Saginaw Bay, the body of water on Lake Huron that separates Michigan's “thumb” from the Lower Peninsula, draws sport fishermen, birders and boaters to its more than 1,000 square miles of open spaces and broad horizons. On some spots along the bay, visitors can watch both the sunrise in the morning and the evening sunset. Saginaw Bay's main attractions are on the water and the shoreline, but small towns provide activities if the weather prevents you from going outside.
Fishing
- One of several areas in the United States that claims to be the “Walleye Capital of the World,” Saginaw Bay supports a large population of native, stocked and immigrant walleye as well as northern pike and perch. Bass and trout are plentiful in the rivers that feed the bay. Marinas in towns around the bay have launches and boat rentals, and sell bait and tackle. More than 30 companies offer charter fishing services, and the Department of Natural Resources operates seven public-access areas around the bay and inland. During the winter when the bay freezes over, ice fishermen drag sheds onto the ice or zoom across its surface on snowmobiles.
Cruises
- Appledore Tall Ships, a nonprofit organization, raises funds for its operations with public cruises aboard schooners. The tall-masted sailboats depart from Bay City. Visitors can choose from a day sail into Saginaw Bay with a light lunch, a dinner sail, or a stargazing expedition led by local astronomers. Charity Island dinner cruises depart from Tawas City and Caseville. A one-hour boat ride ends at Charity Island, site of a lighthouse built in 1857. Guests dine on the island, listen to local history stories and tour the lightkeeper’s home before returning. In addition to day and evening cruises, Bay City Boat Lines has a limited number of history cruises at no cost in July and August.
On Shore
- Albert E. Sleeper State Park 5 miles from Caseville has a sandy beach, dunes and a hiking trail system that leads into the adjacent Rush Lake State Game Area. A campground with electrical hookups and a cabin area provide accommodations. State-operated boat access areas, a dock and fishing piers are nearby. Accessible by bridge and footpaths, Saginaw's Ojibway Island is an urban park with picnic spots, bike trails and fishing docks. The island is the site of the annual Fourth of July celebration and a country-music festival in June.
Rainy Day Activities
- Castle Museum of Saginaw County History, housed in an 1898 French Renaissance Revival castle-like building in Saginaw, exhibits early vehicles such as a 1914 Cyclecar -- one of only 35 built -- a model railroad with 1,000 feet of track, period rooms and local history displays. The Marshall M. Fredericks Sculpture Museum at Saginaw Valley State University has more than 2,000 works by sculptor Fredericks. Known for his monumental statues, memorials and fountains, Fredericks died in 1998. In Bay City, the Antique Toy and Firehouse Museum has more than 60 motorized fire trucks and a huge collection of Tonka toys.
