Mackinac Island

[Megan's Mom]

I remember a thread last summer that listed things to do and be sure to remembers about Mackinac Island, so with that said. I am going this summer and I know to go to the Grand Hotel( to visit) is the High Tea good there? I also remember that we have to have fudge but other than that I don't remember much about the thread.

I have been wanting to go the Grand Hotel since Somewhere in Time came out. Now I get my chance how many years later. I can't wait.
Thanks for the help.

 

[tkd lisa]

Remember no cars on Mackinac Island, so bring comfortable shoes. You can rent bicycles on the island, but be sure to have helmets for your kids (assuming you have them), because they don't always have the right size available.

I was surprised at how pricey food was on the island (shouldn't have been cause it is a tourist town). In order to see the hotel (other than at a distance) you do have to pay a fee. I can't remember how much it was, but I was too cheap to pay it!

There is a fort on the island, which our kids really enjoyed, and I remember them playing at a local school playground. Beyond that, we didn't do a whole lot. It seemed to be mainly tourist type souvenier shops, and that just wasn't interesting to me.

You probably also want to check the weather to be sure you have the right type of clothes with you. It was chillier than I expected.

 

[sharbear]

Have fun in Northern Michigan this summer. It's one of my favorite places. Sorry I don't know much about Mackinac Island. My DH is a sailor and hates the island with a passion. Something about a million drunken sailors on sail week! I haven't been to the island since I was 10 because my DH refuses to go.

But I've heard that the best thing to do is rent bikes and tour the island. You won't have any problems finding a fudge shop, there on every corner.

The one thing I wanted to tell you about Northern Michigan in the summer is to pack sweatshirts and sweatpants. Even in the middle of the summer it gets cool and the weather is very unpredicitable. I made the mistake of going up there, packing just shorts and T-shirts, wouldn't do that again.

 

[HauntedMansionGeek]

The high tea is fun but I wouldn't necessarily spend the money to stay at the Grand Hotel.
I don't know if it's the "rule" anymore, but up until the last time we went there, any women on property after 5 pm HAD to be wearing a skirt/dress.

No thanks. LOL


Take a carriage ride around the island or of the islands interior. You can get private tours or go with a big group, both are fun to do.
Fudge, yep yep yep...I highly recommend May's fudge, but they're all made with the same ingredients so they're all good.

You can also rent a bike by the hour or by the day. Take your bike and ride around the whole island...the kids love that idea!
We always had fun taking the carriage tour first and THEN renting a bike to get a closer look at some of the places we saw from the buggy ride.

Staying on the island overnight is fun too and you can find places that cost significantly less than the Grand. The island atmosphere changes totally after the last boat of day tourists leaves. The locals come out and it's quite an experience.

Waking up to the clip clop of the delivery company's horses and no sounds of cars or motorcycles is the most wonderful way to start the day.

Have fun if you go!

*sigh* I think I just talked myself into saving up for a trip. LOL

 

[solotraveler]

Last summer it was $ 10.00 per person to visit the grounds and public spaces of the Grand Hotel if you were not eating there. We ponied up the dough to see it and can now say that we have. (We frankly thought the interiors were hideous and the whole dress code thing completely not our speed-- so I don't see us ever staying there.)

We honestly had the best time biking throughout all the trails on the island. It's about 8 miles around, but there are some very cool offroad trails in the interior if that's your thing. I second the bike helmet advice-- didn't see too many people with them. We must have biked 8 hours.

If your budget can afford it, there are some nice resorts on the Island itself. If you are looking for cheaper, there are lots of hotels in Mackinaw City, just a ferry ride away. Mackinaw City is worth exploring. I found it's downtown shopping area much less "tourist trapy" than the main drag on the Island.

It really is a beautiful place. Have a GREAT TIME!

Solotraveler

 

[Bojangles]

the island smells like horse poop. Hopefully you will be going with people that like to ride bikes.

 

[Scutapipig]

Everything you want to know about the island.....

http://www.mackinac.com/

It's one of my favorite places and my husband and I usually go at least once a year.

I've never stayed at the Grand Hotel, but have popped in there a few times to see it. Be sure to head up to the Cuppola Bar for a beautiful view of the island and the Straits!

There are many places to stay on the island that are very nice and less expensive than the Grand. Try looking at Mission Point Resort (down and around the bend from Main Street and quiet) or the Lakeview Hotel (right on Main Street). I've stayed at both and thought they were very nice.

The Yankee Rebel Tavern has good food, but I would not recommend the Village Inn.

 

[HauntedMansionGeek]

Oh yeah, sheesh....someone mentioned the fort, I almost forgot about that. LOL Lots of interesting history there.

And yep, we've NEVER had real hot weather there and we've gone in June, July and August.


Mid island there is a beautiful old cemetary, if you like that sort of thing. Reading the headstones was sometimes quite touching and/or sad.
There are a few war heros buried there and I believe a politician or two.

 

[HauntedMansionGeek]

Originally posted by Bojangles
the island smells like horse poop. Hopefully you will be going with people that like to ride bikes.

Don't ask how they make the fudge.

 

[Pam]

Interesting sidenote:

President Gerald Ford camped there as a Boy Scout and broke, I believe, his arm. That's one of the tidbits they share on the carriage ride.

We actually stayed at St. Ignace, a very nice and quaint town and took the ferry boat over to Mackinac Island. To get from Mackinaw City to St. Ignace you have to cross the over 5 mile long suspension bridge.

The forts at Mackinaw City and Mackinac Island are very nice.

 

[NMAmy]

Has anyone ever been in the autumn instead of the summer? I've been several times but DH and DD have never been. I'd really like to go in the fall for the leaves if everything is still open. I was thinking September would cut down on the tourists maybe. Anybody been then?

 

[tkyes]

Oh, I can't wait to go back!

We stayed in Harbor Springs, MI and drove to Mackinac for the day.

We had a pretty gloomy morning as far as weather and spent a good deal of time shopping and sitting in a restaurant. Then the weather cleared up and we rented bikes, tons of fun!

Definately rent bikes and take a nice relaxing ride.


I think it was a good day trip I don't know that I would want to stay on the island though, maybe just a night or two, but not my whole vacation.


You made me want to go back just thinking about it though!

NHAmy - I've heard that's a great time to go!


tamie

 

[TerriP]

Originally posted by Bojangles
the island smells like horse poop.

LOL!! My husband's family actually refers to Mackinac Island as "Horse Poop Island". That's all they ever call it!

 

[Pam]

NMAmy,
We visited in Sept. 1999. It was the middle of the month and the leaves were just starting to change. I remember a lot of pretty yellow.

You are correct in that the tourist level was greatly reduced.

 

[Scutapipig]

The Island is breathtaking in Autumn!! My husband and I rented a horse and carriage the first week in October one year, and as we travelled some of the less busy roads, the leaves were gently falling down around us. Absolutely beautiful!!!

I would recommend the Spring, just before Memorial Day (where the lilacs may be blooming early) or Autumn. Hotel rates are lower before Memorial Day and after Labor Day and the Island is less crowded. Sunday through Thursday stays usually have lower rates year round.

 

[NMAmy]

Well, I've been for the Lilac Festival (and it's gorgeous) but I thought I'd give autumn a try if stuff would still be open. Unfortunately, it'll have to be a quick weekend getaway because I'm saving my vacation to possibly go to London at Christmas and WDW in February!

Thanks for the encouragement. Now I can put this off till fall! I've promised the kiddo a weekend getaway to Cedar Point this summer, too.

 

[MosMom]

I love the island and the surrounding areas as well! If you are going to be up there soon you could hit the Cherry Festival in Traverse City! I haven't been in about 10 years but I've been dying to go again soon. Probably won't be this summer but I think we will make plans for next summer definitely! There are some great dunes up there too!

I'll never forget as we were getting out of the van to board the ferry ride my dad closed the back van hatch on my brothers head. It didn't look too bad at first so we went ahead and got on the boat! My brother complained the whole way and his head started bleeding profusely so we went to the doctor's office on the island and he got 2 stitches there. What a day! However, I can't think of any family vacation with my dad where something horrible didn't happen. We were soooo the Griswalds. LOL

 

[720L]

You do have to pay to go into the hotel, and yes all ladies are still required to wear skirts (and gentlemen wear ties) after 5pm. All the fudge is good on the island. Riding around the island is a must do. The fort is interesting also. There is a "haunted house" on main street that is pretty creepy if you like that sort of thing.

It is a lot less busy in the fall and very pretty. Cold though!

Village Inn is our favorite restaurant there. The fish is excellent. Scutapipig: Did you have a bad experience there?

There is also a nice golf course if you like that (the golf course has a good restaurant also).

Have fun!

 

[Scutapipig]

No, I wouldn't say a bad experience, but we thought our food was very bland. I did order the fish (this was two years back) and it wasn't much different from the fish sticks I take out from the freezer from time to time. My husband didn't enjoy his meal either. The service was simply ok. It was, however, an extremely busy time when we visited, so that may have influenced our decision.

But, I have to admit I'm a fish snob. *gasp* We'll drive 8 hours in one day just to get whitefish from Scalawags (in Mackinaw City)!!

 

[H&Hmommy]

We have been many times. My kids love the butterfly house. We always stay 3-4 nights at the resort. Night time is the best. There is such a quiet calm about the island. I will warn you there are bats everywhere, even in the hotel lobbies and halls. I hated it when they would come wizzing by my head while we were sitting outside early evening. Of course if your not spending the night you don't have to worry they don't move about until it starts to get dark.
Kim