The nearby communities of Hessel and Cedarville on the mainland offer marinas, camping, lodging, restaurants, and shopping.

The Les Cheneaux Islands Antique Boat Show & Festival of the Arts has been held on the second Saturday of each August since 1976 in Hessel.

In 1634, French colonial explorer Jean Nicolet navigated the channels of Les Cheneaux while attempting to reach Michillimackinac via Lake Huron (then referred to as Mer Douce).

[2] Nicolet and later explorers noted that the locals referred to the chain as Onomonee or Anaminang, derived from the Odawa word for "island", minis.

[3] Jacques Marquette would be the first European to draw a map of Les Cheneaux, while navigating it during the summer of 1671.