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MARVAC
Northeast/Thumb
Region
Driving Tour: Beauty Around Saginaw Bay
Driving Time: 2 hours, 55 minutes (plus a 55-minute boat ride) Mileage: 130 miles
MARVAC Staff Recommendation from Lauri Brantley,
MARVAC Office & Special Projects Administrator Cheboygan sure has changed since my husband and I last visited. We recently stopped at this lovely French inspired tavern, Beau Est Beau – or as the locals call it, “The Beau.” To our surprise, The Beau has an expansive craft beer menu and several adult coffee and hot cocoa drinks. They also offer more than 20 “mocktails” for those nondrinkers. The Chocolate Martini was amazing! The unique food menu offers charcuterie boards, flatbreads, sandwiches, and other snack type choices. We went with the large Beau Est Beau charcuterie platter; it was full of amazing meats, quality cheeses, spreads, pickles, olives, and crackers. As if we weren’t happy enough to find this hidden gem, then the entertainment began! The music for the evening was a duo from Grand Rapid called Seritas Black Rose. Wow! They blew us away! They sang our favorites from the 60’s to current pop songs with their amazing voices. We didn’t want to leave and now we can’t wait to go back.
Stop ➊ Vanderbilt
County Park
Vanderbilt County Park is considered a hidden gem on the Saginaw Bay shoreline consisting of 18 acres of natural scenic beauty. It’s a short drive from Saginaw, Bay City, Frankenmuth, and Detroit. There’s a picnic area, volleyball courts, and plenty of space to roam around.
Stop ➊
Saginaw Valley
Rail Trail
Bikers, walkers, runners, and even horseback riders can experience rail trails that crisscross Michigan, trails forged by locomotives during the height of train travel and transportation. One of the nicest trails is the Saginaw Valley Rail Trail, which is 11 miles (one way) of wide asphalt that runs from S. Center Road and Stroebel Road in Saginaw to Lumberjack Park at E. Water St. and
N. Miami St. in nearby St. Charles. The route incorporates many natural features
that takes travelers over eight bridges, including a beautifully restored rail bridge over the Bad River. It’s a pleasant way to spend a few hours, whether you take the whole trail or only part of it.
Stop ➊
Saginaw Valley Naval
Ship Museum
Dedicated to honoring the history of the United States Navy, the Saginaw Valley Naval Ship Museum is the USS Edson,
a U.S. Navy destroyer from the Vietnam era. The museum is open for self-guided tours, priced at a modest $14 per adult, $12 for Veterans, $10 for kids 4-17, and $7 for active-duty service members.
The museum is closed from December to February, has seasonal hours during Spring and Fall, and open in full from April to mid-September.
Stop ➊ Bay County
Pinconning Park
This 206 acre park is truly a beautiful place to visit in any season. There are wildflowers in the spring, three
observation towers and two viewing decks for bird watchers, plus five miles of trails and a floating fishing dock for outdoor enthusiasts. On a clear day, one can see Pt. Au Gres, across the
Bay to “Michigan’s Thumb,” the mouth of the Saginaw River at Bay City, and everything in between. While this park is open year-round, during the late spring and summer months, there are kayak rentals located on a maintained sandy beach, perfect for a little exercise and an up-close look at Saginaw Bay.
Stop ➊ Charity
Island, from Tawas
From Brown’s Landing in Tawas, you can catch the 55-minute ferry for a
day trip to Charity Island, a wilderness destination. These trips to the largest island in Saginaw Bay have the ferry leaving at 11 a.m. and returning around 2 p.m., giving island hoppers about an hour to experience the island and visit the historic lighthouse, which includes food, beverages, and a tour of the lighthouse. You can stay on the island if you make a reservation in advance at Charity Island Lodge.
PHOTO COURTESY OF EDBEAUMONT12 | TRAILLINK.COM
PHOTO COURTESY OF SEAHISTORY.COM | USEDSON.ORG
PHOTO COURTESY OF CATHY LAYMAN | MLIVE.COM
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