Thousands of bodies of water shape the landscape of metro Detroit. Bordered by two Great Lakes — which are connected by the Detroit River, Lake St. Clair, and the St. Clair River — and peppered with hundreds of inland lakes, rapid rivers, and scenic creeks, this region boasts some of the state’s best places to live and visit. Here, we dive into five different waterways and take a look at cities and towns near them that make the most of their locations.
St. Clair Shores
Just north of the Grosse Pointes lies lively St. Clair Shores, located in Macomb County. Restaurants, shops, boat dealers, and marinas line the Nautical Mile, a strip of Jefferson Avenue between Nine Mile and 10 Mile roads. Metro Detroiters appreciate the town’s ease of access, visiting to savor a meal and take in the serene views of Lake St. Clair and its many boats and yachts.
Blossom Heath Park is a favorite spot, especially for walkers and fishermen. Drive through the boat launch gate and follow the road back to the left to reach the pier. Music on the Lake hosts several summertime concerts at Veterans Memorial Park.
“Just driving on Jefferson Avenue between the Pointes and St. Clair Shores has such great views of the lake,” says Grosse Pointe Park resident Skip Starr. “It’s funny — when we’re driving with people who aren’t from here, they’re absolutely astounded by the beauty of the drive and the lake.”
Must-do: Hire a fishing charter captain (at fishingbooker.com, for example) and pull in some walleye and bass from Lake St. Clair. All are welcome, from novices to seasoned anglers. Lake St. Clair Metropark guests can windsurf, kiteboard, swim, and bike. Visitors also rave about birdwatching; you may glimpse bald eagles, waterfowl, warblers, and even snowy owls.
Waterfront dining: Watermark Bar and Grille’s food, tiki bar, and lakefront breeze make it a beloved lunch and dinner destination. The menu includes salads, surf and turf, sautéed perch, and pizzas. (Gluten-free dough is available.) Locals also frequent Mike’s on the Water. If you’re craving a lobster roll or coconut shrimp with a view, Mike’s is the spot, Starr says.
The Grosse Pointes
Northeast of Detroit, the lovely neighboring waterfront communities on — or steps from — Lake St. Clair include Wayne County’s Grosse Pointes (from Detroit, heading east: Grosse Pointe Park, Grosse Pointe, Grosse Pointe Farms, Grosse Pointe Woods, and Grosse Pointe Shores).
Driving from Detroit is like flicking a switch: The city’s lively energy gives way to peaceful communities with tidy, tree-lined streets and stunning lakefront mansions. Houses range in style from historic Colonial Revival to English Tudor. Cute boutiques and coffee shops, the country club lifestyle, and the beckoning Lake St. Clair make the Pointes a timeless, stylish haven. Originally developed in the 19th century from French ribbon farms, these areas have long been considered premier residential pockets.
“The Park has attracted families for decades,” says Grosse Pointe Park resident Kathleen McGovern, who runs Kathleen McGovern Studio of Interior Design. “It has two lakeside parks, each with playgrounds and tennis courts, two movie theaters, a fitness center, and a huge boat well marina. If you have a boat, living in Grosse Pointe Park is a lot like being on vacation.”
Parts of all the Pointes, except Grosse Pointe Woods, border Lake St. Clair, a 430-square-mile freshwater lake between Michigan and Ontario, connecting Lake Huron (via the St. Clair River) to Lake Erie (via the Detroit River). Sometimes referred to as the “sixth Great Lake,” it’s popular for recreational boating and fishing, particularly smallmouth bass. There are more than a dozen public parks, beaches, and boat launches directly on or immediately adjacent to Lake St. Clair. The most prominent is Lake St. Clair Metropark in Harrison Township (16 miles from Grosse Pointe Shores).
Must-do: Visit Edsel and Eleanor Ford’s historic home on Lake St. Clair. The 86-acre estate comprises the Main Residence (which showcases the couple’s prized possessions in the home’s jaw-dropping interiors), the Gate Lodge and garage, and scenic grounds. While walking the trails, enjoy water views, flower-filled gardens, birdsong, and the beauty of the lake. On Bird Island’s cedar-chipped trails, you’re apt to spot cormorants flying and resting amid sweet-smelling honeysuckle. Occasionally, a sailboat or fishing boat cruises by, adding to the serene scene.
Waterfront dining: Pull up a chair at The Continental, located in Ford House’s visitor center. Menu highlights have included roasted airline chicken — a citrus-brined, oven-roasted, super-tender delicacy served with Michigan cherry and asparagus risotto and a mushroom Diane sauce — alongside fresh halibut and other delicacies. Pair your meal with the establishment’s signature wines from Heron Hill Winery, founded by members of the Ford family in New York’s Finger Lakes region.
Harsens Island
At the northernmost part of Lake St. Clair, you’ll find Anchor Bay and, at the mouth of the St. Clair River, Harsens Island — which you can reach via ferry from a port in Algonac. Jacob Harsen settled the island in the 1700s, and by the early 20th century, it became a popular high-end resort destination.
Now, it’s all about cottage-style living and private club amenities. You’ll find everything from single-family homes and rustic summer cottages to luxury waterfront estates. Because it is a recreational boating community, many properties feature direct water access or canal frontage.
Club life on Harsens Island dates to the post-Civil War era, when a group of Detroit businessmen and sports enthusiasts — attracted to the island’s fowl- and fish-rich waters — founded a hunting and fishing club as a retreat from the growing metropolis. It was originally known as the Lake St. Clair Fishing and Shooting Club and renamed The Old Club in 1902.
Since then, The Old Club has served as a summer haven for generations of Detroit’s most influential families. Henry and Edsel Ford, the Dodge Brothers, and the Fisher family all belonged to the club. A Victorian clubhouse eventually replaced the hunting shanty in 1887 and was rebuilt in 1926 after a fire destroyed the original. Over time, additional structures, including summer homes, were constructed along the shipping channel, all reflecting the Victorian aesthetic.
The club now has about 165 members and has expanded its offerings to include not only fishing and trap shooting but also golf, tennis, pickleball, swimming, and more. What attracts members, however, hasn’t changed. The club is a place to get away from it all thanks to its unmatched location — surrounded by the pristine, fresh water of the Great Lakes delta known as the St. Clair Flats.
Must do on Harsens Island: Walk, bike, or drive along the island’s South Channel to see a small piece of the town’s past as a vacation destination, including remnants of cottages and resorts from the late 19th century. But first, stop by the historical museum and pick up a walking tour pamphlet.
Must do nearby: Take a slow car ride on M-29 along Anchor Bay for a close-up look at pleasure craft and marsh wildlife, including canvasback ducks, common mergansers, tundra swans, various gull species, and bald eagles. You’ll likely spot turtles galore, too. Closer to Algonac, you’ll be in the shadow of huge freighters.
Laura Merchant, a Marine City resident and Chamber of Commerce director, highlights the riverfront parks’ “peaceful green spaces, scenic walkways, and countless spots to sit, relax, and watch the freighters glide by. Civic Women’s Club River Park on Water Street in Marine City is a favorite, offering a close-up view of the river.” Heading north to Port Huron, be sure to stop at Fort Gratiot Lighthouse, Michigan’s oldest lighthouse. You’ll also want to get some steps in along any part of the expansive Blue Water River Walk.
Waterfront dining: Harsens Island residents Lisa and Tom Carlisle recommend the Sans Souci Bar on South Channel Drive, a restaurant with a classic island feel — “casual, social, and right on the water,” Lisa says. If you crave a hot cup of java, head to Island Grind.
You’re not a river rat until you’ve dined at River Crab Blue Water Inn, located seemingly inches from the St. Clair River in St. Clair. The top-notch menu features delicious seafood dishes and steaks. Once a Chuck Muer eatery (Muer was the king of seafood restaurants and fine dining in southeast Michigan in the 1980s and ’90s), River Crab — now part of the Landry’s hospitality group — maintains plenty of its Muer charm.
More Waterfront Living in Metro Detroit
A Day Trip Downriver
Huron River Waterway
Detroit River
Northern Oakland County’s Waterways
Western Oakland County’s Lakes
This story originally appeared in the July 2026 issue of Hour Detroit magazine. To read more, pick up a copy of Hour Detroit at a local retail outlet. Click here to get our digital edition.
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