We boarded the ferry at Mackinaw City, which whisked us over to Mackinac Island. Not combinable with any other offers or cash back.
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An annual Titanic party takes place every July, set in the same year in history: 1912.
It’s no wonder the producers of the Christopher Reeve movie “Somewhere in Time” chose the Grand Hotel as the filming location.Įvery October, incidentally, Grand Hotel hosts a “Somewhere in Time” weekend with a period costume gala, panel discussions, and a movie screening. Next time I go to the island, I won’t forget to pack a dress: for guests staying at the Grand, men are required to wear sport jackets and ties after 6:30 and women are encouraged to wear their Sunday Best, too. Day trips make it even easier because there’s no luggage to handle. Your luggage is handed over when you debark the ferry and it’s shuttled straight to your room. If you have ever experienced the no-worries, we-have-you-covered Disney or cruise experience, the Grand Hotel emulates that with a process that whisks you from the ferry to the hotel. The Grand Hotel’s front porch is the world’s largest at 660 feet, and the pristine white columns shine like a welcoming beacon. Mackinac Island Treat: The Grand Hotel The Grand Hotel offers elegance and charm from its hilltop perch above the island. Of course, we stopped and had a cone, enjoying every lick outdoors on the patio. Recognized often as one of the most kid-friendly family destinations in the United States, Grand Hotel shows its colors right up front with a tantalizing ice cream parlor that draws you in. This magnificent National Historic Landmark has been in business since 1887, and each of its 397 rooms has its own personality and associated décor. Sitting atop the upper level, we could see the island as it got closer and closer and the Grand Hotel pulled into focus. We could have even booked a pirate ship replica for our ferry, but my tween shrugged nonchalantly as to indicate his apathy, so we caught the first ferry we could. A few competitive ferry companies vie for business, with different routes and features. Mackinac Island has the unusual distinction of not allowing any cars on the island, and bikes and horses are the main modes of transport. All around us, people were lining up to catch a ferry to the island with families and with or without bicycles. This summer I was determined to remedy that, and we decided an RV was the perfect way to get there.Īfter parking the RV in Leelanau on the first night, we headed out at 8:30 AM the next morning and reached the Shepler’s Landing ferry stop around 11:15. Last summer, my dad suggested we visit Mackinac Island but we didn’t make it up there. Up the west side of Michigan we’d go, stopping at New Buffalo and Sawyer and Silver Beach, but we’d never been north of Grand Rapids into northern Michigan or the Upper Peninsula.
Once I grew up and had a child of my own, it became a must-see for us every summer when we returned to visit.
Only a mile from the Michigan border, my parents’ home is a quick drive to the Warren Dunes State Park and it was a favorite place to visit with my friends when I was a teenager. Learn some history, take a long bike ride, eat some yummy fudge and watch out for the horse poop are just a few of the things to do on Mackinac Island during a throw-back day trip to a earlier time. The island is a popular family vacation destination, but it’s also a great day trip. Mackinac Island is the no-cars-allowed historical wonder that sits in Lake Huron, smack between Michigan’s Upper and Lower peninsulas.