Lake Michigan Southbound — Mackinaw to Hammond

Our departure from Mackinaw took us beneath the Mackinac Bridge, an impressive sight from the water. The first stop was St. Ignace, a welcoming town that marked the beginning of our run down the Michigan coastline. A fireworks display capped off the evening.

Weather influenced several decisions along the way, but each port offered something memorable. Charlevoix provided a marina directly on Main Street, surrounded by shops, restaurants, an amphitheater, and the well‑known Mushroom Houses.

Muskegon offered a meaningful historical stop with its WWII LST museum, including a flag flown during the Battle of Okinawa — a connection to both my father’s service and my own time stationed there in 1977.

South Haven added its own charm with numerous ice cream shops and a large VFW.

Due to the scheduled closure of the Tenn‑Tom lock on September 8th, we maintained a steady pace south. The Lake Michigan segment concluded at Hammond, adjacent to the casino and offering a clear view of Chicago.