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Tawas Bay Michigan
Tawas Bay, Michigan
The Tawas area is located in Northeast Michigan on the shores of Lake
Huron on what is called the "Sunrise Side" of the State. The twin cities
of Tawas City and East Tawas and
the Township of Baldwin
share the coastline of Tawas Bay.
Tawas
Bay is situated in such a way as to offer photo opportunities not only
for spectacular sunrises, but also for brilliant sunsets. Tawas Bay is
also an ideal place to watch the moon rise over the water. The evening
city lights of Tawas and East Tawas provide even more photo
opportunities.
Summers in the area are extremely active thanks to the abundance of
beaches, public parks, fishing, boating, sailing, swimming and
sightseeing opportunities. The Bay offers some of the finest sailing
around. Brisk summer winds fill the sails but the shelter of the Bay
means the waves don't get very large.
However, if your tastes run toward
higher surf, you can head out around Tawas Point into Lake Huron for
some action. Over the past several years, the Schooner Appledore has
visited and provided cruises around the Bay. If you are so inclined, you
can participate in the experience by hoisting sails and taking a turn at
the wheel. If you prefer a less strenuous sail, you can just sit back
and enjoy the ride.
During the summers of 2001, 2003 and 2006, a number of Tall Ships visited the Great Lakes to participate in the Tall Ships Challenge and the Bay City Tall Ships Festival. After leaving the Port of Bay City in 2001, some of the ships assembled off Tawas Point to begin another leg of the race. The participating ships included the Highlander Sea, True North, the Norfolk Rebel and the Pride of Baltimore II. The Schooner Appledore was the host ship for the stay in Bay City.
Tawas Point State Park is a 200+ acre park located a the tip of
Tawas Point. The park offers several miles of swimming beaches in the
cooler waters of Lake Huron or in the warmer waters of Tawas Bay. The
Tawas Point Lighthouse is still operated by the U.S. Coast Guard and is
located in the park boundaries. The lighthouse was moved to its present
location in the 1800's because the Point had grown past its original
location.
Since the move, the Point has continued its growth so that it now
extends over a mile beyond the Lighthouse. Tawas Point and the
State Park (which is also a bird sanctuary) is the gathering place
for birders in the fall and spring since it provides an ideal spot to
observe annual bird migrations. The Point is also home to the
Tawas Bay Yacht Club and
Jerry's Marina and a modern
Coast Guard Station.
Another popular spot for bird watching is nearby Tuttle Marsh. This
project was a cooperative effort by Ducks Unlimited and the U.S. Forest
Service and provides significant nesting areas for waterfowl of all
types. The marsh encompasses some 5,000 acres and provides hundreds of
acres of flooded wetlands. Other wildlife such as deer and bear use the
marsh as a source for food and cover. Tuttle Marsh Road, along the dike
provides a number of observation areas for viewing wildlife.
The City of East Tawas offers
a number of interesting activities. If shopping is your thing, many
unusual shops line the downtown area. East Tawas is a real town so you
will find local restaurants and bars, a grocery store, a shoe store,
several barber shops and beauty parlors, a car dealer, banks and law
firms, along with the usual tourist traps. In the summer, the main
street is closed to traffic on several weekends for arts and crafts
shows and sidewalk sales.
The Tawases are fortunate to have miles of bike paths, including a 10+ mile path extending from the south end of Alabaster Township along the shore of Tawas Bay through East Tawas and on through Baldwin Township to the State Park on Tawas Point. The paths are used extensively by bikers, walkers, joggers and rollerbladers.
If you are a history buff, the Iosco County Historical Museum provides a history of Iosco County from the lumbering days to the present. If you like plays, the Tawas Bay Players provide entertaining small town performances. Numerous golf courses lie within a 30 minute drive of the Tawases, including Redhawk, Tawas Creek, Lakewood Shores, Huron Breeze, and Wicker Hills. The Iosco Sportsmen's Club offers an opportunity to participate in target shooting with rifles and pistols, trap and archery. Boaters can tie up at the East Tawas State Dock at the foot of Newman Street right in downtown East Tawas.
Just down the Bay from Tawas City, the docks of National Gypsum at
Port Gypsum and (until recently) the United States Gypsum dock at
Alabaster provide the opportunity to see the big lake freighters moving
in and out of the Bay. The U.S. Gypsum dock is now out of commission due
to the collapse of several of the towers used to carry gypsum out to the
freighters. Currently, it appears doubtful that this facility will be
repaired since all of the shore facilities for loading have been
removed.
Just west of Tawas Bay lies the
Huron National Forest
with hundreds of thousands of acres public land. Hunting, hiking, stream
fishing and river fishing on the AuSable River are popular activities in
the forest. Much of the Huron National Forest consists of Red Pine
planted by the Civilian Conservation Corps to help re-establish forests
following the lumbering era. Lumbering activities are currently being
carried out to thin some of the Red Pine and some clearcuts are also
being made to encourage growth of Jack Pine as part of a habitat program
for the Kirtland's Warbler. The Huron National Forest is the home of the
Lumbermen's Monument, erected to commemorate the men who harvested the
Pines that helped build America. The Forest also provides ample proof
that active management of forestland can provide wood products,
recreational opportunities and diverse wildlife habitat at the same
time. The Forest may be different than it was when Columbus arrived in
America, but it certainly wasn't "destroyed" as some would have you
believe.
Winter in the Tawas Area is mostly fun if you enjoy snow. Things are
much quieter with many residents (snowbirds) heading to warmer climates
for a few months. For those who stay and for those who visit, winter can
be a very enjoyable time. The Huron National Forest is transformed into
a winter wonderland. Miles of ski trails at
Corsair are groomed for
the cross-country ski buffs and ungroomed trails are available along the
AuSable on the Highbanks Trail.
Snowmobilers can also
enjoy miles of groomed snowmobile trails. Sightseers can head to the
Lumbermen's Monument for a different view of the monument and
spectacular views of the AuSable River. Back in the Tawases, winter
brings the annual Perchville
Festival with entertainment on the ice including a demolition derby,
Polar Bear swimmers, a fishing contest and other fun things.
Huron Hockey and Skating
Association, a local volunteer organization, opens its covered,
refrigerated skating facility to the public on weekends and provides
figure skating and hockey programs for local kids from December to
March.