Make the most of a day on Mackinac Island

By Greg Tasker

C & G will be featuring stories about Northern Michigan destinations for our readers to explore. This is the first of the EXPLORE series.

MACKINAC ISLAND —Spending a day on Mackinac Island is a rite of summer for many Michiganders.

But most of us, I’m betting, aren’t making the most of that day. We scurry off the ferries right into the heart of downtown Mackinac Island, rent a bicycle for the traditional loop around the island, and then spend a few hours searching for souvenirs and fudge. We might grab a drink or a meal before heading back to the dock.

While it’s always a fun outing, there’s so much more to this Michigan gem than fudge, bicycles and horses. Most of the car-free island is a state park with miles of trails to hike and bike. It’s steeped in centuries of Native American, European and American history. And while Mackinac evokes images of being lost somewhere in time, there’s always something new to check out.

New this season, for example, are: Patrick Doud’s Irish Pub, named after a contractor of Irish descent who helped build a number of important buildings on the island; the Mackinac Island Pizza Co., which serves Detroit-style pizza and is among the restaurants operated by the Grand Hotel; and the Cedar Grove Bike Track, a dirt bike trail designed for children 12 and younger. In the last few years, a distillery, a brewery and a whiskey-themed restaurant and bar have opened as well.

So how do you make the most of a day trip to the island, which was recently named Best Summer Travel Destination in the country by USA Today readers. Here’s a loose itinerary to make sure you enjoy the highlights.

 

9 a.m. — Join a horse-driven tour with Mackinac Island Carriage Tours
This might seem like a no-brainer, but it wasn’t until my third trip to Mackinac that I hopped aboard. What a difference. It’s a leisurely and nearly two-hour excursion that provides a better sense of the island. There are several stops, so you can get off and explore. The company bills itself as the oldest horse and buggy service in the world.   

 

11 a.m. — Explore Fort Mackinac
Perched atop a bluff overlooking the harbor, the limestone fort is a one-of-a-kind attraction in Michigan. Costumed interpreters offer rifle-firing demonstrations and tours, sharing the stories of the Revolutionary War-era fortress. Exhibits share the island’s role in the War of 1812. For a unique experience, make a reservation to shoot an authentic cannon. Cap your visit with refreshments at the Fort Mackinac Tea Room. Run by the Grand Hotel, the Tea Room boasts some of the best views on the island.

Other lunch options: For a more casual break, order a picnic from the Mission Point Picnic Society. Customers select their own fare, everything from crackers and cheese to dips and charcuteries to sandwiches and salads. Lunch sacks also are available. Spread your picnic on Mission Point Resort’s expansive lawn overlooking the Straits of Mackinac. Other options include grabbing prepared foods at Doud’s Market, the island’s only grocer, run by descendants of the aforementioned Patrick Doud. The island is home to a variety of restaurants, most of them can be found along Main Street.

 

1 p.m. — Rent that bicycle
Bike rentals can be found along the village’s Main Street and at some hotels. It’s an 8-mile trek around the island and you can pedal at your own pace. If the views of the Straits of Mackinac, Lake Huron and the Mackinac Bridge aren’t enough to lure you away from the shops, the M-185 loop (it’s an official state highway) passes landmarks like Arch Rock, an unusual rock formation that stands nearly 15 stories high above Lake Huron.

 

3 p.m. — Grand Hotel
It is well worth the short uphill walk from downtown to the Grand, among the last of the big wood-frame hotels in the country. For $10, you can explore the venerable hotel and the grounds. Take time to secure a white wooden rocking chair on the front porch, the world’s longest, and breathe in the mesmerizing views.  The public is welcome to join activities (for a fee) at the Woodlands Activity Center, which includes an 18-hole miniature golf course, and the Cedar Grove Bike Track. Ask about the hotel’s Secret Garden.

 

5 p.m. — Downtown Mackinac Island
Spend some time shopping. You won’t miss the ferries back to the mainland — they leave later in the evening during the peak of summer. Fudge shops here are almost as plentiful as hotels. There’s even a Sanders (btw, you can still find Sanders ice cream toppings here). If you have children, be sure to check out the Original Mackinac Island Butterfly House, where hundreds of butterflies, from around the world, flutter and amuse. I passed through recently with a 3-year-old in tow. She was mesmerized. Before leaving, stop by the Pink Pony (inside the Chippewa Hotel), one of the island’s most famous bars, and toast its 75th anniversary. Cheers.

Greg Tasker is a Traverse City-based freelance writer. Greg’s articles focused on northern Michigan travel will appear in C & G Newspapers during the summer.