Port of Call: Tawas Bay, Michigan

Tawas Bay

Saginaw Bay

Tawas Bay locals often tell visiting boaters to get to the Point. Rude as that may sound, it’s not an insult at all but, rather, friendly advice about a favorite nautical gathering spot.

Not that anyone could miss the Point — Tawas Point, that is. Touted as the “Cape Cod of the Midwest,” it’s a hooked spit that juts out into Lake Huron and is home to the 183-acre Tawas Point State Park. Located on

Michigan’s Sunrise Side, three hours north of Detroit, the narrow, sandy peninsula is popular with campers, boaters, day-trippers, hikers, kiteboarders, cyclists, swimmers, beach buffs and birders alike.

It’s a real hotspot for birds as well, especially during late spring and fall migrations when thousands stop to rest and refuel. Nearly 300 species have been identified, including high concentrations of migrating warblers.

Monarch butterflies also mass at the Point during their annual migration in late August or September. “We love to boat there — it’s a beautiful destination,” says Lisa Felice, a Metro Detroiter whose family caravans to the Point in bowriders from their summer homes near Au Gres, 10 nautical miles south. “We drop anchor and enjoy the sights. We have drinks and snacks and watch the kitesurfers and sailboats, and you can walk along the shoreline. We always bring Frisbees and play water games.” Beyond the enclosed pavilion and bathrooms, picturesque Tawas Point Lighthouse rises nearly 70 feet above Lake Huron, the only true Victorian-era style lighthouse station on the Great Lakes. “It’s fun to walk around it,” Felice says of the historic structure that dates to 1876. “And sometimes they offer tours.”

With two marinas next to the state park — Tawas Bay Yacht Club and Jerry’s Marina — Tawas Point is just one of the highlights of Tawas Bay, an attractive, family friendly getaway for generations of boaters and anglers. The bay serves as the scenic backdrop for two cities, Tawas City and East Tawas, with a combined year-round population of about 5,000 and a wide range of services and amenities for boaters.

Just a few miles from Tawas Point, the newly renovated East Tawas State Harbor is the region’s boating hub and gateway to town. A Harbor of Refuge, it’s adjacent to a public swimming beach and a short stroll from the city’s charming downtown, lined with casual restaurants and dozens of shops from kitschy to upscale.

“For a small community, we’ve got a lot to offer,” says Rebecca Buchanan, owner of the specialty children’s boutique, Chick’n Dots, and executive director of the East Tawas Business Association. “You don’t have to fight with traffic, long lines or big crowds. We take pride in our friendly hometown feel.”

The full-service East Tawas State Harbor, open from early May to late September, boasts all-new floating docks and infrastructure; free, upgraded laundry facilities; and a new boaters’ lounge with Wi-Fi access and a large-screen TV. Of the 135 slips (ranging from 30 to 60 feet), about five dozen are available for transients.

“We can take any size boat,” says William Stoll, harbormaster since 1978, citing the marina’s long, floating broadside pier. East Tawas is a popular port for boaters from the Bay City and Saginaw Bay region, as well as nearby Au Gres, Stoll says, and it’s also a stopover for boaters en route to Mackinac Island and those navigating the Great Lakes portion of the “Great Loop.”

Stoll, also a local high school teacher, hand- picks his marina staff, and touts his crew’s friendly and accommodating service. The staff

will occasionally drive boaters to local golf courses, including the renowned Red Hawk, an Arthur Hills design located five miles away.

Some boaters trailer their boats to East Tawas and use the DNR boat launch a quarter-mile north of the marina. It’s next to Tawas Beach Resort, where Bikini’s Beach Bar, with live weekend entertainment, functions as party central for tourists and locals. Think buckets of beer and boat music. Free docking is available for patrons arriving by boat; there’s also a rental hut, Sunnybunns, for jet-skis and other watercraft. Fishing from the pier is another favorite local pastime.

At the foot of the East Tawas dock is a 14-mile walking and bike path that winds along the lakeshore south to Alabaster Township and north to the Tawas Point Lighthouse. Steps from the boat dock, Harbor Park hosts Blues by the Bay and summer festivals that celebrate crafts, beer and wine. Next door is East Tawas City Park, a very popular RV campground, beach and playground.

■ East Tawas State Harbor: Fresh from an eight-year renovation project with all new fl oating docks, updated infrastructure and facilities, including a new boaters’ lounge with Wi-Fi access, in downtown East Tawas; 135 slips include nearly fi ve dozen for transients. 989-3622731 or 989-362-5041; MICHIGAN.GOV/DNR

■ Jerry’s Marina: On Tawas Point next to Tawas Point

State Park. Open April 15 to October 15 with 25 slips reserved for transients, including last-minute arrivals.

Marina offers painting and repairs. 989-362-8641; JERRYSMARINA.COM

■ Tawas Bay Yacht Club: Open late April to early October, caters to sailboats, and hosts races and regattas. Has an overnight dockage fee. 989-362-3137;

■ Tawas Bay Condominium Marina: A private facility in Tawas City with 129 slips, possibly including a few for transients with advance reservations once

COVID-19 restrictions are lifted. 989-362-3595; TAWASBAYMARINA.ORG

The Tawas region’s long fi shing history started in the 1500s when Native Americans used dried fi sh for food and trade. By the mid-1800s, European fi shermen arrived and began shipping fi sh from Tawas Bay and Lake Huron mostly to Boston, New York and Chicago. Commercial fi shing grew in the region, with more than 13 major fi shing companies around Tawas and Oscoda in the 1930s. Just one remains today, Lixey Fish Market, about four miles north of downtown East Tawas. Sport fi shing in Tawas Bay for species such as perch, walleye, steelhead and smallmouth bass remains a popular pastime.

Logging played a critical role in the region’s development. Between 1854 and 1891, more than 3,000 men worked in Tawas-area forests, harvesting an estimated 4 to 5 billion feet of white pine. Today, the revitalized Huron National Forest covers much of the area.

The Tawases evolved from 19th-century mill towns to 20th-century tourist towns thanks to the Detroit and Mackinac Railway that operated for nearly a century and brought excursion trains full of vacationers.

■ Before the advent of modern refrigeration, the annual Tawas Bay ice harvest was an important winter industry. The ice, noted for its purity, found a ready market, with huge quantities shipped to Detroit and Chicago. At peak production, Tawas

Bay produced enough ice to fi ll 100 railroad cars a day. It was still being harvested to keep old-fashioned ice boxes cold prior to World War II. *adapted from Iosco County Historical Museum

The vibe is pleasant but not pretentious along the main shopping drag, Newman Street, where wide, brick-paved sidewalks are lined with flower-filled cement urns and white benches.

Few can resist the old-fashioned Mooney’s Ben Franklin store, chockablock with souvenirs, T-shirts, swim toys, sewing supplies, home décor — a little bit of everything. By contrast, O’Connor’s offers a curated collection of resort wear, home furnishings, Merino wool fashions, Pendleton blankets and other high-end items in a calm, soothing atmosphere.

Grab a Gooey Brownie coffee and gourmet items or wine for your galley at Brew Krew Kitchen and Bath (don’t miss the Candy Shop tucked inside). Klenow’s Market is the place for meats, including homemade jerky in more than a dozen flavors, such as bacon, buffalo, elk and jalapeno beef.

Blue Bear Jewelry carries a selection of sterling silver, natural gemstones and Fordite, also known as Detroit agate or Motor agate, which is vintage auto paint slag. And you never know what you’ll find at Uncle Winnie’s Antiques & Collectibles, one of several Tawas antiques shops. Tawas Bay Art Gallery showcases local artists and hosts painting classes.

Fun places to “park” and people-watch from a patio include Barnacle Bill’s for burgers and drink specials, and Mr. Jack’ss Sports Bar and Grill (try a Tawas Bay ‘Tini, oven-roasted sandwich and sweet potato fries). Across the street, Mangos Mexican Cuisine and Tequila Bar is a favorite for margaritas.

At the front end of Newman Street, just up from

the harbor, a trio of shops satisfies even the most demanding sweet tooth. Tawas Bay Fudge and Ice Cream Company offers more than 30 ice cream flavors and 14 kinds of handmade fudge, including lemon fudge. Among the treats at Village Chocolatier are chocolate-dipped blueberries, raspberries and other fruit and novelty items, such as chocolate cherry mice and M&M-studded “Sunrise Fish.” And Marion’s Dairy Bar has been dispensing ice cream sundaes, shakes, splits and homemade cones for 75 years.

A few blocks south of Newman, the friendly staff at Nordic Sports shares tips about area recreation spots and sells outdoor gear and clothing.

Street festivals such as a Tuesday Night Live music series, craft fairs and a car show fill the city’s summer calendar. There’s also a two-screen movie theater.

A short walk south, the Iosco County Historical Museum showcases local history with displays about Native Americans, fishing, logging, gypsum, tourism and more (see sidebar on page 50). Artifacts range from a bearskin rug and coat to antique toys and a vintage hearse. Hours are limited to Friday and Saturday or by appointment; call ahead to check availability.

East Tawas shares Tawas Bay with its sister community, Tawas City, just down the road. It’s home to several beach parks, a Saturday farmers market at Gateway Park, Tony’s Tacos stand, two bike rental shops (Clara-Bella’s and Huron Sports & Fitness), and a Walmart with a million-dollar view of Lake Huron and Tawas Bay.

There’s lots of buzz about one of the city’s newest additions, Boathouse Beer Company & Boozery, which offers a creative menu, handcrafted beer and cocktails, and a pretty patio view of the bay.

Considering the sister cities’ myriad attractions, boaters will find that one day isn’t enough to experience all there is to offer in and around Tawas Bay. ★

989-362-8643; TAWAS.COM;

Weather: Check out live webcams and forecasts, current radar, fi shing conditions, water levels and more at

Tawas Point State Park: In a normal year, the Point buzzes with activity — but, as everyone knows, this was no normal year. With Lake Huron at record-high levels, motor vehicle access to the park was restricted due to fl ooding and erosion issues. Visitor amenities, such as the swimming beaches, pavilion and grill, nature trail, lighthouse and gift shop all were affected so check ahead for current conditions. DNR.STATE.MI.US (Note: Access to the state park generally requires a Michigan Recreation Passport that also provides entry to DNR boat launch sites). Etc.: Twenty miles north near Oscoda, the River Road National Scenic Byway leads to Lumberman’s Monument (pictured) and Iargo Springs, two worthwhile attractions.