Mackinaw City, MI help...........

[jgates]

We are considering taking a scenic road trip this fall - heading to South Bend, IN, up through Michigan and coming home thru the UP. We have pretty much only hit the UP the last several years.

Considering 1 to 2 nights in M City. Last time I am sure we stayed at the Super 8 Bridgeview, which at that time was very acceptable. (3 or 4 years ago?). However, in reading reviews on it on TA, it is either great or as low as you can get for a rating. So I am looking for hotel suggestions for Mackinaw City that are at a decent price (we were looking around 9/28 or 9/29 & the prices seem really decent everywhere around that time - $50 to $75 a night). Prefer a decent continental breakfast to save time & effort.

Yes we would love to stay on the Island, but that is not in budget.

Also would love any suggestions on great things to do in the southern half of Michigan. I have been to Petosky once many years ago, but other than that not really sure what there is to do (probably avoiding the Detroit area altogether). Most likely will go up the western edge to try to stay along the lakeshore (????).

 

[Riverhill]

We stayed at the Clarion Beachfront about 1 1/2 years ago and it was very nice for the price. Free breakfast buffet with everything from waffles, eggs, sausages, bagels, fruit and coffee, tea etc... We had a water view and it was beautiful. only beach between us and water. The other hotels had parking lots in there "back yards"

Hope you have a great trip. Check on line for deals on ferry tickets if pre purchased.

 

[LoriKutchey]

http://www.mackinawcity.com/

I don't stay in the hotels in town since our cottage is not to far from town.
But the Holiday Inn express always look nice from the outside. You can check it out from the above website. I believe the rate for the nites you were looking at was 69.99. My two favorite towns to visit are about a half an hour drive south of mackinaw and are petoskey and harbor springs.

 

[cjnix29]

Harbor Springs is pretty, so is Charlevoix. We just moved to Grand Rapids and are having a good time exploring the area. We go to up to Boyne Mountain quite often. Traverse City is nice. We are loving the western shoreline. It's so pretty and there are so many beaches. Can't give any suggestions on where to stay at Mackinaw, since we usually drive in from Boyne when we go. Have a great trip though!!

 

[jgates]

Thanks for the info so far - I did check HIXp since I normally like those, however, a lot of the comments on there were that the rooms only had new bedding, but all old fixtures & not remodeled yet. Some said it looked like it was from the 70's. (Very surprising as I know of another they forced to remodel that had been remodeled only a couple years early & was also a new build). Said they were going to be doing rooms 'next' - dated 5/11 - yet the pictures on the site looked good. If anyone has stayed at this location recently I would love info on current condition. Also as to 'view' etc. With AAA rate you can get a room with balcony view for $76 - view of what? Is it close enough to see anything of interest or is the view of the parking lot LOL?

Clarion looks great - probably about $60 for our nights. However, in the 400 things they tell you about the hotel, it says nothing about if it has internet access or not. Would expect that to be one of the top things they list (even in a vacation destination). (I did make a call & they do have WiFi).

 

[ashleyasiegel]

I haven't stayed at the Holiday Inn Express in years so I can't comment on the rooms but it is right by the bridge so I am thinking the balcony views would be of the bridge.

We stayed at the Days Inn last summer by the Ferries and it wasn't the best. What I have read on Trip Advisor makes most of the hotels in Mackinaw City seem pretty bad. Its almost like the hotels by Cedar Point...since they are a tourist/summer town they are run down and don't get remodeled as often as they should since once late fall hits the tourism takes a huge nose dive.

We are going back to Mackinaw sometime this summer so I'll be watching this thread to see if a decent place to stay pops up!

 

[sharbear]

I've stayed at the Holiday Inn Express a couple of times. Always in the spring or winter because it's one of the few places that is open in the off season. It was very nice. No problems at all. Ate across the street (I75 lol!) at Audies and it was very good also. If you thought the Super 8 was fine, then stay there. Sometimes I think people are too critical. It's a Super 8 and you get what you expect.

Petoskey and Traverse City are very nice. In Petoskey stay at the Bay View Inn. It's right on the water in Bay View. Beautiful and it will still be open in Sept.

I love the Sleeping Bear Dunes area. Go to the Glen Arbor or Leland. It's so pretty and relaxing.

 

[bear_mom]

We stayed at the Best Western and it was nice. I requsted a first floor, beach view room and you walked out of our room right onto the beach, great for the kids in the am while we were getting ready and great for dh and I at night after the kids went to bed.

How long do you want to take to get from South Bend to Mackinaw? Are you just talking a day or do you want to make this a multi-day journey?

Emily

 

[marius97]

In South Bend, check out the College Football Hall of Fame if you are a fan. Do it now before it moves to Atlanta in a year or so. Northwest of there in New Buffalo, MI, check out Warren Dunes. Not as big as Sleeping Bear, but still beautiful. 200+ foot dunes. Saugatuk along the lake is a great little town. Lots of cute little shops in downtown. Check out Holland for its Dutch history, tulips, and windmill.

 

[KLAIT]

I also recommend the Clarion Beachfront. Great breakfast in the morning and a nice location right next to the Ferry Dock

 

[Fire14]

Can't help you on Mac city as I've been home sick FOREVER To go there. As for cruising up west of LP. Holland has lots of cute lil Dutch touristy things plus a Ben and Jerry's ice cream Shop in Downtown, Downtown as a whole is overpriced shops IMO but Holland Peanut store is a Candy dream.
Saugatuk is a neat lil Artisty place with lots of neat lil stores to check out. St. Joseph has a really neat kids museum, New buffalo has a nice casino that is fairly new. Coloma has a older cute kids park called deer forest. I will be traveling to See my dad in few weeks so if you need/want info I'm sure I can round some up for places.

 

[jgates]

Thank you guys - I'm loving all of the opinions. I believe the only dunes we have visited were Indiana Dunes Nat'l Lakeshore ? (Does that sound right?) It was about 20 years ago minimum that we were there, and 23 since Petoskey. Last in SBend about 3 years ago (although we went several times before that. And in Mack. City about 3 years ago.

How long we take is seriously dependent on how much we can find to do. My DH is not going to be happy if we just drive for 2 hours & then 'sit' at another hotel LOL. So we need to have some potential stops & destinations for things we can 'do'.

Right now we have a Tuesday through Sunday available. We have gone to the UP several times in the last few years so as we get back closer to the middle & western area we have been to Copper Harbor, Ironwood etc. We sure don't need to spend a full 6 days, but probably a good 4 or so would be nice. Would plan on driving to South Bend on day 1, spending the night, touring there tomorrow & then head up slightly north to stay day 2.

 

[bear_mom]

Driving from South Bend to Mackinaw can take as little (5/6 hours) or as long as you want. There are lots of little towns along the western lakeshore to stop at and spend a few hours - keep in mind that this isn't a direct route though. A lot of the towns have already been suggested. If it were me, I would drive up and visit a few towns (South Haven, Saugatuck, Holland, Grand Haven) and once I got near Grand Rapids, I would head up towards Mackinaw.

Then I would spend one or two days in Mackainw depending on what your interests are.

After leaving Mackinaw, I would head north towards Taquhamon Falls (I know I spelled that wrong) and visit those - VERY PRETTY and neat. After seeing the falls you can drive a little bit (30 minutes?) up to Whitefish Point and see the Shipwreck Museum. Doesn't take too long to go through, an hour or two, but there are some neat things.

After T Falls I would head towards Pictured Rocks. You can find some decent hotels in Munising. You can spend a few days there, there are a lot neat day hikes, water falls, etc to see there. You can also do a glass bottom boat ride (my parents did this and said they really enojoyed it - we haven't done one yet). After leaving Munising I would head back south towards Iron Mountain.

Since you said you have already been up to Copper Harbor I would suggest visiting T Falls and Pictured Rocks areas. While I love Copper Harbor, the other areas have things that are worth seeing also. We typically alternate between Copper Harbor/Houghton/Hancock area and Pictured Rocks and T falls (but we are often only going for a few days).

Emily

 

[ccdoster]

Funny we're planning on going to M/I this summer too as I've never been (and I've mostly lived in MI). I currently live in Holland for the last 8 years so if you have questions about the town, I should be able to answer them. Ben & Jerry's has been gone for about 2 years but we have Coldstone Creamery, Kilwins and the fabulous aforementioned Peanut store. We have street performers every Thursday night downtown, we really do have a great downtown. The beach is also awesome, nice and sandy. My in-laws are in Manistee for the summer we often make that drive.

 

[NMAmy]

I'll actually be staying at the Clarion in Mackinaw City this Saturday due to recommendations on the Community Board. I needed a place to stay one night before we spend a couple of nights on the island. I'll be happy to let you know our opinion next week when we get back.

 

[marius97]

Funny we're planning on going to M/I this summer too as I've never been (and I've mostly lived in MI). I currently live in Holland for the last 8 years so if you have questions about the town, I should be able to answer them. Ben & Jerry's has been gone for about 2 years but we have Coldstone Creamery, Kilwins and the fabulous aforementioned Peanut store. We have street performers every Thursday night downtown, we really do have a great downtown. The beach is also awesome, nice and sandy. My in-laws are in Manistee for the summer we often make that drive.

We made the mistake of going to M/I for a day on our honeymoon 13 years ago. Got married mid August in a major heatwave. Something about the smell of tons of horse poo cooking on the roads just ruined the experience for me. I'd love to go back when it is cooler, but I don't think that I'll be able to get DW over the memories of the smell.

 

[maxiesmom]

We stayed at the Days Inn last summer by the Ferries and it wasn't the best. What I have read on Trip Advisor makes most of the hotels in Mackinaw City seem pretty bad. Its almost like the hotels by Cedar Point...since they are a tourist/summer town they are run down and don't get remodeled as often as they should since once late fall hits the tourism takes a huge nose dive.

We are going back to Mackinaw sometime this summer so I'll be watching this thread to see if a decent place to stay pops up!

We go to Mackinaw almost every year, and I can assure you that none of the hotels are what you would call fancy. They are your basic double or queen bedded rooms, but they do not seem to update the furnishings very often.

I really don't think there is a huge difference between resorts. Other than the ones closer to downtown you can park your car and just walk to the shops, while you can get a bit further down the strip and have to drive in. Most resorts, if not all, offer free breakfast. However, the pancake place in town is really good.

I can offer this bit of advice too--Stay away from the Econolodge Bayview. We stayed there last year (mostly because you get passes to the waterpark in the hotel next door) and it was pretty shabby, to say the least!

Here is the link I usually use http://www.mackinaw-city.com/ They usually have the cheapest rates around, and you can get good looks at all of the hotels, and where exactly they are located on the strip.

 

[Fire14]

Funny we're planning on going to M/I this summer too as I've never been (and I've mostly lived in MI). I currently live in Holland for the last 8 years so if you have questions about the town, I should be able to answer them. Ben & Jerry's has been gone for about 2 years but we have Coldstone Creamery, Kilwins and the fabulous aforementioned Peanut store. We have street performers every Thursday night downtown, we really do have a great downtown. The beach is also awesome, nice and sandy. My in-laws are in Manistee for the summer we often make that drive.

I guess I have no reason to go DOWNTown now thanks for breaking news to me bout Ben and Jerry's.

 

[angierae]

This is perfect timing since we're doing a trip to the UP over 4th of July. We're driving up to Mackinaw City on Thursday, spending Friday on the Island, spending Saturday morning at the Sault doing the Locks and the freighter tour, and then heading to Houghton/Hancock for some family stuff, then stopping at the falls on the way home. I've never really been to the UP, despite living in MI my whole life, so I'm excited. (I've been across the bridge twice, and to the Island on my honeymoon)

We stayed at the Super 8 on our honeymoon and it was the worst bed I've ever slept in. That was 4 years ago, though.

 

[NMAmy]

We stayed at the Clarion on Saturday. It was fine--nothing to really write home about but clean and recently refurbished. The pictures on the website are really representative of the room. The staff was not overly friendly but we had no issues. The hotel was busy but quiet. The beach was pretty small but it was 55 degrees and rainy so not something we were really using. The hotel is the last one on Huron but still within walking distance of downtown.

We loved Darrow's so much we ate there three times (and we only stayed one night in Mackinaw City!) but the food at the Dixie Saloon was awful.

If anyone is looking for a hotel on the island, I recommend the Lilac Tree Inn. We really enjoyed our stay there.