The Redneck Riviera

It’s the sunrise side, it’s the Lake Huron side, it’s vacation land in the Thumb, also known as the Redneck Riviera! No, this is not derogatory at all, we embrace our Bud Light and flannel! We are proud to be down to earth with a little cabin on the bay, bonfires on the beach, camping and tubing, brats and burgers, sand in our toes and s’mores all around. It is believed that the moniker Redneck Rivera came from the laid back atmosphere of the Caseville area. Many of the vacationers are blue-collar workers who have created a much different vibe than can be found on the West side of our great state.  

 
 

The M-25 Drive - Bayport the First Stop

Want to see what I’m talking about? Trust me you will love how relaxed and casual a summer trip to the Thumb can be. Try taking the M-25 drive and you will be hooked! M-25 travels from Port Huron to Bay City and there are many sights along the way. In this journey we focus on the route from Caro to Caseville.

 
 

 

Take M-24 (Lapeer Road) north through Caro. You will drive through much farmland and a small farming town called Sebawaing. Things start to get really interesting as you reach Bayport, home of the fish sandwich festival. The Bay Port Fish Sandwich Festival is the largest single eating event in Michigan's Upper Thumb. Bay Port Fish Sandwiches are an original creation which began in 1978. The popular weekend event is packed full of activities for family fun and continues to grow each year.

 

Wildfowel Bay near Bay Port

 

 

 

Your drive will take you along Wildfowl Bay with glimpses of the great Lake Huron along the way. As you approach Caseville you begin to see the traps of tourism at its Thumb Michigan best. Beautiful vacation homes, cabins, cottages and trailers. T-shirt shops, souvenir stands, greasy spoons, putt-putt golf and ice cream shops as well. If you are of a mind don’t miss the bars that still smell of beer and smokes and where a game of pool is still a quarter.

 

Caseville Marina

 

The pride of summer in Caseville and one of the big highlights of the Redneck Riviera is the Cheeseburger in Caseville festival. Cheeseburger is a festival in tribute to Jimmy Buffet, and different types of cheeseburgers. The festival takes place in the final weeks of August, celebrating the final weeks of summer vacation. Cheeseburger is amazing to see, what started as a three-day weekend has turned into a 10-day festival that includes laser light shows on the beach, concerts, fireworks, and, the highlight of the festival, The Parade of Tropical Fools.  The parade is held on the first Wednesday night of the festival and is the biggest attraction that the festival has to offer. The parade can last up to two hours and attracts more than 50,000 people every year. Cheeseburger has won several Michigan Fun Awards and is the only festival in Michigan to place in the top five in every category of the Michigan Fun Awards. It probably goes without saying that the partying during Cheeseburger is legendary.

 

 

So, you have lots of choices. A walk on the beach, a bike ride along the bay, camping, fishing, tubing, sailing, kayaking, shopping, a good meal, a cocktail or two, a swim, or just a drive along the Lake Huron shoreline; the Redneck Riviera has so much to offer! Most of all, you will love how laid back we are, it’s a whole different world here in the Thumb!