Mackinac Island: Great Getaway for Families

First, some historical details ... although you'll see both Mackinac and Mackinaw spellings used, the correct pronunciation is always "MacinAW". This is because the name was given to the area by the original Indiana occupants, but the French settlers then attempted to spell the name using their phonetics. For overnight accomodations, I recommend Mackinaw City ( just on the edge of Michigan before crossing Lake Huron to the island) because hotel rates there are much more reasonable than those on the island.

We packed our bikes and brought them along, and were able to bring them over on the ferry with us for $7.50 each. We liked doing this, but if you'd like to bike on the island without bringing your bike along, you can rent them several places on the island for about $5 per hour. We took the earliest morning ferry over at 8 a.m. and our 20 minute ride found us enjoying the views of Mackinac Bridge on our left as we approached the island.

I had been a bit concerned that the children would get too tired biking. However, this proved to be unfounded. We immediately set off riding the 8-mile perimeter of the island, and the kids did this without breaking a sweat. Along the way, we were treated to beautiful views of Lake Huron, numerous seagulls, chipmunks and bunnies frequently crossing our paths, and various awe-inspiring rock formations such as Arch Rock and Devil's Kitchen.

There are bike paths all over the interior of the island as well. We passed by several people on horseback, and many horse-drawn carriages which must travel along all the island paths. The breeze from the lake kept the weather very pleasant, even though it was the hottest part of July when we visited.

The "town" part of the island is lined with tourist shops of all types, and numerous eateries. Be sure to try some of the island's specialty, fudge. It is delicious! Another don't-miss is the famous Grand Hotel. We drove around the hotel, but to enter the actual grounds you'll have to pay a fee. There are also streets of beautiful older houses which the occupants keep looking wonderful with colorful flowers and flags.

There is a Butterfly House to explore (although we did not), and Fort Mackinac atop the highest part of the island. We walked up to the fort and really enjoyed the historical reinactments which occured frequently throughout the day. There was a special short tour of the fort area for children. Numerous buildings in the fort had hands-on activities perfect for children.

We headed back to the mainland at 6 that evening, tired but full of fun memories of the day. I highly recommend Mackinac Island as a destination for families with elementary-age children. The blend of scenery, activities and history make it hard to beat!