A 19-mile lake in Northern Michigan called one of the most beautiful in the world, Torch Lake is a water lover’s dream come true. With super deep sections, sandy beaches and a famous sandbar, boating and swimming are the most popular activities.
You can also participate in water sports like jet skiing and water tubing or rent water trampolines and water carpets. These are all splash-tastic options the kids will go crazy for.
Read more: Plan Your Family Getaway to Michigan’s Charming Torch Lake
Butch’s Tackle & Marine
We rented a boat from Butch’s Tackle & Marine. They have 22’ Bennington Tritoons and 21’ Sea Ray speed boats. Service was accommodating and friendly. Butch’s is located across the dock from Dockside Restaurant and they have a store that sells Torch Lake T-shirts, souvenirs, snacks and fried chicken.
You can also rent 2-person Yamaha WaveRunners, water carpets, towable tubes, standup paddleboards and water skis. So whether you have a need for speed or want to spend your time on the lake in chill mode, Butch’s has some fun rentals for your family.
Dockside Watersports
Find a fleet of boat rentals with fun names like “Marty McFly” and “Ricky Bobby.” The boats are 25 to 27 inches Avalons that seat 12 to 14 people so there is plenty of room to spread out.
You can also rent two-person Sea-Doo WaveRunners, towable tubes (a two-person flat or three-person seated) and floating chairs with cupholders. My kids always get huge thrills bouncing on the waves on water tubes. Dockside Restaurant is open for lunch and dinner April through October, so you can grab a bite before or after signing out your rentals.
Play North Water Sports
Play North Water Sports is another option for renting boats, jet skis, kayaks and paddleboards, but what sets them apart is their water trampolines. These 8-sided water trampolines are bouncy fun for three to four users at a time. Because they take time to install, minimum water trampoline rentals are for 3 days. If you’ve reserved a lakefront home, a water trampoline is the activity your kids will be yammering about for years to come. Talk about catapulting sweet summer memories.
Veterans Memorial Park
If a low-key day on the beach is more your style, my family recommends Veterans Memorial Park in Elk Rapids. Calm, clear waters on Grand Traverse Bay beckon a day of relaxing. Young kids can play on the playground or in the soft sand. Older children might like to play basketball or tennis. The beach is in walking distance to Elk Rapid’s downtown area, where you can peruse the shops and grab an ice cream cone or a bite to eat.
Kayaking fun
If you’re looking to take a guided kayak trip, Paddles & Pedals offers beginner and intermediate options, along with bikes and snow gear. Gaze into Torch Lake’s Carribean-like waters on a clear bottom kayak tour with Clear Water Kayaks. If hiking around water is more your style, visit Grass River Natural Area for a stroll around their 1.5 miles of floating boardwalk. The views are serene and you might even learn a thing or two.
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