Mackinaw Island?

[Tweety05]

Has anyone been to Mackinaw Island? DH and I are thinking about going this summer. I'm just curious to hear from people who have been if they enjoyed themselves? What fun things are there to do.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Do you like to ride bikes? This is the place for you. Alot of fun to bike around looking at stuff. Going out to eat you ride your bike to the restaurant. I think it is an easy 14 miles around the island.

It is expensive to stay on the island but it is very nice. There are shops, restaurants, and other sites to see.

Can you tell I want to go back?

Now my dad who cannot ride bikes and hates shopping calls it "horsecrap" island. Obviously because there are horse carriages as the mode of transportation. And yes, there is a hint of horse in the air. I think it just adds to the old time feel of the place.

 

[Tweety05]

Do you like to ride bikes? This is the place for you. Alot of fun to bike around looking at stuff. Going out to eat you ride your bike to the restaurant. I think it is an easy 14 miles around the island.

It is expensive to stay on the island but it is very nice. There are shops, restaurants, and other sites to see.

Can you tell I want to go back?

Now my dad who cannot ride bikes and hates shopping calls it "horsecrap" island. Obviously because there are horse carriages as the mode of transportation. And yes, there is a hint of horse in the air. I think it just adds to the old time feel of the place.

Thanks Mystery Machine. Did you stay on the island? DH and I like exercising, walks etc.. so I think bike riding would be perfect.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Thanks Mystery Machine. Did you stay on the island? DH and I like exercising, walks etc.. so I think bike riding would be perfect.

I have stayed on the island and off the Island. If you are not staying on the Island you have to leave by the last ferry.

Both times were without my DH. I am trying to get him up there. I know he would love it as he enjoys bike riding.

It is a nice peaceful vacation with exercise.

 

[Tweety05]

I have stayed on the island and off the Island. If you are not staying on the Island you have to leave by the last ferry.

Both times were without my DH. I am trying to get him up there. I know he would love it as he enjoys bike riding.

It is a nice peaceful vacation with exercise.

Thanks so much for your advice. Can I ask which hotel you stayed at off the island and on the island? I'm sort of looking at hotels off the island. It looks like some have private beaches??

 

[Jeafl]

We've been there a few times, and it is really enjoyable. I don't think there is enough to do to spend more than about 3 days there though.

We stayed at the Grand Hotel and it was wonderful. It is really expensive because it includes breakfast and dinner, and you are expected to dress nicely (dresses for women, suitcoats for men) for dinner. No shorts and t-shirts allowed in the dining room.

I'm not sure that it is actually a 14-mile trip around the island, I want to say it is either 7 or 8 miles. I could be wrong though, and I'm sure someone will correct me...

There is a fort there to tour, and even if you don't stay at the Grand, you can go through parts of it, for a not so small fee of course. The movie Somewhere in Time was filmed there and they have Christopher Reeve/Jane Seymour memorabilia from the movie.

There are lots of shops on the main street, and about 1/3 of them are fudge shops (and I am not kidding!). You can also take a horse and carriage tour which is also nice. There are no cars or trucks on the island at all (other than fire/police dept) so it has kind of a nostalgic feel.

Other than that, the only other thing I remember is the HORRIFIC case of food poisoning I brought home from the hot dog place on the main drag. I had a chili dog there, and after one bite I knew I was in trouble. I was sick for about 2 weeks afterwards. To this day I cannot eat chili dogs.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Thanks so much for your advice. Can I ask which hotel you stayed at off the island and on the island? I'm sort of looking at hotels off the island. It looks like some have private beaches??

Off the Island we stayed in St. Ignace somewhere. On the Island we stayed at "The Murray".

There are many places to stay and I have not been back in 10yrs. Perhaps someone who has been there recently can give up some fresh ideas.

 

[manning]

No, but I did visit both Mackinac Island and Mackinaw City. It was a long time ago.

 

[PebblesMK]

My uncle used to run the Grand Hotel on the island....it's beautiful but I am assuming it's a bit pricey. The whole island is wonderful in my opinion. I love the ferry ride too. If you don't want to spend the entire time there, and depending on what time of summer you're going, you can catch a car show in St. Ignace or the boat show which I believe is in Hessel (Les Cheanux Island area)....they have some pretty Chris Craft boats that you're husband would most likely love! You could also head up to Canada as it's not that far of a trek. If you're there around Labor Day, you should walk the Mackinac Bridge. Gosh, there is so much up around there during the summer. That's when all the fudgie's head up there!

If you want any information, I could definitely find some of the going-on's and also dates for you. Even if you don't plan much, you'll have a great time.

 

[OhMari]

We are walking the Mackinaw Bridge Labor Day morning. I just googled Mackinaw Island and a bunch of nice hotels came up. I think I saw a price of $220 a nite for Labor Day weekend, but it is a Family suite, with 2 Queen beds and a pull out.
Last time we stayed, we stayed off the island at St. Ignace. They have all the franchise hotels. On the island it is all private hotels. Most do not have air conditioning, since the breeze off the lakes keep the nites cooler, but I know the Grand Hotel recently added air conditioning.

3 years ago, me and my dh took our bikes over by Ferry and for 2 people and 2 bikes the cost was $50. If you ride bikes, the recommend to ride just the perimeter of the island which is 8 miles around. We took our bikes inward, which you can, but try not to drive through water on the road, because it is not "water", unless it just rained. I was so grossed out, because it splattered and my dh told me to stop driving through, because it wasn't water, Duh me moment.

You probably can find a hotel in st. Ignace or Mackinaw City for $85 a nite plus tax. There is a fee to cross the bridge, I think it is $5.00 too.

 

[Princess Nancy]

Really compare all your prices! DH and I stayed in the Grand Hotel, it was AMAZING.

Everything is included even tips. Your should check but it includes meals, ferry transport, luggage to and from the dock (remember there are no cars) and the services are Excellent.

My friend went the same summer I did. She thinks for what they paid to eat and transport fees they should have stayed at the Grand hotel!

Good Luck!

 

[KLAIT]

I am happy to read this and will monitor answers. I have not been over there for several years. We are taking my son in June and I am worried sick we will not have enough to do for 2.5 days....then we are heading North into the Soo so we can cross into Canada so he will have been in a foreign country..

I sure hope that we get more ideas of things to do!

 

[Seewhatimesdone]

It's such a beautiful place! It's so relaxing. There's a lot to do; there's tours of the islands, great family owned shops, horse rides, etc. Have fun!

 

[KiminChicago]

There's a lot to do in the area -- we were just there last October. If you stay in Mackinaw City, there's a lighthouse you can tour, and Fort Michilimackinac is on the mainland too. If you want to visit both of those sites and the Colonial Mackinac fort on the island, there's a combined pass that you can buy which will save you money. It also includes Mill Creek, which has an old saw mill and a zip line over the creek -- and a rock climbing wall. We did all of that with the kids; the zip line was really fun!

There's also horseback riding on the island, but it's not cheap. Or, if you really feel adventurous, you can rent your own horse and buggy and drive yourself around on the island. We were there for a weekend as part of our Lake Michigan circle tour, and we ran out of time before we ran out of things to do.

 

[Sandy321]

One of my favorite places!!

Mission Pointe is a fine hotel (used to be a college dorm area I believe -we've not stayed there- but were we stay, we ride a bike over here for their movie night!)

we've stayed at StoneCliffe - and believe it or not where we stayed it was very similiar to renting points at a DVC studio or 1 bedroom!! we brought our bikes so we could enjoy the whole island, and stayed a whole week, it was so relaxing to be away from it all!!

http://www.yesmichigan.com/lakebluff/

when we went we visited the Fort, and a butterfly museum, enjoyed the tourist places, but when the last ferry left, it became a whole new experience... I so want to go back!!

http://www.mackinacisland.org/attractions.html

 

[figment52]

I am happy to read this and will monitor answers. I have not been over there for several years. We are taking my son in June and I am worried sick we will not have enough to do for 2.5 days....then we are heading North into the Soo so we can cross into Canada so he will have been in a foreign country..

I sure hope that we get more ideas of things to do!

Just a reminder Passport Laws changed June 1 - make sure you know before you go if you need a passport so you have time to order one.

 

[KLAIT]

Hey, figment 52, thanks for the reminder..we did remember to do this a few weeks ago so hopefully they will arrive shortly...

 

[over the hill]

We are MI residents and visit the island yearly.

It is 8 miles around the island, and you can either take your bikes on the boat (for a charge) or rent at one of the many places on the island.

We really enjoy the "private" horse and carriage ride that leaves from across from the visitors center run by the state at the bottom of the hill, with the fort on top. Not as difficult to find as it may seem!! They do a much more "inside the island tour," as the carriage is smaller and can travel the narrow streets much better than a large loaded carriage. They may seem a bit more expensive, although last year when I figured out the price per each carriage ride, they were about the same, but you are not crowded 4/5 bodies to a row in a carriage with 20 or more people. Could be very close quarters on a very warm summer day. Yes it does get warm up there, but a sweatshirt is always good to have along.

If you check the websites for the boat ride over, Arnold Line, Star Line, and Sheplers, they usually have a coupon for one child's fare free, with 2 adult fares. We prefer Arnold Line, just because it docks right in the center of town, and they have the biggest boats, which can be good, if it is a busy day and a lot of people decide to leave when you do.

Fudge is a must, either in Mackinaw City or on the Island. My favorites are Murdocks on the island, and Marshall's in Mackinaw City. Marshalls also has homemade carmels that are delicious.

We prefer to stay in Mackinaw City, but St Ignace is nice too. Some hotel chains available, and many Mom/Pop places that are both clean and nice too. White fish is a local favorite and is fixed many ways in almost all of the restaurants. Pasties at the Mackinaw Pastie Co is another favorite.

For shopping there are many small shops and a Courtyard shopping area in Mackinaw City that has many very nice stores, some restaurants, and a big "Bass Pro Shop" type store. Ice cream is also available at many locations.

You can not go wrong with a Mackinaw City/ Mackinac Island vacation. Children will enjoy the fort, the lighthouse, the Mill Creek demonstrations, and sites in general.

If you are into camping, there are State parks in both Mackinaw City and St Ignace. The one in Mackinaw City is about 20 miles outside of town, and is located on Lake Michigan. The one is St Ignace is located right on the Straits. One thing that is not very available is a grocery store. If camping make sure you have your supplies. There is a limited IGA in both cities, and gas stations. A very small camp store is near the Mackinaw City campground.

Enjoy your MI vacation.

 

[mousefanmichelle]

I am also a Michigan resident and in Mackinaw City you can find a water park for the kids. I haven't been there yet - but plan to this summer - looks like fun. With everything to see and do in St. Ignace (over the bridge), Mackinaw City and the island you should have plenty to keep you busy for the days your there. The island itself is expensive as well as the ferry ride to it. Have fun I love it there!

 

[KLAIT]

mousefanmichelle

You say with all there is to do in St Ignace..what would that be? We are actually from the North side of the bridge..