Mackinac Island

Mackinac Island is only a ferry boat ride away from Mackinaw City. The ride takes you skimming across the Mackinac Straits and docks you on an island filled with bicycles and horse drawn carts and carriages. Besides walking, those are the only modes of transportation allowed on Mackinac Island. No cars!!


It’s amusing to see horses drawing wagons filled with luggage and hotel guests through the streets instead of yellow taxi cabs. There are many cities that offer horse drawn services for tourists, but in those places, the driver and horse have to be ever mindful of traffic and the danger that cars and trucks can impose, but not here! On this island people take restful rides through the quaint village town of Victorian buildings and cottages while listening to the history and stories the drivers tell about this unique place.

For the walking tourist, you just have to remember to watch your step!! Not only from what the horses can leave behind, but also from a speedy bicyclist! Most people rent a bicycle while on the island, or for a small fee, you can bring your own across on the ferry. Horses and bicycles…the streets become a sea of both during the peak of tourist season.



The Streets and Views on Mackinac Island

Fort Mackinac

Marquette Park and Waterside Lodging




Flowers Show Off Their Colors

Frank and I were lucky to have a picture perfect, sunny cool day to visit Mackinac Island. “Rain” has been our middle name, lately! We chose to take the ferry line the kids call “the squirt boat”…the ferry that throws up a high rooster tail! The ride over was about 30 minutes. Arriving on land and relying on our island map, we set out to take it all in. As I have already stated, the streets were a hubbub of activity…sightseeing, shopping, and eating!


Harbor Sights
We walked the main street first and took in all the shops. How many fudge shops and tee shirt shops can there be? Just like in Mackinaw City, many of the same souvenirs were offered. We soon were in search for a quiet place to have lunch and found the perfect place at the Pink Pony. We sat waterside and stayed for a leisurely two hours watching the ferry boats dock and the tourists disembark. We love people watching!

Later in the afternoon, we wound our way through the backstreets and up the hill to the Grand Hotel. More about that in the next chapter!