Thumbcoast Articles

The Inn on Water Street is a newer boutique hotel within walking distance to downtown amenities. Enjoy a glass of wine from your balcony & watch freighters passing in the St. Clair River. An added feature for hotel guests are their beach cruisers to explore downtown or the Bridge to Bay Trail. Ask about their stay & play packages.

Lunch

Anita’s Riverfront Grille has a fantastic patio overlooking the St. Clair River. Enjoy the warm sun, watch freighters & dine al fresco. Menu picks:

• Cold Beer on Tap
• Nacho Supreme with Homemade Chips & Salsa
• Spinach & Artichoke Pizza

Culture

Historically, Marine City was known as the ship-building center of the Great Lakes, this influence can be seen in their architecture. Take a stroll to the local museums & see the beautiful homes in the area. While walking the waterfront, see if you can find all 8 mosaic art pieces created from drawings of ships from the 1800’s.

Dinner

Specializing in local fresh fish, The Marine City Fish Company is an award-winning restaurant! They were voted Best Metro Detroit Seafood in 2021. Menu picks:

• Summer in a Bottle Rosé 
• Asiago Caesar Salad
• Smoked Salmon
• Baked Bing Cherry Dessert

Entertainment

The Riverbank Theatre produces award-winning performances in a historic building, formerly a bank. This intimate venue holds 180 people with tiered seating & state-of-the-art sound & lighting. Upcoming summer performances are:

• Fox on the Fairway, June 9 – 26
• Bye Bye Birdie, July 1 – Aug. 7
• On Golden Pond, Aug. 12 – Sept. 11

Breakfast

Enjoy your breakfast with a view at the Riviera Restaurant. When you think of small town charming places to eat, this is one of them. This laid-back local favorite has a mix of long-time patrons & visitors alike. Menu picks:

• Tequila Sunrise
• Admiral Omelet with Homemade Biscuits 

Beach Time

This quaint downtown beach can get busy on the weekends so we recommend you get your spot early. There is a covered pavilion next to the beach if you prefer a shady spot, still waterfront. The beach has excellent views of Canada & is great for watching Great Lake freighters. An alternate to a day at the beach is a fishing excursion.

Fish On

Fish the famous 40-mile St. Clair River and catch your limit. This river is a connecting channel between Lake Huron & Lake St. Clair, along the US/Canada border. A valuable ecological habitat, it has walleye, bass, sturgeon, muskie & salmon to name a few species. Take the guess work out of finding the best fishing hole & book with an expert.

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Mid-Day Snacks

Discover your inner child at the Sweet Tooth, voted Best Metro Detroit Sweets & Treats in 2021! This fun-loving sweet shop is the perfect spot for ice cream on a hot summer day. Feeling nostalgic? They have candy bars from every generation along with artisan truffles & other goodies. Menu picks:

• Hand-dipped Toasted Coconut Ice Cream
• Amaretto Truffle

Shopping

Shop unique small businesses from an artisan market & pet boutique to antiques & an oddities shop at the Mariner. The shopping district extends down Water St. and Broadway. Spend the afternoon finding gifts that will remind you of your fun trip to Marine City!

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Dinner To-Go

Order take out from Gar’s, The Little Bar or any other restaurant & eat it at TwoRivers Winery. This downtown winery welcomes you to pair your choice meal with one of their 60 handmade wines & ciders. Menu picks:

• Gar’s Famous Burger
• Mango Jalapeño in a Wine Flight

Breakfast

The Sweet Tooth Café is the coffee spinoff to the sweet shop, located right behind it. They have muffins, bagels & other delicious pastries. More importantly, they have caffeinated drinks to start the day. Menu picks:

• Coconut Latte with Cinnamon
• Almond Bear Claw or a Toasted Everything Bagel