If you are either from Michigan or Wisconsin, you may or may not know that there are other ways across/around the Lake that do not necessitate driving through Chicago (dreadful highway experience if you haven’t experienced it). I am specifically speaking about the Lake Express High Speed Car Ferry that goes between Milwaukee, Wisconsin and Muskegon, Michigan and the SS Badger which goes from Manitowoc, Wisconsin and Ludington, Michigan. I had never ridden either of these till recently when I had the opportunity to ride both in a short period of time.
Both of these car ferry’s are great but very different…let me explain.
The Lake Express is a hydrofoil and takes half the time it takes on the SS badger, making the crossing of Lake Michigan in only 2.5 hours. This boat is a sleek and offers both regular and upgraded cabins. People can bring on their personal vehicles for an additional charge. During the ferry crossing a first run movie is shown but you have to pay an additional cost for this. In the past I had heard that if the water was choppy people ended up feeling very sick to their stomachs, but during our crossing, it was quite calm. 
The seating areas were comfortable and offered both tables and individual seats. The crew was friendly and willing to talk with passengers.
The SS Badger on the other hand is a huge boat which has been making crossing for quite some years. In the past the Badger also carried trains and other large vehicles upon it. On the crossing that I was on, there was a semi as well as a U-Haul with car attached. The SS Badger was definitely more family oriented with kids play area, arcade, movie lounge (first run movie), and game night (BINGO and TRIVIA –I even won one!). 
The SS Badger also tends to be a bit cheaper than the Lake Express. The drawback – it takes 4.5 hours to make the crossing as the boat tends to go at about 16 miles an hour or so. The SS Badger, or Badger as it is better known is steeped in history and even has a movie to talk about its history. The crew is friendly and willing to help in any way that they can. There were many areas to sit whether you wanted to brave the chilly lake air or if you chose instead to sit inside, seating was available on multiple decks and offered individual seating or tables depending on where you wished to sit.
Overall the trips were uneventful and pleasant. I had the opportunity to meet some interesting people with interesting backgrounds. Though both modes of transportation did cost more than simply driving the entire distance, I did enjoy the trip and the break from the hustle and bustle of driving through Chicago. I would recommend either if you had the financial resources to support the trip. I encourage you all to check out these for a alternative mode of transportation, especially if you are traveling between Michigan and Wisconsin or vice-versa.
That’s all from the Maniverse this week!
Great post! I’ve always wanted to try one or the other of the ferries. It’s interesting to hear of the differences between them. 🙂
This is great information. We have family in Holland, Michigan, and we have taken the U.S.S. Badger a couple times (at night). Sleeping up on deck, below the stars (bring a sleeping bag) is magical. We’ve also traveled when a storm was brewing across the horizon; the view across the lake, even in the dark, was phenomenal. It is such a unique experience (and fun) for a family. (Yes, it’s pretty expensive; maybe $300?? so not something to do regularly.) Also, I recommend taking Drammamine if you get motion sickness; this trip is not for lightweights when the water is rough!
I was lucky as there was not rough water on either crossing so I didn;t need to take anything. I would think though that the Badger would be in better shape than the Lake Express when it comes to waves in simple size and weight.
I still wan t to try the ferry when we visit Beth one of these times. It is a little pricey for us which is why we haven’t tried it yet. Beth did it with the boys last summer and it went very well.