| Experience Lake Huron’s “Great” Personality in Huron County
Lake Huron gives Michigan its distinctive mitten shape, and Huron County makes up the tip of the Thumb. You’ll want to remember this term, as the Thumb is an area with vibrant local culture and regional pride. When you rent a Lake Huron lake house in Huron County, you will get much more than a relaxing lake vacation—you’re joining a quirky community with a personality as “great” as the Great Lakes.
History on the Lakebed
Lake Huron is the second largest of the Great Lakes, with a surface area of 23,000 square miles. For fisherman, there is a variety of sport fishing available, with opportunities to catch perch, pike, salmon, steelhead trout, walleye, and whitefish. But while fishing, swimming, boating, and a host of other favorite lake pastimes take place on the lake’s surface, another adventure awaits underwater. Over 1,000 shipwrecks lie below the surface of Lake Huron—and those are just the ones that have been discovered so far! This fascinating underwater history is protected by the Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary, and scuba divers and snorkelers of any skill level can explore the wrecks in search of a unique adventure.
Scenery Along M-25
Two absolute must-do activities of the Thumb are taking in the spectacular landscape and touring historic lighthouses. You can combine these pursuits by hopping on the M-25, which has a view of Lake Huron or Saginaw Bay for its entire route along the Thumb’s coast. The 160-mile highway passes five lighthouses as it winds along the shore: Fort Gratiot Lighthouse, Port Sanilac Lighthouse, Pointe aux Barques Lighthouse, Harbor Beach Light, and the Port Austin Lighthouse.
Adventure in the Parks
Michiganites love the outdoors, and when you rent a Lake Huron lake house, you get to enjoy the very best of Mother Nature that Huron County has to offer. The Huron County Nature Center & Wilderness Arboretum in Port Austin is a great place for a peaceful hike or walk along the beautifully maintained trails. The park is free to the public, and it hosts events and festivals throughout the year, like the Lady Slipper Festival, geocaching events, The Great Bug Hunt, and educational presentations on local history and wildlife. In Caseville, the Albert E. Sleeper State Park has 723 acres of forest, wetlands, and sandy beaches on Saginaw Bay. Wild Fowl Bay State park is on a tiny island just off of Bay Port where you can see abundant birds and wildlife. If you want to explore from the water, instead, Port Austin Kayak provides rentals for kayaks and stand up paddle boards by the hour, day, or week. Turnip Rock, near Pointe aux Barques, is a favorite kayak destination.
Festivals in the Thumb
The Thumb is known for its hometown festivals, which occur all year long. While some of the events you find near your Lake Huron lake house are more traditional, like county fairs, others are pure Thumb originals. The town of Kinde hosts a yearly Polka Fest with live polka music and dancing. The Michigan Sugar Festival in Sebewaing celebrates the local sugar beet industry with live music, craft beer, the crowning of a Sugar Queen, and lots of kid-friendly activities. Perhaps the most famous festival is Cheeseburger in Caseville, which pays homage to Jimmy Buffet’s “Cheeseburger in Paradise,” and to the classic American cuisine, over the course of 10 days. Other local festivals include Caseville Country Ribstock, the Pumpkin Festival, the Maritime Festival, and Porch Fest, to name a few. Whether the festivals focus on food, music, history, or all three, you are sure to have a blast at these community events.
The Thumb of Michigan is a delightful community with an unforgettable personality. Come to Huron County and rent a Lake Huron lake house—you’ll enjoy every minute of your stay, from the depths of the shipwreck-strewn lakebed to the crown on the Sugar Queen’s head. |
