U.P. residents can get free boat tour during Pictured Rocks Days
MUNISING, Mich. (WJMN) — Pictured Rocks Days offers a great chance to celebrate the beautiful lakeshore in the Upper Peninsula, but people living in the U.P. can get an extra treat just by showing their address.
Being a Yooper has its perks, having an Upper Peninsula address can save you a lot of money this weekend.
If you live in the U.P. and want to experience Pictured Rocks from the water, there are few better ways than aboard a Pictured Rocks Cruise boat. This coming weekend marks the 10th annual celebration of Pictured Rocks Days. Where anyone with a valid ID that shows you live in the U.P., can take the tour, which is normally $44, free of charge. The only catch is they are only giving free rides to the first thousand customers per day.
The CEO of the Alger County Chamber of Commerce, Kathy Reynolds says that the Pictured Rocks Days festival has not only gained in popularity each year but is evolving and improving each year.
“So, we have bands all day,” Reynolds said. “So, there’s music all day on both days, a variety of music. There are food vendors, right? You know, other type of vendors, whether they’re art vendors, whether they’re craft vendors, all those types of things. So, we usually have 70-plus vendors there during that time. Bounce houses or a petting zoo, you know, all kinds of things. So really, if you’re a family, it’s a great thing to do. Bring your kids down because there’s things for them to do, too.”
There will certainly be a festive atmosphere on land, but the real star of the show is The Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore. Reynolds believes the draw of free tours, will spread to other tourist activities, as well as lodging and dining. Boosting local businesses is especially crucial this year after many folks lost considerable revenue due to the recent mild winter.
“The beginning of June in the U.P. isn’t near—certainly not as busy as July and August. So, this is giving those businesses a boost, gets some more traffic out there moving about,” said Reynolds. “They’re looking for things to do.”
With estimated attendance around 8000 people, Pictured Rocks Days is a perfect opportunity to show off all Alger County has to offer.
“There are 17 to 20 waterfalls in the area. People can go to. The hiking is outstanding. Some of the best hiking is not real difficult. You know, a lot of it’s not real difficult like climbing, you know, having to climb a mountain or anything, Said Reynolds. “Going over to Grand Island. And that’s a lot of things that people haven’t done is 25 miles around the island. No cars. Right. You can bike around it. You can hike around it. You take the ferry over there. That is fantastic thing to do.”
Like everybody, Reynolds knows that ideal weather can make the tour more enjoyable, but said the rocks are spectacular in any weather, and any season.
“You know, it really goes on for, you know, for miles and miles and miles of different colors every day, jutting rocks out of out into this clear blue Caribbean type of water,” said Reynolds. “The rocks change colors. I mean, the formations are outstanding. I think it’s one of the most beautiful places, honestly, in the Midwest, if not in the country.”
Pictured Rocks Days takes place in Binsfeld Bayshore Park Saturday, June 8 from 10a.m.-6p.m. and again on Sunday June 9 from 10a.m.-4 p.m.
Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WJMN - UPMatters.com.