Pappy's Tours

08/16/2026

What an amazing way to wind down the day!! Check out our tours at Pappystours.com.

08/12/2026

08/11/2026

There's still lots of summer left to enjoy Michigan's beauty! Check out our tours at Pappystours.com 🛥

08/03/2026

DISCOVER ONE OF MICHIGAN'S MOST INCREDIBLE HIDDEN GEMS!

​Looking for an unforgettable adventure while visiting Mackinaw City this summer? Join Pappy’s Tours for an exclusive trip to St. Helena Island Lighthouse - an experience few visitors ever get to enjoy!

Located 8 miles northwest of the Mackinac Bridge in the heart of the Straits of Mackinac, St. Helena Island is rich in history and natural beauty. Once home to a thriving fishing village, the island is now best known for its beautifully restored lighthouse, which has safely guided mariners through one of the busiest shipping channels on the Great Lakes for well over a century. By the early 1980s, the lighthouse had fallen into complete ruin. Thanks to the incredible work of the Great Lakes Lighthouse Keepers Association (GLLKA), it has been painstakingly restored and is now considered one of the finest lighthouse restorations on the Great Lakes.

Your adventure begins in Mackinaw City as we cruise beneath the iconic Mackinac Bridge and head across the sparkling waters of the Straits. Once on the island, you’ll have approximately 90 minutes to explore the historic lighthouse grounds, enjoy a picnic lunch, soak in breathtaking scenery, and during certain times of the year even climb to the top of the lighthouse tower for spectacular views.

The excitement doesn’t end there! On the return trip, we’ll circle the island and whenever possible track down one of the enormous Great Lakes freighters for unforgettable close-up views and incredible photo opportunities. Whether you’re a lighthouse enthusiast, history buff, photographer, ship watcher, or simply looking for a one-of-a-kind Great Lakes adventure, this tour is an experience you’ll remember for years to come!

​Tour Details
Approximately 4-hour excursion
Cruise beneath the Mackinac Bridge
90 minute visit to St Helena Island
Lighthouse tower climbs available during certain times of the year
Possible freighter encounters for amazing photos

​Pricing is $175 per person with a 2-person minimum
Additional guests (up to 6 total) $75 each

​Come discover one of the Great Lakes’ best-kept secrets with Pappy’s Tours!

​Book your adventure today at Pappystours.com
989-205-0123

07/31/2026

If you missed the chance to get out to see Poverty Island Lighthouse with Pappy's Tours you can check out the mini version of it in St Ignace 😉

07/16/2026

Get Up Close to the Giants of the Great Lakes! Experience the thrill of watching massive freighters from the best seat on the water! Join Pappy's Tours for an unforgettable Freighter Chasing Tour!

📸 Incredible photo opportunities
🌉 Stunning Mackinac Bridge views
🚤 Small, personalized tours

Book your adventure today!
📞 989-205-0123
🌐 www.pappystours.com

Offering "unique water excursions" out of Mackinaw City, MI.

07/11/2026

CALLING all MICHIGAN LIGHTHOUSE FANS!!!

White Shoal Light has recently joined forces with Pappy's Tours out of Mackinaw City to offer everyone a chance to get out to experience the most remote lighthouses on the Great Lakes!

We are also working to bring back day tours to White Shoal Light beginning in 2027!

Until then, check out this unique opportunity....COMING UP in just TWO WEEKS!

Is your goal to visit all 129 Michigan lighthouses? If so, you already know the last ones to be checked off most everyone’s list are those located far offshore.

Pappy’s Tours is offering a small window of opportunity the last week of July this year to help you get out to see some of these remote structures! If you are a lighthouse fan, you will not want to miss this chance to see two (and possibly three) of Michigan’s hardest to reach lighthouses!

Join us at Fayette State Park July 25-31st to venture far out onto Lake Michigan to see Poverty Island Light, St. Martin Island Light, & Minneapolis Shoal Light!

Book your tour now! This is the first year we are offering this unique adventure and we plan to be in this area of Lake Michigan only once each year.

Big Bay De Noc and the waters surrounding Poverty Island are some of the most beautiful you will find in our beloved state of Michigan. The adventure will begin in Snail Shell Harbor and sail out along the limestone bluffs of the Garden Peninsula southward around Big Summer Island and into the crystal clear waters of Poverty Island (one of Michigan’s most remote island lighthouses and also the most endangered lighthouse in the United States).

We then proceed further south to St. Martin Island Light Station. If conditions are favorable the day of your tour, we may also sail further west across the bay to get up close to Minneapolis Shoal Light and take in Peninsula Point Lighthouse (as a bonus) on the return trip to Fayette State Park.

Pappy’s Tours specializes in highly customizable charters in all of Northern Lake Michigan & Lake Huron (including the entire length of the St. Mary’s River). We will take you where you want to go…just about anywhere! We also offer custom freighter viewing adventures! Call us for additional details, pricing, and to reserve your spot! These tours will book fast!

We can accommodate a maximum of 6 guests per tour and duration depends on what you want to see and the wind/wave conditions on the day of your arrival. Tours cancelled due to weather may be offered the following day or later the same week depending on availability. Full refunds will be given for any tour cancelled due to weather only. Refunds are not available for no-shows on the day of your scheduled trip.

SEE YOU ALL at FAYETTE STATE PARK!

https://www.pappystours.com

06/30/2026

Join us for a tour around Mackinac Island and Round Island! Book now at Pappystours.com

06/21/2026

⚓Sunrise to sunset, the Great Lakes are calling! Kick off your summer with Pappy's Tours!
pappystours.com

06/16/2026

Breathtaking sunset views await! Tours begin July 18th. Book NOW at pappystours.com for best availability.