Let’s go on vacation! Why?
We are always on vacation in Huron County or just about anywhere
in the Thumb, especially in the summer.
Visitors travel here from all over the state, country and some
from other countries to enjoy what many of us have nearby all
summer long. If we do go on vacation, we can stay close enough
to sleep in our own beds.
Locals
and visitors enjoy views of Lake Huron’s azure
blue water all along our shoreline. Beaches offer swimming,
kayaking or lying on a blanket to sunbathe. Great restaurants
are waiting to feed everyone who steps inside, and after a
good meal it’s time to look for the ice cream parlor.
You
can visit a different one each day of your vacation and not
run out of new places to find ice cream. All
you need
do while in the Thumb is look for a long line of people
and chances
are you’ll approach a smiling face asking, “Have
you decided on a flavor?” Some parlors build
cones so high you can hardly eat it all and 90 percent
of patrons
wind
up wearing samples on their clothing.
No, eating ice cream after dinner is not the only thing to
do after dinner (just my favorite). You can take in a movie,
play, concert, festival, or tavern; perhaps enjoy a sunset
cruise on the lake or join those at a bonfire on the beach.
There is always something to do for any age group. Visit one
of the many day parks, play miniature golf, climb a rock wall,
take a boat ride or go fishing in a creek or river. For serious
anglers, charters are available all along the shoreline.
Many
charter boats also offer sightseeing cruises to lighthouses
or a venture offshore to an island.
Last
summer, I took
a charter out to Charity Island for a step back
in time. My
captain,
Tom Carriveau, knew exactly how to pick his way
into the island’s
harbor, which takes a bit of maneuvering. We docked
up at an old-fashioned dock and a pleasant woman
met us
and offered
a quick golf-cart ride to our destination.
We explored the partially restored Charity Island Lighthouse
(Pat climbed to the top) and toured the newly built adjacent
home that provides its own electric power. Tables were set
up under cover nearby for refreshments and enjoyment of the
dinners offered. The island outing is especially entertaining
for botanists and bird watchers because of the large variety
of rare plants and birds that gather there.
The trip to the island takes planning: call Captain Carriveau
at 989-550-1234 to arrange a tour or for a reservation for
a dinner cruise on a larger vessel. My family and I thoroughly
enjoyed the trip.
Other
destinations in the Thumb could be Grindstone City where
grindstones were actually cut from
shale. The area
was a boomtown
in the 1800s with more than 500 residents.
About 3,000 tons of grindstones, some weighing
as much
as 7,500
pounds were
manufactured annually until the advent of
synthetic wheels that used metal, resins and various
aggregates. Many
quarry’s
remain in the area; reminders of the past
industry.
Harbor
Beach has long boasted of having the “World’s
Greatest Man-Made Harbor” with the
largest inland breakwall.
Its history is full of exciting tales of rescues. In 1883,
the local press reported 1,022 ships had found refuge during
the shipping season. Boat trips to the restored lighthouse,
which marks the entry to the harbor, are available. Dockage
and ramp facilities are offered and a campground is within
walking distance of the harbor. A Coast Guard Station serving
the Lake Huron Thumb area is adjacent to the harbor. For information
on activities contact the Chamber of Commerce at 989-479-6477.
An
unusual destination to visit in the Thumb is the Octagon
Barn in Tuscola
County’s
village of Gagetown just south of Huron
County. Built in
1923,
it stands
four
stories high
and has an interior space of 8,600
square feet. During August, the Friends
of the
Octagon Barn
host a variety
of activates
full of fun for the whole family. Call
989-665-0081 for additional information.
Another
unique destination to visit is the Petroglyphs Historic State
Park,
located in Sanilac County
just south of the Huron
County line. The 240-acre park contains
Michigan’s only
known American Indian rock carvings dating back more than 1,000
years. Contact the DNR’s district
office at 989-856-4411. They can
also provide information
on
other state parks
in the Thumb area.
Have
a great vacation — right
here in the Thumb!