Midnight Rambler on the Loop

The adventures of MR5 as she cruises America's Great Loop

Lake Michigan coast: Leland and Ludington

August 25, 2026 through August 31, 2026

Have we mentioned that fishing is a popular pastime on the lakes? Well, in case we failed to mention it, these two towns provided ample evidence that fishing is every bit as much an obsession on the lakes as it is in our home waters of the Northeast Atlantic—or anywhere else, for that matter. And we were fortunate that, during our stays in each of these towns, we were the grateful recipients of the generosity of some local fishermen. On two occasions, we were given freshly caught and cleaned salmon, which we thoroughly enjoyed.

Leland, MI (Fishtown)

The Rambler had a front row spot at the Leland Marina.

This is a shot of the fishery at the marina.

Two antique fishing boats which are still in service

Captain Chris is the happy recipient of fresh salmon. He certainly knows how to chat up the fishermen.

Our stay in Leland was extended due to unpleasant weather.

So, we decided to explore the Michigan beaches for the first time on this journey.

The beach sand is as fine and beautiful as any tropical beach.

What a great idea! Husband daycare. Could this be a way to revive shopping malls? Hmmm?

During our stay, we attended a free concert by the 1000 Watt Prophets.

Our looper friends at the concert

Red sky at night, sailor’s delight

Luddington, MI

These are just some of the majestic dunes that exist along a good part of Michigan coastline. Warning: If you climb down and find that you can’t climb up, there may be a hefty fine if you need to be rescued.

Michigan has more lighthouses than any other state, with over 129 historic beacons lining its Great Lakes coasts. Big Sable Point Light near Ludington is one of the most notable lights.

The SS Badger is a coal-fired steamship transporting people and cars across Lake Michigan to Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The last of its kind, it’s 74 years old (yes, older than the Rambler!) and is designated as a National Historic Landmark.

Fishing fanatics? There seemed to be a great deal more boats outfitted for fishing here versus Leland.

And there seemed to be a great deal more catching happening here.

We learned that the salmon were running this time of year.

The marina provides a superbly functional cleaning station for the fishermen.

The House of Flavors was within a short walk. It boasts a generous assortment of ice cream flavors, holds a world record for the largest ice cream dessert, and the deliciously creamy ice cream is all made on the premises. Of course, we made a couple of visits during our stay.