Grand Mackinac Island, Michigan

This week, we're checking off another Bucket List Destination! And we're doing it on Stacie's Birthday! Join us for a fantastic day exploring amazing, historic and very unique Mackinac Island, Michigan.

This jewel of the Great Lakes is recommended by many travelers as a must visit Summer destination and an ideal vacation spot.

We'll take the Mighty Mac Shepler's ferry from Mackinaw City MI on the mainland, under the Mackinac Bridge (via 2 of the Great Lakes: Lake Michigan and Lake Huron) and we'll spend the entire day exploring Mackinac Island by foot and horse-drawn carriage.

Some of the places we'll explore on Mackinac Island include the main Street, the original Market Street, Mackinac Island State Park, Arch Rock, and the Grand Hotel.

In this video we also share Mackinac Island stories we learned, parking tips, island history, and how to save money when you visit Mackinac Island.

A visit to Mackinac Island was the PERFECT way to spend a bucket list Birthday! We had a GREAT time! Definitely add Mackinac Island to your travel bucket list as you RV America Y'all!

Why is Mackinac Island a Travel Destination?

Automobiles were banned here in 1898. All transportation is by foot, bicycle or horse (except for emergency vehicles).
Mackinac Island was home to 2 battles during the War of 1812.
Between 1875 and 1895, Mackinac Island was home to America's 2nd National Park (Mackinac National Park).
When the National Park System withdrew, Mackinac Island State Park became Michigan's 1st State Park.
Over 80% of Mackinac Island is State Park land.
Every room at the Grand Hotel is unique.
The Grand Hotel is also home to the Longest Front Porch in the World
Though less than 4 square miles, Mackinac Island hosts 70 miles of roads and trails to explore.
The entire island is a National Historic Landmark.
Less than 600 residents live on Mackinac Island year round.
Almost 1 Million tourists visit Mackinac Island each year.
All of those visitors come to the island between May and October.
Mackinac Island was named the #1 Best Summer Travel Destination by the USA Today Readers' Choice Poll in 2023.
Mackinac Island was also named the #1 Best Island in the Continental USA by Travel + Leisure Magazine in 2022.

5 Unique Things To Do On Mackinac Island

Explore the island by Horse-Drawn Carriage Ride, Bicycle or On Foot.
Enjoy the Grand Luncheon Experience at the Historic Grand Hotel.
Visit Michigan's First State Park.
Eat Your Weight In World-Famous Mackinac Island Fudge.
Play a Round of Golf on a 19th Century Course.

Mentioned In This Episode

Places We Enjoyed On Mackinac Island

Shepler's Ferry

Mackinac Island Carriage Tours (1948)

Mackinac Island State Park (1895)

The Grand Hotel (1887)

Murdick's Fudge (1887) - Mackinac Island's Original Fudge Shop

Doud's Market (1884) - "America's Oldest Grocery Store"

Places We Want to Visit In The Future

Great Turtle Brewery and Distillery

Wawashkamo Golf Club (1898)

Mackinac Island Historic Parks

We also want to tour Mackinac Island by bicycle, walk the nature trails and spend more time at the State Park to tour historic Fort Mackinac, the blacksmith shops and all of the other historic buildings.

So much to do for such a small island! We might have to make several trips.

Ferry Ride to Mackinac Island

This is the second of our 3-part video series documenting this visit to Northern Michigan. We also documented our visit to historic Petoskey, Michigan and all of the other fun and unique things we did in the area during our 8 night stay.

Tips for Visiting Mackinac Island

Mackinac Island is only accessible to visitors by ferry. There are no bridges or roads leading to the island.

Arrive at the ferry terminal in Mackinaw City as early in the day as possible to beat some of the crowds. Ferry lines can get long fast and the island can become crowded early during the prime season.

We were able to park for FREE in the day use parking area for Shepler's Ferry. There is a separate parking area for folks spending the night on Mackinac Island.

If you are interested in a horse-drawn carriage ride around the island, head straight to the carriage ticket kiosk when you get off the ferry. To find the carriage ticket kiosk, take a right from the ferry terminal and walk down the street, the carriage ride kiosk will be on the left in an alley that runs between buildings.

The horse-drawn carriages are a GREAT way to learn about the island's history and residents while getting an overview of everything that it has to offer.

At the time of our visit, e-bikes were not allowed on the ferry, but non-electric bikes were.

We really enjoyed the Grand Luncheon Experience at the Grand Hotel. The Grand Hotel is known as much for its dining experiences as it is for its lodging. During our visit, we didn't need reservations. But check with the hotel ahead of time to see if reservations would help during your trip.

Make sure to show up HUNGRY for the Grand Luncheon... there is a ton of good food to choose from.

You don't have to be a guest at the Grand Hotel to enjoy the luncheon. It's pricey, but special. Plus, Grand Luncheon customers get access to the Hotel grounds for the day.

And speaking of the day... Don't try to see everything in one day! This might be a small island, but there is A LOT to see and do. Enjoy what you have time for and plan to visit again in the future.