I'm looking for information regarding crossing Lake Michigan to Wisconsin. Specifically leaving from Muskegon MI to WI. Have you done this? What is a good Wisconsin port to spend a day or two assuming I'm crossing from Muskegon?
Crossing Lake Michigan
- Thread starter Joe Walworth
- Start date
- Status
3 choices
As I see it you are going to end up in Port Washington, Milwaukee, or Racine. If I were you, I would do Port W. Good marina - reasonable rates - great town! You can easily walk to many restaurants and bars though groceries is another matter. Groceries are even harder to come by in Mil and Racine when on foot. If you decide Racine , go to the yacht club in the north area of the harbor. Enter the club from the channel. DO NOT approach the docks from the north. If you draw over 6 ft go to Reefpoint in Racine. Milwaukee is actually 2 ports. McKinley Marina is on the north end and is next door to MYC. If you belong to a YC, then MYC has some things to offer. The other choice is South Shore YC. Great place w/ restaraunts and bars in walking distance. The actual club house has good food and a very nice bar. You need to be a YC member to dock. Rates at SSYC are VERY reasonable. Sheboygan would be a longer trip for you, but certainly in the realm of poosibilities. Again, groceries are not easily available. Two places to stay. SYC docks are not the best, but the club is one of the best on the lake (only behind Racine YC) Skipper Bud runs a huge marina. If you want a pool, hot tub, floating docks, etc. do Harbor Point Marina (Skipper Bud). It ain't cheap. My 34 cost me $55 for one night.
As I see it you are going to end up in Port Washington, Milwaukee, or Racine. If I were you, I would do Port W. Good marina - reasonable rates - great town! You can easily walk to many restaurants and bars though groceries is another matter. Groceries are even harder to come by in Mil and Racine when on foot. If you decide Racine , go to the yacht club in the north area of the harbor. Enter the club from the channel. DO NOT approach the docks from the north. If you draw over 6 ft go to Reefpoint in Racine. Milwaukee is actually 2 ports. McKinley Marina is on the north end and is next door to MYC. If you belong to a YC, then MYC has some things to offer. The other choice is South Shore YC. Great place w/ restaraunts and bars in walking distance. The actual club house has good food and a very nice bar. You need to be a YC member to dock. Rates at SSYC are VERY reasonable. Sheboygan would be a longer trip for you, but certainly in the realm of poosibilities. Again, groceries are not easily available. Two places to stay. SYC docks are not the best, but the club is one of the best on the lake (only behind Racine YC) Skipper Bud runs a huge marina. If you want a pool, hot tub, floating docks, etc. do Harbor Point Marina (Skipper Bud). It ain't cheap. My 34 cost me $55 for one night.
Done every year
The South Shore Yacht Club in Milwaukee sponsers the The Queens Cup Regatta every June.They leave Milwaukee and sail to Muskegon.Milwaukee just opened a farmers market in the downtown area .It is not far from the Mckinley Marina. if you come to Milwaukee come during the last week of June for Summerfest.Summerfest is 10 days of music with one price.More food than you can eat.Most of the bands can be heard from your boat for free.Excellant fireworks every night.If your coming over to the other side for peace and quiet ,by all means Port Washington,or even Manitowoc
The South Shore Yacht Club in Milwaukee sponsers the The Queens Cup Regatta every June.They leave Milwaukee and sail to Muskegon.Milwaukee just opened a farmers market in the downtown area .It is not far from the Mckinley Marina. if you come to Milwaukee come during the last week of June for Summerfest.Summerfest is 10 days of music with one price.More food than you can eat.Most of the bands can be heard from your boat for free.Excellant fireworks every night.If your coming over to the other side for peace and quiet ,by all means Port Washington,or even Manitowoc
Tim
By boat, SShore YC is not that far from McKinley , but wouldn't you agree that once you are docked, tied up, and on foot, each location is a destination in and of itself? It is too far to walk from one to the other. I really like SSYC and agree wholeheartedly with the Summerfest recommendation. I do think Milwaukee has a lot to offer regardless of when one visits. 4th of July is nice as you can watch several different fireworks shows - though the best fireworks on the lake - outside of Chicago - are in Racine. I do like Maniotowoc - the marina is excellent and reasohnable $ - goceries are again an issue. I am boycotting of most of the WI shore because of the high slip prices. Skipper Bud is way out of line, but they control so much of our side. Door County is absurd when one considers the other side of the lake for 30% less. What do you think? Tim, where is your port of call?
By boat, SShore YC is not that far from McKinley , but wouldn't you agree that once you are docked, tied up, and on foot, each location is a destination in and of itself? It is too far to walk from one to the other. I really like SSYC and agree wholeheartedly with the Summerfest recommendation. I do think Milwaukee has a lot to offer regardless of when one visits. 4th of July is nice as you can watch several different fireworks shows - though the best fireworks on the lake - outside of Chicago - are in Racine. I do like Maniotowoc - the marina is excellent and reasohnable $ - goceries are again an issue. I am boycotting of most of the WI shore because of the high slip prices. Skipper Bud is way out of line, but they control so much of our side. Door County is absurd when one considers the other side of the lake for 30% less. What do you think? Tim, where is your port of call?
Welcome to South Shore Yacht Club
Drop by any time after the ice melts. We are right by the Lake Express dock. There is a great ethnic grocery about 4-5 blocks from the club. On Saturdays, there is a Farmers' Market at South Shore Park right next to the Club. There is usually someone around who will give you a ride downtown. SSYC is undergoing a multi-million dollar renovation right now and will be closed for a couple of months during the winter. Give us a call if you get over this way, we're in the book. We have crossed your way three times, once on the Queen's Cup and twice on vacation. Enjoyed the town and marinas. Nice trolley. looking forward to trying the Lake Express. rip@edmundson.com
Drop by any time after the ice melts. We are right by the Lake Express dock. There is a great ethnic grocery about 4-5 blocks from the club. On Saturdays, there is a Farmers' Market at South Shore Park right next to the Club. There is usually someone around who will give you a ride downtown. SSYC is undergoing a multi-million dollar renovation right now and will be closed for a couple of months during the winter. Give us a call if you get over this way, we're in the book. We have crossed your way three times, once on the Queen's Cup and twice on vacation. Enjoyed the town and marinas. Nice trolley. looking forward to trying the Lake Express. rip@edmundson.com
Racine
We dock in Racine, up the Root River. racine has a great newly resurrected downtown, nice restaurants, good bars and shops. Within a few blocks are some convenience stores (Open Pantry)...within 1/2 mile is a Sav-a-lot grocery store (easy if you have a bike on board). Try: The Yardarm, Salute, Ivanhoe's, The Chart Room, Livingston's, The Yellow Rose, and one of my personal favorites, the Wave (corner of 4th and Lake).
We dock in Racine, up the Root River. racine has a great newly resurrected downtown, nice restaurants, good bars and shops. Within a few blocks are some convenience stores (Open Pantry)...within 1/2 mile is a Sav-a-lot grocery store (easy if you have a bike on board). Try: The Yardarm, Salute, Ivanhoe's, The Chart Room, Livingston's, The Yellow Rose, and one of my personal favorites, the Wave (corner of 4th and Lake).
Clipper Cup
Your trip across can be pretty intimidating but it's worth the experience. Port Washington is a great destination and if you want to go with a group but don't necessarily want to go in one of the night races, consider doing the Clipper in early August. There is a jib and main division for the not-so -serious, and I know a lot of people that did their first crossing this way (myself included). Great party Thursday night at HTYC, starts on Friday morning and you can come back either Sat. afternoon or Sunday. Returning Saturday afternoon can give you a great night sail back into Muskegon and viewing the stars from the middle of the lake is really a treat. Where's your boat?
Your trip across can be pretty intimidating but it's worth the experience. Port Washington is a great destination and if you want to go with a group but don't necessarily want to go in one of the night races, consider doing the Clipper in early August. There is a jib and main division for the not-so -serious, and I know a lot of people that did their first crossing this way (myself included). Great party Thursday night at HTYC, starts on Friday morning and you can come back either Sat. afternoon or Sunday. Returning Saturday afternoon can give you a great night sail back into Muskegon and viewing the stars from the middle of the lake is really a treat. Where's your boat?
Milwaukee
I own a mooring just south of the South Shore Yacht club.All the folks that I've met have been very sincere and friendly.Both Manitowoc and Door County are on my to do list for the summer of 2006. Yes you are very much correct in that the marinas are very differant.When you leave South Shore you are in an older settled nieghborhood.Mckinley is more downtown.If I ever HAVE to move back to a big city I would probably move close to the South Shore club.
I own a mooring just south of the South Shore Yacht club.All the folks that I've met have been very sincere and friendly.Both Manitowoc and Door County are on my to do list for the summer of 2006. Yes you are very much correct in that the marinas are very differant.When you leave South Shore you are in an older settled nieghborhood.Mckinley is more downtown.If I ever HAVE to move back to a big city I would probably move close to the South Shore club.
Well, you got a lot of suggestions
I cannot disagree with any of what has been said about all the different ports. They are all good spots each with a little different setting. If you have the time - hit them all. If I could only choose one it would be Port Washington. There is a quainteness there that won't be found at the other ports. If you go to Racine, let me invite you stay at the Racine Yacht Club located in the north half of the harbor. You do not need to be a member of another club to stay there. Tim: I go buy your boat a few times each season as I head to/from the cut from SSYC. What kind of boat do you have and what is her name?
I cannot disagree with any of what has been said about all the different ports. They are all good spots each with a little different setting. If you have the time - hit them all. If I could only choose one it would be Port Washington. There is a quainteness there that won't be found at the other ports. If you go to Racine, let me invite you stay at the Racine Yacht Club located in the north half of the harbor. You do not need to be a member of another club to stay there. Tim: I go buy your boat a few times each season as I head to/from the cut from SSYC. What kind of boat do you have and what is her name?
Our boat
New to us this year ,is a 1981 25 'O Day.The name is Annabell Lee.We are the furthest southern mooring.I wasn't happy about it at first.After being there awhile I realized that I don't have to zigzag between everyone else to get in and out.Plus we are too far from shore so that the kids who throw rocks can't hit our boat.
New to us this year ,is a 1981 25 'O Day.The name is Annabell Lee.We are the furthest southern mooring.I wasn't happy about it at first.After being there awhile I realized that I don't have to zigzag between everyone else to get in and out.Plus we are too far from shore so that the kids who throw rocks can't hit our boat.
The City of Festivals
If you want quaint, then Port Washinton is the spot. If you want to experience a host of etnic festivals, marvelous restaurants,trails and parks, weekly firework, then come to McKinely in Milwaukee
If you want quaint, then Port Washinton is the spot. If you want to experience a host of etnic festivals, marvelous restaurants,trails and parks, weekly firework, then come to McKinely in Milwaukee
kenosha
We have crossed a number of times, from South Haven to Wisconsin. In 2003, I wrote down some thoughts that can be found in the 203 archives called "What Rhymes with Kenosha" It is a great port o' call. Happy sailing,hail you in the middle of the lake some day!
We have crossed a number of times, from South Haven to Wisconsin. In 2003, I wrote down some thoughts that can be found in the 203 archives called "What Rhymes with Kenosha" It is a great port o' call. Happy sailing,hail you in the middle of the lake some day!
- Status