June 2011 Lighthouse Excursions

Tuesday, June 14th - 1:30pm to 4:30pm Eastbound Straits of Mackinac Lighthouse Cruise As you leave Shepler's Mackinaw City dock, you will be treated to a rare view of the Mackinac Bridge as your ship passes directly beneath the superstructure.  Then heading east into Lake Huron, you'll head through the narrow passage between Round Island Light and Round Island Passage Light as you view the Grand Hotel and Mackinac Island on the port side.  A bit farther east you pass Bois Blanc Light, built in 1829, and then you will head south to Poe Reef Light painted with its black and white bands.  On to Fourteen Foot Shoal Light where you can easily see the bottom of Lake Huron beneath the boat.  A quick run up the Cheboygan River takes you past the Cheboygan Crib Light and the Cheboygan River Front Range Light, an ongoing GLLKA restoration project.  We will pass by the mooring of the new Coast Guard Cutter Mackinaw and if she is in port, you will see her there.  As you head back to Mackinaw City, you will view the permanent home of the retired cutter Mackinaw (WAGB83) before returning to the Shepler's dock.  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 $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, June 16th - 1:30 to 4:30pm Westbound Straits of Mackinac Lighthouse Cruise Departing from Shepler's Mackinaw City dock, you'll bear west past historic Old Mackinac Point Light for a spectacular view of the Mighty Mackinac Bridge..  Get your cameras ready to photograph the girders and superstructure of the bridge above your head as the captain slows the boat for this rare photo opportunity.  A 20 mile westward run brings you to White Shoal Light with its trademark red and white candy-stripe daymark.  Next we head to the south to view Gray's Reef Light built in 1936 and then the boat will double back to the forbidding Waugoshance Light with its birdcage lantern.  As we head back eastward, the boat will pass as close as possible to the St. Helena Island Light Station, an ongoing GLLKA restoration project, before heading back under the Mackinac Bridge 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.  Cruise direction could change due to severe weather.  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 June 21st - 1:00 to 6:00pm Special EXTENDED Lighthouse Cruise through Les Cheneaux Island As you leave Shepler's Mackinaw City dock, you will be treated to a rare view of the Mackinac Bridge as your vessel passes directly beneath the superstructure. Then heading east into Lake Huron you'll head through the narrow passage between Round Island Light and Round Island Passage Light as you view the Grand Hotel and Mackinac Island on the port side. As you head east, our vessel will turn north to slowly cruise through Les Cheneaux Islands, a largely un-trumpeted treasure of the eastern Upper Peninsula. The area's 36 rocky islands are steeped in history and feature a wide array of wildflowers and breathtaking scenic beauty. You will pass Government Island which served as the base for construction of both Spectacle Reef and Martin Reef lighthouses, the latter of which you will obtain a close-up view as we head back into the lake towards Bois Blanc Island. After viewing the Bois Blanc Island lighthouse, you will be whisked back to the dock into 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.  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 June 22nd - 1:30am to 5:30pm Special EXTENDED Westbound Straits of Mackinac Lighthouse Cruise Departing from Shepler's Mackinaw City dock, you'll bear west past historic Old Mackinac Point Light for a spectacular view of the Mighty Mackinac Bridge.   Get your cameras ready to photograph the girders and superstructure of the bridge above your head as the captain slows the boat for this rare photo opportunity.  A 20 mile westward run brings you to White Shoal Light with its trademark red and white candy-stripe daymark.  Next we head to the south to view Gray's Reef Light built in 1936 and then on to view Skilligalee (Ile aux Galets) lighthouse. We then double back north to the forbidding Waugoshance Light with its birdcage lantern.  As we head back eastward, the boat will pass as close as possible to the St. Helena Island Light Station, an ongoing GLLKA restoration project, before heading back under the Mackinac Bridge 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.  Cruise direction could change due to severe weather.  The cost is $68.00 for adults, and $39.25 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.

Friday June 24th - 9:00am to 4:0pm The St. Helena Island Experience Travel to beautiful St. Helena Island, six miles west of the Mackinac Bridge, for an all-day tour of its restored lighthouse compound.  The cruise departs Shepler's Mackinaw City dock at 9:30am, returns around 4:15 pm and includes lunch on the island.  As you pass under the mighty Mackinac Bridge, you will soon go back in time to 1912.  On the horizon, the tall white tower of the St. Helena Light Station will appear.  Shortly, the boat will be moored off shore and we will transport you to the dock aboard a motor-driven dinghy.  You will be given a tour of the keeper's dwelling and grounds before the lunch bell rings and your historic lunch is served in the boathouse.  After the meal you will have time to explore, hike the beach, climb the tower, or just relax in a lawn chair and watch the freighters pass by.  Cost for GLLKA members is $90.00 per person.  Non-members will need to add $40 for a 1-year individual membership or $55 for a 1-year family membership.  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.

Sunday June 26th - Thursday June 30 The Ultimate Northern Lake Michigan Excursion This incredible lighthouse adventure begins early Monday June 27th as we board the 100-foot vessel Keweenaw Star in Charlevoix Michigan. Over the following four days, we will make our way from Charlevoix across Lake Michigan for two nights in Sturgeon Bay and one night in Escanaba before returning to Charlevoix in Thursday afternoon. Along the way we will obtain close-up views from the water of 32 lighthouses, including the difficult to see lights at South Fox Island, Pilot Island, Minneapolis Shoal, Green Bay Harbor Entrance, Chambers Island, Tail Point, Green Island, Poverty and St. Martin Islands, Gull Island, Squaw Island and Lansing Shoal. The price for this amazing excursion for GLLKA members is only $1,150.00 per person double occupancy, and $1,375.00 per person single occupancy. This price includes all hotels, meals and transportation, from Sunday night through our return to Charlevoix Thursday afternoon, with the only exceptions being your meal on Sunday night. Non GLLKA members will need to add $40 for a 1-year individual membership or $60 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.

Tuesday June 28th - 1.30pm to 4:30pm Eastbound Straits of Mackinac Lighthouse Cruise As you leave Shepler's Mackinaw City dock, you will be treated to a rare view of the Mackinac Bridge as your ship passes directly beneath the superstructure.  Then heading east into Lake Huron, you'll head through the narrow passage between Round Island Light and Round Island Passage Light as you view the Grand Hotel and Mackinac Island on the port side.  A bit farther east you pass Bois Blanc Light, built in 1829, and then you will head south to Poe Reef Light painted with its black and white bands.  On to Fourteen Foot Shoal Light where you can easily see the bottom of Lake Huron beneath the boat.  A quick run up the Cheboygan River takes you past the Cheboygan Crib Light and the Cheboygan River Front Range Light, an ongoing GLLKA restoration project.  We will pass by the mooring of the new Coast Guard Cutter Mackinaw and if she is in port, you will see her there.  As you head back to Mackinaw City, you will view the permanent home of the retired cutter Mackinaw (WAGB83) before returning to the Shepler's dock.  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 $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

Thursday June 30th - 1:30 to 4:30pm Westbound Straits of Mackinac Lighthouse Cruise Departing from Shepler's Mackinaw City dock, you'll bear west past historic Old Mackinac Point Light for a spectacular view of the Mighty Mackinac Bridge..  Get your cameras ready to photograph the girders and superstructure of the bridge above your head as the captain slows the boat for this rare photo opportunity.  A 20 mile westward run brings you to White Shoal Light with its trademark red and white candy-stripe daymark.  Next we head to the south to view Gray's Reef Light built in 1936 and then the boat will double back to the forbidding Waugoshance Light with its birdcage lantern.  As we head back eastward, the boat will pass as close as possible to the St. Helena Island Light Station, an ongoing GLLKA restoration project, before heading back under the Mackinac Bridge 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.  Cruise direction could change due to severe weather.  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.

Click HERE to view Refund Policy for all GLLKA Excursions