Take advantage of Lake Michigan or Northern Michigan’s inland lakes and rivers when you celebrate a Northern Michigan 4th of July with fun on the water: boating, kayaking, fishing or just enjoying the deck of a Tall Ship in Grand Traverse Bay. Whether you are in Traverse City or Mackinaw City for your celebration, we hope your Northern Michigan 4th of July includes some of these boating and water activities.
Waters D’Vine Tours
4:00 PM July 4, 2014
Experience a unique perspective of historical downtown Traverse City while kayaking through the Boardman lake, River and mouth of West Bay on the Waters D’Vine Tours.
Paddle for Pints Pub Crawl
10:30 July 5, 2014
Follow the TC Ale Trail and visit 6 breweries via the Boardman River on your stand up paddleboard (SUP), kayak or canoe with the Traverse City Paddle for Pints Pub Crawl!
Inland & Charter Fishing from Pentwater to Frankfort
With charter fishing services on both inland rivers and Lake Michigan, this region of Northern Michigan is one of the best spots to fish in the state. Book a charter fishing trip for the Fourth of July weekend.
What’s a charter fishing trip like? Here’s a video glimpse of the fishing fun on a Northern Michigan charter fishing trip.
Tall Ship adventures for 2014Â 4th of July
Do some time travel when you reserve a spot aboard the immaculately maintained tall ship Manitou, a 114-foot replica of an 1800’s merchant ship. Northern Michigan’s Tall Ship Sailing Company provide memorable adventures on Grand Traverse Bay.
Manitou Island Transit Shoreline Cruises at Sunset
All Summer, 6:30 PM
Depart from historic Leland harbor on the Mishe-Mokwa with the Manitou Transit company on a shoreline cruise. As the sun slowly sinks behind the Manitou Islands, cruise along the Manitou Passage through scenic Good Harbor Bay, passing near Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore’s Pyramid Point and the North Manitou Shoal Light. Back in time for fireworks.
Mighty Mac & Fireworks on the Fourth
July 4, 2014 9:15 PM
Mackinaw City, Mackinac Island
Shepler’s Mackinac Island Ferry offers an annual two hour Fireworks Cruise in the Straits of Mackinac. Cruise out to the Mackinac Bridge and see the magnificent structure up close before getting the best seats in the house for a spectacular Mackinaw City fireworks show!
Try Paddling Northern Michigan
Get out and enjoy Northern Michigan’s streams and lakes close up, paddle a canoe, standup paddle board or kayak. There are several Northern Michigan kayak rental companies and canoe liveries. Here are a few:
Harbor Springs Outfitter
The River, Traverse City
Crystal River Outfitters Glen Arbor
Riverside Canoe Trips Honor
Parasailing Grand Traverse Bay
Two Northern Michigan parasailing companies will help you mix wind with water and parasail up over Grand Traverse Bay to your pounding heart’s content:
East Bay Parasailing
Traverse Bay Parasail
Nauti-Cat
Daily Cruises
From a kids’ cruise at 10:00 in the morning to a champagne sunset cruise at 7:00 in the evening, there’s a comfortable cruise for everyone aboard the catamaran, Nauti-Cat. Cruise range from an hour and a half to a couple hours.