protection against a hostile environment, and its “birdcage” lantern is quite a rarity among surviving structures.

A 12 mile eastward run ends at the St. Helena Island Light, an ongoing Great Lakes Lighthouse Keepers Association (GLLKA) restoration project. In the 1850s, this beautiful island was a major commercial fishing hub. Built in 1873, the light was originally fueled with lard, then kerosene. In 1922, metal rods were installed that expanded when warmed by the sun, cutting off the fuel supply. Darkness caused the rods to contract, allowing fuel to again reach the lamp. The final leg of your trip again takes you beneath the inspiring Mackinac Bridge on your way back to port.

St. Helena Experience Travel to beautiful St. Helena Island for an all-day tour of its restored light station including lunch on the island. Seating is limited to 17. Call GLLKA at 231-436-5580 for reservations and more information.

The Les Cheneaux Excursion Join us on a 5-hour Extended Cruise into the beautiful Les Cheneaux Islands in northern Lake Huron. In addition to seeing stunning scenery, you will enjoy exceptional views of six lighthouses including the Martin Reef and Spectacle Lights. Visit our website for more information.

Eastbound Cruise As you head out of Mackinaw City, you’ll be treated to a rare view of the Mackinac Bridge as your ship passes directly beneath it. Bearing cast into Lake Huron, you’ll “thread the needle” between Round Island Light and Round Island Passage Light. In the 1800s, mariners avoided this narrow, treacherous passage. Built in 1895, Round Island Light opened a significantly shorter route to and from the Straits of Mackinac. Round Island Passage Light was later built as an additional point of navigational reference.

Continuing eastward, you’ll pass Bois Blanc Light. Built in 1829, this is one of the area’s oldest lights and just the second built in all of Lake Huron. The original tower collapsed. The structure seen today is the third lighthouse on the site.

A southernly turn brings Poe Reef Light into view. Starting in 1893, four lightships took turns marking this dangerous reef until this permanent light was built in 1929. Its signature black and white bands serve as an easily identifiable daymark.

A short run due west finds Fourteen Foot Shoal Light, marking the entrance to Cheboygan Harbor. Built in 1930, this light was never manned. It was originally radio controlled, representing one of the earliest attempts at off-site operation.

A quick trip up the Cheboygan River takes you past Cheboygan Crib Light. This 35’ tall, octagonal tower was moved from its offshore position to the Joseph F. Doyle Memorial area. If in port, you’ll also see the new Coast Guard Cutter Mackinaw. A quick trip up the Cheboygan River brings you to the Cheboygan River Front Range Light, part of an early river range light system built in 1880.

Heading back out into open water, a turn to the west takes you along Michigan’s lower peninsula shoreline for your return trip to Mackinaw City.

The Ultimate 2-Day Northern Lake Huron Lighthouse Adventure This 2-day adventure starts with a pass under the Mackinac Bridge, then heads southeast to view the Cheboygan Crib & Front Range light and the offshore lights on Fourteen Foot Shoal and Poe Reef. We then head down the coast to view the lights at Forty Mile Point, Presque Isle, Middle Island and Thunder Bay Island before docking in Alpena for a gala dinner at the Great Lakes Maritime Heritage Center and our hotel for the night. The next morning we head back up the lake to obtain close-up views of the Spectacle, Detour and Martin Reef lights, Bois Blanc Island and the Round Island and Round Island Passage lights before arriving back in Mackinaw City.

The price includes all meals, snacks, lodging, and transportation. For reservations call GLLKA at 231-436-5580.

Extended Lighthouse Cruises More in 2010! Take an extended Lighthouse Cruise and get a rare glimpse of the elusive Skillagalee Lighthouse added to our westbound tour or Spectacle Reef Light added to the eastbound tour. Both lights may only be viewed up-close from a boat and these cruises will allow you unbelievable photo opportunities of these remarkable lighthouses. Each cruise is four hours long and the cost includes a boxed lunch.

Reservations recommended. Cruise direction may change due to severe weather conditions. For a full refund cancellations must be made 5 days prior to the cruise. Box lunches may be ordered at additional cost. Food and beverages available. No pets please.

All lighthouse cruises depart from our Mackinaw City dock.

Order your tickets online or www.sheplersferry.com You can now order ferry, lighthouse cruise or other Straits area attraction tickets and make overnight parking arrangements from the convenience of your computer! It’s simple, quick and totally secure.

If you have new or updated information about this virtual brochure, please contact us .

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Huron Lighthouses Tour Fully Escorted Motorcoach Tours

The lighthouse enthusiast, the history buff and the traveler desiring scenic vistas will regard this day as their favorite of your Northern Michigan tour! This day trip along the Lake Huron shoreline includes up close looks at big ships, big lighthouses, smaller lighthouses, somber memorials and lore of the region that has 370 years of maritime history.

The day begins with a choice of seeing either McGulpin Point Lighthouse* or Old Mackinac Point Lighthouse* (one or the other may have already been visited on our Mackinaw City Tour). From there it’s on to Cheboygan, where your guests will have an observation tour of the Cheboygan Crib Light and Range lights. You’ll see both lights up close on the Cheboygan River. The U.S. Coast Guard cutter Mackinaw may be in port and can be seen and interpreted by our guide.

A 45-minute drive next takes us along the scenic Lake Huron shoreline to 40-Mile Point Lighthouse*, where we’ll also see the pilothouse of the steamer Calcite on display. It’s only 15 minutes away to Rogers City’s Memorial Park, where memorials honor the sailors lost on the freighters Cedarville and Bradley. The tragedies greatly impacted this maritime town by claiming the lives of fathers, sons, brothers and uncles. Shipwreck artifacts and storytelling at this site.

After a delightful lunch at the Lighthouse Inn*, we’ll step two doors down to the Great Lakes Lore Museum* and see the ship’s bell from the Bradley and the impressive displays of captains, ships and Great Lakes memorabilia. Our Rogers City stay concludes with a stop at the Calcite Dock, where giant freighters may be loading stone next to the motorcoach for a variety of uses. We’ll see examples of their cargo and view the vast quarry that produces materials for America’s road building needs.

The Presque Isle Lighthouse* is 15 minutes away and boasts the tallest light structure in our area. Like the other lights on our tour, a lighthouse-oriented gift shop offers unusual items sure to please shoppers wanting distinctive gifts.

Visiting lighthouses does not have to be a physically demanding day. The tour allows passengers to choose which lighthouse towers (if any) they want to climb. Some are easily accessible but others have enough steps to challenge the fitness buffs in your group. The day’s itinerary has built-in rest periods aboard the motorcoach, at lunch and while viewing ships at the Calcite dock.

Some passengers may choose to simply enjoy a walk along the beach or take calendar-quality photos while others insist on seeing the view from the top. We’ll be back at your hotel with an hour to freshen up for dinner.

*Separate admission charge for these attractions.

Contact Us Today for Tour Pricing & Availability!

Mackinaw's ORIGINAL Step-On Tour Guide — serving motorcoach groups since 1992

© 2024 Straits Area Step-On Guide Service  |  Mackinaw City, MI  |  Website Design: MCG

WELCOME TO MCGULPIN POINT

Tens of thousands of visitors find their way to our site each year. We enjoy meeting people from all over the world and talking with them about the rich history of McGulpin Point.

Stay on the Historic McGulpin Point Lighthouse Grounds!

Emmet County is pleased to offer overnight accommodations at the McGulpin Point Cottage on the Lighthouse grounds. The secluded apartment, located next to the McGulpin Point Lighthouse, is centrally located near all that Mackinaw City has to offer. Just minutes from downtown Mackinaw City, you will have easy access to restaurants, shops, beaches and the acclaimed Headlands International Dark Sky Park.  

Big Rock, Big Significance

The Big Rock at McGulpin Point   About 390 years ago, pilgrims momentously set foot on the Eastern seaboard of the U.S. and Plymouth Rock was christened an enduring symbol of American settlement. But 395 years ago, French explorers were plying the Straits of Mackinac and using a rock at least five times the size of Plymouth’s to gauge water levels as they navigated in canoes along the tumultuous waters …

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Great Lakes Lighthouse Keepers Association

Dedicated to the restoration and preservation of

Great Lakes lighthouses

2024 Lighthouse Keeper Programs now open for applicants!

Enjoy the unique experience of living in a historic lighthouse!

Come visit St. Helena Lighthouse this summer!

2024 Day Trips

Wednesday, June 12

Wednesday, June 26

Monday, July 8

Friday, July 26

Saturday, August 3

Monday, August 5

GLLKA Members - $125

Non-members - $145

Book your adventure today!

(231) 436-5580

Originally consisting of an informal gathering of retired lighthouse keepers, their families and friends, the Great Lakes Lighthouse Keepers Association (GLLKA) was officially incorporated as a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization in 1983, making it one of the nation's longest-lived lighthouse preservation groups.

With a mission statement calling for "the preservation of lighthouses, the stories of those who kept them, and developing a new generation of preservationists", the Association's second President Dick Moehl realized the group needed to find a lighthouse to restore in order to fully bring its mission to reality.

Finding the abandoned 1873 St. Helena Island light station to be in deplorable condition, the group set its sights on adopting and restoring the abandoned relic. In 2004, we received the deed to the Cheboygan River Front Range Light, and fundraising for the restoration of that lighthouse is underway. We also work to support other lighthouse groups throughout the Great Lakes and across the nation.

To find out more about our accomplishments, visit the "GLLKA Chronology" page.

OUR LIGHTHOUSES

St. Helena Island Light Station

Cheboygan River Front Range Light

How you can get Involved

Members of GLLKA receive our quarterly magazine THE BEACON and can be involved in our volunteer programs and lighthouse events

GLLKA is welcoming volunteers of all trades to help at our lighthouses or lead lighthouse excursions and fundraisers

We offer lighthouse cruises on the Great Lakes as well as various workshops and events at our lighthouses

Every donation helps preserve Great Lakes Lighthouses and Maritime History

Your purchases help support our non-profit and our mission to preserve Great Lakes Lighthouses

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Soo Locks Upper St. Mary’s River Lighthouse Cruise

Enjoy a continental breakfast while riding through the Soo Locks and navigating in the St.Mary's River.

Enjoy a continental breakfast while riding through the Soo Locks and navigating in the St.Mary's River. Explore this important waterway and see the variety of lighthouses and navigation markers leading ships to the Soo Locks from Lake Superior. You will see the Point Iroquois Lighthouse, Gros Cap Reefs Light Station, the remains of Round Island Lighthouse, and many other interesting sights. This 4.5 hour cruise departs at 8:00 a.m. on selected dates from Dock #2, 515 E. Portage Ave. The U.S. Coast Guard inspected ship is equipped with a climate controlled lower deck, restrooms, and snack bar. Box lunches are available with advance reservations. No passports required. Reservations strongly suggested. Call or e-mail for reservation information.

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Ugly anne boat tours, mackinaw city.

My name is Captain Chris West, and I started Ugly Anne Boat Tours in 2011.  My wife, Heather, and I found Ugly Anne in a lobster boat shipyard south of Portland, Maine, and knew she was the proper boat to bring back to the Great Lakes.  We give a very personalized tour of the Straits of Mackinac, Mackinac Bridge, and all things in between while giving you a brief glimpse of life in northern Michigan and the Mackinaw area. We only take 30 people out on tour, so there's lots of time for questions and plenty of amazing pictures to take while out with us on the 1-hour cruises. ‍ We look forward to meeting you and appreciate you considering us for a cruise under the Mackinac Bridge.  Whether it be the history cruise or sunset cruise, you will fall in love with our little piece of northern paradise.

Our Reviews

This is a great family owned business. The son owns and captains Ugly Anne, mom and dad work in the office and on the boat. I took my family on a sunset cruise, they had a great time. Awesome for picture taking. Ugly Anne has wine, soda, and beer for purchase during your cruise. The cruise is definitely worth taking at least twice.

A tour boat from Mackinaw City to, and under, the Mackinac Bridge. (The world's third longest suspension bridge.) The crew does provide commentary about the area, the origins of The Ugly Annie tour boat, The Mackinac Bridge and the United States Coast Guard Cutter Mackinaw. an icebreaker that is now a museum. The tour is approximately one hour long and definitely gives you unique photo opportunities of the Mackinac Bridge. Adult beverages and soft drinks are available for a nominal fee. My family thoroughly enjoyed this brief tour and history lesson. I recommend this tour to others.

This was hands down the BEST part of our entire trip to MI! The cruise was perfect. We lucked out and had a great sunset to watch because the weather cooperated, but it was still well worth the money paid even if that wasn’t the case. Crew and employees are incredibly kind and outgoing. They give you information on the cruise but not so much that you feel numb from the history lesson. Safety is their priority and even in this time of COVID we felt safe and had the best time!

Frequently Asked Questions

Old Mackinac Point Lighthouse Hours & Admission

2024 hours of operation.

May 9 – May 31, 2024 9:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Last Admission 4:00 p.m.

June 1 – September 1, 2024 9:00 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. Last Admission 5:00 p.m.

September 2 – October 6, 2024 9:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Last Admission 4:00 p.m.

2024 Admission Rates

Adult $10.25 Child (Age 5-12) $7.25

Click here for more information and to save on combination tickets and season passes.

Group rates are available! If you have 12 or more people visiting with you please contact our Marketing and Group Travel Coordinator .

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From urban streets to shoreline retreats – meet the real Michigan

If Mother Nature and Banksy could collaborate, they’d do it here in Michigan. It is a mix tape of natural wonder and modern culture, offering travellers not just one but two distinct holiday experiences in America’s heartland

Here’s a secret: Michigan’s Great Lakes offer sandy retreats and sunset views that give any tropical paradise a run for its money – minus the palm trees. Instead, you get views dotted with pines, coastal wetland, sculpted dunes, bluffs from melting glaciers, bedrock shorelines, some dating to 2 billion years old, and lighthouses standing sentinel. It has more character than a Hemingway novel.

The Upper Peninsula, or “the U.P.”, as it’s affectionately known, serves rugged beauty with a side of cheek. It’s the kind of place where the deer and the moose play chicken, and the locals, known as Yoopers, are as famous for their dry wit as they are for their pasties.

A four-season playground

Autumn (or fall in the US) paints the landscape in vivid hues that seem like an Instagram filter, while winter transforms the state into a snowy wonderland. Spring and summer? That’s when Michigan really shows off, with innumerable nature trails, wild watersports, and camping spots that are like starlit sanctuaries, proving you don’t need saltwater to have a good time.

Tread mindfully

As you find yourself enjoying the outdoor wonder, keep in mind these pristine places deserve a little R-E-S-P-E-C-T. Around Michigan, there is a growing awareness of the benefits of responsible, or regenerative travel. It’s a philosophical promise to the locals who live here and travellers yet to arrive that while you’re enjoying the pristine lakes, national parks and local cuisine you’re not affecting the landscape in a way that might prevent others from enjoying the same experiences in the future. There are some easy ways to enjoy Michigan with a light footprint.

Kayaking is a popular watersport here, and some of the best paddling opportunities can be had through Michigan’s Water Trails . Sign up to become a paddle steward; the funds are used to protect the waterways from invasive species.

Isle Royale, Michigan

Or how about a driving-walking tour? Map your holiday via Michigan’s renowned walking trails , and rent an electric vehicle to drive the Michigan leg of the 1,770km Lake Michigan EV Circuit Tour . The full circuit, which is still in development, also takes you through Illinois, Indiana and Wisconsin. Check which EV charging stations are operational before you plot your journey.

The key to responsible travel is to think local when preparing for the trip: shop for seasonal items and try to buy from locally owned businesses.

Traverse City and beyond

If you’re driving north up to the Leelanau Peninsula along the Lake Michigan coastline you’ll arrive in Traverse City, the self-proclaimed cherry capital of the US.

Farm Club. Photograph: Mike Gilger.

Stop at Third Coast Fruit Co, just north of Traverse City, to pick your own cherries during the summer months. The Wunsch family has been growing berries here for more than 100 years. For a less arduous food gathering activity head to Farm Club , just over 10km from downtown Traverse City, where you can access the market, restaurant and brewery, and stock up on locally grown and made supplies.

If you park the EV and hire bikes for the day, you can hit the 17km Traverse Area Recreation Trail (TART). After the ride, head to Little Fleet food trucks in downtown Traverse City and let the region’s best cooks take you on a farm-to-table culinary journey (the food trucks are open from late April until mid October).

Once you arrive at Mackinaw City, in the north of the state, you might need yet more local delicacies to snack on. Head to Minogin Market – a tribal owned food store – to sample the local and Native American vegetables and food products on offer. If you’re lucky you’ll be able to buy a bottle of Ziibimijwang Farm’ s in-demand maple syrup. This is the real stuff, and you won’t taste better.

From Mackinaw City, visitors can access one of the state’s most prized national parks. Put your hiking boots on before you take the 20-minute ferry ride to quaint Mackinac Island . The island has prohibited motor vehicles since 1898, so you’ll get around in a horse-drawn taxi or on foot; there are more than 100km of walking trails.

From Mackinaw you can leave the EV trail and head downstate, where Michigan’s cultural scene struts its stuff with the swagger of Motown legends.

A cultural renaissance

Jamel Randall, owner of The TRAP Yoga Studio. Photograph: Kyra Head.

The city of Detroit is undergoing a renaissance that’s part urban chic, part art revolution, with a sprinkle of culinary genius. We spoke with a true local to find out how the motor city is changing gears.

“Detroit stays committed to the grind,” says Jamel Randall. “I used to venture to Chicago or Miami, but now I relish staying closer to home.”

Randall is the owner of The TRAP Yoga Studio, which is central to the city. He’s a true local who’s smitten with the scene. “My mornings kick off with meditation and yoga, followed by a run on the Riverwalk [along the Detroit River] and a session of HIIT conditioning.” Just so you know, that riverfront walking trail was named by USA Today the best in America for three consecutive years – from 2021 to 2023. It’s the artery that keeps the blood pumping in more ways than one.

Randall trains hard so he can play hard. He and his partner have a list of their favourite places to go, but he says: “There are so many new spots popping up in Detroit that make it super fun to explore.” Their go-to brekkie spot? The Apparatus Room at the Foundation Hotel, followed by a pit stop at Central Kitchen for a brunch drink and then to Parc for some people watching. Later on, he likes the hangout vibe at The Godfrey with its rooftop ambience, and in the evening, “we may indulge in more culinary delights at either Empire or SheWolf .”

SheWolf Detroit

In Detroit, the comeback is king, and the city’s resurgence is a patchwork of innovation, creativity and a big dash of grit. It’s a place where every corner has a story, every meal is a conversation, and every mural is an invitation to look a little closer.

Come see for yourself. Michigan welcomes you all year round.

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Shepler’s Travel Tips for the Mackinac Policy Conference 2024

All registered attendees will automatically receive an electronic roundtrip ferry ticket at the email address they provided when signing up.  Your online ferry ticket must be presented to board the boat.  You may show it off your phone or print if off to bring with you.  If multiple tickets are associated with your registration, they are all included in one order.  If your party is traveling separately, please forward the order confirmation to each individual to redeem as they come through.  If you arrive without your online ticket, you will need to have it printed off at the ticket office.

Overnight Parking:  You will have our two normal options to choose from at both dock locations.  In Mackinaw City , this includes premium on-site parking (based on availability at time of arrival) for $45/night or standard off-site parking for $20/night (shuttle service provided back to ferry dock).  All overnight parking is self-park and arranged at time of arrival.  Regardless of which option you prefer, you will need to come to the ferry dock first at 556 E. Central Ave., Mackinaw City, MI 49701.  If you’re traveling from St. Ignace , we have on-site self-parking for $40/night or standard off-site parking for $20/night (shuttle service provided back to ferry dock).  Same procedure applies of needing to come to our dock first which is located at 601 N. State St., St. Ignace, MI  49781.  If you are seeking additional information regarding overnight parking, please check out our parking page here .

Due to safety issues, rolling suitcases and large bags will not be accepted as carry-on for the ferry.  If you wish to claim your luggage at the Island Dock, instead of having it delivered to your hotel, please let us know so we can put a generic tag on your bags and you can retrieve your items on the dock after departing the vessel.

When returning, we ask that you carry-on your Conference bags or pack them in your suitcase.  Since these bags are identical, they are easily mixed up and bags can be taken by mistake.  We recommend not to put any personal/important items in these bags as we assume no responsibility for these.

Upon your return, it will be your responsibility to ensure you have collected the correct bags that belong to you.   Please confirm your claim checks match your luggage as you exit the luggage tent area.  If you chose the standard off-site lot, you will take your luggage with you and board a shuttle to return to your vehicle and depart for your next destination from there.

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