Michigan Vacation: Getaway to Mackinac Island

Mackinac Island is a great place to retreat to if you want to see historic beauty. National Geographic has honored the island as one of the ten finest state parks in America. This is a no-cars-allowed island so you will hear horse hooves on the streets and see people walking or bicycling to wherever they want to go all over the island, which is about 8.3 miles. You can also explore the island with your own saddle horse or horse and buggy rented from Jack's Livery Stable.

The atmosphere of this theme park is all natural. There are about 500-600 permanent residents here. Prices to visit here are best in the winter, spring, and fall. If you visit in the summer, dress in layers. Mornings are cool and afternoons are warmer.

Mackinac Island has interesting history. Long ago, not long after the retreat of the last glacier, natives observed the island which had unusually high bluffs. They thought it looked like a large reptile and called it mish-la-mack-in-naw (big turtle).

Because people always seem to have to fight over dirt and man-made borders, a British force landed on the far north of Mackinac Island in 1812 and forced the U.S. to surrender Fort Mackinac, even though the U.S. had gotten the area by treaty.

Two years later, in 1814, Americans tried to regain the island but failed. The British and Americans fought the battle in the vicinity of the present site of the Wawashkamo Golf Course. In 1815 the Americans gained the island by treaty once again. Now open to the public and built in 1898, Wawashkamo Golf Club is perfect for the golfer looking for a truly unique experience.

You can get to the island by first driving to Mackinaw City or St. Ignace. Once there, you need to take a ferry over to the island. We drove across the very impressive, expansive Mackinac Bridge. This bridge spans about five miles between the Lower and Upper Peninsula and connects the two communities. We then parked on the mainland at the ferry dock and purchased tickets to take the ferry.

Every day, for over 55 years, the ferries have taken guests to the island. It takes about 16 minutes to get there. Ferries depart from both Mackinac City and St. Ignace. The ride was enjoyable and the scenery was beautiful.

There are several events that take place from May through October. Held June 8-17 is the 58th annual Mackinac Island Lilac Festival. Mackinac's lilac collection, which began in 1949, is celebrated. Included in the festivities is wine tasting, street dancing, lilac symposium with the International Lilac Society, musical performances, Lilac Festival 10K, the dog and pony show, and all horse hitch grand parade.

There are plenty of places to stay on Mackinac Island. There are a great selection of unique hotel and resort properties to choose from. Some of the finest bed and breakfasts and inns are found here. If you take your family, condos are a good option for your needs. You also have the option to rent a home or cottage here if you plan to spend the summer vacation.

There are numerous shops on the main streets of Mackinac Island. Find a gift at one of the many gift shops. Take in the art, or buy a nice painting or photo at one of the art galleries. Forget about watching your weight since the allure of several fudge shops are sure to make your mouth water. This is fudge that can not be resisted! There are churches to view and be married in. Several restaurants are placed along the way to stop in for delectable foods. I enjoyed window shopping and a very good latte in a delicious coffee shop.

We viewed the exotic giant insect exhibit that could make anyone crawl! We took a leisurely stroll through the Butterfly House, which houses hundreds of beautiful butterflies. It is the third oldest live butterfly exhibit in the U.S. This facility has 1800 sq ft fo tropical garden filled with butterflies from around the world.

It was like walking through a fairy tale, where butterflies drifted and fluttered all around, dancing in the tropical air and landing on fragrant flowers. There was a waterfall in the center of the garden. This attraction was a nice highlight to my trip to Mackinac Island.

It can be a little crowded on the streets of Mackinac Island. Mostly I enjoyed the boat docks on the waterfront, sandy beaches to stroll on, boardwalks along the lakefront, and stunning Victorian homes and buildings. It was like stepping back in time into the 1800's but with all the comforts of home. The flower gardens and landscaping all over the island are spectacular. This vacation paradise is one I won't soon forget and hope to see again.