Mackinac Island

We are now at the point of our trip where we left the North Channel and headed into the Michigan waters of Lake Huron. First stop Mackinac Island.

De Tour Passage light. Leaving the North Channel,

entering the main part of Lake Huron.

Where to begin? This island has so much to offer that we ended up staying 3 nights. To say it is a tourist destination is an understatement. The ferries arrive all day long from Mackinaw City,

St. Ignace and a few others, with visitors staying the day or staying at the many hotels or bed and breakfasts on the island. This port was a great chance to catch up with some of our looper friends before they head down Lake Michigan, while we head down Lake Huron on our way back to Lake Erie.

Monday we walked down Main St., unlike any we have seen. There are no cars on Mackinac Island, it's bicycles, horses and horse drawn carriages. In the winter they are allowed snow mobiles on the streets along with the 50-60 horses they keep on the island. In the summer there are 800 horses here. We went out to dinner with the loopers and caught up on where they have been. We met loopers Bill and Laura from Bayou Gypsy along with their daughters. After dinner we stopped at a couple of the 17 fudge shops along Main Street. Murdick's was the original fudge shop started back in the 1800's and then several others saw the opportunity. I think there are about 5 different businesses with each having at least 3 locations. Everyone stops to watch as they make the large slabs of fudge. We then walked up to the Grand Hotel and around part of the island to get a lay of the land.

On Tuesday we opted for a narrated carriage tour of the island. They use draft horses as they are truly "work horses" with all the steep hills. They work 4 hours a day with 2 days off a week, compared to the tour guides that work 11-13 hour days with 1 day off a week. It pays to be a horse on Mackinac Island. After the tour we headed to the Grand Hotel for a self guided tour. It is Grand! It's a magnificent structure that was originally built in 1886. The front porch is the longest in the world at 660 feet in length overlooking a tea garden. We sat on the white rocking chairs on the porch surrounded by red geraniums (named the Geranium Bar) for a drink. The view of the Straits of Mackinac were good. We especially liked looking at all of the old pictures in the lobby and staircases trying to imagine what it was like in the 1800's. http://www.historichotels.org/hotels-resorts/grand-hotel/

At the west end of the hotel is the start of the west bluff with exquisite Victorian homes (cottages). The lawns and gardens are impeccable, truly not a blade of grass out of place. After that we walked to the east bluff to see those houses (equally stunning). We passed the governor's summer home - he was there as they fly the Michigan flag when he is present. They said you will sometimes see him in the yard but we did not. We logged about 8 miles of walking and still did not see everything.
Wednesday we rented bicycles and completed the 8 mile ride around the island on the lakeshore trail. Then it was time to go to the highest point, which is Fort Holmes...needless to say I had to walk the bike up part of the hill. Once we got to the top we were able to see almost 360 degrees - there were a few trees taller than us.

Fort Mackinac is on the hill in front of the marina and every night at 10pm they would play taps. http://www.mightymac.org/fortmackinac.htm

Mackinac Island has some unique natural beauty. There are some neat rock structures; Arch Rock, Sugarloaf Rock, Devil's Kitchen, the Skull - all limestone, softer areas that were eroded away by prehistoric water action leaving these unusual structures.

We were happy to see our friends, Lola and Terry from Sunny Days and 2 of their family members arrive on Wednesday. We had been with them many times over our trip but we hadn't seen them in a couple of weeks. We sat and caught up with them Wednesday night.

This is the kind of place that you want to walk around one more time before you leave because of its uniqueness, but one more time is just not enough. I will miss the sound of the horses clip clopping down the road and the pure beauty of the houses and flowers.

Ferries, constant action all day long.

 

Main St.

Mackinac Island package delivery service.

 

Dinner with Knot Home, Melinda B,

Bayou Gypsy, Something Special.

One of the 17 fudge shops on Main St.

Our tour of everything Mackinac was provided by

the Belgian draft horses Judy and Leon and our tour guide Chris.

 

 

This hearse is displayed at the carriage museum, but it is still used to this day in the funerals for the residents of Mackinac Island.

Employee parking lot at one of the museums.

 

Employee parking lot at The Grand Hotel. 

Grand Hotel from the Straits of Mackinac.

 

 

 

Mark enjoying a drink on the 660 foot porch.

Chandelier at the Cupola Bar at the Grand Hotel.

Up in the Cupola Bar - great view!

When you stay at the Grand Hotel, this is how you get around.

Another luxury hotel on the island, the Mission Resort.

Magnificent houses (cottages) and gardens!

 

 

 

Mackinac Island isn't without unique natural beauty.

View of Arch Rock from the bike trail.

View of Arch Rock from above.

 

 

View of the Mackinac Island Marina where

we kept our boat during our visit.

At the highest point on Mackinac Island - Fort Holmes.