Field trip for Steve

22 May 2022, 09:09 PM

quote:
Cruising Lake Michigan on the S.S. Badger ferry, from Ludington to Manitowoc, and on to Wisconsin’s scenic Door County

LUDINGTON, Michigan – May brings the return of travelers, lining up their vehicles at Ludington’s Lake Michigan docks to board the famed S.S. Badger. The ferry is a National Historic Landmark, as well as an enjoyable ride across the lake toward summer vacation destinations in Wisconsin above Milwaukee: to Door County, and all points west.

For Ohioans, the ferry between Ludington and Manitowoc, Wisconsin, is an alternative to the laborious multi-lane highways to Milwaukee, including the traffic crawl through Chicago. From Cleveland, the total drive to Manitowoc, north of Milwaukee, usually is at least eight hours. Charming beach vacation towns in Door County are another two hours north.

Riding the Badger is not really a timely shortcut – the 400-mile drive from Cleveland to Ludington is about six hours and the ferry ride another four hours. The choice is less about time and more about the fun that includes a break from the tedious concrete.

Besides, nearly everybody likes a boat ride. The 410-foot-long Badger, launched in 1953 to haul rail cars across Lake Michigan, is designed for all weather. You may sit outside gazing at the lake, inside near the windows or find a quiet spot to curl up in a chair for a snooze, perhaps play a rousing game of cards, while the captain does all the work to get you and your vehicle to Wisconsin.

https://www.cleveland.com/trav...nic-door-county.html

22 May 2022, 11:03 PM

Steve Miller

Sounds fun, but not sure how it would work for us.

We have been looking at cruise lines that offer Great Lakes cruises. None of them leave from CLE but several leave from Chicago.

Can we leave our car at your house?

23 May 2022, 10:36 AM

jodi

We did that trip, when we lived in Madison and were visiting Steve’s grandparents (who owned a summer home in Ludington). It’s a fun trip except on those foggy, can’t see the horizon rolling wave days when everybody gets seasick (including me). We had to rent a cabin that trip so I could

in private, and take a bunch of Dramamine and sleep. It was awful.

23 May 2022, 05:31 PM

wtg

Wow. I thought a ferry that size would do well even on the ocean-like waters of Lake Michigan. But I guess a boat is a boat and waves are waves.

quote:
Can we leave our car at your house?

Sure. Unless this is a trick question and you are referring to the travel trailer...

23 May 2022, 09:46 PM

Steve Miller

Naw. Chicago is like four hours and from there we will get on a ship.

The trailer is for bluegrass festivals!