Just a twenty minute drive up the coast from Glen Arbor is Leland and its charming little historical fishing village known as Fishtown. Home to one of the last surviving commercial fishing operations on the Great Lakes, Fishtown is a collection of weathered little fishing shacks and shanties sitting at the mouth of the Leland river. The village is full of delightful little clothing, trinket, eateries, and pottery shops. I always feel so welcome and quaint when I visit. It’s like stepping into an interactive museum and you basically are! Fishtown was designated as a Michigan State Historic site in 1973 and then listed on the National Register of Historical Places in 1975.
To start, the minute you get to Fishtown you absolutely HAVE to visit the Village Cheese Shanty. Not only do they offer cheese but they also offer a selection of wine, sandwiches, and other goodies.
Right next door to the cheese shanty is the Dam Candy Store, jam packed with ice cream and every candy you could ever imagine, all in one small little fishing shanty. A few doors down, you’re greeted by the smell of fresh fish. It’s called Fishtown for a reason! Carlson’s Fishery has been at the mouth of the Leland river since 1904. They offer smoked and fresh fish daily and their own one of a kind specials: Whitefish Sausage and Smoked Whitefish Pâté, both made in-house from the daily fresh catch. They also have the best beef jerky and if you just can’t get enough, you can order it online from their website and they’ll ship it to you for free!
Amongst the many small shanties you might come across Tug Stuff. This eclectic boutique carries everything from unique clothing, hats, glassware, jewelry and so much more. Everything is branded with their logo, a simple little green and white image of a tugboat. Why a tugboat you ask? Because Fishtown is home port to two historic fishing tugs, the Janice Sue and the Joy. The Janice Sue was launched in 1958 and has been in Fishtown ever since. They’ve become the staples of Fishtown and you may find them docked when you visit.
If you’re looking to actually catch the fresh catch of the day, Fishtown has plenty of charter fishing excursions to pick from including Far-Fetched Fishing Charters, The Fish Hook, Whitecap Charters, and Reelin Leland. In port you can also catch a ferry to North and South Manitou islands with Manitou Island Transit. Both islands are uninhabited and the perfect place for hiking and rustic camping. Like I just stated, both islands are uninhabited so I strongly suggest bringing a pack full of snacks and water even if you’re just visiting the for the day!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PFK1F9mxaGI
Fishtown is unlike any other place in the world. The strong sense of community and pride in their historic fishing industry makes Fishtown a must when traveling along M22. From delicious eats to charter trips, this tiny village has got you covered. So come and visit, stay a while, and become a part of history still in the making.
Your Michigan Girlfriend 