13.03.11
BEAVER ISLAND — A frozen fish toss, a shopping cart race, a plane ride across Lake Michigan and making about 200 new friends are all part of St. Patrick’s Day on Beaver Island.
If you’re still not convinced you need to experience this wacky event, how about adding a contest with Cheetos and whipped cream, a bawdy limerick competition, minnow swallowing, dressing up in a green tutu and drinking lots of beer?
Now that I’ve sold you on it, let me explain a few things about what easily qualifies as a world-class St. Paddy’s party.
Getting there
To get to the island, you have to fly in a tiny plane over Lake Michigan. It takes off from Charlevoix. On the flight my friends and I took last year, a young woman wearing a green tutu and sunglasses shaped like shamrocks was sitting next to the pilot.
A little surreal? Yes, but typical of what you would see on this 36-hour roadtrip.
BEAVER ISLAND ST. PATRICK’S CELEBRATION
When: March 19
Where: Beaver Island, north of Charlevoix, about 30 miles off the coast; the largest island in Lake Michigan
Lodging: Many places are closed in the winter, but the most likely to have rooms would be: Erin Motel (231-448-2240) Shanoule Bread and Breakfast (231-448-2092), Laurain Lodge (231-448-2099). If you can’t get a place on the island, try Charlevoix.
Flights from Charlevoix to the island: