The S.S. Badger, a car/passenger ferry, sails daily across Lake Michigan between Manitowoc, Wisconsin (85 miles northeast of Milwaukee), and Ludington, Michigan (95 miles northwest of Grand Rapids), from mid-May to mid-October. The 60-mile crossing takes about four hours one way and cuts some 500 miles off the trip around the lake.

En route, you can sun on the deck, spend time in the TV lounge or watch family films in the movie lounge. Two restaurants and a bar provide meals, snacks and drinks. Memorabilia in the on-board museum recounts the 100-year history of Lake Michigan ferries. You also can browse the Badger Boatique gift shop. The ferry also offers new Cruise and Learn programs where experts educate passengers about shipwrecks, fishing, and the lake's ecosystem.

For more details and reservations (recommended), contact Lake Michigan Carferry, Inc. (888/337-7948) or visitwww.ssbadger.com. Hope your trip is as much fun as mine have been!

By Barbara Humeston, Contributing Editor, Midwest Living

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