The Grand Traverse Bay bristled with tall-masted ships and their billowing sails back in the 1850’s, a vivid testament to settlers and their burgeoning commerce. Do some time travel yourself—by water—when you reserve a spot aboard the immaculately maintained Manitou, a 114-foot replica of an 1800’s merchant ship designed to carry 62 passengers. Three, 2-hour cruises leave from Traverse City a day. The best way to see the bay is from the bay. Maritime Heritage Alliance, 231-941-2000, TALLSHIPSAILING.COM.
Event! The Michigan Schooner Festival, a gathering of about a dozen tall ships, happens in Traverse City September 11–13, 2009. MICHIGANSCHOONERFESTIVAL.ORG.
More Ways to Get on the Water!
- Get on the Water in Traverse City
- Charter Fishing the Big Lake from Frankfort
- Cruise on the Manitou
- Rent a Pontoon and Cruise the Chain of Lakes
- Pick Your Summer Day on Traverse City’s Inland Seas Schooner
- 7 Ways to the Water
- Sleeping Bear Dunes Cruise
- Best Places to Boat to Dinner
- Cruise Lewiston’s Twin Lakes
- Cruise the Mackinac Straits
- Float Away on the Manistee
- Kayak Les Cheneaux
- Kayak Lake Superior’s Shoreline
Quick Links to More Fun in Traverse City!
- The Traverse City Vacation Directory: Listings to lodging, galleries, restaurants and more along with an interactive map.
- Traverse City Digital Vacation Guide: Browse the pages of the complete digital Guide and click to hundreds of websites.
- Video: Traverse City’s Guide to Fun!
- The Complete Traverse City Restaurant Guide
- Plot your day in Traverse City using this Interactive Map: Choose an activity in "I’d like to find" and choose Traverse City for "in a town near." Then click away!
- Rent a Cottage in Traverse City
- Traverse City music, festivals, arts and hundreds of events