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Discover
BEAVER ISLAND - Lake Michigan nature and history at its finest - on
one of our special daily tours.
Our knowledgeable and
well seasoned tour drivers will
guide you through Beaver Island's beautiful scenery and intriguing
history, while giving you an idea of why island life is so unique.
Beaver Island is home to two lighthouses which are considered the
highlight for many visitors. Tours range from a simple, yet
informative one and one half hour tour of the northern end of the
Island, to
a more extensive three hour tour of the entire Island.
You must ride the first
ferry to the island in the morning. Upon
arrival to the island,
please check in at our tour office across the street from the Beaver
Island Boat Company Dock. Tours are available May through October.
Some dates may require an overnight stay; please refer to our ferry
schedule.
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You might also be
interested in browsing through the
downtown shops, walking around the harbor, renting a bike or car,
exploring the museums, swimming at the downtown public
beach, or just
relaxing on a bench overlooking the beautiful harbor.
Visit the Beaver
Island Chamber of Commerce, which is just north of our Island
office, if you have questions or need further
information.
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Call (231)448-2500, for tour info and
reservations.
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Our guided, narrated
tours are designed to encourage visitors to experience the unique
history and natural beauty of Beaver Island which at one time was the
only kingdom within the United States. The tours are escorted and
narrated by knowledgeable and experienced Beaver Island residents in
air-conditioned vehicles.
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| TOUR
OPTIONS |
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Regular Tour (1 ½ hours)
This tour focuses on the northern end of the
island and the harbor area. View the picturesque village of St.
James including its lighthouse on Whiskey Point, shops,
museums and churches. The tour
then proceeds to the west side of the island to see spectacular Donegal
Bay with views of High, Whiskey, Trout and Garden Islands. Finally you
will visit Protar's home and tomb and hear the intriguing history of
this fascinating man.
TOUR
MAP
| Adults (Ages
13+): $23.00 |
Children (Ages
5-12): $18.00 |
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Extended Tour (3 hours)
This tour begins with everything encompassed
by the regular tour and then continues around the entire island. Your
journey to the southern tip of Beaver Island will take you through its
beautiful dunes and forests and alongside several of the island's
pristine inland lakes, bays and beaches. Ultimately, the tour will
pause to visit and climb one of the
oldest lighthouses on the Great Lakes, Beaver Head Lighthouse.
TOUR
MAP
| Adults (Ages
13+): $33.00 |
Children (Ages
5-12): $28.00 |
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| Special
rates available for groups of 20 or more. |
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| RESERVATIONS |
Reservations are not necessary, but we have
limited space for the
Island tours and suggest prior
reservations. Please call with the date you would like and the
number of passengers. No deposit is required. You may
also sign up for a tour on the day you arrive. (231)448-2500 or
(888)446-4095
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| SCHEDULE |
Tours are available May - October. One day trips
are available during most of June, July and August. During May,
September and October, an overnight stay on Beaver Island is necessary.
See our ferry SCHEDULE
for departure times.
(June 8 until August 26): Plan on arriving in Charlevoix at the ferry
dock by 7:30am. The ferry departs Charlevoix at 8:30am and takes 2
hours to cross. Return to the Beaver Island dock at 5:00pm for the
final departure at 5:30 pm, for an arrival in Charlevoix at 7:30 pm.
(Other dates): Please see our ferry schedule for departure times and
'island info' page for overnight lodging information.
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| PARKING |
| We suggest
parking for
the day in the free public lot on Park Avenue or the free beach lot at
the end of Palmer Street. Note the MAP of
downtown and
directions in our brochure. |
| TOUR
ARRANGEMENTS |
| The
narrated tour is given in an
air conditioned 15 passenger van. Please check in at our Beaver Island
tour office across the street from our dock as soon as you arrive
on
the island, to confirm the time of your tour. The regular (1½
hour)
tour often leaves
shortly after you arrive; as the extended (3 hour) tour leaves at
approximately
1:00pm (times subject to change). |
| MUSEUMS |
| The Mormon Print
Shop hours are
Monday - Saturday: 11-5 and Sunday: 12-3. The Marine Museum hours are
Monday, Wednesday, Friday & Saturday: 11-4, Tuesday & Thursday:
1:30-4, and Sunday: 12-3. The Mormon Print Shop Museum is across the
street from our Beaver Island dock
office and west about one block. It is now the general museum for the
Beaver
Island Historical Society and houses the story of King Strang and
others
who have lived on the Island ... Native Americans, the Mormons, the
Irish, and a
beloved
citizen, "Dr. Protar." The Marine Museum is on the harbor, about a
15
minute walk to the east. It tells the story of the harbor in earlier
times.
It included not only fishing and ferries, but also the end products of
lumbering
and milling. Also represented are pre-Coast Guard, Coast Guard and
Lighthouse
Services,
which came to the aid of mariners in distress. |
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