You can steam across the high seas of Lake Michigan — aboard SS Badger Car Ferry
You can steam across the high seas of Lake Michigan — aboard SS Badger Car Ferry
Photo credit for route map is embedded from the SS Badger Website.
I've crossed Lake Michigan aboard the SS Badger a few times in my life. Since the day I was born, the trip from Ohio to Wisconsin had been a yearly vacation. We have a lot of family up in Wisconsin. Mom and all of us always wanted to visit mom's sisters and brothers — and so we did.
The first time I took that Badger trip was back back in the 70s, with my parents.
More recently, we made our departure on the SS Badger around year 2012 in the summertime. For this trip, my family and I made the crossing with a Dodge Caravan secured on the car deck below.
While I'll let the Badger website explain the rest, here are a few points to consider:
1. Ohioans can board the SS Badger and completely avoid the traffic and tollways of Ohio, Indiana, and the Chicago area. Chicago and Indiana tolls can be expensive. As I had explained before, I think that Indiana had sold off the rights to their Indiana Toll Road to a place in Australia. So you are not missing much if you avoid even one minute of driving that Indiana Toll Road. Then there's the traffic around Chicago. You won't miss that, either. What a headache. The whole thing is just a snarl if you hit Chicago at the wrong time.
Meanwhile, I know a lot of you are probably sitting there with a balance sheet, in hand. You are probably thinking, "Does this make financial sense? How much will I save in tolls?"
Well. Look. Truth be told, it's not really a cost savings to put your car onto a boat, steam across to Wisconsin and avoid the tolls associated with the toll roads in Chicago.
Truth be told, you won't really be saving any money by taking a car ferry across Lake Michigan. However, the trip is a novelty. And if you have young kids — they will absolutely love it! There is face painting. There's a snack bar. Plus, from the moment the captain blows that air horn, there is the absolute thrill of steaming across the high seas of Lake Michigan. There are deck chairs. Seagulls flying. The kids will think they are on-board an ocean liner — like the Queen Mary. It's a real thrill! Plus, there will be a memory made. A happy memory. One that they will never forget. What's that worth? Idk.
2. If you leave extra time up in Michican, before the trip you will see some amazing forests of white, paper birch trees. These forests are similar to what you see at the base of Mount Washington in New Hampshire.
3. If you leave extra time up in Michigan you will see some amazing sand dunes. Sand dunes like you have never seen before. These sand dunes are unbelieveable. They are not just dunes. Rather, think mountains and cliffs — that are made of pure sand. It will make your head spin to ponder each grain of sand being deposited on these bluffs.
4. Along the way you can visit the "Cherry Capital of the World" where you can enjoy fresh fruit, pies, jams and since this is a business website you can have a glass of cherry juice. Keep in mind, these cherries can be quite tart. These are the harvest of the Leelanau Peninsula. It's worth driving north of the dunes to see how the people of this area enjoy their lives in the little towns and villages along the way. It's different from Ohio or Wisconsin up there. It's an interesting vibe.
Meanwhile, I could sit here and try to explain the boat ride. Better yet, check out their wonderful website that will explain everything at ssbadger.com