Boating on Northern Lake St. Clair

Last week’s blog focused on Anchor Bay and this week’s blog will focus on Northern Lake St. Clair.

Lake St. Clair is in the heart of the Great Lakes. The Detroit River is to its south and the St. Clair River is to its north both of which are gateways to bigger adventures if you should choose.

Lake St. Clair is big on miles but small when it comes to getting from waypoint to waypoint. The lake is 440 square miles with lots of rivers to navigate. It offers some great ports for an overnight or extended stay. In addition, there are some great on-the-water restaurants and some beautiful places to drop anchor for a refreshing swim or to enjoy a breathtaking sunset.

Northern Lake St. Clair, the North Channel and the St. Clair River offer some of our favorite boating spots. Last week we left off at the North Channel at Decker’s Landing and Lounge.

 

 

http://www.charts.noaa.gov/BookletChart/14852_BookletChart.pdf

If you proceed north up the North Channel toward Algonac you will find a hidden gem of a restaurant called Club Capri Restaurant. Look for Sassy Marina sign (N 42° 37.554' / W 082° 36.968') and follow the canal back to the restaurant.

 

Club Capri offers an Italian cuisine and is known for their famous pizza and their pasta dishes. They also offer a large select of craft beers and have a nice selection of wines. 

Club Capri offers some a little bit for everyone, my son enjoys their mussels, my husband enjoys their large beer selection and I enjoy their house merlot -Sycamore Lane.  On the weekend you are sure to find live entertainment. Check out their website to see their upcoming entertainment.

 

http://www.clubcapri.net/

Next stop is heading north up the North Channel to Johnnie Lega’s Restaurant & Tavern. They offer dingy parking in front of the restaurant and for the larger boats you can park at the newly refurbished Pearl Beach Pier however, spots are limited.

  

Lega’s opened in 1937 in Detroit and was moved to Pearl Beach in 1954. Lega’s is a family style restaurant and they offer American cuisine. Check out their menu on their website:

http://www.jlegas.com/index.html

Here is a short video that shows some of the things they offer:

Harsens Island also offers some nice places to visit by boat. One well known establishment is Bill Fritt’s Browns. Browns is located on Harsens Island on the Middle Channel and has been a local landmark since 1946. You can dock your boat right in front and they have plenty of docks to fit most size boats. They offer live entertainment on the weekends and on special events. Browns is family friendly and their menu includes burgers, wraps, salads, and fish & chips. You’re sure to find your favorite beer or cocktail to accompany your meal as well.



Ariel View of Browns

 

 

http://www.brownsonharsens.com/

GPS:   42.35.331”N/82.38.564”W 

 Heading back to the North Channel via the Middle Channel you will find Sunset Harbor Marina. Sunset Harbor is located on the North Channel on Harsens Island 1/8 mile west of the Harsen’s Island Fairy. They offer transient wells for an overnight or weekend stay. The marina has a beach and a pool that overlooks the north channel. We have enjoyed lounging at the pool during the day and a fire on the beach at night on a few of our stays. If you plan on staying for a little while, I recommend you bring your bikes to explore the island as there is not much within walking distance. This is also a great place to explore on the water if you have a dingy.

http://www.sunsetboatharbor.com/view/?path=&p=index.html

Next on your way north up the North Channel you will come across the Algonac Harbour Club. It is one of the largest deep water marinas by the Great Lakes.

GPS:      42° 36' 33.428"N/82° 32' 56.331"W

Algonac Harbour Club has a long history and the property has been part of the Algonac landscape since the early 1900’s. The Algonac Harbour Club is located where the original Chris-Craft plant created so many beautiful wooden boats. The original Chris-Craft tower is still a visual landmark today and has been since the 1900’s.

The marina offers full time dockage for the season and transient wells for overnight dockage for all different size boats. The marina is a full service marina and has a lot to offer. It is a family friendly marina offering a kiddie pool, an adult pool and spa. There are basketball courts, horseshoes, beach volleyball, and barbeque and picnic areas. 

Onsite is the Harbour Club Bar and Grill which offers waterfront dining and a Tiki Bar. It is a great place to stop for lunch or dinner if you are out an about.

If you bring your kayak or paddle board there are many areas to explore around the marina. You can also enjoy nearby shopping and restaurants which are all within walking distance.

The marina does have scheduled events throughout the summer that you might be interested in participating in. Check out their website for more information.

http://www.algonacharbourclub.com/ahc1/

Here is a video to show you some of the great things they have to offer.

 

If you are staying for the weekend, I would recommend dinner at one of our favorite restaurants, Catch 22 Bistro. It is within walking distance from the marina.

 

 

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Catch-22-Bistro/242736632462403

 

Leaving the North Channel and heading up the St. Clair River you will enjoy a great ride. Chances are you will pass a freighter or two if you are lucky. Below are a few pictures of some of the freighters we have passed.

 

As you leave the North Channel and head up the St. Clair River you will come to one of our favorite boating destinations St. Clair. St. Clair is a quaint little town with a lot to offer. It has a boardwalk that runs across Palmer Park. You can enjoy a leisurely stroll on the famous wooden boardwalk and enjoy the sight of freighters day and night or simply choose to relax in the park. In the summertime, you can enjoy their concerts in the park on Friday evenings.

Here is a great video that captures some of the things to do and see in St. Clair.

Statute in St. Clair along the boardwalk

The St. Clair Boat Harbor is a 132-slip harbor located on the St. Clair River at the mouth of the Pine River. They have slips available to seasonal boaters as well as transients. The harbor has floating wooden docks and is open April 1st – October 15th. The harbor has a fuel dock that offers e-free gas, diesel, pump-outs and some boating supplies.

The marina also features a canoe/kayak launch ramp and they offer canoe and kayak rentals to paddle down the Pine River. For the fisherman, they have a launch ramp and a fish cleaning station. The boat harbor is a close walk to town to experience some of the local restaurants and shopping. If you don’t feel like walking, the marina offers a free shuttle to anywhere within the City limits and to the River Crab Restaurant.

The harbor now offers a campground with electric & water hook-up if you want to invite your camping friends along.  Additionally, the harbor has a campfire pit to enjoy the cool summer nights.

Picture of campfire from one of our trips to St. Clair

 

http://stclairboatharbor.com/

Across the river from the marina is Pine Shores Golf Course for the golfing enthusiasts. The course is a 9-hole executive course. The marina will shuttle you and your group to the course.

http://stclairontheriver.com/

 

There are many great restaurants and bars in town.

The Voyageur Restaurant

The Voyageur offers reviewing dining on the waterside and a sports bar and bowling on the backside. It is a great place to enjoy a good meal and to watch the boats and freighters go by. I would recommend their Voyageur Lemonade if you are looking for a nice refreshing summer cocktails.

http://thevoyageur.com/

 

 

Pepper Joe’s is located on the banks of the Pine River and has been in business since 1998. They offer fresh choices and daily specials. Make sure to try their sangria – it is the best around.

http://pepperjoes.net/
 

 

LaCroix Riverside Pub

LaCroix’s Riverside Pub s a historic pub that has been family owed and that offers great food, refreshing drinks and live entertainment.

 

http://www.lacroixsriversidepub.com/



Murphy's Inn

Murphy’s Inn is a great place to enjoy the pub atmosphere or the dining room which both offer a diverse menu.  They offer Karaoke and live entertainment throughout the week. Murphy’s is accessible by land or water and does offer boat dockage. 
The historical Murphy Inn is a totally restored 1836 boarding house and one of the oldest operating inns in Michigan. There are 7 vintage guest rooms featuring antiques, and private baths if you have extra guests who are looking for somewhere to stay.

http://www.murphyinn.com/Home_Page.php

War Water Brewery is located in the St. Clair River Plaza and offers a great view of the river and an opportunity to try some microbrews.   This is another must stop if you are in St. Clair

https://www.facebook.com/Warwater/

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

St. Clair is a great place to bring your bike as there are some beautiful old houses scattered throughout the town and a bike ride is a great way to see them. I would definitely add St. Clair to your list of places to see.

Thanks for joining this week. Be sure to stay tune as my next blog will focus on Port Huron and Southern Lake Huron starting with Lexington.

Remember that life is better on a boat!!

#Lifeisbetteronaboat