Mackinaw island

[Jim2007]

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

[dieseltruckdriv]

I agree with the whole UP worth seeing. Also, no one mentioned all the lighthouses they have have there.

[Deb_and_Ed_M]

A little hidden gem of a town (while you're in the area): go over the bridge on 75, to eastbound 134. Follow to the little town of Hessel, right on Lake Huron. Great restaurants/shops; and a wood boat museum (think Chris Craft). A bit farther east is the town of Cedarville and Loon's Point RV park with waterfront sites. Overlooks the Les Cheneaux (Channel) islands - ideal paddling territory!

[Trekkar]

Mackinac Island was the 2nd national park following Yellowstone.
First Nations tribes (Ojibwa) believed at one time that this was the first land to appear after the Great Flood. Much to see and do once you get outside of the tourist trap area. That pungent fragrance dissipates somewhat once you get out of town.:)

[tatest]

Been to Mackinac Island four times in the past 60 years, twice since 2012 (one time staying two nights at Grand Hotel before new owners turned it into a day-tourist destination). What else is there? If you are interested in history, there is a restored fort in Mackinaw City. Beyond that, it depends on what you mean by "the area." For me, "the area" is the whole Upper Peninsula, my interests are geology, history, natural science, and the U.P. has kept me busy for several trips of two to six weeks in the summer. But that scope is Ironwood to Copper Harbor to Sault Sainte Marie to St Ignace, Mackinac Island and Mackinaw City, which involves a lot of travel.

There is a whole lot more to see and do in the Lower Peninsula, 25 years of living there and making summer vacation trips, never managed to see it all.

[garmp]

2X on Wilderness SP. And St. Ignace, the port city of the Starr Line Ferry is a quaint, very nice town. Where we had lunch the waitresses t-shirts left an impression on us. .
Want to return again!

[JoeH]

We spent a day there a few years ago. As mentioned previously, very odoriferous and touristy. We took one of the carriage tours which gives you a good overview of sights and things to do on the island. Then we walked around on our own. I'm glad we went, but once is enough for us.

[dalenoel]

Some don't like the island but we tend to go back every 5 years or so for the other things in the area. If you are looking for native american things you will also find that both sides of the bridge.

[hornet28]

midnightsadie wrote:
going across the soo bridge will be in my mind forever ,24ft bornfree first in line being escorted across because of wind. 10mph and you can watch the bridge swing side to side. and I hahe being off the ground. it was pretty .

Do you mean the bridge at the Soo going to Canada or the Big Mac from the lower to the UP. With an escort I'm thinking the Big Mac

[midnightsadie]

going across the soo bridge will be in my mind forever ,24ft bornfree first in line being escorted across because of wind. 10mph and you can watch the bridge swing side to side. and I hahe being off the ground. it was pretty .

[ktosv]

Oldmaple wrote:
Bikes definitely make it more interesting. We've always enjoyed the road back through the center of the island. Poking about in the cemeteries. We enjoy history which there is a lot of there. Also lots of "touristy" stuff.

There is more to see and do than just downtown on the island. As mentioned, doing the island by bike is a great way to see some things. Bike to arch rock and Sugerloaf near the middle. There are single tracks for mountain biking. Bike to the north end of the island and have a picnic on the beach.

This weekend Star Lines is doing their annual sale...half off ferry tickets which is a great deal.

Plenty of other things to see and do on the mainland, both lower and upper peninsula.

[Oldmaple]

Bikes definitely make it more interesting. We've always enjoyed the road back through the center of the island. Poking about in the cemeteries. We enjoy history which there is a lot of there. Also lots of "touristy" stuff.

[sch911]

Other things in that area:

The Soo Locks, Sault Ste. Marie, MI
Tahquamenon Falls, Paradise, MI
Whitefish Point & Shipwreck Museum (Edmund Fitzgerald)
Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, Munising, MI

[Veebyes]

Did a day there. Took our bikes & rode right around the island which is bigger than we thought. Town is like so many other touristy places except there is no sound of the internal combustion engine. No tire noise on the streets. Just the sound of people talking, horses walking, & the smell, though there are people with a fulltime job of shovelling the stuff up. Fed Ex truck was not even allowed on the island. Saw it unloaded from the boat straight onto a horse drawn wagon. Like stepping back into another era.

A winter visit might be interesting. Ice road out to the island.

[GeoBoy]

Mich upnorth wrote:
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.

This is what we did this fall, great trip.