6/27 - Mackinac Island

The weather turned out to be perfect....blue skies and temperature in the upper 60's.  We took the campground's free shuttle to the ferry, got in the obligatory lines and finally made it to the island 1 1/2 hours later. The line to get on the ferry was very long so only 20 minutes of that time was the actual ferry ride.

Star Line's Hydro-Jet Ferry

The downtown shoreline greeting visitors

We were warned to sign in at the carriage rides right away which was good advice.  Even doing it as soon as we got off the ferry, we still had another 1 1/2 hours to wait.  We had an exploratory walk around the downtown area with its very attractive houses and shops, many with outstanding gardens and pots of flowers.  Knowing we wouldn't be able to fit a real lunch into our schedule, we found a little hot dog place and ate on a bench.  It was a great place to watch everything going on......people, dogs, bicycles, horses and carriages (there were lots of all of them).  

One of the well-flowered houses

The island allows no motor vehicle traffic except for a few emergency vehicles, an ambulance and fire truck being the most important. Everything that comes onto the island is delivered by horse-drawn flatbed wagons.  We watched cases of booze being rolled down a ramp from the wagon to the basement of the purchasing establishment. It brought to mind the days of the 1800's before trucks took over.

Rolling cases of booze from wagon to basement

The carriage ride around the island was in two parts.  The first section was in a carriage drawn by two draft horses. The driver gave a running commentary on what we were seeing as she skillfully guided the carriage through streets jammed with bicycles and pedestrians going every which way and other horse-drawn carriages going the opposite direction.  I'm sure the horses are well aware of where they're supposed to turn but passing on-coming carriages with mere inches to spare looked nerve-wracking.  

The Grand Hotel's fancy carriage with well dressed horses

We drove by the Grand Hotel, and grand it really is.  It has grown to 393 rooms over the years and, according to our guide, makes changes and adds more things every year.  It sounds like an incredibly snooty place, charging fees to see any part of it (like $10 to view the gardens).  No one is allowed to wear cut-offs or tank tops (which is nice), and the required after-six attire is coats and ties for men, dresses or pant-suits for women.  No need to wonder if we considered going for dinner.

The Grand Hotel in all its glory

The hotel used to house its own horses on site but a few years ago built a beautiful big stables further away.  I can't remember for certain what the tour guide said, but I think it had something to do with the smell. Imagine that.  We got a glimpse of the new stables and could have gone through them but opted out of the extra walking required.


After getting out at a complex which included the ever-present gift shops and other places to spend money, we got the second carriage of the day.  It was a much larger, 35-passenger job pulled by three very large draft horses. They were all big but the prize-winner was a gorgeous paint, 18 1/2 hands high which is quite unusual.  He knew he was beautiful, too....very proud of himself.  

Our team of three with Chase (the big paint) having a laugh

The second carriage took us through the woods and hills of the Mackinac State Park to Arch Rock.  It's a limestone arch at one edge of the island which is nearing the end of its life.  The tour guide said it changes noticeably every year as it continues to disintegrate. Our stop at the rock was very brief, literally only 5 minutes.  Everyone was duly warned but two passengers never reappeared so, after 3 extra minutes, were left behind to find their own way back. We wondered how long it would take them to get another ride because all the carriages were filled before leaving the previous stop.  Dumb move.

Arch Rock overlooking Lake Huron

We left the carriage at Fort Mackinac which looks out over the Straits and Lake Huron. This is where the fort at Michilimackinac on the south shore of the Straits was moved to in 1781 because it was a less vulnerable location. It's a lovely place and must have been a choice assignment for anyone lucky enough to be stationed there.  The fort was in use until 1895 when the army finally closed it down.  

Fort Mackinac with corner of barracks and officers' quarters across the parade grounds

While at the fort we learned the meaning of the word Michilimackinac.  Michili means "great" and mackinac means "turtle."  There's a legend about why the Indians named the island Great Turtle but I'm not going to go into it, mainly because I can't remember enough of the story to retell it. :-D

Fort Mackinac at top of hill with long walkway leading to town

Instead of walking up a whole lot of steps to get to our third carriage to ride back to the center of town, we decided to walk down the long hill and enjoy the view.  We also got to see a lot more horses and carriages and people and bicycles.  We were told earlier that it was extremely crowded today because....aren't we lucky....Tuesdays are the busiest days. Add to that the fact that yesterday's lousy weather probably caused people to wait another day before visiting and it made for a whole lot more tourists than we've seen in one place in a long time.  

Doud's Market, 1884 - America's oldest grocery store, and sidewalk packed with people

Chippewa Hotel with nary a spot to park a bike

We were able to catch a ferry back to the mainland with a minimal wait, and our campground's return shuttle was waiting for us and dozens of our fellow campers when we arrived.  Mackinac Island is really beautiful and well worth seeing.  It was a lovely day. And now we're exhausted.


Tomorrow we move 67 miles to DeTour Village on the Saint Mary's River near where it enters Lake Huron.  We'll be there a week with the plan being to do a lot of relaxing, fishing and kayaking.  However, the weather forecast is looking ominous so there may be more reading than boating being done.