From its breathtakingly beautiful harbor, blue water of Lake Huron and sandy family beaches, Tawas Bay is perfect for all kinds of recreation. The Tawas Bay area is a people-friendly area that still has that wonderful “Up-North/Small Town” appeal.

A beautiful non-motorized path for walking or biking, this fully paved trails winds 13.5 miles from Alabaster Township all the way to Tawas Point State Park. The bike path also features a trail head 1.5 miles north of the Singing Bridge.

Adjacent to Town Square, Shoreline Park's recreational identity comes from the 450-foot-long pier with an additional 100 feet added in 2021 to create a L-shaped pier. In 2020, the park also received lighting upgrades and an addition of 9 day docks. The presence of the pier encourages active (fishing) as well as passive (benches) recreational opportunities. Aside from the pier, Shoreline Park is also equipped with picnic pavilions, a food concession stand, restrooms, boardwalk along the beach and playscape for the children.

Harbor Park is located at the intersection of U.S. 23 and Newman Street in downtown East Tawas. This park is home to several local festivals annually including the Uncork'd Fine Arts Festival, "Blues by the Bay" Blues festival, and "Perchville USA", our annual winter carnival. The park also hosts many other events including local arts & craft shows and numerous other community events. If there is something going on in East Tawas, Harbor Park is usually where you will find it.

The park features a large green area, planted islands, town clock, nautical flag pole, two seasonal shops, children's play structure, fountain and picnic pavilion. Public restrooms are available during the summer season in the DNR Harbor restroom facility. The East Tawas State Dock lies at the foot of Harbor Park. Marina: 44° 16' 35" N/83° 29 '05" W. Transient and seasonal slips available. Radio channel: 9, 16. Operating dates early May to late September.

The first-class marina draws boaters from across the state. Amenities include a boat launch, new toilet / shower building, dock office, playground / park, water, electricity, garbage pick-up and recycling. There's also a swimming beach just south of the dock. But the East Tawas State Dock is more than just a marina — it has become a gathering point for local festivals and events.

Newman Street in downtown East Tawas offers an especially appealing and pedestrian friendly experience, with beautifully landscaped greenbelt areas and tree-lined sidewalks featuring brick pavers and exposed aggregate concrete; all finished off with decorative street lamps, bike racks, benches, street-level planters and hanging floral baskets. Newman Street's inviting atmosphere extends right down to the waterfront, where East Tawas City Park and the East Tawas State Harbor Dock are a hub of the area's recreational opportunities.

Tawas Point State Park’s expansive day-use beach offers acres of glistening white sugar sand, sprinkled with patches of dune grass and backed by low dunes on the Lake Huron side. Come to find out, Tawas Point apparently also happens to be one of the best locations in the country -- maybe in the world -- to experience the growing extreme sport of kite-boarding. The jewel of the park is Tawas Point Lighthouse, built in 1876. It is the only working model of Victorian-era light stations still in operation on the Great Lakes; and to walk through this historic structure and ascend its winding iron staircase is truly to step back in time.