Need advice from "UPers": Mackinaw City or St.Ignace?

[kikids]

We are planning an August trip to the UP, our first visit. Don't plan to stay at the island's Grand $$$$ Hotel but don't mind spending a little money for a nice place on the mainland.

My question is, how are Mackinaw City and St. Igance different? Is there a reason to stay at one end of the bridge versus the other? It looks like St. Ignace has casinos but that doesn't appeal to us.

Online, I like the looks of the Mackinaw Beach and Bay Inn as well as the Best Western Harbour Point in St. Igance. Looking for a beach, good access to the ferry for a day trip, and some fun things for kids close by. Any input would be very helpful to this lower peninsula poster.

Thanks in advance!!!

 

[Tinkmom75]

I'm from lower peninsula myself, but can tell you Mackinaw City is much more touristy. It has the forts and a big outdoor mall. Fudge shops everywhere. There is a fee for the bridge crossing. It has a couple ferry spots going to the island. It depends on what you want. St. Ignace seems quieter to me. The main draw is the casino.

 

[OhMari]

St. Ignace is much more spread out between stores and restaurants and Mac. City is like a Main St. With all the stores and restaurants on one main area. the Fort is on the city side.

Don't be so quick to not stay on the island, the secret is to call. The economy isn't so great on the island with people staying, and we found some great bargains of $100 a nite, especially at The Mission, and The Lilac House.

 

[Kellydelly]

There's a lot more to do in Mackinaw City than St. Ignace. We have stayed at the Clarion hotel the last two summers and were very happy with the accomodations and location. We stayed at the Econo Lodge 5 yrs ago before they revamped it and there was an outdoor pool as well as access to an indoor waterpark and free breakfast . Both hotels had a nice hot breakfast buffet. Seems like most hotels in Mackinaw City have swimming privileges at the Pirate's Adventure indoor water park. I think it is actually at the Comfort Suites, though. I always use this link to see where the hotels are and to view their rates.

http://www.mackinaw-city.com/

 

[johnsontrio]

There is so little commercial development in St. Ignace that it is hard to even find places to eat. I spent 4 days there twice in one summer and couldn't find much of anything to do during the time I had available to me in the day. Had to stay handy so I couldn't go to the Island. St. Ignace doesn't allow many chain restaurants, or anything else for that matter, to develop there. There was one decent restaurant by the marina in town on the lakefront. It is not someplace I would choose to stay.

 

[antmaril]

I would choose Mackinaw City over St Ignace. There is much more going on in Mackinaw City.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Yes, call call call.....staying on the island is so fun.

 

[Carly_Roach]

We're heading up there this summer and plan on staying at Mackinaw City. I've priced out the difference between St. Ignace and Mackinaw City and while St. Ignace is cheaper, it doesn't have the night life and restaurants that Mackinaw City does.

We're pretty leisurely on our Mack Island vacations. We like to go out, eat, maybe take in a movie or the laser show and walk back to our hotel. Other times we'll be beat from walking on the Island all day and want to order room service. There are more places to choose from for delivery in Mackinaw City. And if you forgot to pack anything like slippers or toothpaste (which can be expensive in Mackinaw City), you can't beat the local grocery stores and/or Walmart in nearby Petosky.

 

[MIGrandma]

DH and I love the Mackinaw area. We stayed on the St. Ignace side once, years ago but really prefer Mackinaw City. There are many, many nice hotels to choose from and lots of nice restaurants. A couple of our favorites are Darrow's, and Cunningham's. We love walking the street of shops, and over into the Mackinaw Crossings shopping area too. And of course, the fudge. There is a lighthouse and you can walk along the water. We enjoy sitting on a bench there in the evening and watching the lights come on the Mackinaw Bridge. At Mill Creek there is a working mill and they put on demonstrations, and they have a 3-mile nature walk that we always enjoy doing too. We like going to Bell's Fishery (right downtown, near one of the ferries) and getting some smoked fish and cheese curds. There's a nice miniature golf close to downtown too. Mackinaw Pasty Co. has delicious pasties.

 

[ClarabelleCowFan]

Another vote for Mackinac City. There are tons of shops and restaurants there. You can hop a ferry over to the island.

Have a great trip!

 

[lovephotography]

Vote for Mackinac City.

 

[Kitty 34]

We stay in Mackinaw City every summer. Love all there is to do. St Ignace is a great place to go visit for a few hours. They have great restaurants. Driftwood is very nice, for one. The casino, btw, is a couple of miles out of St. Ignace.

We used to stay at the Chippewa Hotel in Mackinaw until they went too fancy on us and now stay down the way at Clearwater Inn. Roomy rooms, a great pool and they provide firewood as they have several fire pits on their beach.

Mackinaw Island is a great place for a day trip. Doing the bikes are fun and the ferry boat across is nice especially if an ore boat is near.

PM if you have other questions of what to do, etc. I'd be glad to help you out.

 

[Schminston-Mo]

I stayed at Mill Creek Campground which was very nice. They have cabins if you are into that type of vacation

If you are bringing the kids, and are staying in Mackinaw City, you might want to check out Historic Mill Creek Discovery Park while you are there. There is an Adventure Tour with climbing wall, rope bridge cross, and and a zip line. It was one of my kids' favorite things to do while we were there.

 

[kikids]

Thanks for all of the replies! It has been very helpful. I now have a list going of places to eat and activities to look into based on what everyone has said.

I knew we'd find fudge - but zip lines, indoor waterpark, laser shows and forts, I had no idea. Last night DH asked "So besides taking a ferry to the island and looking at the big hotel for 20 minutes and then buying fudge, what else is there to do up there?" Can you tell we are not originally from Michigan?

Looking forward to a nice summer vacation.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Thanks for all of the replies! It has been very helpful. I now have a list going of places to eat and activities to look into based on what everyone has said.

I knew we'd find fudge - but zip lines, indoor waterpark, laser shows and forts, I had no idea. Last night DH asked "So besides taking a ferry to the island and looking at the big hotel for 20 minutes and then buying fudge, what else is there to do up there?" Can you tell we are not originally from Michigan?

Looking forward to a nice summer vacation.

You BIKE everywhere!!!!! That is the best part for me. So if you guys have bikes BRING them with you or you can rent them.

 

[Chambie]

Hi Kikis,
I am retired and volunteer at the St. Ignace Chamber of Commerce and I have to say there are tons of things to do here during the summer time. I have learned and now tell folks who stop in at the chamber of all the fun things there is to do. Its less expensive in St. Ignace to stay and eat and the shops are fantastic. On Fridays this summer , we have downtown activities, drawings, etc and on Saturdays, we have the best fireworks ever. Then on Sunday nights, we have movies on the bay, downtown for free (and free popcorn.)
I can send you a vacation guide if you want from our city...just give me a call 800-970-8717 or go to our website: and click on request guide. Stop in when you come up also and say hi...(we have coupons for ferrys too).
Judy Bonello
Volunteer
St. Ignace Chamber of Commerce
560 N. State St.
St. Ignace, Mi. 49781

 

[bgirl29]

You can ride bikes all of the way around the island. Also there is a fort on the island. And a small but nice butterfly house and a ton of shops.

 

[OhMari]

Thanks for all of the replies! It has been very helpful. I now have a list going of places to eat and activities to look into based on what everyone has said.

I knew we'd find fudge - but zip lines, indoor waterpark, laser shows and forts, I had no idea. Last night DH asked "So besides taking a ferry to the island and looking at the big hotel for 20 minutes and then buying fudge, what else is there to do up there?" Can you tell we are not originally from Michigan?

Looking forward to a nice summer vacation.

I shouldn't say this about the big hotel, but they charge $10 or $15 dollars if you want to go tour the grounds of the hotel. If you want to see the hotel from the bottom, take the road underneath and come up from the swimming pool tennis courts garden area. You can walk up the steps then to the hotel. I completely forgot that they charged for walking onto the grounds until we left and went out the main entrance and they were stopping people from entering unless they were going to pay or they were going to stay there. We were not stopped, but I'm not saying you won't be, someone may ask you when you climb the steps up to the main porch. Being clueless probably helped us.