September 2012 Lighthouse Excursions

Saturday September 1 - 2.00pm to 5:00pm Eastbound Straits of Mackinac Lighthouse Cruise You’ll start by passing under the Mackinac Bridge for a close-up view of Big Mac. Then you’ll head across the Straits between Round Island Light and Round Island Passage Light. Turning east, you’ll pass by the privately owned Bois Blanc Light. Poe Reef and Fourteen Foot Shoal Lights mark your turn into the South Channel. A quick trip up the Cheboygan River takes you past the Cheboygan Crib Light before you head back. En route, you’ll enjoy the clear blue waters of the Straits, a bird’s eye view of the Coast Guard cutter “Mackinaw”, and plenty of maritime history. This cruise is hosted by Shepler's Lighthouse Cruises, with GLLKA experts serving as your guides, providing narration and answers to questions throughout the cruise. The cruise is $52.50 per person, children 5 - 12 years - $27.50, and children under 5 ride free.  Reservations are recommended and can be made by calling Shepler's at (800) 828-6157 or (231) 436-5023 or you can order tickets online by clicking here.

Wednesday September 5 - 1:00 to 6:30pm Special EXTENDED Lighthouse Cruise through Les Cheneaux Island New for 2012! This cruise is bigger and better than ever! Join us on a 5.5 hour extended cruise into the beautiful Les Cheneaux Islands in northern Lake Huron. On the way to the stunning Les Cheneaux Islands, you will pass by British Landing on Mackinac Island where, 200 years ago on July 17th, Fort Mackinac was captured by the British in one of the first major events in the War of 1812. You will also enjoy exceptional views of six lighthouses including Martin Reef, Spectacle Reef, and for the first time on this cruise, the Detour Reef Light, in addition to the Bois Blanc Lighthouse, the Round Island Light and the Round Island Passage Light. The cost includes a boxed lunch. This cruise is hosted by Shepler's Lighthouse Cruises, with GLLKA experts serving as your guides, providing narration and answers to questions throughout the cruise.  Cruise direction could change due to severe weather.  The cruise is $77.50 per person, children 5 - 12 years - $42.50, and children under 5 ride free.  Reservations are recommended and can be made by calling Shepler's at (800) 828-6157 or (231) 436-5023 or you can order tickets online by clicking here.

Wednesday September 5th through Sunday September 9 Eastern Lake Ontario Excursion The wonderful Riveredge Resort serves as our base of operations for all five nights and four days of this wonderful excursion in the eastern basin of Lake Ontario and the Thousand Islands area. The schedule of events includes trips on beautifully restored mahogany runabouts to cruise by Sisters and Rock Island lighthouses and enjoy lunch at the Rock Island lighthouse, boat trips to land on Horse Island and obtain rare close-up views of its elusive lighthouse; a trip out into Lake Ontario to view the lighthouses on Tibbetts Point,  East Charity Shoal, Galloo Island and Rock Island, among others; and a trip on World War II era tugboat to obtain a close up view of the Oswego west breakwater light.  The price for this incredible opportunity for GLLKA members is only $1,110.00 per person double occupancy, and $1,350.00 per person single occupancy. This price includes all hotels, meals and transportation, from Wednesday evening through lunch on Sunday afternoon. Non GLLKA members will need to add $40 for a 1-year individual membership or $55 for a 1-year family membership in order to participate. Click HERE to download a more complete description of this excursion in Adobe PDF format. To register, please call the GLLKA office at 231 436-5580 during office hours.

Thursday September 6 - 1:30 to 4:30pm Westbound Straits of Mackinac Lighthouse Cruise Departing from Shepler’s Mackinaw City dock, you’ll bear west and pass directly under the mighty Mackinac Bridge, setting the stage for this 3-hour round trip tour. Visible to the south along the 20 mile run to White Shoal Light is Wilderness State Park. To the south lies Gray’s Reef Light, originally built in 1891. Your ship will then double back toward the medieval-looking Waugoshance Light. The 12 mile eastward run to St. Helena Island provides ample opportunity for plenty of lighthouse lore. The final pass on the Westward Cruise swings by the St. Helena Island Light, then back to Mackinaw City. This cruise is hosted by Shepler's Lighthouse Cruises, with GLLKA experts serving as your guides, providing narration and answers to questions throughout the cruise.  The cruise is $52.50 per person, children 5 - 12 years - $27.50, and children under 5 ride free.  Reservations are recommended and can be made by calling Shepler's at (800) 828-6157 or (231) 436-5023 or you can order tickets online by clicking here.

Saturday September 8 - 1.30pm to 4:30pm Eastbound Straits of Mackinac Lighthouse Cruise You’ll start by passing under the Mackinac Bridge for a close-up view of Big Mac. Then you’ll head across the Straits between Round Island Light and Round Island Passage Light. Turning east, you’ll pass by the privately owned Bois Blanc Light. Poe Reef and Fourteen Foot Shoal Lights mark your turn into the South Channel. A quick trip up the Cheboygan River takes you past the Cheboygan Crib Light before you head back. En route, you’ll enjoy the clear blue waters of the Straits, a bird’s eye view of the Coast Guard cutter “Mackinaw”, and plenty of maritime history. This cruise is hosted by Shepler's Lighthouse Cruises, with GLLKA experts serving as your guides, providing narration and answers to questions throughout the cruise. The cruise is $52.50 per person, children 5 - 12 years - $27.50, and children under 5 ride free.  Reservations are recommended and can be made by calling Shepler's at (800) 828-6157 or (231) 436-5023 or you can order tickets online by clicking here.

Tuesday September 11 - 3:90 to 6:00pm Westbound Straits of Mackinac Lighthouse Cruise Departing from Shepler’s Mackinaw City dock, you’ll bear west and pass directly under the mighty Mackinac Bridge, setting the stage for this 3-hour round trip tour. Visible to the south along the 20 mile run to White Shoal Light is Wilderness State Park. To the south lies Gray’s Reef Light, originally built in 1891. Your ship will then double back toward the medieval-looking Waugoshance Light. The 12 mile eastward run to St. Helena Island provides ample opportunity for plenty of lighthouse lore. The final pass on the Westward Cruise swings by the St. Helena Island Light, then back to Mackinaw City. This cruise is hosted by Shepler's Lighthouse Cruises, with GLLKA experts serving as your guides, providing narration and answers to questions throughout the cruise.  The cruise is $52.50 per person, children 5 - 12 years - $27.50, and children under 5 ride free.  Reservations are recommended and can be made by calling Shepler's at (800) 828-6157 or (231) 436-5023 or you can order tickets online by clicking here.

Thursday September 13 - 1.30pm to 4:30pm Eastbound Straits of Mackinac Lighthouse Cruise You’ll start by passing under the Mackinac Bridge for a close-up view of Big Mac. Then you’ll head across the Straits between Round Island Light and Round Island Passage Light. Turning east, you’ll pass by the privately owned Bois Blanc Light. Poe Reef and Fourteen Foot Shoal Lights mark your turn into the South Channel. A quick trip up the Cheboygan River takes you past the Cheboygan Crib Light before you head back. En route, you’ll enjoy the clear blue waters of the Straits, a bird’s eye view of the Coast Guard cutter “Mackinaw”, and plenty of maritime history. This cruise is hosted by Shepler's Lighthouse Cruises, with GLLKA experts serving as your guides, providing narration and answers to questions throughout the cruise. The cruise is $52.50 per person, children 5 - 12 years - $27.50, and children under 5 ride free.  Reservations are recommended and can be made by calling Shepler's at (800) 828-6157 or (231) 436-5023 or you can order tickets online by clicking here.

Saturday September 15  - 1:30pm to 5:00pm Special EXTENDED Westbound Straits of Mackinac Lighthouse Cruise In addition to the lighthouses you see on our standard Westbound cruise, you’ll be treated to a chance to get an up-close glimpse of Skillagalee Lighthouse, where you will be able to take some wonderful photos from a great vantage point on board this cruise. The cruise is 3.5 hours long. This cruise is hosted by Shepler's Lighthouse Cruises, with GLLKA experts serving as your guides, providing narration and answers to questions throughout the cruise.  Cruise direction could change due to severe weather.  The cost is $61.00 for adults, and $35.00 for Children (5-12 years), with children under 5 years riding free, and includes a boxed lunch and soft drink for all guests. Reservations are recommended and can be made by calling Shepler's at (800) 828-6157 or (231) 436-5023 or you can order tickets online by clicking here.

Sunday September 16 - 1.30pm to 5:30pm Special EXTENDED Eastbound Straits of Mackinac Lighthouse Cruise In addition to the lighthouses you see on our standard Lake Huron cruise, on a Shepler’s Extended Eastbound Lighthouse Cruise you’ll be treated to a chance to see the elusive Spectacle Reef Lighthouse. This lighthouse may only be viewed up-close from a boat and the cruise allows you unbelievable photo opportunities of this remarkable lighthouse. The cruise is four hours long.  This cruise is hosted by Shepler's Lighthouse Cruises, with GLLKA experts serving as your guides, providing narration and answers to questions throughout the cruise. The cruise is $68.00 per person, children 5 - 12 years - $39.25, and children under 5 ride free.  Reservations are recommended and can be made by calling Shepler's at (800) 828-6157 or (231) 436-5023 or you can order tickets online by clicking here.

Click HERE to view Refund Policy for all GLLKA Excursions