Mackinac Island: A Great Lakes Cruise Destination

Mackinac Island is a jewel in the middle of the Great Lakes and is a port of call for many Great Lakes cruises. The island is located nearly in the center of the Lakes, making it an easy stop for cruise ships.

Centuries ago Mackinac Island was recognized by the natives as a holy place, a place to meet and bury their most important and honored chiefs. The first Europeans visited the island in the 1600s. These were explorers, missionaries and fur traders, the famed “Voyageurs” of that era.

Today, Great Lakes cruise ships regularly stop and let passengers visit and tour the island fort along with the host of local shops and businesses that line the main street. There is also ferry service available from the mainland for those who want to visit but have no interest in cruising the Lakes. There are several ferry services available and both luxury cruise ships and local ferries regularly stop here.

Mackinac Island is non-motorized, meaning that motorized vehicles are restricted to emergency uses only. So cruisers should plan to walk or rent bicycles, horses, or catch a buggy ride, all of which are readily available on the island.

Great Lakes cruise passengers will find that besides touring the fort or shopping, there is always a trip to sample the world famous Mackinac Island Fudge which is made fresh daily in an island shop. The historic areas of town also host regular demonstrations of early American crafts, and cruisers might find the tour of the island’s reputedly haunted locations interesting.

If passengers haven’t had enough of cruising the Lakes, there are higher observation points where one can look down on the harbor area and watch the flow of Great Lakes cruise ships and local ferries as they bring passengers on and off the island.

Then there is the butterfly house. Many people don’t know that the 3rd oldest live butterfly exhibit in the country is located on Mackinac Island. This is an 1800 square foot tropical garden filled with hundreds of different butterflies. A butterfly house is odd thing to find in a Northern climate, and Mackinac Island is perhaps an even odder location to find it, but this is an exhibit that is well worth the visit. It’s this type of unique flavor that makes Great Lakes Cruises different from any others.

Great Lakes cruisers will find there are four very small malls on the island and a number of other shops. None of these are large stores, and most of them are only open seasonally. The thing to remember about this place is that it closes for the winter and the only way to reach the mainland after the lakes freeze over is by snowmobile. As with all other ports on the Lakes, Summer belongs to cruising and winter belongs to sitting at home by the fire.

What To Do In Mackinac Island, Michigan

An idyllic island in northern Michigan, Mackinac Island is the perfect destination for a summer trip. With “staycations” en vogue this summer, more Michiganders are staying closer to home and taking time to enjoy the incredible variety of adventures the state offers.

Skip out of work early on a Friday afternoon to head up north. Bonus points if you can go up on Thursday to avoid weekend traffic. The drive up I-75 is quick and pleasant, and a stop off at the Birch Run Outlet Mall for snacks and a stretch break gives you a good excuse to do a bit of shopping on your way. Gaylord and Grayling are good stops for a quick gas re-fueling stop.

Three ferries companies offer transportation to the island. No cars are permitted on the island, with the exception of emergency service and public utility vehicles, so bring good walking shoes for biking and walking. Check out the ferry schedules for Arnold, Sheplers and Star Lineahead of time, and watch their websites for coupons. Make sure you plan on enough driving time in order to beat the last ferry of the day. Ferries depart from Mackinaw City and from St. Ignace, which is just over the Mackinaw Bridge. If you’re not into ferries, a plane offers flights from St. Ignace for about the price of a ferry ticket.

If you have a bit of time to kill in Mackinac City, visit the bakery (it’s the only one in town) and pick up some great muffins and home made cookies. Check out the beach near the base of the Mackinac Bridge for some great photo ops, and take a minute to tour the newly-opened marina. If you’re feeling adventurous, parasailing companies offer a birds-eye view of the straits of Mackinac. When it’s time to catch the ferry, let the ferry staff know where you are heading, so they can help direct your luggage to your hotel. The island is host to a number of historical hotels and bed and breakfasts- the most famous of them being The Grand Hotel. This Victorian destination, with its white pillars and sweeping front porch, offers old-fashioned charm, decadent cuisine, and an amazing golf course. Mission Point Resort and the Island House are also popular hotels on the island.

Once you dock on the island, after disembarking, the first thing you’ll notice is the smell. The aroma of fudge wafts throughout the downtown. If you’re lucky enough to visit during lilac festival, held each June, you’ll also smell the abundance of flowers on the island. You’ll be greeted with the “clip-clop” of horse’s hooves and the chiming of bells on bicycles.

Settle into your hotel, then take a bike tour around the island- the eight mile paved trail- a state highway, in fact- winds around the island taking you through the downtown, near Mission Point resort, and up to British Landing on the north side of the island. Take a break to walk up the flights of stairs to Arch Rock, a natural rock formation that forms an arch overlooking the lake. Bike around to the west side where you have a beautiful view of the bridge, and head back towards downtown. Take a minute on your way back to stop into the public library and rest for a few minutes in their rocking chairs on the back porch. You’ll often see bright kites twisting and turning in the wind near the library.

After your bike tour, enjoy a meal at the Pink Pony Restaurant. Ask for a seat on the deck or near a window so you can look out onto the marina and watch the ferries docking. Stroll through town, sample some fudge, and stop in Caddywampas, an eclectic toy and novelty shop that offers such oddities as ice cub makers shaped like ships, toasters that leave imprints of various shapes, and silverware long enough to reach across a table with. In the evening, enjoy an ice cream cone and wander near the beach downtown to view the sparkling lights on the Mackinac Bridge. St. Ignace shoots off fireworks on weekends in the summer, and they may be viewed from the west side of the island. If you’re staying or dining at the Grand Hotel in the evening, pack formal attire, as the hotel has a dress code. It’s easy to spot what visitors are staying at “The Grand” based on their attire.

A horseback ride or horse and carriage tours are pleasant ways to tour Mackinac Island. You can rent carriages to travel around the island, or you may take a guided tour, with a host who describes the landmarks and attractions you are viewing. Fort Mackinac is a must-see destination, with actors in costume reenacting life a hundred years ago. The Grand Hotel runs a tea room at the fort, which offers beautiful views of the lake and the harbor below. The butterfly house, located near St. Anne’s Church, is also a popular destination.

Labels: st anne mackinac island michigan, arnold transit company mackinac island ferry, great lakes islands, horseback riding mackinac island


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