Is Mackinac Island Worth Visiting? You Bet!
Updated: May 3, 2024
Note: All underlined sites will take you directly to the highlighted website. Let the photos convince you ---this place is special!
Visiting Mackinac (pronounced “Mac-in-aw”) Island should be on everyone’s bucket list. Though I only visited for two nights in late August 2019, this destination stands out for many reasons:
Just getting there is fun. Once you arrive in Mackinaw City, MI, it’s easy to find the parking lot for the quick shuttle to the ferry pier. The ride to the island is exhilarating.
Traveler’s Tip: The ferry trip can last from 16-26 minutes on average. Our ferry trips back and forth were fairly choppy. If you tend to get seasick, you may wish to prepare ahead with whatever motion sickness remedy helps you the most.
There are no cars allowed on Mackinac (except for business services) since 1898. If you’ve ever imagined vacationing within a Victorian seaside setting where you can travel by horse drawn carriage to dinner, this is your dream destination. Imagine waking in the morning to the sound of the clip clop of horse’s hooves as the small community comes to life for another summer day. It’s definitely not your average vacation spot.
Bikes are easy to rent, fun to ride on Mackinac
Bike riding on the relatively flat bike paths allows you to experience island life and its beauty at a perfect pace. Residents on the island take special pride in their flower gardens. I found the island to be one huge botanical extravaganza.
Arch Rock - reachable on the bike path
Besides relaxing, there is plenty to see and do. Check out TripAdvisor before your visit to plan your excursions according to your interests. I didn’t know about Fort Mackinac until it was too late to take a tour. Folks we talked to said it is definitely worth checking out.
There are plenty of hotels ranging from charming to over the top “grand”.
The charming Island House
Traveler’s Tip:Visiting Mackinac is not inexpensive; in fact, be prepared to unbuckle. I can highly recommend Island House Hotel where I booked a Harbor View King bedroom for two nights without having to mortgage the house. You can enjoy watching marina comings and goings while sitting in one of the rockers on the hotel’s front porch or in the comfort of your in room sitting area.
Our front porch view from the Island House Hotel
Friends more recently stayed at the incredible Mackinac Grand Hotel and said that it truly earns its name “Grand”. Non-guests have to pay $10/per adult to walk the grounds or enjoy afternoon libations on the expansive veranda. Initially surprised, we quickly discovered the reason behind the fee and felt its worth the splurge. There are so few hotels left in the US like the Mackinac Grand Hotel. Note: The web address for this iconic resort is simply grandhotel.com.
Mackinac's Iconic Grand Hotel
Travelers Tip: Book your visit early to have the best choice of where to dine and stay. Friends tried to book Island House Hotel three months out but the hotel was booked solid.
It’s easy to “taxi” to dinner in your own horse drawn carriage. Our meals on the island were delicious. The not to be missed Pink Pony is a short walk from the Island House Hotel.
I highly recommend visiting Mackinac Island. It’s not the easiest place to get to but Michigan is a beautiful state worth exploring. Tack on a visit to Leland or Pitoskey to add to your fun while enjoying the upper peninsula’s moderate summertime temperatures. Only four hours by car, we flew in and out of Detroit, enjoying the easy drive in both directions.
Mackinac Island - there is nothing else like it in the US!
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