Family Friendly Boating & Fishing on Michigan Inland Waterway

We just got back from spending a long week at the Black River Retreat and are delighted to recommend this cabin both for its amenities and location. There’s plenty of room and the kitchen is well equipped, including a full-size fridge. The deck is large with a table, chairs and umbrella and there’s a nice propane grill. The property is large and the pictures on the web-site don’t do the view justice--except for the tree-line you can see almost from horizon to horizon. You can sit on the deck for breakfast or dinner and look across the river to see deer and wild turkeys, and in the evening you can hear the coyotes howl in the distance.

The breeze off the deck was wonderful, in the shade for dinner, and with hardly any bugs--we didn’t need any mosquito repellant the entire time! We watched the sunrise from the deck, the sunset in Cheboygan, and saw a billion stars.

The corner store is within eyeshot (next to the church) and has hand-dipped ice cream for $1.50/scoop, package liquor, and almost anything you’d need in a pinch and is open from 8am until 9:30pm most days. The local tavern is just down the road with a Friday Fish Fry, famous pizza, karaoke, pool table and a very friendly vibe from both patrons and employees.

We took day-trips to Cheboygan, Mackinaw City, the Tunnel of Trees on M-119, Harbor Springs, Petoskey and Charlevoix--all within an hour’s drive or closer. There are plenty of good restaurants, both adult and family-style, or you can save a bundle by cooking meals yourself. Glen’s and Wal-mart groceries are only about fifteen minutes away. For entertainment you can fish from the dock and at the dam, or watch TV, DVD’s and video tapes or listen to the stereo.

The owner is such a gentleman and so easy to do business with. We had a wonderful and relaxing time and will definitely return in the future. ‘Hoping you enjoy your stay as much as we did ours!