Insiders share their favorite boating hotspots, from vibrant ports to tranquil hideaways.
When it comes to summer boating destinations, the Great Lakes region offers more than we could fully experience in our lifetimes. This month,
local experts and enthusiasts share their personal favorites, from the Thousand Islands in the east to Lake Michigan’s Green Bay in the west.
Wellesley Island, New York
At Wellesley Island’s southwest tip lies Thousand Island Park, a charming community of Victorian homes founded in 1875. Today, TI Park is a summer haven for many families who own their homes but lease the land from the Thousand Island Park Corporation. On the west coast, between Wellesley and Murray islands, you’ll find The Narrows; the 2.3-mile Wellesley Island State Park Trail overlooks this thin waterway, with TI Park just around the corner. If you’re hungry, check out The Guzzle and the Wellesley Hotel Restaurant.
Canoe-Picnic Point State Park, New York
Located at the northeast point of Grindstone Island, Picnic Point is only accessible by boat. The roughly 2-mile Grindstone Island Nature Trail connects Canoe Point and Picnic Point state parks through forests and wetlands, and it offers stunning views of the St. Lawrence River.
Southwick Beach State Park, New York
In the western Thousand Islands toward Lake Ontario, you will find one of the region’s few sandy beaches. Open year-round, Southwick Beach State Park offers swimming, fishing, hiking, picnicking, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, snowmobiling and hunting.
Ivy Lea, Ontario
Nestled at the heart of the Thousand Islands, this little hamlet offers stunning views of the 8.5-mile, 150-foot-tall, international Thousand Islands Bridge, which opened in 1938. You’ll find fine dining, a lunch patio, and a cafe with ice cream at the Ivy Lea Club’s Ivy Restaurant. The 40-acre club has a marina, and visiting boaters can take advantage of transient dockage.
“After cruising through the Lost Channel on the American side and Smuggler’s Cove near Ontario, Ivy Lea is the destination of many of our Sunset Cruises and Friends of the Museum Cruises. It is home to hundreds of islands with narrow passages and beautiful homes along the river.” —Matt Perrin, Antique Boat Museum
Kelleys Island, Ohio
Just a few miles off Ohio’s Catawba Island lies Lake Erie’s largest archipelago. While Put-in-Bay on South Bass Island is the top destination for many boaters, 4.41-square-mile Kelleys Island offers a very different experience. It is the largest of the Erie Islands, and it’s the only U.S. island to be designated a National Historic District. Spending time here is like falling into a time warp, from the tiny market, one-room stone police station, quaint shops and classic yellow bicycles near the square to the stately old Victorians, rustic cottages and rural farmsteads.
“Kelleys Island is a great place for boaters to visit. It has a very laid-back, boater-friendly vibe. I would dock and dine at either Portside Marina/Docker’s or at the West Bay Inn, which is the best place on the island for sunsets!” —Jill Bauer, Lake Erie Shores & Islands
Sandusky, Ohio
Named the “Best Coastal Small Town in America” in 2019 by USA Today readers, this walkable city is undergoing a renaissance. Boaters will find transient dockage at the Paper District Marina, also home to the Dockside Cafe. From here, you can walk to downtown Sandusky and the Jackson Street Pier for sightseeing, entertainment, shopping and a variety of eateries and watering holes — many in revitalized historic buildings. In 2021, the city established a Downtown Outdoor Refreshment Area, which allows customers to enjoy beverages in DORA carry-out cups while strolling in town.
Vermilion, Ohio
Located 17 miles east of Sandusky, this city is known for its festivals, including the Festival of the Fish in June and the Woollybear Festival in the fall (which draws upward of 150,000 people). Then there are Third Thursdays, with live music around town, and Market In The Park, with an array of locally grown produce, arts and crafts. Quaker Steak & Lube on the Vermilion River has a weekly Boat Night, similar to motorcycle or car events ashore. Several marinas in the area offer transient dockage, and you are within walking distance of Vermilion’s quaint downtown for shopping and dining.
Top photo Vermilion, Ohio — Credit Shores & Islands Ohio
HEATHER STEINBERGER is an award-winning writer/editor who has specialized in boating, travel and outdoor adventure for more than 25 years.
Pentwater, Michigan
Pentwater, Michigan
A vibrant, eclectic village surrounding a 500-acre inland lake, Pentwater is just a short channel ride or walk away from Lake Michigan. It has several marinas just steps from downtown, making it an excellent port of call for boaters, who will find a small grocery store, shops (including a retro candy store), restaurants, and plenty of ice cream and fudge. Visitors can enjoy Charles Mears State Park, Pentwater Pathways and the public beach for outdoor recreation.
“I was lucky enough to ‘adopt’ Pentwater when I met my husband; his family has been going there from Chicago since before he was born. Our favorite time to be there is at sunset, whether in town, on the beach or in our cabin. Stunning!” —Christy Bauhs, Lakeland Boating
Harsens Island, Michigan
This approximately 24-square-mile island sits amid 2,100 acres of the largest freshwater delta in the Great Lakes Basin — one of the largest in the world. It offers opportunities for big boating as well as exploring the flats with personal watercraft or tenders. Paddlers will enjoy the Krispin Water Trail, which also provides rich fishing grounds and waterfowl hunting. Head for the waterfront park at Sans Souci, on the island’s southeast side, for a great view of passing ships.
“The Old Club on Harsens Island is an incredible destination for day trips or week-long stays. The club’s history dates to 1872, and it offers a variety of entertainment settings, from casual to formal.” —Amy Krueger, Jefferson Beach Yacht Sales
Chambers Island, Wisconsin
Located roughly 7.5 miles off Wisconsin’s Door Peninsula northwest of Fish Creek, 3,200-acre Chambers Island features a 350-acre inland lake, a 40-acre public park, and lightly traveled roads that are perfect for walking and biking. On the north side of the island, boaters will find a beach with an excellent deep-water approach; it’s protected from all but north winds.
Peninsula State Park, Wisconsin
This 3,700-acre Door County state park offers a Nature Center, the Peninsula Players summer theater, an 18-hole golf course, 20 miles of hiking trails, six bike trails, an accessible playground, an 1868 lighthouse, and eight miles of shoreline on Lake Michigan’s Green Bay. Don’t miss the beloved beach and anchorage at Nicolet Bay, popular with day-tripping boaters for decades. Drop the hook or raft up to enjoy the day. If you go ashore, grab a burger or pizza at the snack bar, or head for Nicolet Beach Concession to rent canoes, kayaks, bikes and tagalongs. Hikers will love the moderately challenging, 2.5-mile Eagle Trail, which incorporates forest, caves, cliffs and shoreline.
“Door County’s New England-style small towns are full of shopping, restaurants and scenery. In Egg Harbor, the public beach is quickly being discovered by boaters; get there early to find the best anchorage spot. Fish Creek is possibly the most well-known of our boating towns. And Sister Bay — if you haven’t seen the Goats on the Roof (at Al Johnson’s), you just haven’t visited Door County.” —Mark Felhofer, Bay Marine
Throw off the docklines
Bing and I always enjoyed crossing Lake Michigan to Petoskey, stopping at Charlevoix and Harbor Springs (a favorite restaurant just north of Harbor Springs is Legs Inn), and ending up at Mackinac Island to enjoy the island’s history and the Grand Hotel.
Bing always loved cruising in the North Channel and Georgian Bay — some of the most picturesque and peaceful cruising grounds in the world. The Thousand Islands captured our hearts so much that we bought several turn-of-the- century cottages and spent many memorable summers there enjoying island life.
There really are no ports in the Great Lakes that disappoint. The only downside is there aren’t enough cruising days to visit them all. Bing always felt that one shouldn’t wait for retirement to enjoy cruising, so throw off the docklines and explore!
—Linda O’Meara, Lakeland Boating publisher
