With sunshine gently warming your face and calm waters all around you, what's not to love about boating? And, depending which vessel you venture aboard, your experience can be entirely different each time!
Will you float off into the sunset, or drift dreamily under sunny skies? Take your chance to see a lighthouse, or sip wine & savor decadent chocolates while you're on the water? Read on to meet the fleet of boats you can enjoy when you Go Great Lakes Bay in Michigan!
There are several great places to take a guided boat tour in Michigan when you Go Great Lakes Bay, including: Frankenmuth FunShips and the Bavarian Belle Riverboat on the Cass River in Frankenmuth; Bay City Boat Lines on the Saginaw River in Bay City; and Johnny Panther Quests Adventure Trips through the Shiawassee National Wildlife Refuge in Saginaw.
Relax aboard electric-powered, 12-passenger Frankenmuth FunShips as your captain guides you along the Cass River, possibly while you sip & sample local specialties.
Book a Wine & Chocolate River Tour, and enjoy five wines expertly paired with five handmade chocolates, a full pour of your favorite, and a stemless souvenir glass. (Sparkling grape juice is an option, too!)
Look to the 1-Hour River Tour or 30-Minute River Tour for relaxing rides through Frankenmuth's scenic countryside — same gorgeous views, minus the chocolates & wine.
Enjoy a one-hour tour along the Cass River aboard the 150-passenger Bavarian Belle Riverboat. This authentic paddlewheel riverboat operates from May-October, is wheelchair accessible & pet-friendly, has restrooms & a snack bar on board, and is a must-do while in Frankenmuth!
Look & listen for the waterfalls by the docks at Frankenmuth River Place Shops, where tours depart daily every 90 minutes from 11am to 8pm!
Take in your narrated, historical tour of "Michigan's Little Bavaria" from the canopied upper deck — or the fully enclosed lower level, if you prefer!
Board the Princess Wenonah excursion boat to enjoy smooth cruises — and maybe even dance on-deck!
On "Rock the Boat" concert cruises, dine on a delicious, catered meal, then boogie to live music, from Classic Rock to Jazz. Or, go "Carefree Cruisin'" on the Saginaw River! Float off into the sunset to the sounds of live acoustic music and enjoy a cash bar & catered meal with your relaxing river ride.
Friday & Saturday afternoons, experience a Saginaw River Guided Tour, and listen to a live guide highlighting points of interest, like the Saginaw River Rear Range Lighthouse!
For one-of-a-kind boating enjoyment — amidst the Shiawassee National Wildlife Refuge & beyond — find yourself on a shallow-draft boat with Johnny Panther Quests Adventure Trips!
Specializing in ecotours & romantic escapes, tours are by reservation only, fully customizable, family- and pet-friendly, and 3-5 hours on average.
Book your "Everglades of Michigan" tour, bring your camera & binoculars, and be ready for incredible wildlife, scenic views, and memorable stories from your expert local guide.
Refreshing & cool, salt-free & scenic — the Great Lakes Bay is hands-down & all-in the place to be for an affordable waterfront vacation in Michigan!
Read More +Dip your toes, drop a line, and dive right in as you discover these must-try attractions, hotels, and restaurants on the water when you Go Great Lakes Bay in Michigan!
Read More +There’s real satisfaction in providing your own power amid a rich soundscape of paddle splashes, gurgling waters, laughter and birdsong, and sights just as novel and appealing. You seem to float out of your own world and worries and into a wider, maybe even wiser, one. That's paddling when you Go Great Lakes Bay in Michigan.
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By: Jen W. O'Deay | Updates: Go Great Lakes Bay | Jen is a Saginaw native and owner of Feel These Words, an independent copywriting studio & home to the free "5 Day Website MiniBoost". Jen specializes in writing that connects, delivered through website copy, branded content articles, and WingWoman writing services. You'll find Jen camping with her family, laughing, and at feelthesewords.com