How to Find Hotels in Mackinac Island, Michigan

Mackinac Island rests between Michigan's Upper and Lower Peninsulas. Nearly Arctic in winter and home to only 500 year-round residents, Mackinac (pronounced Mackinaw) flourishes during the warmer months as a resort straight out of the Victorian era.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Credit card
• Computer with Internet access

Find Accommodations

1. Consult the Mackinac Island Tourism Bureau for lodging information. Visit their Web site (see Resources below) or call them toll-free at [phone].
2. Spend your vacation in a cottage. The cottages offer cozy atmospheres that embody the quaint spirit of the island. You still will have access to any modern amenities you may need.
3. Stay at a bed and breakfast. Mackinac Island has many to choose from. Mom-and-pop accommodations and a nice breakfast in the morning will make you feel at home.
4. Book a room at a local hotel. These hotels come with able staffs and all the traditional services. However, in accordance with Mackinac's Victorian sensibilities, some impose a formal dress code in the evenings.
5. Stay in one a historic hotel. These upscale accommodations by the harbor have added some modern conveniences while retaining their old-fashioned charm.

Discover Mackinac Island

6. Time travel. Walk through Mackinac Island and step into the Victorian era. Most of the landmarks on the island were built more than a century ago.
7. Hike or horseback ride along the many trails, many of them over 100 years old.
8. Gorge on fudge. Candymaking on Mackinac goes back to the 1800's and many of the island's fudge makers still adhere to the original recipes. Locals often refer to tourists as "Fudgies" because so many people visit just for the candy.

Getting Around

9. Ferry to the island. In the spring, summer and fall, ferries make frequent trips between the Mackinac and the Michigan coast.
10. Leave your car on the Michigan mainland. Mackinac Island does not allow motor vehicles, so your traveling options are limited. However, almost everything is close enough to reach by foot.
11. Ride a horse-drawn carriage around the island. Mackinac Island is famous for the horse-and-buggy trips it provides to all the area's attractions. There is even a Surrey Hills carriage museum on the island.

Tips & Warnings

• There is no ferry service to Mackinac Island during the winter.