This small island in the Midwest is car-free and transports visitors back in time, as people travel by horse and buggy.
Located in Lake Huron, Michigan, Mackinac Island feels like something out of a fairy tale with its historic buildings, quaint cottages, and adorable shops.
The island is located directly between Michigan's Upper and Lower Peninsulas.
To get there, visitors must fly into its small airport or take a ferry from Mackinac City and drop them off downtown.
From there you can walk, rent a bicycle or take a horse-drawn taxi to the island.
Mackinac offers an intimate vacation experience with only about 500 year-round residents and more than 1 million visitors annually.
Motorized vehicles have been prohibited on the island since 1898, as they feared they might scare horses.
Thanks to this law, Mackinac has more than 500 horses.
Where should I stay on Mackinac Island?
Although there are few places to stay on the island, there are people who want to make Mackinac Island their temporary home.
The Grand Hotel is one of the last remaining wooden hotels in the United States and is a National Historic Landmark.
Built in 1887, the Grand Hotel not only has the world's largest porch at 600 feet long, but has hosted many famous people, including five U.S. presidents, inventor Thomas Edison, and author Mark Twain. I've been doing it.
Harry Truman, John F. Kennedy, Gerald fordGeorge H.W. Bush, and Bill Clinton have all visited the hotel, and it was also the site of the first public demonstration of Edison's phonograph.
Built by a steamship and railroad company that took 93 days to complete, no two rooms are decorated the same.
As per tradition, the hotel enforces a dress code from approximately 6:30 p.m. Coats, ties, slacks, dresses, skirts, or pantsuits must be worn in public areas.
High tea is also available in the parlor every afternoon.
What can you do on Mackinac Island?
Visitors to the Grand Hotel can visit Surrey Hill, which is home to several attractions, including the Grand Stables, home to the hotel's working horses.
There's also a museum displaying antique horse-drawn carriages and sleighs from hundreds of years ago.
Nearby is the Wings of Mackinac Butterfly Conservatory, home to hundreds of native and tropical butterflies.
The area is also home to Fort Mackinac, Michigan's oldest building.
Built in 1780, Fort Mackinac is a military outpost that once served as a residence for soldiers and their families.
Guided tours by costumed interpreters are conducted at the fort, and visitors can also fire cannons and watch rifle shooting demonstrations.
Fort Mackinac will open the 2024 season on May 3.
What is the history of the island?
Mackinac Island State Park covers 1,800 acres, or 80% of the island's total area.
There are miles of walking trails along caves and rock formations with beautiful views.
The park is home to several historic buildings, including the Governor's Mansion and the Benjamin Blacksmith Shop.
Mackinac Island Fudge
There are many sweets shops lining the island's main street. Each season, each shop he produces a total of 10,000 pounds of fudge a day.
- joan's fudge – Offers 25 flavors and an assortment of hand-dipped chocolate and sugar-free candies
- Kilwins Chocolate & Fudge Shop – Celebrating American cuisine since 1947, serving quality chocolate, ice cream and sweets
- Maze Fudge & Candy Shop – Family owned and operated for 4 generations, offering unique and traditional fudge flavors
- Murray Hotel Fudge Company – Open from May to October, serving fresh fudge made daily
- original mardix fudge – The island's oldest fudge shop, opened in 1887. We offer homemade fudge, peanut brittle, chocolate nut clusters and bark made with the best ingredients.
- Liver's Fudge Shops – Passersby have been known to stop and watch confectioners handcraft sweets.We offer gluten-free dishes
- Sanders Fudge & Candy Shop – Opened in the 1800s by Fred Sanders, the lifelong candy maker uses traditional fudge-making procedures.
The area also played an important role in the War of 1812 between the United States and the United States. Canada – When it was a British colony.
Fort Mackinac was built by the British army It was ceded to the United States in 1796 during the Revolutionary War, but another version was built on nearby St. Joseph Island.
In one of the early battles of the War of 1812, British forces were able to capture Fort Mackinac and maintain control until the end of the war.
The United States attempted to retake Mackinac Island in 1814, but it was unsuccessful.
The Treaty of Ghent in 1815 returned the island to American control.
