My husband and I have been coming to the Tawas area every year for almost two decades. We had heard…read moreabout the Charity Island tour, and finally decided this is the year to do it! We're so glad we did. The experience involves a 60 minute boat trip to Charity Island, a brief trip through the woods, a lecture about the history of the island and its lighthouse, and dinner. The boat departs around 4 pm, and is timed to allow people to see the sunset on the way back to Brown's Landing (a few miles south of Tawas City). The boat is a converted fishing vessel that seats up to 35 people in folding chairs; there were about 25 of us on this trip. Our boat had a canopy (much appreciated, since it was threatening to rain). Once we got to the island, we were met by another boat that departed from another area. I noticed that boat didn't have a canopy, and felt a bit sorry for those folks. The ride over was exciting. I've spent very little time on boats, having spent much of my life in a landlocked city. The waves were up a bit, and the ride was, shall we say, bouncy. Grab ropes strung from the ceiling of the canopy allowed us to move around the boat. We were warmly welcomed by the captain and crew. Once the journey began, they provided soft drinks and cheese and crackers. We disembarked at the island, where we were offered the opportunity to walk the 1/4 mile through the woods to the lighthouse, or to ride in an open trailer. With the threatening rain, most of us opted for the ride. A word of advice: wear comfy shoes and bring bug spray. The mosquitoes on the island are relentless, and the terrain did not lend itself to one lady's cute (but utterly impractical) footwear. Also, bring a jacket. Even on warm days, the wind and the spray on the boat can make you shiver. One lady had a waterproof poncho--smart move. We got off the trailer and made our way to a lovely pavilion that was set up for dinner. The staff had place cards set up with our names on them. We sat with two delightful ladies, and very much enjoyed our time with them. Soft drinks and wine were offered as Mr. Wiltse, owner of part of the island, greeted us and gave a terrific presentation on the history of the island and the lighthouse keepers. His passion for the subject made him a sparkling speaker. I won't share his stories here, as I don't want to provide spoilers. Suffice it to say that this man has done a ton of research and has met some pretty interesting people along the way. Dinner was served, and the food was great. My husband and I both chose the steak, and our dinner companions chose the fish. Dinner came with hot, crusty bread, a perfectly cooked selection of vegetables, and red potatoes. The steak was tender and flavorful. The other ladies at our table sang the praises of the fish.The meal was served informally on disposable plates and with plastic wear. While initially I was put off by this, it later occurred to me that there were very few staff doing the work, and that dishwashing was probably not practical on an island that is completely off the grid. After dinner we toured the house and lighthouse. The house is currently occupied by Mr. and Mrs. Wiltse during the summers only. Accessing the island in the winter is very difficult. The tour started in the basement, where whale oil for the lighthouse light used to be stored. It continued through the main living area, and on to the upstairs bedrooms. The house is run off of energy generated from two large solar panels and a wind turbine. Batteries that store the energy are located in the basement. We were also able to go inside the actual lighthouse. It's clear that it needs a lot of work, but the original iron spiral stair way is still there and is sturdy as ever. Looking straight up from the bottom of the staircase induces a bit of vertigo, but is well worth it. After the tour of the house, some of us went to the tiny gift shop. It featured a selection of shirts and other Charity Island items. Of most interest was containers of honey (made from the bee hives that are on the island) and maple syrup made from the numerous maple trees that populate the island. Mr. Wiltse spent several days in February tapping the trees. Be sure to bring cash, though--they don't currently have the technology for credit cards. The rain returned in full force, delaying our return for about 20 minutes. We sat on the spacious front porch and watched the storm. It soon passed and we piled in the trailer for the return trip. The staff provided umbrellas for us. The trip back to Brown's Landing was rougher than our first. The lake was stirred up from the storms. The staff served cheesecake and soft drinks for dessert. Nearing our destination, we were greeted with a glorious sunset and a rainbow--a perfect ending to a fun and informative trip. Bottom line--if you have a chance to do this, do it. Experiences like this are way better than any souvenir.

From the owner: Our Signature "1857 Island Lighthouse Dining Adventure Cruise" to Charity Island beginning Saturday…read moreMay 28th will run every Weekend through the second Saturday in October. For the General Public we run every Friday, Saturday, & Sundays and typically have tour groups on weekdays with a General Public seats also available on those dates. Call for weekday availability.

The Bavarian Bell River boat ended up being one of the main highlights of our time in Frankenmuth…read moreand that's saying a lot because we had a really good time here. When we arrived, the woman selling the tickets was genuinely friendly and interested in our dog. I love that this is a dog-friendly activity and that always gets extra bonus points with me. She asked our dog's name and answered all our questions and when we saw her hours later walking around the town she called out to our dog by name and said hello. It was very sweet and just one example of the warm welcoming spirit of this city. The cruise itself was very calm and slow. Just a smooth ride down the Cass River and back. There's lots of time to take in the scenery and you learn a lot. The gentleman narrating our tour was knowledgeable and had a great voice on the microphone. I actually thought it was a recording for the first few minutes, but he introduced himself and explained that his son was the boat captain. He shared the history of Frankenmuth and the surrounding area and when he tells you the popcorn they sell on board is the best you'll ever have, he's not lying. The popcorn was the surprise star of this cruise! For only $2 you get this bag of fresh salty delicious popcorn and they actually encourage you to toss some to the ducks on the river. It was really fun watching them Rush up to the boat and watching the children laughing and enjoying themselves. I love popcorn though so unfortunately the ducks had to share with me because it was definitely the best $2 popcorn I've ever had! This is a must if you're in Frankenmuth and I'm so glad we got to experience it. We had such a nice time that we bought some souvenirs on our way off the boat, including a little Captain's hat for my husband to match the one we had for our pup already. It really was a lovely time.

Cool ride on a riverboat down the Cass River. The captain, who is also the owner, is a wealth of…read moreknowledge. The tour gives a lot of history about the boat itself, as well as the town of Frankenmuth. Pretty reasonable for an hour ride and scenery.

Wonderful experience around the Tawas Bay getting to appreciate a Tall Ship! Staff was very…read moreknowledgeable and answered all questions, worked really well together and it was a super memorable experience. Kids got to help pull the ropes for one of the sails and learn about how much work it is to live on and manage that sized sail boat! Boat was very well maintained, got to a pretty good speed and even on a rough water day, didn't feel really much boat rocking at all. Very cool experience to check out!

We had a most excellent time. The captain and crew were top notch. My wifes first time sailing and…read moreshe loved it. She said she felt completely safe and enjoyed everything.

Good experience! Employees were mostly nice…read more We plan to go back again! Such an easy paddle, about 30 minutes going SLOOOOOW (allowing children to paddle) to get to the beach. Bring anything/everything you need to make it an all day event.

Great little rental stop for the river. They have kayaks and canoes. The prices went up since they…read moreupdated on Facebook but still reasonable. $30 for a canoe or Kayak. You get it for the entire day. Die back at 6pm. During the busy season you want to get there early, they do run out of kayaks. Very friendly and helpful. The teenage guys working there are very nice. They work for extra tips. Recommend this spot for a quick rental and river trip.

We enjoyed our time with Bay City Boats. The only reason my rating is not 5 stars is because the…read moreband was less than impressive, vocally. The food was delicious and plentiful. The staff was courteous and dutiful. The scenery was lovely. It was a fun and relaxing cruise. The rest of the group seemed to enjoy the band. Many were dancing. There was plenty of seating and space on the upper deck to view the river and bay. Our weather was perfect. A great time, we recommend.

Booked a last minute ticket to the fireworks extravaganza cruise!! Such a good time. Live music,…read morelots of good company and a meal was provided! After we docked we were able to stay on the boat to watch fireworks!! Such a fun time!

This place was great. we got there d they gave us a thoroug run down of the rules and the safety…read moreguideline. Then we aloud to ride out and spend the afternoon undisturbed. They have a GPS on the boat in case you end up to close to something that you shouldn'. it beeps and you can then change course and get out of trouble. They continually check out the weather for that unexpected storm that may pop up and will call you on your cell to tell you get in. The "Nacho"boat was nice. Not tobigforthe 3 of us, and have handled another 3 or 4 more people with feeling to crowded. Thanks guys, John and family

Bay City Boat rental was great. Jared was friendly,patient, cooperative and accommodating. Jonah…read morewas also super friendly and educated us on all of the safety instructions prior to departing on our journey. I highly recommend them for a great experience!

I rented an 18 seater pontoon and it was a fantastic experience. I expected it to be smaller but it…read morefit 18 people without any issues and the seats were comfortable and good quality. The young gentleman at the dock helped park when necessary and filled up the gas when needed. Came with a full tank of gas that lasted several rides over multiple days. There wasn't any extra rules or unexpected costs. I was happily surprised by the experience. Decent speakers and the radio supported Bluetooth. Just wish they had fishing electronics to locate those fish!

We usually rent from Jerry's Marina's but tried Sunny Bunns today. The boat from Sunny Bunns was…read morefilthy, smelled and broken seats, severely damaged. Beware!

My family recently took a tour with Will exploring the Saginaw River system and the "Everglades of…read moreMichigan". Had a really interesting trip. We were out for a little over 3 hours and enjoyed every minute. 6 adults, a teenager, and 2 young people all n our group. Lots of room, very safe, and an enjoyable afternoon had by all. I would highly recommend this outfitter to anyone who enjoys/appreciates nature and appreciates lots of interesting info as well as anecdotes.

AMAZING tour! Don't waste your time with cheap imitations! Johnny Panther Quests is the real…read moredeal. Will has stories and the history of the area that will keep you entertained the whole day. The serenity of the scenery and the amazing wildlife is second to none. We seen more then 10 eagles, more great egrets than we could keep count. Turtles, fish and the list goes on. The time flew by.... i will definitely do this again.

Inland Marine is an exceptional and outstanding business. We bought a used pontoon boat from one…read moreof their customers. We chose to stop by Inland Marine before our trek home (2 hours and 45 minutes) to insure a safe towing. The owner and staff were extremely accommodating and went above and beyond to help us. AuGres, Michigan is very fortunate to have Inland Marine in their community. Thank you Mike and staff for a wonderful experience. Gail and Dan May

Efficient, friendly and reasonable. They pulled my pontoon out of the water and winterized it - I…read moredid not use them for service. That said, I bought my boat from my neighbors who have used them to service and highly recommend their attention to quality repairs. They did a good job at what I used them for.

I don't give five stars lightly. I've been fishing with these guys on and off for a while now…read more They are always catching fish, Capt. Karl is super professional and very experienced fishing in this area. I guarantee you will have a great time and your group will come away with fish and lots of great photos and memories.

Doesn't return phone calls!! It hard to plan when there is no reply! If you as as customer reach…read moreout, at least have the respect to return a call.