How to Visit Mackinac Island
Mackinac (pronounced "Mackinaw") Island is a jewel of a resort destination, nestled at the top of the "mitten" in between Michigan's Lower and Upper Peninsulas. Whether you want to revel in Victorian romanticism, explore Revolutionary War forts or spend the day cross-country skiing in a winter wonderland cut off from the world, here's what you need to know to visit Mackinac Island.
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Instructions
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Choose your season. Summer is prime tourist time on Mackinac Island, with all the island's amenities up and humming. It's also the most crowded season, so think about the spring or fall edge seasons for fewer tourists and better deals. In winter, Mackinac Island can be cut off from the world, but if you can get there (by small plane or for a brief, magical time in February, by an ice bridge) the skiing is great and the fireside cuddling unbeatably romantic.
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Leave your car behind. One of Mackinac Island's distinctive charms is its freedom from automobile traffic. Transportation around the island's 8.5-mile circumference is limited to horse-drawn carriages, bicycles and foot traffic. You can rent bikes or bring your own.
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Select your accommodations. You can stay any number of luxurious lakeside resort hotels or quaint and charming Victorian bed-and-breakfasts. The Grand Hotel, which served as the setting for the classic romantic movie "Somewhere in Time," is rated as one of the world's top 100 resort hotels; call (800) 33-GRAND for reservations. For longer stays or family accommodations, talk to Mackinac Resort Management about apartment, condo or home rentals; reach them at (800) 473-6960.
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Reach your destination. Mackinac Island is surrounded by water and accessible most of the year only by ferry from the towns of Mackinaw City, on the Lower Peninsula, or St. Ignace, on the Upper Peninsula. You can leave your car, short-term or long-term, at parking facilities at either terminal. By air, connect through Detroit to Pellston Airport; taxi connections are available to the Mackinaw City ferry dock.
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Plan your visit to take in the best of Mackinac Island's attractions and events. The annual Lilac Festival in June combines the heady perfume of late-spring flowers with the world's longest all-horse-hitch parade. Throughout the season, families and history buffs will enjoy the island's parks and historic sites, like Fort Mackinac, a British outpost in the Revolutionary War. Hike, bike, eat and shop for everything from antiques to the island's world-renowned fudge.
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Tips & Warnings
Start planning your visit by requesting a Visitors Package from Mackinac.com.
Don't worry if Mackinac Island locals (there are 600 or so who live there year-round) call you a "fudgie." That's the nickname for tourists, who buy so much of the island's special confection.
An exception to the ban on motorized transport is made for visitors with disabilities, who can use the island's carts, scooters and specially-designed carriages to reach attractions and accommodations that are fully accessible.
Camping is not permitted on Mackinac Island. Dogs on leashes are welcome for day visits at most island parks and attractions, but overnight accommodations that accept pets may be limited and fill up quickly.
