Latest news with #S.S.Badger
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Yahoo
SS Badger Lake Michigan car ferry to launch shoreline cruises, overnight crossings & mini cruises
MANITOWOC – The S.S. Badger Lake Michigan car ferry is planning four afternoon shoreline cruises in Manitowoc, will launch overnight crossings June 20-Sept. 1 and will offer mini cruises this summer. Here's more to know about the offerings. The shoreline cruises in Manitowoc will run June 14, July 19, Aug. 2 and Aug. 16. Passengers will board at 1:30 p.m. and sail from 2 to 4 p.m. Each cruise offers live entertainment, food, a cash bar and shoreline views. An on-board gift shop, movie theater, museum and lounge areas will be open during these excursions. Tickets are $60 per person, and children 4 and younger are admitted free. The cruises sail rain or shine. Space is limited and all tickets are non-refundable. Four nighttime shoreline cruises in Ludington, Michigan, will also be offered June 18, July 4, July 23 and Aug. 20. Passengers will begin boarding at 8:30 p.m. (Eastern) and the ship sails from 9 to 11 p.m. (Eastern). Ticket fare is the same for those rides, except the July 4 cruise, which is $72. Read more: S.S. Badger passenger and car ferry on Lake Michigan ups its food, drink offerings The S.S. Badger is adding overnight crossings to its regular sailing schedule this summer. The overnight crossings will run June 20 to Sept. 1, departing Ludington at 8:45 p.m. (Eastern) Thursdays-Tuesdays and arriving in Manitowoc at 11:45 p.m. (Central). The overnight crossings depart Manitowoc at 1:30 a.m. (Central) Fridays-Wednesdays and arrive in Ludington at 6:30 a.m. (Eastern). Another way to experience the S.S. Badger this summer is a round-trip mini cruise where passengers can travel without a vehicle and return within 48 hours. Ticket price is $108 per adult with two children free per paying adult. Each additional child ages 5-15 is $62. The Badger makes four-hour runs from Ludington, Michigan, to Manitowoc and back. The spring season runs through June 19, summer season is June 20-Sept. 1 and fall season is Sept. 2-Oct. 12. The Badger can accommodate 600 passengers and 180 vehicles, including RVs, motorcycles, motorcoaches, and commercial trucks and oversized loads in one single trip. For tickets and more information, go to or call 1-800-841-4243. Read more: Couple from across Lake Michigan meet on the SS Badger car ferry and now have a family Here are some fast facts about the S.S. Badger Lake Michigan car ferry: Built at Christy Corp. in Sturgeon Bay for the C&O Railroad at a cost of $5 million Maiden voyage was March 21, 1953 The last and largest train ferries built for the Great Lakes Operated mostly as a train ferry until 1990, but also served passengers and automobiles Lake Michigan Carferry was formed in 1991, and the Badger became a passenger/motor vehicle ferry beginning in 1992 Lake Michigan Carferry was purchased by Interlake Maritime Services in 2020 Length: 410 feet Beam: 59 feet Height: 106 feet Depth: 24 feet The last coal-powered steamship in the United States Propulsion: Two four-cylinder compound Skinner Unaflow steam engines Speed: Maximum, 21 knots (24 mph); average cruising speed is 14 knots (16 mph) Capacity: 620 passengers; 180 automobiles, plus RVs, buses, motorcycles, semi-trucks and trailers (can accommodate vehicles and equipment up to 15 feet, 5 inches wide and 282 feet long) Crew: 50 to 60 with more than 200 seasonal employees Distance between Manitowoc and Ludington: 61 miles Contact Brandon Reid at breid@ This article originally appeared on Manitowoc Herald Times Reporter: SS Badger plans shoreline cruises, overnight crossings & mini cruises
Yahoo
09-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Couple from across Lake Michigan meet on the SS Badger car ferry and now have a family
MANITOWOC – The S.S. Badger has its very own 'meet cute' story. Patrick Nelson started working for Lake Michigan Carferry, which owns the Badger, in 2004, the summer of his senior year of high school in Michigan. 'I started working at the Badger because I was on the high school track team,' he said. 'LMC often recruits track and cross country runners from local high schools to work as auto attendants. I thought to myself, 'I can do that: Get paid to run. No problem.' It was fun.' His future wife, Nicole Nelson, took a job on the ferryboat the summer of her senior year as well. She is a 2012 graduate of Lincoln High School in Manitowoc. Both started as auto attendants — crew members who help load and unload vehicles onto the ship — on opposite sides of Lake Michigan and a few years apart. The co-workers eventually met, and Nicole asked Patrick out. The couple were married in 2020, and now have a daughter, Roxanne. All these years later, Patrick still works aboard the Badger — and has the important job of steering the ship. He worked as an auto attendant for three years and served as a deckhand for another three. He attended classes at the Great Lakes Maritime Academy at Northwestern Michigan College in Traverse City, Michigan. He also attended Grand Valley State University, where he earned a bachelor's degree in special education. He usually works during overnight Badger trips from June 20 to Sept. 1 or on weekends. During the offseason, he is a special education teacher and track coach at a Michigan high school. Read more: SS Badger will travel to Sturgeon Bay shipyard for repairs in late April Nicole and her sister Marissa followed their older sister to jobs on the Badger. In 2021, they took on co-supervisor positions. Their dad and Marissa's boyfriend also work on the ship. 'I have met so many people and have developed so many friendships over the past 22 years,' Patrick said. 'Of course, the passengers are the best part of the job. I really enjoy having conversations with them. Every summer, we get to see many of the same people and meet new people. The Badger becomes a part of their lives.' During the offseason, the couple and their daughter live in Custer, Michigan, about 13 miles east of Ludington. Nicole also works at Home Depot and takes culinary arts classes. In the summer, while Patrick spends a lot of time on the Badger, Nicole lives with her parents in Manitowoc. She could bring their baby girl to the Badger office while she worked. What's it like to ride the Badger? Ride aboard SS Badger a throwback to bygone era 'Last year, I was able to bring her into the office frequently and it worked out pretty good,' Nicole said. 'Now, she's nearly a year old, that may be a bit more of a challenge. Luckily, she has wonderful grandparents on both sides of the lake who are willing to help.' Who knew the Badger could also be a Love Boat of sorts? Owned and operated by Lake Michigan Carferry, the Badger makes four-hour runs from Ludington, Michigan, to Manitowoc and back. The spring season runs May 16-June 19, summer season is June 20-Sept. 1 and fall season is Sept. 2-Oct. 12. For tickets and more information, go to or call 1-800-841-4243. Contact reporter Patti Zarling at pzarling@ or call 920-606-2575. Follow her on X @PGPattiZarling, on Instagram @PGPatti and Bluesky @PGPatti This article originally appeared on Manitowoc Herald Times Reporter: Couple meet on SS Badger, live summer life in Michigan and Manitowoc
Yahoo
04-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
S.S. Badger passenger and car ferry on Lake Michigan ups its food, drink offerings
Ahoy! When the 2025 sailing season begins in May, passengers planning a trip aboard Michigan's car ferry service from Ludington, Michigan, to Manitowoc, Wisconsin, can plan on new and enhanced food options. Passengers spending the four-hour trip playing bingo or sunning on deck can nosh on healthier options, including sandwiches and new, full-meal entrée options, the boat's operator, Lake Michigan Carferry, announced. 'We have listened to our passengers and are providing some new options to make their cruise an even more enjoyable experience,' said Wesley Paggeot, Lake Michigan Carferry director of hospitality, in a news release. Aboard the historic, 410-foot, coal-powered steamship are three dining options: The Badger Galley, The Cabana Room, and the Upper Deck Café. The Badger Galley will continue to offer stadium-style concessions with the addition of healthier options in the form of salads, fruit and vegetable cups, and fresh sandwiches. There's also an assortment of ice cream treats, according to a news release. The ship's Upper Deck Café is serving new menu wityh full meals, including items like baked chicken breast, beef tips and gravy, or meatloaf. Each meal comes with a choice of two sides or a one soup plus a soft drink. In the mornings there are still full breakfast offerings. The afternoon features hamburgers and other hot sandwiches. Badger's Cabana Room is where passengers can relax with new alchol and alcohol-free signature drinks from the bar or its coffee service featuring whole coffee beans ground fresh for each cup. For more than 70 years, the historic S.S. Badger has been a shortcut across Lake Michigan to Wisconsin and back. Originally used to move railroad freight cars, it's known as the largest passenger and car ferry service on the Great Lakes. Accommodating 600 passengers and 180 vehicles, from cars to RVs to motorcycles and trucks, the S.S. Badger is a key shortcut across Lake Michigan. The ship, named a National Historic landmark in 2016, makes connects travelers from Michigan to Wisconsin in about four hours. Since S.S. Badger's 1992 re-birth, (it was out of commission for nearly two years undergoing renovations), the ship has transported millions of passengers. Amenities aboard the Badger include: Badger Bingo Shopping in the 'Boatique' Staterooms Free movies Lounging indoor and out Open Deck for walking and fresh Air Board Games Museum Quiet areas Kid's activities include a scavenger hunt, coloring contest, movie theater, game room and play area Reservations are now open for the Badger's 2025 sailing season which begins May 16 and runs through Oct. 12. Operating daily, the ship departs Ludington, Michigan at 9 a.m. Eastern Time, crosses into another time zone, and arrives in Manitowoc, Wisconsin, at noon Central Time. The ship departs Manitowoc at 2 p.m. Central Time and arrives in Ludington at 7 p.m. Eastern Time. Included in the 2025 sailing season are regular overnight crossings starting June 20 and through Sept. 1. Overnight sailings departing Ludington leave at 8:45 p.m. Eastern time, Thursday through Tuesday, and arrive in Manitowoc at 11:45 p.m. central time. Overnight sailings departing Manitowoc leave at 1:30 a.m. central time Friday through Wednesday and arrive in Ludington at 6:30 a.m. Eastern time. For information on tickets or times, go to or call 800-841-4243, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday-Friday. One-way tickets for adults 16 and up this spring start at $75. Contact Detroit Free Press food and restaurant writer Susan Selasky and send food and restaurant news and tips to: sselasky@ Follow @SusanMariecooks on X. Subscribe to the Free Press. This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: S.S. Badger ferry on Lake Michigan ups its food, drink offerings
Yahoo
14-02-2025
- Yahoo
Reporters name top french fries in the Manitowoc area. Did your favorites make the list?
MANITOWOC – America's love of french fries seems to go back as far as the founding fathers. Back in 1802, Thomas Jefferson was said to have served 'potatoes served in the French manner' at a White House dinner. Today, french fries, curly fries and garlic fries are served at thousands of U.S. restaurants. Diners are used to — and maybe even expect — the phrase 'Would you like fries with that?' My fellow reporter Alisa Schafer and I have the tough job of visiting restaurants throughout Manitowoc County to have lunch and write our thoughts for our Savor Manitowoc monthly column. We've been dining our way through the area for a few years now, so we thought we'd do a quick write-up about one of the country's favorite foods: the humble sidekick, the french fry. Looks to me like Alisa and I have opposite tastes when it comes to french fry styles. She likes hers thin and crispy, I like mine on the thicker side, and I even enjoy a thicker fry with the skin. When you look at what the British consider "chips" — a nice, big fry but still plenty crispy on the outside — that's what I'm looking for. Here's a look at a few places we found our favorite fries: Here are Alisa's top three favorite places for french fries in Manitowoc: : Honestly, there's not much competition out there that even comes close to the specialty "fork fries" that Ryan's On York has on the menu. The shoestring-style fries come loaded with toppings like garlic, parmesan cheese or barbecue pulled pork. My personal favorite are the RoY fries, which come with shredded cheese, green onions and a good amount of the secret house sauce. Yes, I always eat these with a fork, and yes, I still always manage to get messy. : The fries from Courthouse Pub are crispy and coated with a light breading that really makes these fries delicious. They always come out nice and hot, and they are usually what I eat from my plate first, before I even taste my sandwich. : Time Out's fries are cut very thin, which is exactly the style that I love. They are hot, and crispy, and absolutely loaded onto the tray. While I wouldn't say they are the star of the show, they really do complement the main course well. Savor Manitowoc: Reporters try steak on a burger, grilled chicken and cheese curds at Grizzly's in Manitowoc : This is a great example of an upscale beer pub. I loved the wood floors and exposed brick walls, the beer selection, my S.S. Badger burger and my fries. The portion was generous, and they came in a thick cut I prefer. You need a substantial fry to pair with a hardy burger, and these stand out in my mind as just right. : I love this place! It reminded me that smaller places that have been around forever have been around forever for a reason. This is one of the best bar and grill meals I have had in Wisconsin in a while. I had the coconut shrimp with a pile of french fries. The mound of fries was high, and the golden crisps went so well with the yummy seafood. : OK, I cheated a bit with this one, but I feel I needed to give a shoutout to the sweet potato tots that came with my barbecue burger. I often order sweet potato fries if they're on the menu. I love the sweet flavor of sweet potatoes, especially deep fried with a bit of salt. These tator tots were sweet, cooked with a nice light but crunchy outside. And the portion was generous enough to be two meals. So there you have it, the best places for french fries — according to Alisa and me. Let us know if you have other favorites! Contact reporter Patti Zarling at pzarling@ or call 920-606-2575. Follow her on X @PGPattiZarling and on Instagram @PGPatti. This article originally appeared on Manitowoc Herald Times Reporter: Manitowoc restaurants with best french fries are Ryan's On York, Brick's
