There are many amazing places to visit in Michigan. With over 3,126 miles of Great Lakes shoreline (more fresh water coastline than any other state) and more than 11,000 lakes and rivers; Michigan is a dream come true for people who enjoy amazing beaches, huge forests, camping, hiking, swimming, boating, fishing, kayaking, waterskiing, snow skiing, snowboarding… well, you get the idea. So if you are looking for an amazing adventure, whether it be a vacation focused on the great outdoors, or something a little more refined, like a visit to one of our amazing resorts, museums, or casinos, Michigan has something for you!
Recently I had the opportunity to visit one of Michigan’s most amazing destinations, Mackinac Island. Every spring, Girl Scouts organizations all over Michigan, give Brownie troops the opportunity to visit Mackinac Island on a mother-daughter trip, as one of their last activities as a Brownie Scout. While they are on the island, they “bridge” to Junior Girl Scouts. Being able to watch the girls bridge from Brownies to Juniors, within the view of the Mighty Mac (the Mackinac Bridge) is such a fantastic experience for moms to share with their daughters. I got to take my older daughter on this trip three years ago, and we had an incredible time. Having done this trip once before, I knew that this trip was going to be something really special to share with Elizabeth.
Mackinac Island is only accessible by boat, or plane (and in winter, when the lake freezes and forms an ice bridge, by snowmobile!) It is situated in the northern part of Lake Huron, off the coast of the Lower Peninsula of Michigan. There are only a few hundred year round residents, but in the summer the population grows exponentially, with people arriving on the island for the tourist season that runs from May through October. It’s not uncommon for the island to have 15,000 plus visitors in a day, during the height of the season.
Most people arrive by ferry, from either Mackinaw City at the tip of the lower peninsula , or from St. Ignace, just over the Mackinac Bridge, in the upper peninsula. There are three ferry lines that run, and the ride to the island is an adventure in and of itself! The ferries are powered by hydro-jet propulsion, and give an enormous plume of water behind the boat as it goes through the water. The ferry ride is just about twenty five minutes long, and is a lot of fun, especially when you are on the top deck, and get to enjoy the incredible view. It was a little rainy and cold, but the girls in the troop wanted the adventure of riding up top. Another mom and I volunteered to take one for the team, and sit up there with the girls.
Before too long, you come in sight of the island, and almost immediately you can start to pick out some of the details and features, which was very exciting for the girls. The main one of course, being the Grand Hotel, which is immediately apparent as one of the most visible landmarks that really stands out on the bluff. You can also catch a glimpse of the historic fort, and many of the gorgeous Victorian homes that dot the island’s hillsides.
As we arrived at the docks on Mackinac Island, the area was full of busy crew helping passengers, tourists checking bags and luggage, and the unmistakable scent of the famous Mackinac Island fudge shops. The crew of the Star Line Ferry were incredibly helpful and efficient. They were delighted at the palpable excitement of our troop of girls, most of whom were visiting the island for the very first time. We disembarked and headed from the docks to Main Street, to find our hotel before our carriage ride to tour the island.
Carriage rides are one of the more relaxing, easygoing activities that you can enjoy on the islands. The whole troop hopped on one of the many carriages that tour the islands right on Main Street. I highly recommend it for a way to get your bearings on the island, and learn some history of the area. The carriages come in all shapes and sizes, but one thing they all have in common, is that they are pulled by horses. It is a long-established fact that motor vehicles are not allowed on the island (except for a scant few emergency vehicles) since 1898. A long ago mayor of Mackinac Island banned motorized vehicles, because they disturbed the horses, and in the generations since, the islanders have seen fit to keep it that way. If you want to get anywhere on the island, you ride by carriage, or bicycle, or you walk. Some people might find it hard to get used to, but I found it absolutely delightful (sore calf muscles notwithstanding!)
The island has a quiet, leisurely pace that would be difficult to find anywhere else. The horses are enormous, sturdy creatures. They are Belgians, or Percherons and work in well-trained teams of two, or three. The carriage drivers are chatty, informative people that act as tour guides/historians. Even though I had been to the island on a prior trip, I learned a number of things that I hadn’t known before. The trip took about two hours, (it’s a small island, but the horses clip-clop along at a fairly sedate pace.)
We passed by Marquette Park, and up on the hill, Fort Mackinac almost immediately. It’s an impressive site, with whitewashed stone walls, and stout buildings kept much as they were back in the Revolutionary War times, when they were built. The fort was built by the British to protect the strategic target of the Straits of Mackinac. It was the scene of two fierce battles during the War of 1812 over control of the Great Lakes. I will tell you more about the fort and its history on the Day 2 post!
Mackinac Island has long been a premier destination spot for special celebrations. Proms, anniversary parties, baby and bridal showers, and especially weddings. There are so many picturesque settings on the island, and there are several churches of various denominations that officiate many weddings and other functions during the island’s tourist season. One of the prettiest is The Little Stone Church, that we passed on our carriage tour. There were guests arriving for a wedding taking place later that day, and it was a beautiful day, in such a lovely spot, that we all commented on it being a day that all of the attendees would surely remember forever.
Later that day, after we finished the tour, we saw the bride and groom from the wedding riding in an open horse-drawn carriage down Main Street. The looks on the faces of our group of nine-year old girls, with stars in their eyes, as they watched them smiling and waving their way down the street was nothing short of delightful. They all gasped and said, “She’s so beautiful! Like a princess!” And really, she was. I can only imagine that she must have felt like a princess in a fairy tale, in that beautiful setting!
The island is peppered with hotels, inns, and bed-and-breakfasts that provide accommodations to guests from all over the country. There are no modern, high-rise hotels to be found on the island. Many of the hotels and resorts date back from the time that the island first became popular as a tourist destination. There are also a number of small inns and B&B’s that can be found on the island, like this one. Many of them are converted Victorian summer homes and vacation cottages. All of them are charming, and have a feel of times gone past. Again, part of Mackinac Island’s ample charm is the feeling you have stepped back into a different era.
One of the most impressive residences on the island is the Governor’s residence. It sits high atop a hill, and boasts an incredible view of the harbor. It is maintained year-round, and is always available to the governor, should he/she decide to visit, or enjoy a brief getaway. It used to be a private residence, but was purchased by the state in 1944 to act as the official summer home of the governor. It has been used to host many state and national functions since its purchase. It is a beautiful, period home that has been opened for tours, from time to time. It wasn’t open during our visit, but hopefully we can see it on a future trip!
The rest of our tour took us through the absolutely beautiful Mackinac State Park, with its lush forests, wildflowers, and wildlife, all beginning to come to life in the springlike weather. (It has been a very cool, damp spring here in Michigan.) Trillium (Michigan’s state flower) were blooming everywhere, along with other gorgeous wildflowers in delicate shades of blue, pink, and lavender. At long last, we arrived at Arch Rock, a natural limestone formation on the southeast coast of the island. It towers 146 feet over the water’s edge, and is absolutely amazing to see in person.
Our guide told us of an Indian legend about how Arch Rock supposedly formed. A young woman who was the daughter of a chief fell in love with a spirit warrior, who had no physical form in our world. When she told her father, he became enraged and stranded her on the island. She stood on the bluff and wept, full of longing for her lost love. Her tears eventually wore away the stone and created the arch that we see today. Her lover came to her from the spirit world when the tunnel was created and took off to his world, as his bride. There are many stories and legends associated with Arch Rock, but that is the one we were told, and it kept our group riveted, thinking about the Indian princess and her forbidden love!
There is a scenic overlook adjacent to Arch Rock that offers one of the most incredible views in Michigan. You look over the blue waters of Lake Huron, as far as the eye can see. The lake bed has many minerals in it, which makes the water appear to have variegated colors, and it’s absolutely stunning.
After our tour, we went back to our hotel, and got ready for dinner. We made our way down Main Street, and the girls unanimously voted for pizza. There are many restaurants, bars, confectioners, ice cream stands and more to choose from, so we were grateful to the girls for making the decision easy for us! After a delicious dinner, we went back to the hotel to let the girls enjoy a swim, and gear up for the big day coming up!
Coming up in Part Two:
- Our tour of the Butterfly House
- Touring Fort Mackinac
- Our incredible afternoon at the Grand Hotel
Check back for pictures and details from Day Two of our trip!
