Ideas for Families in St. Ignace

St. Ignace and the nearby areas offer many interesting low- or no-cost vacation and recreation opportunities.

Visit the sand dunes just west of town on US-2. Spend an afternoon sunning, swimming, and hiking the winding trails along miles of beautiful sandy beach on the north shore of Lake Michigan. Over 15 miles of sandy beach. You’re usually able to find a secluded private spot. Make sure to stop at the Cut River Bridge park!

Walk the Historic St. Ignace Walking Tour, a self-paced, self-guided tour along the Huron Boardwalk. The boardwalk follows the shoreline from Kiwanis Beach to Wawatam Lighthouse Dock. It is accessible from anywhere in town and is safe for children. There are many benches and scenic look-outs.

Hike the North Country Trail – St Ignace area is surrounded by State and Federal forest land all of which are good places for hiking. The North Country Trail is a National Scenic Trail. It crosses nearly the entire Upper Peninsula from east to west, allowing for almost 550 miles of trail use. The Trail then traverses the mighty Mackinac Bridge at the Straits of Mackinac and continues for another 600 miles to the Ohio state line.

Climb Castle Rock – this sea stack extends nearly 200’ from the ground. See spectacular views of Lake Huron and Mackinac Island from the top. It costs only $1.00 per person to climb. Extra points if you find the other two sea stacks in St. Ignace!

Go Fishing – some spots include the docks in St. Ignace, the Carp River, and Castle Rock Pond (this is stocked every June for the kid’s fishing derby). Stop at the Chamber for a brochure on fishing in the area.

View Mackinac Bridge – there are numerous locations from which different angles of the view can be seen. Take a walk-through Straits State Park and find the magnificent view looking straight down the Mighty Mac. Another angle is at the bridge view park just west of the toll entrance. This park features a viewing area, picnic tables, a walking path, and landscaped areas including trees and shrubs. A state park recreation pass is needed.

Weekly Events – July and August in St. Ignace is an exciting time! There is live music every night at the American Legion Park. Wacky Wednesday at First National Bank, Swinging Iggy downtown. See the Chamber of Commerce for a list of the weekly events. Cultural and Historic teachings at the Ojibwa Culture Museum.

Go on a Picnic – The American Legion Park offers a covered picnic area and grills. There is a playground and a swimming area. Other areas for a picnic include Kiwanis Beach, Little Bear Sports Park, Castle Rock Ponds, and rest areas on Lake Michigan on Route 2.

View a Lighthouse – There are many lighthouses in the area. Stop by the Chamber of Commerce for a map.

Watch Fudge being made – find a fudge shop downtown and watch how they make this delicious treat.

Attend a flea market – Saturdays through September 23 there is a flea market in the Chamber of Commerce parking lot. See the numerous vendors and find a special souvenir.

Play tennis or pickleball. check out the tennis courts off East Truckey and Chambers Street. It is first come, first serve except Mondays and Wednesdays from 5:30 – 7:30 PM during the youth tennis program. Equipment is not provided.

Disc Golf Course? Doc Holle’s Silver Mountain has a challenging disc golf course. Both experts and beginners of disc golf will love Silver Mountain. Bring your own discs to play at one of the top 10 courses in Michigan. Pick up a map and a score sheet on hole one at this secluded course that features a nice mix of tight shots and long throws from a variety of elevations throughout. It is located at W1931 Cheeseman Road in St. Ignace.

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