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Mackinac Island, Michigan Travel Guide

Huddled in between the upper and lower peninsulas of Michigan is Mackinac Island. Not only does Mackinac hold a lot of Michigan history, but they do their best to preserve it. No motorized vehicles are allowed on the property of the island. Instead, you can expect to travel by horse drawn carriage, bicycle, or boat.

Mackinac Bridge

It is one of the best get-a-ways the United States has to offer. Many travelers choose to visit it for a day, and ride a bicycle, go for a walk, or take a carriage tour of the Island's history. Other travelers stay overnight and get to experience the beautiful Mackinac Island after the crowds have left. The best part of staying overnight is waking up early in the morning to the sun rising over Lake Huron, and enjoying the beautiful scenery this mystical place has to offer.

The most popular hotel on the island is the Grand Hotel, which can be spotted from the mainland. With a sweeping front porch view of the Straits of Mackinac, the hotel draws in thousands of tourists every year.

The main street consists of numerous tourist shops, an Island Bookstore that inspires people of all ages to read, numerous fudge shops which create an aroma of sweets unlike any other, and multiple restaurants.

The Tavern is one of the popular restaurants on the island. Located on a side street off the middle of the main drag, it is always crowded and is one of the few restaurants to remain open year-round. Along with a scrumptuous selection of burgers, sandwiches, chicken, and fish, the Tavern also offers a good children's menu.

Biking the Island

Mackinac Island was the second National Park in the United States. The Island has many interior trails for horseback riding, biking, running, or walking. One of the most exquisite roads is the eight mile road around the island. The road is right along the Lake the entire time, so whether you are traveling by running, walking, or biking this route, the scenery is breath-taking the entire way.

To journey back to the mainland, one can take a ferry or one can fly, as there is an airport located on the island for small aircraft. One can return via ferry to either Mackinac City on the lower penninsula or Sault Saint Marie on the upper penninsula. There are a few different companies that offer this journey: Shepler's, Arnold, and White Star. Most of the trips take about 35-40 minutes.

Though the island is open year-round, the tourist season is generally May-October.

Mackinac Island