The Charlevoix Way

By Scott Way, Salesman

Congratulations to Charlevoix, voted #1 for Best Harbor in the United States! Charlevoix topped 335 locations across the country for this prestigious title, though for those of us lucky enough to call Charlevoix home it truly comes as no surprise. From Round Lake to Lake Charlevoix, inland lakes to big water access, the endless summer activities and boating possibilities are why Charlevoix has been number one in the hearts of many for a long time. For those not as familiar with the Charlevoix boating scene, the typical winds blow from the north, northwest so boaters are often seeking protection from what Lake Michigan can offer on windy days. Lake Charlevoix, with its sixty miles of shoreline, offers boaters the chance to extend the days available to really get out to enoy your boat. Lake Charlevoix offers terrific anchorages with either a sandy or muck bottom surface that’s good for holding and can be forgiving if you get too shallow. Round Lake, on which downtown Charlevoix is situated, connects Lake Michigan to Lake Charlevoix. This basin area bids great anchorage as well, just make sure you’re hooked onto the bottom as depths can exceed 50 feet.

Dazzling views and top-notch boating are a few of the obvious highlights of Charlevoix, but the people here are on par with the impressive scenery. Local or seasonal, I am fortunate enough to know many and meet new faces each year as people meander down to the waterside to take in the views, where our Walstrom Marine office sits. It’s through these interactions that I’ve had some of the more memorable experiences in my time at Walstrom. One time, I recall loaning my truck to a boater in need, who then proceeded to “borrow” the wrong truck from the lot for the day. Or, the early Spring Day I was training a couple to use the Joystick on their new boat only to have the longtime designated Captain (i.e., husband) be relegated to dock line duty when his wife proved vastly better at the sensitive control. Every season cultivates new, cherished experiences with our clients and friends. Just this summer at the annual Apple Fest, we moved our Tiara 44 Flybridge to the Charlevoix dock to see if we could stir up interest as it had been in stock for a couple of weeks. I had just finished tying her up to the dock, only to have a gentleman come up and exclaim he couldn’t believe we had one! He had been looking for this specific Tiara Flybridge and had accidentally overlooked it on our website. The paperwork was drawn up that afternoon – it was the shortest display I’ve ever had.

Tourism in Northern Michigan has continued to soar these last few years and Charlevoix has been no exception, drawing thousands of new visitors in search of blue sky, clear water, good food, and plenty of activities for the whole family. While some may find this continued growth a little daunting, it’s the friendly faces that call our town home who will make sure Charlevoix always retains its small-town soul. The views will continue to awe us, the boating will continue to inspire us and I sure look forward to taking it all in and sharing it with you from our little office on the harbor. So, next time you’re in Charlevoix stop on in to say hi and tell me one of your stories. You will find us down by the Charlevoix City Marina office at 105 East Clinton.

See you on the water!