Bringing the family to the area and looking for some Other Things to do Around Lake St. Clair besides fishing?  Macomb and St. Clair County which surround the lake and river have many things to do!  Waterparks, playgrounds, golf, boardwalks, cute waterfront towns, antique shopping, and more. 

To please everyone, here are some suggested "other things to do around Lake St. Clair!"

General Family Entertainment near / on the water:

Splash Pad at Lake St. Clair Metropark

Pool at Lake St. Clair Metropark

Splashpads with Playgrounds for the Kids – There are three in the area..... Algonac's Clay Township there is a free splashpad with small playground, picnic tables, basketball hoops right on M29 next to the Clay Township Police Department.  For a small entrance fee, there is Brandenburg Park in Chesterfield Township on Jefferson Avenue near 23 Mile Road.  Nice park on Lake St. Clair with fishing pier, splashpad, playground, and picnic tables.  The third option is our huge Lake St. Clair Metropark in Harrison Township at the end of 16 Mile Road (Metropolitan Parkway).  Pool, splashpad, picnic tables, golf, putt putt, volleyball - and MUCH MORE all on Lake St. Clair....daily boat dockage available for small fee.  And, in New Baltimore, is a nice playground (no splashpad) with small beach and picnic tables; boat dockage available for free. 

Bounce House - Plaza at the Pointe Shopping Center, 35268 23 Mile Rd, New Baltimore, MI 48047; Have a rain day?  Indoor bounce house with free arcade games... even fun for the adults!http://www.bouncehouseonline.com

Bowling - The area has several bowling alleys... if you're looking for a larger venue, New Baltimore/Chesterfield Township area has an alley with Country Bar, Mexican Restaurant with TV's for sporting events, Poker Room, & Billiards …"Premier Lanes Entertainment Center" @ 33151 – 23 Mile Road, Chesterfield Twp.

Many weekly waterfront events

Local Festivals, Fireworks, & Events – Many communities around Lake St. Clair and the St. Clair River host events.  In season, there are several events each week on the waterfront.  Check out the Lake St. Clair Guide dates of local events.

Several art fairs, car shows, and concerts on the waterfront

Boardwalks & Fishing Piers along the water - Visit Algonac, New Baltimore, Chesterfield Twp., Lake St. Clair Metropark, Port Huron, and the city of St. Clair’s boardwalks & Piers for nice park settings and benches to watch the ships go by....take your poles and fish for walleye, salmon, and smallmouth bass.   The City of St. Clair, New Baltimore, and Port Huron have several restaurants & shops within walking distance.   

Many Freighters Pass by Daily

See the ocean freighters on the St. Clair River from around the world…Besides the boardwalks mentioned above, there are several restaurants on the St. Clair River on M29. 

The Island Grill in Fair Haven

Dine at a Waterfront Restaurant - Lake St. Clair has several on the water restaurants where the boater's come for fun.  Some are open seasonally.  You can check out several locations on a map on the Lake St. Clair & St. Clair River interactive restaurant MAP location page.   

Sunset View from the "On the Rocks Tiki Bar" in Clay Township

Take a Boat Cruise for Dinner or Discovery. For a fun kid day, take a trip on the Discovery Cruise boat out of the Lake St. Clair Metropark and learn about the lake and its inhabitants..... Or, take a romantic sunset cruise or fishing charter on Lake St. Clair.

Rent a boat for the day or the week on Lake St. Clair!  Not a lot of options, however, there are a few boat rental locations, along with kayak & canoe.

Cider Mills & Family Fun in the Fall - About a 20-30 minute ride inland, Macomb County has many fruit orchards.  In the fall, apples are in season and going to a cider mill is always a fun event.  Check out Blake's Cider Mill and pick up a fresh pie & enjoy a glass of apple cider while watching it being made.

Take a drive around Lake St. Clair and up to Lake Huron on M29

 Waterfront Towns You May Enjoy around Lake St. Clair & the St. Clair River

Take a drive along M29 to the North.  M29 follows the northern Lake St. Clair waterfront from New Baltimore to Lake Huron (see red line on map at left).  There are several small towns on the St. Clair River which feeds Lake St. Clair from Lake Huron with great views of ocean freighters passing.

Visit Harsen’s Island (via M29) Before you reach the St. Clair River, you'll drive along the North Channel which connects to Lake St. Clair.  About halfway between the town of Fair Haven & Algonac you'll reach the access point to Harsen's Island.  There are no bridges to get to the island, but for $12 round trip you can take the car ferry there and drive around the island.  There are two fun on the water places to go, Brown’s Bar….which is a big boater’s hang out on the Middle Channel and San Souci’s (closed & for sale as of February 3, 2021) which is on the St. Clair River, where you are up close to 1000’ freighters from all over the world going by.  Brown’s is “the” party place on the weekends.  There is also a nice gift shop/boutique next to San Souci's - The Waterfront Shoppe and the Harsen's Island Distillery is now open on the weekends.

Harsen's Island

Also on Harsen's Island is San Souci’s Market which has a "boat carry out dock" for great pizza, subs, chicken & more to pick up while underway.  Another restaurant which you'll pass quickly if you turn left coming off the ferry is the School House Grille ... yes, an old school house... neat old inviting interior with very interesting menu items.. definitely a great place for the "foodies" who can appreciate a really scrumptious meal.  Harsen's Island is very rural and is most noted for duck hunting in the fall.... and, it's fun to take a ferry ride! 

Fishing Pier in New Baltimore

New Baltimore (on M29)… on Lake St. Clair's Anchor Bay… you can see the highest flying American Flag in Michigan across the bay if you're on the boat.   They also have free public docks in front of the town.  Nice restaurants, including Fin's Eatery , Little Camilles,  Wooden Valve, and fresh dessert, brunch, coffees, & smoothie options at On the Bay Customs Cafe.   Several unique awesome boutique & gift  shops and a farmers market with entertainment Sunday from 9am-2pm; childrens’ playground, beach and boardwalk.

Marine City (just off of M29) ... on the St. Clair River waterfront.   As you’re driving watch for the signs to the “downtown district” ... you want to be right on the St. Clair River waterfront.  Cute 4-5 block area with several restaurants and antique shops.  Anita’s Restaurant has outside dining on the river.  Use their address “341 S. Water Street” for your GPS to get you in the right area.

St. Clair (On M29) ... Another 15 minutes north of Marine City is the town of St. Clair which also has a large public boat harbor.  The Riverview Plaza facing the St. Clair River has a nice park along with several excellent food & beverage choices, shopping, and art.  Our favorites are the Anchor Point Bistro Public House rated #1 new restaurant for 2019, War Water Brewery with outdoor beer garden, and Mannina's Wine House with its wine cellar atmosphere for a nice cheese board and seasonal glass of wine, and the long running Voyageur Restaurant with spectacular river views inside and out.  There are also two women's boutique, a home decor store, and art gallery with local artisans and jewelry.

Fin's Eatery in Historic New Baltimore

Port Huron (on M29)… Several restaurants and shops on the waterfront across from Sarnia, Canada.  Home of the world renown Port Huron to Mackinac Race for sailboats from around the world each July.  Check out the events page in the Lake St. Clair Guide dates of local events.

Go to Canada…. There are car ferrys to take you across the river in Algonac & Marine City.  Passports are required.  There isn’t a whole lot to do in these areas once you get across however, taking a car ferry is a pretty surreal feeling if you haven’t had the experience before.   If you want some action, go over the Blue Water Bridge in Port Huron (about 30 minute car drive from Lake St. Clair).  There is a casino, golf, and restaurants in the city of Sarnia.... and two public marinas for transients.

Shopping - INTERACTIVE MAP OF THINGS TO DO

Antique Hunting – On M29 in Algonac and in Marine City on the St. Clair River are several large antique shops.  A nice "inland" area to antique shop is in the town of Romeo.  Downtown Romeo thrives with unique shops, restaurants, and galleries in a premier historic setting dating from the 1800’s and is listed in the National Register of Historic Places and on the Michigan Register of Historic Sites.  Fruit orchards surround the town & Romeo is the home of the Michigan Peach Festival each year over Labor Day weekend.

Shopping – Not far from Lake St. Clair are several shopping & mall areas.  The Mall at Partridge Creek is an open-air regional shopping center in Clinton Township.  Partridge Creek is home to nearly 90 distinctive stores and restaurants. 17420 Hall Rd. (M59) Clinton Township, MI 48038... and there are numerous! stores & restaurants surrounding this all on M59.  Waterside Marketplace @ 50411 Waterside Drive in Chesterfield Township, just off I-94 @ 23 Mile Road.  Several stores & restaurants including Dick’s Sporting Goods if you need tackle; J.C. Penney, Old Navy, TJ Maxx, Bed Bath & Beyond, Kohls, Best Buy, and more.

Other Sports Activities

Thousands of Ducks Migrate Through Lake St. Clair

 Duck Hunting in the Fall – Yes, you may wake up to gun fire during the fall at some of the vacation house rentals around Lake St. Clair.  With thousands of ducks migrating through Lake St. Clair each year, the area is big for duck hunting around the local islands, and Harsen’s and Walpole Island.

Golf…There are several golf courses around the area.... and, two by boat at Lake St. Clair Metropark and the St. Clair Boat Harbor on the St. Clair River.

Putt Putt Golf - Lake St. Clair Metropark in Harrison Township.  Chesterfield Twp. on 23 Mile Road: Worlds Finest Frozen Custard & Family Center has a putt putt, ice cream, and driving range; and C. J. Barrymore's Sports @ 21750 Hall Road, Clinton Township has putt putt, driving range and lots more.

Sports Complex - C. J. Barrymore's Sports @ 21750 Hall Road, Clinton Township - Go carts, batting cages, arcade, and lots more both indoor and outdoor for kids AND adults!

Scenic Bike Ride on Harsen's Island

Biking - Bridge to Bay Map - A biking trail is being constructed from the Blue Water Bridge in Port Huron on the St. Clair River to Lake St. Clair's Anchor Bay ... hence the name, bridge to bay!  Some of this trail runs on the shoulder of M29, which actually can be a fairly busy road, so I would not recommend doing this with children..  However, if you're a morning person, the traffic is fairly light in most areas; and, that would be a wonderful time for a bike ride to see the area.  Harsen's Island also has very light traffic and is a nice place for a bike ride where you'll be on the waterfront with lots of bird watching in the area.  Or, just take your bikes with you to some of the interesting waterfront towns noted above and ride the neighborhoods to see some of the terrifically restored and maintained historic homes, especially in Marine City & St. Clair.  Very family friendly biking can be done on trails at the Lake St. Clair Metropark, which connects to many miles of safe riding trails.