Sleeps up to 11
Four bedrooms plus a bunk room give families room to spread out.
🏕️ Project Basecamp Guide
Northern Michigan Family Adventures
Discover lighthouses, shipwrecks, parks, beaches, boat days, creative activities, and easy day trips—all from one comfortable family basecamp.
Plan → Prepare → Explore → Stay
Why families stay here
Space for everyone—and a comfortable reset between adventures.
Sleeps up to 11, with a full kitchen, large family room, outdoor space, fire pit, laundry, and an easy home base for exploring Northeast Michigan.
Full kitchen
Make breakfast before a day trip and gather for dinner afterward.
Fire pit evenings
Finish the day with s’mores, stories, and time together outside.
Room to reconnect
Movie nights, games, and comfortable shared spaces for all ages.
Ready for longer stays
Laundry and practical amenities make multi-day family trips easier.
Day-trip basecamp
Explore a different town or attraction, then return to one familiar home.
Featured family experiences
Four easy ways to turn a day into a memory.
Hours, schedules, availability, and seasonal operations can change. Check each attraction before making the drive.
Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary
Make Alpena a destination day for Great Lakes maritime history, shipwreck stories, interactive exhibits, and seasonal glass-bottom boat experiences.
Alpena day tripMaritime historyRainy-day friendly
Nautical North Family Adventures
Explore local activities and water-based family adventure ideas around the Cheboygan area.
Boat daysCheboygan
Creation Station
A creative indoor option for families looking for hands-on activities and a change of pace.
Creative timeIndoor option
Jack Pine Lumberjack Shows
A classic Mackinaw-area family attraction with an energetic outdoor-show atmosphere.
Mackinaw day tripMulti-generational
Duncan Bay Nature Preserve
Slow the pace with a family nature walk through a protected landscape near Cheboygan.
Nature walkBirdingCheboygan
Day-trip planner
Choose a direction and build the day around it.
Drive times vary by route, traffic, weather, and your exact destination. Treat each town as an easy planning zone rather than a rigid itinerary.
North
Mackinaw City
Pair waterfront views and the Mackinac Bridge with Old Mackinac Point Lighthouse, historic attractions, shopping, a ferry day, or the Jack Pine Lumberjack Show.
East
Rogers City
Build a Lake Huron day around the waterfront, parks, beaches, and Forty Mile Point Lighthouse.
North
Cheboygan
Explore kid-friendly parks, the riverfront, downtown stops, Duncan Bay Nature Preserve, creative activities, and seasonal boat adventures.
South
Alpena
Make Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary the anchor, then add the waterfront, museums, restaurants, and family stops around town.
On the water
Plan a boat, beach, or paddle day.
Rental fleets, age requirements, deposits, launch details, and weather policies vary. Reserve ahead and confirm everything directly with the provider.
Boat rentals
Look for seasonal pontoon or small-boat rentals around Cheboygan, Black Lake, the Inland Waterway, and other nearby lake communities.
Kayaks & paddling
Choose calmer water, wear properly fitted life jackets, and verify local conditions before launching.
Beach afternoons
Keep a beach bag ready for Lake Huron, Black Lake, and spontaneous waterfront stops during day trips.
Sample itinerary
A simple Mackinaw family day.
MorningBreakfast at Basecamp, then drive north.
MiddayChoose the lighthouse, historic sites, or a lumberjack show.
AfternoonWaterfront walk, shopping, ice cream, or bridge views.
EveningReturn to Basecamp for dinner and the fire pit.
Local events & seasonal updates
See what’s happening during your stay.
Join our Facebook community for festivals, markets, outdoor updates, family activities, and seasonal happenings across Northern Michigan. Check regularly—new events are added throughout the year.
FestivalsFamily activitiesOutdoor updatesMarketsSeasonal events
Join the Local Events CommunityCheck back regularly for new events.
Come home to Basecamp
One comfortable home. A whole region to explore.
Give everyone room to rest, eat, play, and reconnect between Northern Michigan adventures.
Continue exploring