Travel USA

Travel Back In Time

Mackinac Island, Michigan

It is easy to believe that fragrant flashbacks are a real thing. Science supports it and most people can think of a certain smell that will put them right back into a scene from their past.

The part that may be hard to believe is that a mixture of horse manure and fudge is my favorite fragrant flashback. It is true. It is because of Mackinac Island, Michigan.

If there is a place in the world that makes that true…enough said…there must be something really amazing about it. Everyone is packing their bags already? No need to go on?

I do want to go a little further…beyond the smell. (I know you still don’t believe me. But if you go there, don’t be surprised if it becomes true for you too!)

I want to share one of my favorite places of all time with you through this virtual photo tour. I hope you enjoy it!

About Mackinac Island

Mackinac Island is located in the Straits of Mackinac. This is where Lake Michigan and Lake Huron meet under the Mackinaw Bridge that connects the Upper and the Lower Peninsula of Michigan. (Yes, Mackinac Island/Mackinac Straights and Mackinaw City are pronounced the same way -like the city- but they are spelled differently.)

Mackinac Island is notorious for the smell of horse manure and fudge. There are famous fudge shops up and down the main street. Watch out for the manure as you cross the street to get your fudge — there are no vehicles on the island- horses, and bikes only. It is like a trip back in time.

I have to admit, I am not into crowds. This place is very crowded at times and in certain places — like busloads of kids on field trips kind of crowded. The good thing is that the crowds are mostly on the main street. Although it is a small island, there are many places to get away from the crowds and enjoy the beautiful nature and history the island has to offer.

Mackinac Island was the second National State Park behind Yellowstone. It was later turned over to become Michigan's first State Park. The island’s perimeter is a little over eight miles and it contains over seventy miles of roads and trails for horses, bikes, or hikes. Eighty percent of the island is preserved as parkland — pure nature.

You will find many historic sites including Fort Mackinac. The ongoing reenactments, relics, and displays make you feel like you have walked back in time to explore with the French, Native Americans, and the British.

More about Mackinac Island State Park.

Getting There

There is no bridge to the island. The options for traveling there is by small plane, boat, ferry, or snowmobile across the ice at certain points in the winter.

Many people take the ferries. There are a few companies and you can depart from Mackinaw City or St. Ignace. Mackinaw City is in Michigan’s Lower Peninsula and St. Ignace is in the Upper Peninsula. There is just a five-mile suspension bridge that separates the two — The Mackinac Bridge — the Mighty Mac.

Be sure to check the times for the ferries…if you miss it you may be out of luck…especially the last boat on the way back! I also suggest taking the ferry that is scheduled to travel under the Mackinac Bridge. It is a little bit out of the way but it is worth it to get such an “awemazing” view of the longest suspension bridge in the western hemisphere. (Awemazing is a word I use to describe the awe you feel when you see something amazing.)

Favorite Tour and Stopping Points

My all-time favorite day on Mackinac Island is in the summer when the flowers are in full bloom. I like to take a tour because I want to get back to my favorite spots for my favorite views as quickly as possible.

• Call ahead and book a taxi/carriage, bicycle, or horse rental unless you plan to walk, which is a very viable option. (A private tour with Mackinac Island Carriage Company is my favorite.)
• Head off the main street, to get away from the crowd, and see the beauty of the Victorian architect and lush landscaping.
• Cross the Grand Hotel porch. There is a $5 cost to walk across if you are not on a tour…it doesn’t seem like a thing…but it is a great view and it is interesting to hear the history of the hotel and its beautifully manicured front lawns. This is where the movie “Somewhere in Time” was filmed.
• Follow along the West Bluff to see more great victorian architecture and historic mansions. The tour guide shares the history of the homes and their owners. I am more into nature, but this tour fascinates me.
• Wind through some back trails. Stop for photos of wildflowers or whatever catches your eye.
• Climb up to Fort Holmes for the view or stop on the East Bluff for the same view … just not all the way up the hill.
• Arch rock is a great stop as well if it fits in your timeframe.
• Get dropped off at the back entrance of Fort Mackinac. The tour of the Fort is a great way to learn the history of the island and its people.
• Head down the hill from the fort to the quaint grocery store on the corner to buy some snacks to enjoy on the Fort Mackinac lawn.
• Continue on to the main street for some good drinks, good eats, and of course some fudge. (souvenirs too if you are into that)

Other options — Self-guided biking, walking, self-driven carriages, or horseback around the perimeter of the island and the inland nature trails. If you do opt for these self-guided nature trails — and your group likes to go as deep into nature as they can — I suggest you position yourself at the front of your group. It is hard to navigate the trails and watch for the snapbacks of the branches, trust me!

Other Interesting Opportunities

Main Street is filled with fudge shops, souvenir shops, bars, restaurants, and hotels. You might also like the Welcome Center and the butterfly house. You can’t miss the marina and the bike and horse rentals. IF you do, there are easy to find information stations with maps and helpful advice.

If you visit during the right week in June, you may enjoy the festivities of their famous Lilac Festival. I try to go the week before or after that…again, trying to avoid the crowd as much as possible. In July, there is a boat race — Race to Mackinac — that comes in from Chicago. Another busy, but exciting time.

The winter season is nice, as well. There are very few people that stay on the island for the winter and sometimes there is no ferry running, so it is at times — snowmobile and beware.

Official Planning Guide for Mackinac Island

The Surrounding Area

Two of the Great Lakes meet under the Mackinac Bridge. Lake Huron and Lake Michigan. Lake Superior is about 45 minutes away. There is a lot of shoreline and wilderness to explore in all seasons. (I vote summer as the best, but even then, don’t count on consistently high temps.)

There is a lot of adventure awaiting by land and by lake in the surrounding area. I am biased toward the Upper Peninsula, home of the Les Cheneaux Islands —with smells of cedar trees. The Lower Peninsula is great too, but it smells more like cherries.

Great Guide to the Upper Peninsula of Michigan Great Guide to Michigan

I hope you enjoyed this virtual photo tour. I have some more coming soon. Travel and writing are two of my favorite things to do, but I also write about many other topics. Read more if you like…

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