Whimsy in the City: Nautical Mile Edition

Story by Liz McGuffin | Photos by @withwonderandwhimsy

Metro Detroit is a mix of vibrant cities and charming small towns, with a neighborhood for every niche.

In our new Whimsy in the City series, we’re spotlighting quaint cafes and romantic restaurants, quirky shops and specialty boutiques, and galleries, gardens, and attractions. I’m Liz of the local lifestyle blog With Wonder and Whimsy, and I’ll be your guide to the region’s most aesthetic and fanciful finds. In this series, we’ll be highlighting a different city and its special gems. For our third installment, we’re exploring the Nautical Mile in St. Clair Shores.

See + Do

Make waves this summer along St. Clair Shores’ Nautical Mile! The Nautical Mile is a historic waterfront along Lake St. Clair, home to marinas, restaurants, parks, and shops. This strip of marinas along Jefferson Ave is lined with more boats than anywhere else in the Great Lakes region. A destination for lake life enthusiasts, boaters and fishermen from across southeast Michigan come to take advantage of the many launch sites and enjoy the sparkling waters of Lake St. Clair. No boat? No problem. Pack a picnic to enjoy in Wahby Park, walk along the docks, and watch the boats go by. Or bring a few friends on board (and BYOB) for a two-hour pleasure cruise with Aloha Tiki Tours.

Featured Image
Aloha Tiki Tours
Credit: @withwonderandwhimsy

Eat

If you’re planning a day on the Nautical Mile, make it a Sunday so you can experience the stellar brunch at Zef’s Dockside. They’ve got a build-your-own bloody mary bar with your choice of mixers, olives, pickles, and cheese. And don’t forget the celery stick and bacon strip garnish! If you’re craving something sweeter, opt for their mimosa bar with a selection of fruit juices and fresh berries. From there, tuck into a plate of banana bread french toast, chicken and waffles, or biscuits and gravy.

Craft beer lovers will want to check out Baffin Brewing to sample their signature IPAs, fruity sours, and hard seltzers. Baffin also serves up a rotation of frozen wine slushies topped with sour candies. Because, nostalgia.

If a stroll along the Nautical Mile has you craving seafood, steer course for Waves for their coconut shrimp, grouper reuben, and frog legs. For something extra special, order the seafood paella with shrimp, crab, and mussels over saffron rice.

Shop

The Nautical Mile is dotted with shops selling watersports equipment so you can pick up new toys or parts for the boat. If you’re looking to stock the cooler for the boat, stop into Nautical Liquor for chips and dip, local beers, and bags of ice. Or if you’d like something nautical-themed to bring back home with you, stop into Gifts Afloat for everything from Lake St. Clair sweatshirts, to Michigan art, to gifts for the cottage.

The Nautical Mile is best described in just three words, which you’ll see printed on the banners lining Jefferson Ave: Boat Dine Shop. Come for the beautiful waters of Lake St. Clair. Enjoy the waterfront dining and seafood restaurants. And shop for a little something to take back home until your next lake day out in St. Clair Shores.