5 awesome island vacations—in the Midwest

There are islands in the Midwest you say? Island for vacations in the Midwest? Actually there are many scattered throughout the entire Great Lakes region and would you believe they are home to stunning beaches, outdoor activities, restaurants and nightlife galore and in some cases Bahamian blue waters? Leave your cares and worries on the mainland and surrender to island time Midwest style. Just don’t attempt a visit in January—you’ll never find a ferry.

Plus: 11 beaches that probably aren’t for you.

Beaver Island, MI:
The largest of the Beaver Island archipelago, lovely and bucolic Beaver maintains a year round population of just 657 inhabitants despite its roughly 55 square miles (making it slightly larger than San Francisco). The island was formerly home to a 19th century Mormon kingdom but these days tilts Irish. A car ferry lands daily (in season) at St. James Township where visitors can take advantage of several dining and lodging options. By far the best use of time, however, is exploring Beaver’s miles of unspoilt beaches, canoeing on Lake Genserath and wildlife spotting including beaver, deer, hawks, turtles and resident population of wild turkeys.

Photo: Jason A. Heidemann

Madeline Island, WI:
The largest of the Apostle Islands—a collection of 21 islands clustered around the northern tip of Wisconsin in Lake Superior—Madeline is nevertheless lilliputian in population in that less than 300-year round residents claim it as home. Nevertheless, it swells in the summertime when visitors take the ferry from from the mainland port town of Bayfield and invade the island in search of leisure activities like beaching, golfing, hiking and biking or kayaking and stand up paddleboarding around the chain of islands’ spectacular sea caves for which the Apostles are justly famous.

South Bass Island, OH:
You like to have a good time? Have we got an island for you. Located only a stone’s throw from Ohio’s celebrated Cedar Point theme Park and accessible via a short ferry ride from nearby Catawba, the southernmost of the Bass Islands has a spunky, upbeat vibe thanks to the town of Put-in-Bay which attracts vacationers by the thousands during its bustling summer season and is known as the Key West of Lake Erie. Its got all the usual outdoor activities like camping, fishing, boating and cruising the island in a moped (or golf cart), but imbibing also rules on this good-time island especially at joints like the Blue Marlin Tiki Bar, Mojito Bay, Mist Pool Bar and more.

Pelee Island, ON:
Get ready to have your passport stamped because even though bucolic Pelee is within spitting distance of the Buckeye State, it belongs entirely to Canada. Easily accessible by ferry from the Ohio town of Sandusky, Pelee was once home to a flourishing wine industry which died out in the early 1900s but was reintroduced in the 1980s and today boasts the oldest estate winery in all of Canada— the 600 acre+ Pelee Island Winery. Other island activities include camping, cycling, swimming, nature walks and several bars and restaurants and the city is also a haven for artists as exemplifiedby the Pelee Art Works—featuring the works of local artisans.

Mackinac Island, MI:
No stranger to tourism, bustling Mackinac Island is the tourism king of all the Great Lakes island getaways and sees up to 15,000 visitors daily in high season despite a year round population of just under 500 people. The island is a national historic landmark and 80% of its land is preserved as a Mackinac Island State Park where visitors hike, bike and butterfly watch. Mackinac bans the use of motorized vehicles so residents and visitors alike get around via bicycle, foot and horse-drawn carriage. Snag a room at the majestic Grand Hotel and save room for fudge, an island favorite that is still made on large marble slabs at many confectioneries.

 

Tagged: Family time