In the shadow of the great Sleeping Bear Sand Dunes, one river winds its way from Glen Lake to Lake Michigan in no apparent rush. You will know this tranquil waterway as the Crystal River, and further grow to love her westernmost banks in the historic village of Glen Arbor. Come experience the River at Crystal Bend, an ageless playground of native plants, putts, paddling and peeling laughter. Join us at The River in Glen Arbor for Mini-Golf, Canoe Rental, Kayak and Tube Rental, Eco Tours, great activities and family fun! Open 7 days a week. MAKE YOUR RESERVATION ONLINE!

This picture is not taken in Glen Arbor.  And that fish is definitively not freshwater.  I posted this picture to emphasize the opportunity we all have to make the most of the weather.  The forecast for Glen Arbor today is perfect for kayaking or canoeing the Crystal River.  The weather when this photo was taken was crazy hot.    Interesting that many people would not have ventured out in the heat on this scalding hot day in the Bahamas, the same way folks are not venturing out on the River  today because of overcast skies with a 40% chance of showers.  You aren’t going to melt.  In fact, paddling in the rain will strengthen your spirit and empower your soul.  Be not afraid and get out on the Crystal!

So, perhaps as a little bit more motivation for you, I will make you this deal:  If you rent a kayak or canoe from us today and end up getting rained on, I will give you all your money back, PLUS a free 18 hole round of putt putt/mini golf to you and your family.  How can you go wrong with that deal?  Worst case scenario is your hair gets wet.  Sieze the moment, grab your rain gear (we have rain ponchos for sale for 2 bucks) and get out on the Crystal River in one of our Old Town or Ocean Kayaks or canoes.

Otherwise, the 18 hole championship putt putt/mini  golf course is playing true.  We offer rain checks if needed.  I have a big blazing fire going.  The pinball arcade is fired up.  ping pong paddles and balls are out.  Come on down to the River Glen Arbor at 5959 S. Oak Street, in the grips of the mighty Sleeping Bear Dunes National Park and make some memories.

Our lead guide Mark Ringlever is up in Alaska for a month.  We are missing him as we have had several requests for fly fishing lessons and trips in the last couple weeks.  Mark has a Hyde drift boat and frequents the AuSable and Manistee Rivers.  He will be back (God willin) in a couple weeks.  Catch em up Marcus!

The weather today in Glen Arbor looks gorgeous on weatherunderground.com.  Light winds all day, allowing us to use Lake Michigan and The Glens and Fishers for our routes.  The water levels on The Lakes and the Crystal are good and the water temp is warm for swimming or snorkeling.  Kayaks, Canoes, Tubes and Paddleboards are available in quantity here at our livery at 5959 S. Oak Street here in Glen Arbor just a half block off of M-22.  Our livery on the banks of the Crystal River is well stocked with provisions for your paddle or float and offers two bathroom/changing rooms and plenty of safe parking.  We normally load and go on trips, rarely more than a 5 minute wait for one of our drivers to get back from the top of the Crystal River.  We can handle big groups and customize trips, including guide service.

Tonight, Mike Sutherland is offering a guided eco/fishing trip on Tucker Lake.  Cost is 35 dollars per kid and 50 per adult.  It should be a gorgeous evening on Tucker.

As always, the putt putt/mini golf course is in great shape.  Crees sustainable gardens are thriving.  Ping pong and giant chess are ready for your family.  Sand Boat stocked with earth moving/shaping equipment for your toddlers.  Our gift shop trading post is stocked up with all your “up north” needs.  Get down here to the River and mention this blog and recieve 25% discounts all day in the Trading Post.

I got to go…..two crazy ladies need a lift up to the north shore of Big Glen for a three and half  hour trip back here to our livery.

The weather has been so amazing this summer.  Today is no exception.  Not a cloud in the sky or the forecast.  Get out on one of our kayaks, canoes, tubes or paddleboards today.  Enjoy the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Park.

Mention this blog and recieve half off putt putt/mini golf for you and your group.  Have a great day at the River in Downtown Glen Arbor on the banks of the mighty Crystal River.

No one has been down the Crystal yet this morning.  Weather looks fine for paddling.  We have plenty of kayaks, canoes, tubes, and paddleboards available today.  Don’t let the weather scare you off.  The good news is the river will not be busy today.  We have emergency ponchos for two bucks.  It can be a lot of fun to paddle in the rain.  Be not afraid!

So, print out this coupon and come on over to the River.

The putt putt/mini course is playing true, no mosquitos.  Locals recieve half off today at the River after three p.m.

We are running a Tucker Lake Trip tonight at seven p.m.  Fishing is optional.  There are many of these Northern Pike (picture on the right) in Tucker Lake. This one was caught on a barbless daredevil out in the middle of the lake over heavy weeds.  Small mouth bass, sunfish and perch are plentiful as well on Tucker, just two miles from our kayak and canoe livery here on the banks of the Crystal River in downtown Glen Arbor.  Our eco tours on inland lakes offer families an easy way to get out and fish or not. Nature abounds on Tucker, Shell, Narada, School and Bass lakes all of which we are permitted to use for tours through the Dept. Of Interior.  Most of these Lakes are inside the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Park.  The Park is doing an incredible job taking care of these resources.  Loons, Sand Hill Cranes, Beaver, Muskrat, Kingfishers, Snapping Turtles, Bald Eagles etc. all may be seen on any given day on these lakes.  Give us a call down at the livery 231-334-tour (8687) if interested.  Cost for these trips is 35 dollars for a kid under 18 and 50 for adults.  We usually end up back here at the kayak livery by 9:30.

The putt putt/mini golf course is in great shape.  Giant Chess, Ping Pong and Lunastyx all set up for free amusement for your family.  T-shirts, tomahawks, petoskey stones, etc. all well stocked in the Trading Post.  Check out our 630 lb. black bear.

The weather looks perfect today for trips on Glen Lake and Lake Michigan as well as the Crystal River.  The water levels on the River are great as well.  We have a brand new fleet of Old Town and Ocean Kayak kayaks and canoes.  Mention this blog and recieve 5 dollars off a kayak, canoe, tube or paddleboard rental and two dollars off putt putt/mini golf.  Get down to the River Glen Arbor inside the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Park and make some memories.

Steve and his seven year old son Benet paddled a kayak from the West end of Little Glen to Sleeping Bear Bay through the Fishers Lakes, down the Crystal River, and over to the boat ramp on Sleeping Bear Bay.  Took him about six hours.  Benet was a champion…..final leg he was sound asleep down in the bilge in half an inch of water.  What a kid he is.  Nice job Benet!  Look at that crystal clear water.  Lake Michigan is truly a treasure.

So, the weather looks fantastic for this route tomorrow. Come on down to the livery, check out our maps and choose your route.  Get out on the Lakes and Rivers of Leelanau County.  We can outfit you at our livery as well with all gear and provisions you will need for your adventure right here on the banks of the Crystal River in downtown Glen Arbor.  5959 S. Oak Street.  Make some memories……just like Steve and his son Benet did today.

I put Steve Polikoff and his son Benet in a 14 foot Old Town Tandem Otter Kayak this morning at 8 a.m. on the West shore of Little Glen Lake to attempt a kayak voyage to their home just East of D.H. Day Campground on Sleeping Bear Bay.  Their route will take them 3 miles across Little Glen, 4 miles across Big Glen, into the Fisher Lakes and the Fisher Lake Channel, app. two miles, 11 miles on the Crystal River and out into Sleeping Bear Bay for another 4 miles.  Steve is a triathelete and Benet is a hardcore adventurist……I predict they will make it.  Tough trip though.  Good luck.

Weather looks ideal for all kayak routes today on the Glens or Sleeping Bear Bay.  Our kayak/canoe livery is well stocked for any trip you may choose.  We have extra mask and snorkels for folks that want to check out the Phelps shipwreck in Sleeping Bear Bay.  The water levels are perfect for kayaking on the Crystal River.  The water is warm.   The sun is out.  There is just a breath of wind to keep the bugs at bay.  (I took Fisher out to the Manitou Islands last night and there were no bugs!)  That never happens out there.  Anyway, get out on a kayak and make some memories with your family.

Putt putt/mini golf open from 10 to 10.  Greens are in great shape.  Other amusement/recreation activities including geo cacheing with Jon Tris, Petoskey Stone polishing with Annie Lange, Tucker Lake Eco Tour with Mike Sutherland as well as free ping pong, giant chess and luna styx all available today and through the rest of the summer.  If you have not checked out the River Glen Arbor, your missing a pretty cool addition to Leelanau County.

Local discounts today as well.  Half off all activities at the River for folks with a leelanau, benzie or grand traverse county I.D.  Whens the last time you kayaked the Crystal River?  Get out here locals!  The summers slipping away.

Mike

This is the Dahm family reunion taking off for a one hour kayak trip down the River.  Nice job Dahms!

Also, going on tonight:  Mule Bone at Lake Street Studios in Glen Arbor tonight at 7 p.m.  They are a great blues band.  15$.  Jim Crockett is playing for free on the boonedocks deck.   The River is rocking with the Damm family at one o:clock……40 people jumping in boats for a big race “around the block”.  Otter family being seen daily now on the Crystal River gorging on crayfish.  Jon Tris running a geo cache/historical tour in Glen Arbor today….still room for sign ups.  25 dollars a family or 8 dollars a person.  Son Finn just finished a solid round on the putt putt course.  Fisher Sutherland up 4-1 in the finals of the Grand Traverse Open.  Taking him out to the Manitou Islands tonight to meet the Glen Lake Yacht Club Camping trip.  Alot going on today.  Get out on the Crystal River or out into the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Park or both and make some memories.

Bring in your drivers license, leelanau, Grand Traverse and Benzie residents all recieve half off at the River today after three oclock p.m..  Kayaks rentals, Canoe rentals, Tube rentals, paddleboard rentals, etc.  Half off putt putt / mini golf for you and your family.  Come make a day of it.  Whens the last time you got out on the Crystal River?  Don’t tell me you have never been down.

Water levels are perfect for kayaking canoeing or tubing.  The putt putt course is playing true.  (We had a kid break 40 yesterday)  He won a kayak trip.  Pinball machines fired up.  Sand box, ping pong table, giant chess set all ready for you and your family.

Come on down to the River at Crystal Bend, 5959 S. Oak Street Glen Arbor, in the heart of the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore and make some memories!

Weatherman cried wolf again!  I can’t believe how consistently wrong they are.  And negative.  Why not say 75% chance of it being gorgeous instead of saying 25% chance of armegeddon?  Driving me nuts.

Anyway, the weather looks great for getting out on the Crystal River in one of our kayaks, canoes, paddleboards or tubes.  The water levels are perfect, river running over 40 cfs and warm for swimming.

Putt putt/mini golf course in great shape.  Cree’s sustainable gardens are thriving without us watering them everyday.

Free ping pong, lunastyx and giant chess.  Pinball arcade is fired up.  Trading Post / Gift shop is well stocked.

Get out to the River at Crystal Bend in beautiful Glen Arbor inside the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Park and make some memories.

Mention this blog and get five dollars off a kayak or two dollars off putt putt/mini golf.

Also, I am starting to sell off all of our kayaks and canoes.  10 foot old town vapor kayaks – $300  12 foot old town vapor kayaks – $350  14 foot old town tandem otters – $500  16 foot old town canoes – $550  Paddles – $25

Mike

Newer Posts »