As I grew up in Michigan I have had several opportunities to visit Mackinaw Island in the past. It's a very charming if not Victorian type community located to the right of the tip of the Michigan glove. 
You could really miss the island on the map unless you have previously heard of the following things that make it famous: the Grand Hotel, the Governor's Mansion, Somewhere in Time or fudge. Yes, they make world famous fudge. In my opinion, it just might be the best ever. Mackinaw Island is unique in that no motor vehicles are permitted on the island. So that means you have a couple of options for travelling. You can either find a horse, find a bike or use the legs God gave you and walk. The island isn't very big, only about 5 miles around, so any of these options shouldn't put a person out. While I have been to the island before my hubby, a native of California had not. So we took two days from our recent Yooper trip to visit the island. 
I had never stayed at the Grand Hotel. I have seen it but have never been in since if you are not a guest of the hotel they charge you $10 to enter the grounds. My mother and I were very excited to book one night's stay at the hotel. Going to this hotel is not like going to your local Motel 6. For this hotel men have to wear coat and ties after 6pm, guest must adhere to a strict dress code by day
and by golly, the place is friggin' over 100 years old! You can't help wondering as you are walking through the hotel if this is what it was like to stay there 100 years ago? Suffice, to say all four of us (Mom, Dad, hubby and myself) had a great time. We went during the games and garden week so there was a ton of old timey and new timey games to play like bocce ball, croquet, bike riding tennis and swimming. The landscape was lush with flowers and plants. The Esther Williams pool inviting and warm to swim in. Everywhere you looked it was a feast for your eyes and when breakfast, lunch and dinner came around, a feast for your tummy. I think everyone should go there at least once. You go and you get sucked into this little world. Its just so pleasant you can' help but want to stay there forever. Hollywood even filmed a movie there with Christopher Reeve and immortalized the island. 
The night we stayed we just happened to catch the film playing at the hotel. Now we are all scared of pennies. If you don't know what that means you have to rent the movie. All in all it was a good time. Here are a couple of photos to share.
You could really miss the island on the map unless you have previously heard of the following things that make it famous: the Grand Hotel, the Governor's Mansion, Somewhere in Time or fudge. Yes, they make world famous fudge. In my opinion, it just might be the best ever. Mackinaw Island is unique in that no motor vehicles are permitted on the island. So that means you have a couple of options for travelling. You can either find a horse, find a bike or use the legs God gave you and walk. The island isn't very big, only about 5 miles around, so any of these options shouldn't put a person out. While I have been to the island before my hubby, a native of California had not. So we took two days from our recent Yooper trip to visit the island. 
I had never stayed at the Grand Hotel. I have seen it but have never been in since if you are not a guest of the hotel they charge you $10 to enter the grounds. My mother and I were very excited to book one night's stay at the hotel. Going to this hotel is not like going to your local Motel 6. For this hotel men have to wear coat and ties after 6pm, guest must adhere to a strict dress code by day
and by golly, the place is friggin' over 100 years old! You can't help wondering as you are walking through the hotel if this is what it was like to stay there 100 years ago? Suffice, to say all four of us (Mom, Dad, hubby and myself) had a great time. We went during the games and garden week so there was a ton of old timey and new timey games to play like bocce ball, croquet, bike riding tennis and swimming. The landscape was lush with flowers and plants. The Esther Williams pool inviting and warm to swim in. Everywhere you looked it was a feast for your eyes and when breakfast, lunch and dinner came around, a feast for your tummy. I think everyone should go there at least once. You go and you get sucked into this little world. Its just so pleasant you can' help but want to stay there forever. Hollywood even filmed a movie there with Christopher Reeve and immortalized the island. 
The night we stayed we just happened to catch the film playing at the hotel. Now we are all scared of pennies. If you don't know what that means you have to rent the movie. All in all it was a good time. Here are a couple of photos to share.
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