Great Lakes Boat Blog

Protecting the waterways of Mason County

July 5, 2025

By Mark Varenhorst, MCP Contributor Living in Ludington and the Mason County area, we are on the shores of Lake Michigan and are surrounded by inland lakes too numerous to name and rivers running through our area.  All year round many of us enjoy fishing, sailing, boating these waters and during the warm parts of the year our population surges…

Read more »

Manistee Harbor Tours offers fun shoreline cruises on the Princess

June 30, 2025

By Rob Alway, Editor-in-Chief June 28, 2025 MANISTEE — “It’s like being on vacation,” is the comment my wife, Becky, said when we departed the Princess after a 90 minute shoreline cruise Saturday evening. The boat’s crew was hospitable and entertaining. The drinks were refreshing. The passengers were having a great time. The weather was perfect. And, the sunset was…

Read more »

Leonard named general manager of Lake Michigan Carferry

June 25, 2025

By Rob Alway, Editor-in-Chief LUDINGTON — Long-time car ferry/shipping veteran Chuck Leonard has been put in charge of all Interlake Maritime Services in Ludington, which include Lake Michigan Carferry, operator of the SS Badger. Leonard, a Ludington native, is also general manager of Interlake Logistics Solutions, a division of Interlake Maritime Services, that operates the tug/barge Undaunted/Pere Marquette 41, formerly…

Read more »

SS Badger departure

June 24, 2025

Photo by Rob Alway, Editor-in-Chief LUDINGTON — The SS Badger departs Ludington Tuesday evening. The 72-year-old carferry began double sailings last week, leaving Ludington at 8:45 p.m. (EDT) and arriving in Manitowoc, Wis. at 11:45 p.m. (CDT). It departs Manitowoc at 1:30 a.m. (CDT) and arrives back in Ludington at 6:30 a.m. (EDT). It’s daytime sailings are 9 a.m. (EDT)…

Read more »

Cruising on Muskegon’s legendary Aquastar

June 21, 2025

This MCP Great Lakes Boat Blog is a presentation of House of Flavors Restaurant of Ludington and the Mason County Historical Society’s Port of Ludington Maritime Museum. Please be sure to visit our companion site, www.greatlakesboatblog.com for more photographs.  By Rob Alway, Editor-in-Chief Friday, June 20, 2025 MUSKEGON — My focus the last few days has been centered around the Aquastar,…

Read more »

Eats & Drinks

Eats & Drinks

Area Churches