Charlevoi(x)

45.3181° N, 85.2584° W

For Canadians wishing to be undetected in this American town, the x in Charlevoix is silent so the name of this place is pronounced Charlevoy. Whatever its pronunciation, it is a beautiful spot and a testament to a community’s determination. It took the municipality 106 years to acquire all of the waterfront property on Little Lake adjacent to the towns main street. The final piece was purchased in 2002 with significant contributions from individuals, community groups, the state government, the municipality and businesses.

The resulting facility was build in 3 phases. It includes a marina primarily reserved for transient boaters. The complex is anchored at one end by the marina office which includes a boaters lounge and heads, plus public restrooms. The other end is an outdoor amphitheater with grass terraces where people can set up lawn chairs or use the cement edges for seating.

In between, is an unbelievable stretch of lawn. So green and so thick the dogs have a hard time finding the perfect spot. There is also a fountain splash pad and fish ponds. The whole site is edged with a generous board walk along the water and sidewalk along Bridge Street.

It must be appreciated by every boater who pulls in and a destination for many. We were here in 2019 and back again in 2022 when we extended our planned stay by three days.