Hi All, We are considering going to Mackinaw island next summer. Is there much to see and do there? Also is there other sites to see in the area? Thanks. Jim2007

Ferry to the island. No cars. Horse poo. Neat to spend a day walking around looking at stuff.

Lots. Carriage rides, fudge shops, resturants, and the Grand Hotel and the museum at Mackinaw City plus the bridge Nice area in the summer. Not so nice (unless you are a hunter or snowmobiler in the winter.No vehicles allowed though. You have to take the ferry over.

Like other have said. Take a bike (the ferry accepts them) or rent one on the island. Lot of touristy stuff in town. The horse sh*t smell is overwhelming. Ride the bikes around the island, the smell get's better away from town. There's a small casino on the mainland nearby that allows free camping. We camped at Wilderness state park about 10 miles from the ferry. This is a summer place, I don't know about winter.

We were there around the end of September. Stayed at Mackinaw Mill Campground, which was pretty nice. There is a free shuttle to the Star Line Ferry. It was easy and convenient. I was a little disappointed in Mackinac Island. It's basically a tourist trap type area--lots of shops selling stuff nobody really needs, lots of fudge shops, etc. We didn't find the horse poop bothersome, although it did take a few minutes to get used to seeing piles in the middle of the streets. It was interesting enough that I'm glad we went. We also rode up to Sault Ste. Marie to see the locks. We found that very interesting.

You can tour the Icebreaker Mackinaw in Mackinaw City, Sault Ste Marie for the Soo Locks, Tahquamenon Falls, the ford in Mackinaw City, Mama Mia’s pizza which is a museum of the building of the bridge. If you go down by Traverse City, there is the Sleeping Bear Dunes with lots to see there, and Interlochin fine arts camp. In the Upper Peninsula, at Munising is the Pictured Rocks national lakeshore. There is a boat tour or you can rent a pontoon boat and go by yourself. Ishpeming has the yooper’s tourist trap. Marquette is nice to visit with iron ore loading docks. Copper Harbor area has copper mines. Fayette is an abandoned mining town. Porcupine mountains has the lake of the clouds. If coming from the south, Dearborn has the Henry Ford museum and Greenfield Village. Frankenmuth is a German themed town with Bronners Christmas store. Lots to do in Michigan.

Mackinaw island | Good Sam Community

timjet
Explorer
Nov 21, 2018
Like other have said. Take a bike (the ferry accepts them) or rent one on the island. Lot of touristy stuff in town. The horse sh*t smell is overwhelming. Ride the bikes around the island, the smell get's better away from town. There's a small casino on the mainland nearby that allows free camping. We camped at Wilderness state park about 10 miles from the ferry. This is a summer place, I don't know about winter.
SidecarFlip
Explorer III
Nov 21, 2018
Lots. Carriage rides, fudge shops, resturants, and the Grand Hotel and the museum at Mackinaw City plus the bridge Nice area in the summer. Not so nice (unless you are a hunter or snowmobiler in the winter.

No vehicles allowed though. You have to take the ferry over.
donn0128
Explorer II
Nov 21, 2018
Ferry to the island. No cars. Horse poo. Neat to spend a day walking around looking at stuff.

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