My daughter-in-law and I stopped in this afternoon. She bought more than she could carry, so one…read moreof the staff members was **very** helpful carrying all of our goods out to our car and helped us put everything away safely. Wonderful customer service.

My last stop before heading for the Bambi Motel, my favorite in town, was at this party store. I…read morewas just looking for a six pack so I could have one beer before I went to sleep. They had what I needed and it was close and convenient. I had no complaints.

My husband and I have been coming to the Tawas area every year for almost two decades. We had heard…read moreabout the Charity Island tour, and finally decided this is the year to do it! We're so glad we did. The experience involves a 60 minute boat trip to Charity Island, a brief trip through the woods, a lecture about the history of the island and its lighthouse, and dinner. The boat departs around 4 pm, and is timed to allow people to see the sunset on the way back to Brown's Landing (a few miles south of Tawas City). The boat is a converted fishing vessel that seats up to 35 people in folding chairs; there were about 25 of us on this trip. Our boat had a canopy (much appreciated, since it was threatening to rain). Once we got to the island, we were met by another boat that departed from another area. I noticed that boat didn't have a canopy, and felt a bit sorry for those folks. The ride over was exciting. I've spent very little time on boats, having spent much of my life in a landlocked city. The waves were up a bit, and the ride was, shall we say, bouncy. Grab ropes strung from the ceiling of the canopy allowed us to move around the boat. We were warmly welcomed by the captain and crew. Once the journey began, they provided soft drinks and cheese and crackers. We disembarked at the island, where we were offered the opportunity to walk the 1/4 mile through the woods to the lighthouse, or to ride in an open trailer. With the threatening rain, most of us opted for the ride. A word of advice: wear comfy shoes and bring bug spray. The mosquitoes on the island are relentless, and the terrain did not lend itself to one lady's cute (but utterly impractical) footwear. Also, bring a jacket. Even on warm days, the wind and the spray on the boat can make you shiver. One lady had a waterproof poncho--smart move. We got off the trailer and made our way to a lovely pavilion that was set up for dinner. The staff had place cards set up with our names on them. We sat with two delightful ladies, and very much enjoyed our time with them. Soft drinks and wine were offered as Mr. Wiltse, owner of part of the island, greeted us and gave a terrific presentation on the history of the island and the lighthouse keepers. His passion for the subject made him a sparkling speaker. I won't share his stories here, as I don't want to provide spoilers. Suffice it to say that this man has done a ton of research and has met some pretty interesting people along the way. Dinner was served, and the food was great. My husband and I both chose the steak, and our dinner companions chose the fish. Dinner came with hot, crusty bread, a perfectly cooked selection of vegetables, and red potatoes. The steak was tender and flavorful. The other ladies at our table sang the praises of the fish.The meal was served informally on disposable plates and with plastic wear. While initially I was put off by this, it later occurred to me that there were very few staff doing the work, and that dishwashing was probably not practical on an island that is completely off the grid. After dinner we toured the house and lighthouse. The house is currently occupied by Mr. and Mrs. Wiltse during the summers only. Accessing the island in the winter is very difficult. The tour started in the basement, where whale oil for the lighthouse light used to be stored. It continued through the main living area, and on to the upstairs bedrooms. The house is run off of energy generated from two large solar panels and a wind turbine. Batteries that store the energy are located in the basement. We were also able to go inside the actual lighthouse. It's clear that it needs a lot of work, but the original iron spiral stair way is still there and is sturdy as ever. Looking straight up from the bottom of the staircase induces a bit of vertigo, but is well worth it. After the tour of the house, some of us went to the tiny gift shop. It featured a selection of shirts and other Charity Island items. Of most interest was containers of honey (made from the bee hives that are on the island) and maple syrup made from the numerous maple trees that populate the island. Mr. Wiltse spent several days in February tapping the trees. Be sure to bring cash, though--they don't currently have the technology for credit cards. The rain returned in full force, delaying our return for about 20 minutes. We sat on the spacious front porch and watched the storm. It soon passed and we piled in the trailer for the return trip. The staff provided umbrellas for us. The trip back to Brown's Landing was rougher than our first. The lake was stirred up from the storms. The staff served cheesecake and soft drinks for dessert. Nearing our destination, we were greeted with a glorious sunset and a rainbow--a perfect ending to a fun and informative trip. Bottom line--if you have a chance to do this, do it. Experiences like this are way better than any souvenir.