The Best of Mackinac Island
Mackinac Island (pronounced “Mack-i-naw”) began to attract tourists as early as the 1850s, a pre-Model T era. To this day, all motorized vehicles are banned (except for emergency usage) and a visit truly feels like a step back in time. Your modes of transport are: horse, bike and foot.
Here’s the thing…
In an effort to be completely transparent, I will tell you that the first time I visited the island I did not understand what the fuss was about. I got off the ferry, walked along the hot and crowded Main Street and weaved in and out of tourists shopping for souvenirs or trying to find a patch of curb to park their bikes. I rode my bike around the island (which was beautiful) and I ate the fudge, but my visit left me thinking I just don’t get it.
Thankfully I didn’t give up because it has truly become one of my favorite Michigan destinations. The difference, in my opinion, is to stay the night. I realize that I’m probably tripling your cost in suggesting this, but staying the night can totally transform your trip into something truly magical. When the day tourists leave, the streets open wider and it’s like the island exhales.
Everything moves slower and quieter and you notice the breeze coming off the water, the smell of the lilacs and the charm of the white picket fences. It’s so nice to have a place to shed those sweaty day clothes, refresh and head out for a pre-dinner cocktail overlooking the crystal blue water, a leisurely gourmet dining experience, and to end the night with a moonlit carriage ride back to your hotel. I’m telling you... it’s a whole different island after 6 pm.
Parenting Tip: Keep in mind that if you don’t stay the night, you have to lug around whatever your kiddos will need during the trip because there’s no place to store it. Backpacks are a good idea! Strollers also give you more space to store items.
View from Fort Mackinac - if you’re into history, definitely pay a visit!
Getting there:
Being that it’s an island, you have two ways of arriving: ferry & plane. (Well...occasionally, when it’s a super cold winter, you can take a snowmobile).
Ferry:
Depart from either Mackinaw City (south side of the Mackinac Bridge) or St. Ignace (Upper Peninsula side of the Mackinaw Bridge). Since we’re already on the south side, we almost always leave from Mackinaw City.
We use Shepler’s Ferry and have always had a good experience. Park by the ferry, or save some money and park at a remote parking lot a shuttle ride away. If you go with the second option, make sure you allow extra time.
**Check the schedule here and notice that there is an option that goes under the Mackinac Bridge. If that timing works for you, it’s a fun 10 minute addition to your trip!
The ferry drops you right into the center of town and most hotels will manage your bags for you and get them to the hotel - which is a big deal, considering there are no motorized taxis!
Plane:
A couple of years ago we had the truly memorable experience of flying in via private plane with some friends who own a 4-seater. There are charter flights to Mackinac Island and they are -surprisingly- not crazy expensive. This could be a fun add to an epic anniversary trip! The small airport is in the center of the island, so arrange for a horse and carriage to pick you up and transport you to your hotel.
Flying back after an amazing meal at The Woods.
When should I go?
The main Mackinac Island tourist season runs from May to October, with the summer as the high season. Our absolute favorite time to be on the island is early Fall when the crowds have thinned and the weather is still sunny and somewhat warm.
And this timing corresponds with one of our favorite Mackinac Island events! The Eight Mile Run & Walk that circles the island is a gorgeous run along the lake and fairly flat (and technically 8.2 miles). Here is more info on the island’s four annual races.
Other major island events are the:
Lilac Festival
4th of July (The Grand throws a big 3-day party)
Great Turtle Trail Run & Half Marathon (trail run through the center of the island at the end of October)
Halloween on the Island
Our first 8.2 Mackinac Island run! (It starts and ends at the Mission Point Resort)
If I’ve convinced you to stay overnight, here are the places where I’ve personally stayed and recommend:
This is the resort with the expansive, grassy lawn and white Adirondack chairs out front. It is about a 10 minute scenic walk outside of the downtown area and is a sprawling maze of connected buildings sitting on 18 acres. Recently, they renovated some of their rooms, so make sure you ask about updates when you book. Also, the 8.2 mile run starts and ends directly in front of this hotel, so this is where we stay if we’re participating - book early!
Tip: Even if you aren’t staying here, stroll over and sit in the chairs and enjoy the calm.
**This is the only dog-friendly hotel on the island! Dog-friendly rooms are in the Straits Lodge portion of the resort and a $100 nonrefundable “deep cleaning fee” is charged.
Facilities:
Five on-site restaurants (kids 12 and under eat free!**)
Outdoor pool and hot tub (small, but your kids won’t care!)
18 hole putting course (this is different than putt-putt)
Bike and kayak rental
Arcade, fitness center, and small movie theater
Kids Club
Tennis court & croquet lawn
Lakeside Spa & Salon
The Great Lawn (Sit in an Adirondack chair or fly a kite!)
**Kids under 12 eat free off the kids’ menu in either Round Island Bar and Grill or Bistro on The Greens. The kids do need to be with their parents (who must be dining off of the regular menu).
If you want to be right in the heart of town, The Bicycle Inn is a great option. The Inn is located on both sides of the street, so you can get a suite with a balcony view of the lake, or one of the bustling Main St. below. We chose the street view suite and loved being able to watch the bustling streets below with horses clomping by and bikes weaving in and out.
A rare, quiet moment on Main Street! This is post-fireworks on the 4th of July.
**We have friends who always choose an interior windowless room in the hotel because they say that their kids sleep amazingly well in the dark and with no outside noise.
Facilities:
Center of town location, directly across from a bike rental shop and ferries
You can bring your own bikes and put them in the hotel’s basement storage overnight
Reciprocity with the Lake View Hotel’s indoor swimming pool - one of the few indoor pools on the island!
Balcony rooms that overlook Main St. or the Harbor
** Warning - the entrance/exit to the hotel is adjacent to an ice cream shop:)
This award-winning hotel opened its doors to tourists in the summer of 1887. It boasts the world’s largest front porch, at 660 feet, with gorgeous views over Lake Huron and the hotel’s beautiful gardens. No two guest rooms are the same and the whole hotel’s interior has a playful, over-the-top vibrant (and often botanical) decor. It definitely has that days gone by historic glamour with a huge dining hall and a ballroom with live music. The food is amazing - and seems even more incredible when you consider that it was brought in by ferry and then transported by carriage!
The Pool at The Grand Hotel. (Update: in 2021 the pool was completely re-done and is gorgeous! I need to go back for a new photo!)
The room rates include a full breakfast and dinner. The Grand Dining room also offers a ‘Grand Luncheon Buffet’ as well as an Afternoon Tea in the parlor (which I’ve heard is amazing, but have never tried).
Parent Info:
Children’s rates include the same meal plan as the accompanying adult.
Children 5 and under stay free
6-17: $70.00 per night
18 and over: $149.00 per night
This hotel is very expensive. The food is expensive. The cocktails are insanely expensive. And the rooms are expensive. It’s for sure a splurge, but, in the past, there have been some ‘deals’ to be had. In 2019 the hotel changed ownership, so I’m not sure what discounts the new investment group will offer, but check the shoulder season (end of April/May or October) for deals.
Facilities:
Gorgeous, outdoor swimming pool - with snowcone machine!
Beautiful lawn and gardens
World’s largest front porch
Live entertainment
Children’s Activities
The Jewel, an 18 hole golf course - also foot golf!
Bike Rental (near the pool area)
Tennis & Pickleball
The Cupola Bar - there are two floors, we recommend going to the very top for an amazing sunset view of the Mackinaw Bridge
Ice Cream Parlor
Spa and Salon (it’s small)
The Grand: Things to Know
There is a strict evening dress code (my husband was sent back to his room to get a tie for dinner), but during the day you can walk the hotel in your workout clothes and no one will bat an eye.
There is a no-tipping policy in the hotel
If you want to experience the hotel, but don’t want to stay the night, here is a list of access points for non-guests .
Early morning on the 600ft long porch of The Grand Hotel.
Other accommodations that I would like to try:
Lake View Hotel - indoor pool
Windmere Hotel - front porch on Main St.
Hotel Iroquois - great water & bridge views
Lake View Hotel has one of the two indoor pools on the island! Perfect for the chillier shoulder season.
Dining experiences:
The Woods - our favorite!
Nestled in the interior of the island, this Grand Hotel-owned property looks like a British hunting lodge. The food is amazing, the decor is charming, and there is even an ‘old school’ feather bowling lane in the bar area if you arrive early. To truly make this a memorable experience, book a table for dinner and you’ll be taking a moon-lit carriage ride back into town. It’s a fancier place, but we felt completely comfortable having our kids with us. Oh! And most carriage rides travel directly in front of the Grand Hotel to get there, so it’s a fun way to get a closer peek!
In town favorites:
The Pink Pony - A Mackinac Island staple. This place is usually packed so plan ahead.
The Gatehouse - average food, but a great outdoor dining area away from the congested downtown (this is a Grand Hotel-owned property on the street that leads up to it).
The Chuck Wagon - known for their burgers, this is a good place to grab and go.
Doud’s Grocery Store - if you have small children, I highly recommend grabbing some of their prepared salads, sandwiches, fruit cups and chips and just having a picnic on the adjacent lawn of the Fort and letting the kids run.
The Grand Hotel - you don’t have to stay there to eat there! It’s definitely fun to eat in the large dining hall at least once, and the food is impressive.
Picnic with our cousins next to Doud’s Grocery.
Favorite place to grab a drink:
The Cupola Bar at the Grand Hotel - you don’t have to stay there to go to this bar. There are two levels to the bar - we prefer the top level for the fabulous sunset view of the Mackinaw Bridge.
Smokey Joe’s Smokey Margarita - a casual restaurant on the water-side of Main St. that has a great Smokey Margarita.
The Hotel Iroquois - enjoy the amazing water view while sipping down a pre-dinner cocktail on the back patio.
Cupola Bar at The Grand. Go to the very top for the best views!
Our Mackinac Island Top 10:
Bike all the way around the island
Eat dinner at The Woods restaurant
Stay at The Grand Hotel
Run the 8.2 mile race in September
Bike the interior paths of the islands - especially when the flowers are in bloom!
Pre-dinner cocktails at the Hotel Iroquois
A sunset drink at The Cupola Bar - kids are welcome!
Stroll through the shops on Main St. (after the big crowds have left)
See the view of the harbor from Fort Mackinac
Eat the fudge! (Vegan fudge options are at Sander’s & Ryba’s, most fudge shops have a GF options).
Can you smell em’?!
FAQs:
Should we bring our own bikes?
If you love to bike or your hotel is not on Main St., then 100% yes. We almost always bring our bikes because they are expensive to rent (especially if you’re renting for more than one day). Shepler’s Ferry is currently charging $11 to transport your bicycle over on the ferry. If you prefer to rent, there are a variety of options: tandem bikes, kids bikes, and Burley/Tagalong/Weehoo attachments. Click here for an idea on rental rates (there are many places to rent from).
Is there a beach?
No. The shore is not sandy, it’s actually covered in rocks which makes it really great for skipping stones! When we traveled there with cousins the kids did swim, but they had to bike down the coast a ways in their swimsuits and then stumble across the stones to get into freezing water and then bike back into town soaking wet. If swimming is high on your list, The Grand Hotel, Mission Point Resort and the Lake View Inn all have pools.
Can you go fishing on the Island?
Not from the shore, but there are some charter fishing options in the Straits of Mackinac.
Can I fly my drone?
Not without a special permit.
Where would you get a good cup of coffee?
My husband loves Lucky Bean on Market St.
The rocky coastline is a great place for finding the best skipping stone. There is even a skipping contest on the island!
Stay for the exhale. Ahh…
Happy travels!
-Janae
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