Les Cheneaux Islands is a group of 36 small islands, some inhabited, some not, along twelve miles of beautiful Lake Huron shoreline at the far northeast end of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. “Les Cheneaux” is French for “The Channels” and the islands were aptly named for their many large and small channels. The villages of Hessel and Cedarville anchor this area that is popular for family vacations, beaches, fishing and boating.
Many of the homes along the rocky island shores have boathouses, and classic wood boats are popular here. Hessel has hosted the Antique Wooden Boat Show here for 43 years.
We enjoyed two nights at a new, small municipal harbor in Cedarville. Indiana/Michigan friends Alvin and Dianne joined us for a few days in this enchanting area. The food was good at both restaurants in the village’s tiny downtown area.
Our small Cedarville village harbor was among the cattails and lilypads, just down the street from the Great Lakes Boat building School (more on that in a later post) and only a few minutes’ walk from village restaurants.
The next day we and Alvin and Dianne started early from Cedarville and cruised through the beautiful and historic Les Cheneaux Islands. Our route wound through narrow channels, past fishermen and rustic north country cottages and boathouses, into Lake Huron and past Mackinaw Island to St. Ignace. It was a sunny and cool day, with light winds that picked up as we approached St. Ignace.
That afternoon Alvin and Diane offered to drive six of us to north to see the Soo Locks. It was a fun trip with picnic lunch and a visit to the locks. We watched a massive lake freighter enter the lock, drop 21 feet and then exit. After touring the visitor center to learn about the technology, history and future of the Soo Locks, we shopped in downtown Sault St. Marie before returning to St. Ignace.
We enjoyed dinner at a restaurant across the street from our marina, and an evening visiting and watching the Olympics.
It is always fun to see new places with friends. Thanks for joining us, Alvin and Dianne!
What a lovely area! I loved your photo with the cattails.
With all this beauty, who needs to leave the Great Lakes region?
it was so much fun!!! thank you for taking us along for a few days! Alvin and Dianne