Monday, September 10, 2018

Leave Your Car Behind, Mackinac Island, Michigan

Clip-clop-clip-clop 
all day and most of the night. 
600 horses make deliveries of goods and people 
throughout Mackinac Island, Michigan. 
(Pronounced Mackinaw) 



There are no cars on this island. 
No delivery trucks either. 
It is very peaceful, 
except for clip-clop-clip-clop. 
No fumes of automobiles here, 
but you can imagine the other fumes. 
I'm not sure which is worse. 

Arch Rock: The photo every tourist takes.

The island is surrounded by Lake Huron 
and has 8 miles of coastline. 


Tourist activity centers around Main Street 
and most of the rest of the island is a state park. 

Main Street

The average tourist rents a bike to get around, 
and a bike is really the most you will need. 
Walking can get you to all the Main Street attractions.



Even your first responders ride bikes! 
(Well, there is a hidden ambulance just in case.)


There is not a heck of a lot to do on the island: 
 Shopping 
Fudge
Dining 
Fudge
Biking
Fudge
Sight Seeing 
Fudge
Fort Mackinac
Fudge 
You get the idea.

Standing Guard: Re enactors at Fort Mackinac

There is also not a heck of a lot of time to visit the island. 
Summer, 
that's about it. 
Winter here sounds crazy cold. 
The only access might be to drive across the frozen lake. 

Devil's Kitchen

If you go to Mackinac Island ... 


Tie your trip in with touring the natural beauty of the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.  
One night and two days is probably all you'll need on the island. 
The only access is by one of the 3 Ferry lines - all offer free parking for your car.  
Ferries run about every 1/2 hour in the summer.  
Ferries will tag your luggage with your hotel 
and it will arrive there for you. 
If you cross the Mackinac Bridge there is a $4 toll each way (2018), 
it is worth it just to see this 5 mile long bridge! 
Lodging on the island is all privately owned inns. 
The only chain store I saw was a Starbucks. 

Mackinac Bridge, $8 Round Trip
Click on any photo to see to my gallery of images from Mackinac Island




4 comments:

Tamar SB said...

I have heard it is such a beautiful place!

doodles n daydreams said...

What a wonderful place it would be to visit. So peaceful.
Diana

MadSnapper said...

I have read the name in my fiction books, but had not idea where it was or any of this info you gave us. it is a stunning place to view, all of it from houses to the view every tourist takes. I love the bell in the church tower.. I can't ride a bike so would need a horse and wagon taxie

Sarah Huizenga said...

I would have been disappointed if you hadn't have taken the token Arch rock photo. It has been quite a few years since I have been to the island, but it is fun for a day. We usually stay in Mackinac City, but I would love to stay once at the Grand Hotel.