Circle Michigan 2023 - 11

Rockport State Recreation
Area and Dark Sky Preserve;
Left: " Little Red Beacon, " Alpena
and lakes, is a unique adventure for boaters that starts in Petoskey.
The continuous chain of waterway begins at Crooked
Lake, follows the Crooked River to Burt Lake, and continues
to Indian River, Mullett Lake, Cheboygan River, and finally,
opens up into Lake Huron. " To travel the Inland Waterway,
tour groups will need to rent a boat from one of Petoskey's
outdoor adventure outfitters.
Another group-friendly boat experience is with Little
5
Hunt for Michigan's State
Stone in the Petoskey Area
The Petoskey area is home to Michigan's state stone, the Petoskey
stone. These prehistoric stones composed of fossilized
rugose coral are a prized possession for Michiganders and visitors
alike. While you can find Petoskey stones in other towns
along the Lake Michigan shoreline, the Petoskey area bounty of
these beautiful, one-of-a-kind stones is second to none.
" Group tours frequent our region in search of Petoskey
stones throughout the year, " said Mary Chris Hotchkiss, group
sales director at the Petoskey Area Visitors Bureau. " Petoskey
State Park is one of the most popular places for hunting for
stones on the shoreline of Little Traverse Bay. Additionally, visitors
can go hiking, kayaking, and paddleboarding during the day
at the park, and come evening, sit on the beach to watch the
colors change as the sun sets over the water. "
Other popular beaches for hunting for Petoskey stones
include Magnus Park, Bayfront Park, and Sunset Park on the
shoreline of Little Traverse Bay.
" You also can't talk about visiting the Petoskey area without
talking about our Inland Waterway, " Hotchkiss says. " This
38-mile waterway, which is Michigan's longest chain of rivers
Traverse Bay Ferry Co., which takes groups across Little Traverse
Bay to Petoskey, Harbor Springs, and Bay Harbor. The 49-passenger
ferry operates from May through September and
provides groups with a hop-on and hop-off option to build their
own custom schedule between towns or a one-way route option
for shorter daytrips.
6
Tour Lighthouses
in Alpena
Alpena, a small town on the shore of Lake Huron, is a hub for
restaurants, boutiques, and outdoor adventure across the northeastern
section of Michigan's Lower Peninsula. It also serves as
a gateway to numerous lighthouses.
" Alpena is centrally located to seven lighthouses, three official
State of Michigan Dark Sky Preserve parks, more than a
dozen publicly viewable sinkholes, 400-plus-million-year-old
fossils from the Devonian Period, and more than 100 miles of
groomed trails for hiking, biking, Nordic skiing, and communing
with nature, " says Mary Beth Stutzman, president and CEO of
the Alpena Area Convention & Visitors Bureau.
Lighthouse tours in and around Alpena are one of the most
popular experiences throughout the region, and several local
guided experiences take groups back in time to the history of
ship watching and the lighthouse keepers who kept watch over
Lake Huron.
Alpena's " Little Red " Beacon overlooks Thunder Bay at
the mouth of the Thunder Bay River and is the sole lighthouse
located in the city of Alpena. Its bright red figure pops
against the bright blue waters of Lake Huron, and come winter,
it stands out among the surrounding bay coated with
white snow. Tour planners can arrange private group tours of
the lighthouse on a limited basis by contacting the Michigan
Lighthouse Conservancy.
Other nearby lighthouses, all available for tours, include the
Petoskey stone
historic New Presque Isle Light Station, the Old Presque Isle
Lighthouse, and the Middle Island Lighthouse.
CIRCLEMICHIGAN.COM | 9
CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT VISIT ALPENA (2), PETOSKEY AREA VISITORS BUREAU
http://www.CIRCLEMICHIGAN.COM
Circle Michigan 2023

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