Mackinac Island

[ladyelle]

Has anyone stayed at Mission Point Resort or the Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island? I am looking for a family resort. Any thoughts or suggestions would be appreciated.

Thanks

 

[travelbug]

I've been to Mackinac Island many times, usually for day trips. But I've stayed at Mission Point twice, when I was up there for conferences. It is relaxing, informal, and a short distance away from the "busier" area with all the shops and restaurants. In case you go when the weather is warm, be aware that the rooms are not air-conditioned.

I've been inside the Grand a few times, but have never stayed there. It's a beautiful place with incredible charm, but it is definitely more formal. There is a dress code after 6 PM (I think that's the right time). I keep thinking that I should stay there sometime just to experience it once, but I tend to enjoy more informal settings when I'm on vacation.

Hope that helps a little. Good luck with your planning!

 

[ladyelle]

Thanks for the information. Even though I now live in Michigan, I am orginially from Pennsylvania, so I have not been Up North yet. I thought we might try Mackinac Island this summer. Any other family resorts in Michigan on the water?

 

[dsanner106]

There are a lot of resorts, particularly around traverse city. I have rented cottages on the great lakes several times and they are easy to find and very enjoyable as well. Just do a search for traverse city resorts, and you should find a bunch.

Drew in Ga

 

[prncsskimb]

Mackinac Island is beautiful. Quiet, relaxing. You have to rent bikes and see picture rock if you go, also do the haunted house, take the tour of the fort, go on a carriage ride, and eat lots of fudge! The Grand would certainly be an experience for you. Beautiful gardens, dinners in their grand ballroom, shops along the main floor. Like PP said, there is a dress code for dinner and they are pretty strict. During the day, they dont even want you in jean shorts really.

Traverse city is also beautiful. I've only been there once and would go back in a heartbeat.

Another suggestion might be copper harbour. Its waay at the tip of the U.P. I couldn't really give you any resorts though because we always use to camp up there. Quiet and charming little towns up there to visit and get lots of history. Also, taquaminon falls (dont qoute me on the spelling). You can walk thru the falls in some areas.


You make me miss home thinking about all of this. We moved to Florida 7 years ago and I would love to go back. Michigan will always be my home.

 

[tkd lisa]

My family did Mackinac Island about 10 years ago with good friends who still live in Michigan. We stayed at a Day's Inn on the mainland side. It was fairly nice. Had an indoor pool. That's a must because even on 4th of July, it was only in the high 70s, with a brisk wind. Not outdoor swimming weather for me!

I have to say that I wouldn't consider the Grand Hotel for a family vacation. It was much more upper class than I would have liked with small kids. But that's me. Think of the Grand Floridian, and that's about the atmosphere I'd equate it to.

And maybe it was just me, but I wasn't thrilled with the whole environment. To me, it was primarily a tourist trap type of place. Lots of souvenier shops and homemade fudge. We did spend an enjoyable two hours touring the fort, and we found a good playground (I think it was an elementary school's) that the kids played in for an hour. But I'm not a big shopper, so in my opinion, it wasn't worth the time or effort.

If you're looking for that type of thing, I might suggest Frankenmuth. It's probably a whole lot closer trip for you, and there's Bronner's Christmas shop plus the whole Bavarian atmosphere. And they have some really great outlets nearby. My friend that we went to Mackinac with lived very close to there.

Just my opinion. I hope you have a good vacation, wherever you end up.

 

[fakereadhed]

Thanks for the information. Even though I now live in Michigan, I am orginially from Pennsylvania, so I have not been Up North yet. I thought we might try Mackinac Island this summer. Any other family resorts in Michigan on the water?

Macinac Island is nice but it is the WDW of MI vacations...very touristy. Do you want to swim? I recommend Lake Michigan for beautiful sandy beaches. Petoskey and Traverse City are gorgeous. Pentwater has a lovely bed and breakfast (?Nichols) with great dining. For better views, but very rocky beaches all along the scenic drive along US23 are cottages on Lake Huron. Presque Isle has lighthouses, and a gorgeous nature trail along the water called Bell Pines. Lots of options on the water.

 

[Scutapipig]

We stayed at Mission Point three years ago for a Marriage Retreat with our church and I am in the process of planning another retreat there for this coming October. Beautiful place. They have a wonderful breakfast buffet at the "Epicurian" at the resort for about $15/person.

We're taking the kids up there in a few weeks and we're staying at the Main Street Inn and Suites.

Exploring the island and getting off of Main Street brings a whole new perspective. Very beautiful island.

 

[lisajl]

Yes, Mackinac Island is very touristy, but that should not deter you from going.
I love it there. In fact, we will be there first part of June.
We will get to see the lovely lilacs in blossom!
While I agree with another poster about the fudge and the shops, I think Frankemuth is just as much a tourist trap as Mackinac.
My in laws live in Flint and love to go to Frankemuth for dinner.

We will be staying at a place called Grand View Resort (Mackinaw City). It is not much of a resort, but we are easy to please.
The rooms have two queen beds and there is a fire ring on the beach (a few fire rings), and we toast marshmallows and have smores. We have met wonderful people from all over the place, while toasting marshmallows and sharing.

Whatever/wherever you choose to stay I hope you have a wonderful time.

BTW, my family and I love to walk around the island. We don't do the whole island, but we love to walk up to Arch Rock and the cemetery.
Don't ask me why, we just love the cemetery! My kids are fascinated that people have been buried there since the 1800's. I guess it's hard to believe that time exsisted!

 

[wdwstar]

We go every year and we stay either the Island House, great indoor pool, for those nice so nice days or cooler days. We also stay at the mission point, they have a outside pool, great restaurants. We bring our own bikes, the ferry
does charge, i think $6 a bike round trip. The Island House is offering $99 a night on these dates.... http://hotels.travelzoo.com/resorts-spas/239887

 

[eeyore45]

Macinack Island is so beautiful - I'd much rather stay on the island and get a better "feel" for the relaxed tempo of the place, during the day during ferry runs, it is a tourist place - the main street - it is so quaint due to no cars - the fort is a fun place for kids to hang, to do a buggy tour is fun!!

For families I do reccommend Mission Point, its close enough to walk, they do have bikes there, they may not be in the best shape, but for guests its an ok way to go!! They have a pool there, and good eats!!! We've not been in awhile (we honeymooned there, took family vacations - just love it!!) There is the golf course by the Grand Hotel - and one more isolated, constructed in the Scottish Style (think rough roughs!! ) there used to be a wonderful butterfly "garden'/museum that was awesome - go to the tourist board - place - store- they will list special attractions - my favorite is movie night at Mission Point!!

We stay in the condominiums back by some resort way west of downtown,

do take a walk around the island - its only 9 miles - take a picnic lunch - find ways away from the crowds during the day, hire the horse rides - go on the trails again, you will fall in love with the smallest things!!

 

[luvchip]

My husband and I were at Mission Point last June for a conference and will be there again June 14-16 for another conference. The island is beautiful and saw many families staying at Mission Point. The rooms were nice, but if warm no air only fresh air!! We have also spend 3 summers in the Petoskey area and it is wonderful there!! You are close to Bay Harbor, Harbor Springs, Charlevoix and only about 45 minutes from Mackinaw. My children always want to go back to the Petoskey area.

 

[kath1210]

I grew up in Michigan and love Mackinac Island.

But, wherever you stay - bring LOTS of money! We visited there a few years ago. The trip over and back for our family of 4 cost about $50. One hot dog cost $4.00!!

We were there over the 4th of July and it was quite cool - low 70s, windy, but the sky was gorgeous! It was sure a nice break from the hot and humid MD summers!

I also highly recommend Taqhuaminen (sp?) Falls and the Shipwreck Museum at White Fish Bay.

 

[ladyelle]

Thanks to all for the helpful information. We go to Disney every other year so this is our off year. I am trying to find a nice family resort that still have lots to do for kids. Last trip we went to Cedar Point. I thought it would be nice if we checked out up north in Michigan.

Any advice or experience staying at family resorts in Bay Harbor, Harbor Springs or Charlevoix?
What about the Grand Resort in Traverse City?

Also, I cannot find a picture of the outdoor pool at Mission Point Resort. How is the pool? Is there a slide?

Thanks

 

[OhMari]

Thanks to all for the helpful information. We go to Disney every other year so this is our off year. I am trying to find a nice family resort that still have lots to do for kids. Last trip we went to Cedar Point. I thought it would be nice if we checked out up north in Michigan.

Any advice or experience staying at family resorts in Bay Harbor, Harbor Springs or Charlevoix?
What about the Grand Resort in Traverse City?

Also, I cannot find a picture of the outdoor pool at Mission Point Resort. How is the pool? Is there a slide?

Thanks

There is no slide at the pool. Me and my husband went Labor Day weekend and we were able to stay on the island for $99 a nite. The ferry was $19 a person and our bikes were $6 a piece. They want you to ride your bike a long the perimeter of the island. We rode up around and toward the Grand Hotel and then rode our bikes down by the pool, tennis courts and got a good look at the porch. We went back out towards the golf course and rode inled to the airport. We came out by the battle field on the west side. Then we rode around the island. You cannot walk around the island 9 miles is a long way. When we were done, we had to change our clothes and take a shower because of the splattering from the horses it is all full of horse pee & cleaned up poop.

Mission Point is high up on a hill and you can walk up or take a carriage ride up, I suggest getting on the carriage ride.

Small WDW Trivia: All the horse carriages that WDW uses are made at Mackinac Island.

 

[floridafam]

ladyelle.

IMO, the Grand Traverse Resort is aging. Maybe they have redone it but last time we were there it was showing it's age.

There is another big resort up that way called the Inn at Bay Harbor but I guess they have been having some trouble with toxins and other things in the soil. We were going to send my parents there for their anniversary but decided against it.

I think they built a Great Wolf Lodge type hotel in Traverse City in the last few years.

If you are going to Mackinac Island, I would stay on the island.

Good luck with your planning and have fun.

 

[Lilly's Dad]

begginning of June: buy 2 nites, get one free! This is a Swank Joint. Worth the bucks cause it includes formal 7-course dinner each nite (world class chef stuff that'd cost ya $100 bill @ swank restaurant (tip & taxes included) and breakfast buffet spread each mornin (great grub: not your typical Day's Inn breakfast) Money well spent, you'll not regret puttin a prybar in yer wallet to spring for it. Oh, one minor note though, the hotel is haunted.

 

[kinntj]

We're going to Mackinac Island July 7th on our way to visit my parents who live in the UP. We decided to stay in Mackinac City at the Best Western near the docks for two nights. I always drive over the bridge to go back home, but have never been on the island. I finally get to and I'm very excited. The weather is unpredictable up there, so we picked a motel with an indoor pool.

Traverse Bay we'll be visiting in August and I love shopping there. I also love Ludington off of lake Michigan. They are known for their sand dunes and we just love it there. IL's have a cabin 1/2 way up, so it's easy to do day trips to these places if we want.

It's funny to hear Taq. falls mentioned as on the way back, we're stopping off to see these too, since I've yet to see those. Plus, we're seeing Porcupine mountains for a day trip to "Lake of the Clouds" that are closer to where my parents live. It's so beautiful up there!

Anywhere you stay you'll be happy just to take in the scenery, even if it is a little touristy. Have fun!