Tag: Sea Shell City
Sea Shell City 2012
James has been going to Sea Shell City for years now, he loves playing in the pirate boat outside and enjoys the shopping inside. He usually always walks out with something, maybe a hat or maybe a shirt, ironically never a sea shell (they have thousands from all over the world here).
The story of Sea Shell city is an interesting one. We always lump it in with Mackinaw since its only a few miles from the bridge, but it actually is in Cheboygan. It is right off interstate 75 at exit 326 and is quite visible from the road. Its been here sine 1963, but its the story before 1963 that is interesting.
Sea Shell City originally opened for business on Old 27 in Gaylord, MI. Since Interstate 75 did not come this far north, It was an excellent location as everyone had to use Old 27 to continue north to Mackinac City, Mackinac Island or to take the ferry across the Straits of Mackinac to get to the Upper Peninsula. When Interstate 75 was completed in 1957, the business decreased severely as there was no need to travel Old 27 to go farther north.
So you could say the Mackinaw Bridge being built which forced 75 North was almost the undoing of Sea Shell City. Now its probably the main source of visitors for them.
Sea Shell City 2009
We always stop at Sea Shell City on the way home from Mackinaw. Its about 10 minutes south of Mackinaw and James loves to play pirate on the boat out front. This gives Mary a perfect chance to shop in peace since I am usually with James while he plays on the boat. I think thats why so many of our funny t-shirts have comes from here.
Its always on the way home that we stop at Sea Shell City, it makes the end of vacation a little easier having this to look forward to. It also usually gives us one more chance to buy that perfect souvenir of our vacation, as if the car full of bags of souvenirs and “stuff” is not enough.
Sea Shell City 2008
This is a fun gift shop…with all sorts of things…fudge, a lot of beach decor, shirts, sea shells and they have a 500lb clam (they call it a man eating clam). What makes it so appealing to us is the wooden pirate play ship outside of the main building. James just loves going and playing on this ship. There are port holes in the ship and little slides and even though James can barely walk he is able to navigate this ship. Must be something in the will of a child to learn how to play.
Eventually we bring James off the ship and into the store in his stroller, why in there I noticed a family drive into the parking lot and walked straight to the pirate ship so the pirate ship must be like a park to the local people here. In other words I don’t think you need to shop at the place to visit the Pirate ship.
They only allow pictures in certain places inside the store which is the reason most of our pictures are outside.
Sea Shell City 2006
I remember as a kid seeing an episode of the old Adam West batman show where the Joker tied up Batman, Robin, and the Jokers girl friend (that’s why hes the joker) and fed them to a giant clam. The cliff hanger was Robin being eaten by the clam with only his foot sticking out of the clams mouth. Batman broke out of the chains and saved everyone and that night they had clam chowder for dinner.
So naturally when I see a sign for a man eating clam I am going to pull over and take a peek. While the clam was not quite that big, it sure was big enough to swallow James. Sea Shell city has a huge variety of sea faring souvenirs and is a great place to visit on the way up (or down) from Mackinaw. Octopus, starfish, alligators, shark jaws, and many other treasures of the deep are here for the taking (after you pay of course). Other man made items such as sea shell lamps and sea shell bottle holders fill aisle after aisle. A fun place to visit.
Sea Shell City 2004
We stopped at Sea Shell City to do some shopping. Its becoming a habit to stop here either on the way up to kick off our vacation or on the way down to extend our vacation. We consider this part of the Mackinaw experience even though it is technically located in Cheboygan. We do the same with St Ignace, its all part of the Mackinaw experience.
James spent a little time eye balling the pirate ship outside of the store. It was almost like the kid was saying “I will be playing here soon and one day even running this ship”.
Inside the shop we had the usual selection of items. Mary bought a t shirt and I bought a bottle holder for the bar. A fun experience for everyone at Sea Shell City this year.
