Menominee Municipal Marina

We spent the summer in Menominee, Michigan aboard our sailboat this year. It was a huge change from our former accommodations across the border in Marinette, Wisconsin. We'd stayed at Nestegg Marina for three summers after completing our America's Great Loop adventure in 2021. Nestegg is up the Menominee River which required going under a lift bridge to get out to Green Bay. The river current could be strong off of the docks. We got a fair share of dings maneuvering through that current.

The Menominee Municipal Marina offers quick access to Green Bay just beyond the breakwater. Our Alberg 35, Mystic, is on a face dock that looks straight out to the bay and the Menominee Lighthouse. Coming and going is quite easy for us. There are about 240 slips at Menominee compared to under 100 at Nestegg. We were often the only ones on our boat in Marinette. There is always someone to chat with at Menominee.

Mystic facing the fuel dock

Mystic on dock C41 Menominee, MI

Our view of the Bay from our dock

The captain's lounge is in the former Water Works building on First Street. It was recently remodeled and looks like a nautical museum with wonderful photos, paintings, charts and stained glass art. Coffee, tea juice, and oatmeal are always available during open hours. On weekends boaters can make waffles. Many a salty sailing story is shared at the captain's lounge. We use the conference room for "Game Night" with dock mates and friends. The marina has community bathrooms near the docks but slip owners prefer the Captain's Lounge bathroom/showers which are in large private rooms that are classy and comfortable and decorated with a nautical theme. There is also a laundry room where one wash and dry is only $2.50.

Historic photos and paintings

The Coffee Nook

Business Center

Lounge

Historical photos and paintings

Stained Glass

Nautical Motif

Nav Station

Entrance to Captain's Lounge

We've met many of the boaters of Menominee Marina. Everyone is friendly and helpful. Mystic sits out at the end of Dock C in slip 41. Boats motor right by us on their way out to the bay or to Dock D which is just south of us, where they can get fuel and/or a pump out. We get a lot of attention and often hear hollers of, "Nice boat!" sent our way. It's great to be noticed. 

Wednesdays are the yacht club sailboat races with two classes; cruising class and spinnaker class. It is fun to watch as the boats sail the six mile course around each of three markers. We can watch from the breakwater, as each captain works out their own strategy of keeping their sails full and their boat moving toward the finish. The annual Hook race from Racine, Wisconsin to Menominee Marina was held in July. The boats came in under smokey skies from the Canadian wildfires making for a dramatic finish.

Wednesday Night Yacht Club Races

First finisher on the Hook Race Menominee, MI

The Menomonee July 4th fireworks are set off on the Marina Breakwater. Mystic is docked diagonal to the ignition location which is actually closer to the gas dock than to us. Our daughter joined us on the deck to watch a magnificent show that exploded directly above us. We were relieved to feel an off shore breeze that carried any debris away from us and out into the bay. Just in case, we had fire extinguishers and the water hose ready to douse any hot embers.

Photo by Nena Mooney

Photo by Nena Mooney

Photo by Nena Mooney

Photo by Nena Mooney

Photo by Nena Mooney

Waiting for the fireworks show to begin

Since Menominee Marina is in downtown, there are beaches and restaurants within walking distance of our docks. Red Arrow Park and the Menominee Lighthouse are two of our favorites for early morning walks or runs. We've enjoyed meals at several of the local restaurants but one of our favorites is 1.5 miles away in Marinette, across the street from Menekaunee Harbor. They offer a Tuesday special, buy 12 wings and get 12 free. We enjoy half of them with a cold Keweenaw Brewing Company Widow Maker then have the other half for left overs. It is a good deal!

It was a wet summer on Green Bay. Everyone is battling a substantial increase in spiders on our boats. There are all kinds of ways to get rid of them but most folks are using natural sources like essential oils or infusers. The stormy weather can be unpleasant but often gifts us beautiful sunsets and rainbows. After one particularly heavy storm, the sun popped out and we were delighted by the brightest full double rainbow that landed exactly on top of the Menominee Lighthouse. 

Menominee Rainbow

Our decision to move our boat turned out to be a great one. We've enjoyed everything Menominee has to offer and made many new friends. We're looking forward to a summer filled with new experiences!