St. Helena Island Tour
Description: Climb aboard OLIVE, our 24-foot Parker offshore boat and take a cruise under the Mackinac Bridge for some great photos on a seven mile ride out to St. Helena Island in the Western Straits of Mackinac. At the island, you will disembark for a chance to explore the St. Helena Island lighthouse grounds and have the opportunity to tour the interior of the lighthouse and climb the tower (separate charge). After approximately two hours, you will re-embark for a cruise around the remainder of the island and then sail back to Mackinaw City.
Duration: Approximately 4 hours
Approximate Distance Traveled: 22 miles
Maximum Number of Guests: 6
Cost: $250 per person (minimum 2), $100 each additional person (6 maximum)
Mackinac & Round Islands Cruise
Description: Meet us in Mackinaw City and climb aboard OLIVE, our 24 foot Parker offshore boat and join us for a cruise out under the Mackinac Bridge for some amazing photo opportunities. After leaving the bridge, we will cruise leisurely around the north side of Mackinac Island and then over to the narrow channel separating Round Island and Bois Blanc Island. We will get you in close enough to see some great sites and share a bit of local history along the way. Cruising around the south shore of Round Island will bring us up close to Round Island Lighthouse as we sail into Mackinac Island Harbor to check out all the action. After leaving the harbor, we will cruise in close along the southern shore up to the Grand Hotel. Then, we will turn and sail back to Mackinaw City and possibly have a chance to get close to a Great Lakes freighter if one is coming through the passage.
Duration: Approximately 4 hours
Approximate Distance Traveled: 30 miles
Maximum Number of Guests: 4
Cost: $800 (maximum 4 persons)
Offshore Lighthouses (Western Straits)
Description: Meet us in Mackinaw City and climb aboard OLIVE, our 24 foot Parker offshore boat for an amazing cruise out under the Mackinac Bridge and onward 20 miles out to the farthest end of the Western Straits of Mackinac. This cruise will take you out to see and photograph White Shoal Light, Waugoshance Light, Grays Reef Light, and include a brief stop at St. Helena Island to check out the grounds and the lighthouse there on the return trip. We will get you up close enough to touch all the offshore lights on this cruise. You will enjoy hearing the history of these amazingly hard-to-reach offshore lighthouses as we sail the crystal clear waters of Northern Lake Michigan.
Duration: Approximately 4.5 hours
Approximate Distance Traveled: 55 miles
Maximum Number of Guests: 4
Cost: $1,000 (maximum 4 persons)
Freighter Chasing Cruise
Description: Meet us in Mackinaw City and climb aboard OLIVE, our 24 foot Parker offshore fast boat for a very unique adventure. We could go East, we could go West…its all up to where the freighters are hiding out! Join us on this amazing chase to get up close and photograph some of our awesome Great Lakes Freighters as they traverse the Straits of Mackinac. This is one of our most requested cruises and also includes a sail under the Mackinac Bridge for some additional photo opportunities. We will take you out as far as 20-miles to see the freighters in action* *Note: Should we hit a day when there are no freighters sailing through the Straits, we will give you the opportunity to reschedule to a different day or opt for one of our other cruises on your scheduled day. We will make every effort to get you out to see some freighters!
Duration: Approximately 3 hours
Approximate Distance Traveled: 20-50 miles
Maximum Number of Guests: 4
Cost: $700 (maximum 4 persons)
Don’t see anything that interests you yet? Pappy’s Tours is the ultimate stop for customizable adventure charters…there is just about no place we won’t go!
Upcoming 2027 Cruises
Climb the tower of Michigan’s tallest lighthouse at White Shoal Light! Cruise details in the works!
Join us on a cruise up the St. Mary’s River, through the Canadian Locks, and back through the Rock Cut to experience some Great Lakes Freighters so close you can almost touch them! Cruise details in the works!