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South Manitou Island
Good-for-Kids Rating
BabiesToddlers & Pre-KSchool-Age Kids
Pre-Teens & Teens
History Museum
Hiking
Boat Ride
South Manitou Island Description
Ferrying over to South Manitou Island for a tour is one of the highlights of a visit to the Sleeping Bear Dunes. The 1.5-hour ferry ride crosses the Manitou Passage, where you'll see remnants of dozens of shipwrecks (including an above-ground skeleton of an old freighter that ran aground in 1960). Once on the island, take a 1.5-hour guided tour of the historical points of interest (including an old community schoolhouse and cemetery), enjoy a picnic lunch, then explore the island's beaches, dunes, and bluffs on your own until the ferry departs 3 hours later.
Kid Tips
Babies: Bring a well-stocked diaper bag and plenty of food, as there are limited services on the island.
School-Age Kids: Kids this age will love hearing about and catching glimpses of shipwrecks along the Manitou Passage.
Planning Notes
- Leave from Leland. Ferries depart from the adorable town of Leland in the northern section of the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore.
- Bring a sack lunch. There is no food service on the island, so bring your own grub for the day. Several places in Leland offer portable eats, as well as pre- and post-trip meals.
- Reservations recommended. Call before your trip to secure a spot on the ferry.
- Cancellation fees. All cancellations are subject to a 20 percent fee; no refunds issued if reservations aren't canceled more than 48 hours in advance.
- Dress for lake weather. It can be windy and cold or hot and sunny all on the same day, so dress in layers (consider rain ponchos), bring sunscreen, and wear good walking or hiking shoes that you don't mind getting wet.
- It's buggy. Bring whatever you use to repel mosquitoes, because it can get buggy on the island.
- Know your ivy. Poison ivy is prevalent on the island, so know how to spot it and teach the kids how to avoid it.
Just the Facts
Hours: Open mid-May to early October 9:15 a.m.-5:30 p.m.
Fees: Over $40
Recommended Time: Full-Day
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