Things to do / Travel Guide
Address:Mackinac Island, Michigan
The coastal social scene at Mackinac Island is a mix of old-moneyed Midwesterners and tourists of all stripes. In fact, folks have flocked to Mackinac for the past two centuries, establishing its solid reputation for good, old-fashioned summering. Situated in the Straits of Mackinac, a bottleneck passage between Michigan's Upper and Lower Peninsulas, the periphery of Mackinac Island is the best place to gaze out onto the glassy, sea-like Lake Huron. Mackinac Island draws its lakeside charm from the Victorian and French Revival architecture of its resort hotels, perched on the shoreline's pristine bluffs. But Mackinac Island also attracts those who like it plain and simple. No motorized vehicles are permitted on Mackinac Island, and eighty percent of the island is part of the preserved Mackinac Island State Park. This makes its scenic shores ideal for hiking, biking, walking, and wildlife observation. Whether you are looking for luxury and class, or prefer a back-to-nature coastal jaunt, Mackinac Island's shores cater to the needs of both the pampered and the hardy traveler.
Tour the eight-mile route that hugs the circumference of Mackinac Island and a true wilderness awaits; Evergreens, juniper, spruce and pine add their shady, aromatic touch to Mackinac Island's charm while orchids color the shoreline. Bird lovers should bring their binoculars; Gulls, herons, geese and loons are a common sight along the Mackinac Island coast. Quiet and serene, Mackinac Island is a welcoming place for nature to do its thing.
If you are looking to spend a day sun bathing, Mackinac Island's resorts are your best bet. Most of the major resorts and hotels have private beaches (and superb lunch and dinner menus.) For a more public beach venue, skipping stones is a favorite pasttime on the pebble-littered shores of Windermere Beach. Every year, on July 4, people of all ages show up on Windermere Beach to prove their stone skipping skills in the annual Stone Skipping Tournament.
You will need to reach Mackinac Island by private boat, small aircraft, or via the shuttle services offered from St. Ignace and Mackinaw City. If you decide to explore the waters further, private ferry cruises are available to tour the Island's lighthouses and wind your way through the straits. To get straight to the bottom of things, snorkeling and scuba diving for maritime relics, at the Straits of Mackinac Shipwreck Preserve, is a great way to get the local lowdown. If freshwater fishing interests you, perch, salmon and walleye are some of the fish that populate the Island's waters.
Want to keep your feet on solid ground? Travel the coastline of Mackinac Island via one of the horse-drawn carriage tours, or strap on a saddle and see Mackinac Island as the French pioneers once did, from the vantage point of a horse. Two-wheeled tourists will enjoy cruising the coastal M-151, the only carless highway in the U.S.
Whether you spend the night in a Lakeview resort or settle down in a cozy B & B, whether you brave the waters of the Mackinac Straits or enjoy the horizon from a coastal cliff, Mackinac Island is a unique escape right in the heart of the good old Midwest.