A Fairy-Tale Weekend on Mackinac Island
Have you ever arrived in a town and knew you were going to love it at first glance? That’s the way I felt about this fairy-tale island called Mackinac Island when we first visited 12 years ago. And again this year for our anniversary.
It’s one of those places that you say “If I ever win the jackpot, I’m buying a house here”.
How To Get There
Mackinac Island is located in the state of Michigan off the upper peninsula. To get here you will need to take a ferry. There is a designated parking area to leave your car for free on the main land. We chose Star Line Ferry’s faster hydro-foil jet ferry for our trip. Round trip will cost you $26 U.S. It’s a quick 15 minute ride over.
Star Line Ferry Mackinac Island
The first thing you’ll notice when you get off the ferry is that there are no cars on the island. It felt like stepping back in time before the automobile was even invented.
Things To Do
The main mode of transportation is a bicycle. I think everyone owns a bike or two here. Tourists can either bring their own over on the ferry for an extra $10, or rent one on the island. There are plenty of bike rentals to choose from. All charging around $8 an hour, or $55 for the day.
It’s a great way to get out of town and see the whole island. Overall, there are over 70 miles of paths and trails to bike on. The distance around Mackinac Island is only 8 miles, but the scenery around the water is gorgeous. Like this Arch Rock formation located in the Mackinac Island State Park.
Arch Rock Mackinac Island
In the distance you can see the Mackinac Bridge that connects the upper and lower peninsula of Michigan.
If bicycling isn’t your thing, there are other options to get around like hiring a carriage. Or if your brave enough you can drive your own buggy. There are also stables to rent horses.
You can take one of the historical walking tours of the town. The houses were all built in the Victorian style. This one looks like a giant doll house. Mackinac Island
Mackinac Island has a lot of history for a small place. You can explore Mackinac Fort where they have live re enactments every day.
Take a tour of the Mackinac Island Butterfly House. With species from all around the world
Where To Stay
There are several family owned hotels, BnB’s or condo’s to stay at on the island. One of the most famous hotels is the Grand Hotel. This hotel first opened in 1887 and has been a popular place to stay ever since. Even if you don’t want to splurge for a night here, it’s worth it to bike over for a look. Non guests can dine in one of their restaurants, or relax with afternoon tea in the parlour.
Grand Hotel Mackinac Island
We stayed at the Murray Hotel located on the Main Street, and just a short walk from the ferry.
Murray Hotel Mackinac Island
I would pass on the breakfast offered at the hotel unless it’s included in your rate. There are better options to be found on the street. My favourite thing about this hotel is their nice over sized hot tub and deck to relax at.
Restaurants
There are quite a few restaurant options. We ate at Horn’s Gaslight Bar and Restaurant one night. After 8:30, they have live entertainment. Another popular option was the Pink Pony which also had nightly musicians playing.
Our second night we ate at the Seabiscuit Cafe. Great food at very reasonable prices.
And don’t forget to pick up some fudge before you leave. The many fudge shops sell pounds and pounds of fudge every day. With each one demonstrating how its made while giving out free samples.