Even though I had been in Michigan dozens of times, I never had the opportunity to visit Mackinac Island until 2021. We boarded a ferry over from Mackinaw City in the morning and came back that same evening. Below is everything we were able to accomplish in a day on Mackinac Island plus a few additional activities for you to consider if you are planning a trip.
Ferry to Mackinac Island
The two main ferry lines are Star Line and Shepler’s. We stayed at Baymont by Wyndham in Mackinaw City. The hotel is just across from the daily parking lot for Shepler’s Ferry. We were able to walk over in the morning. From there a shuttle takes you down to the boats.
Baymont by Wyndham Mackinaw City
2021 price: $368 for 2 nights
There are ferry rides all day to and from the island. We chose to take a Mighty Mac departure – these departures begin at 9 a.m. through 10:30 or 11 a.m. depending on the season. The Might Mac route includes a scenic detour under the Mackinac Bridge at no extra charge. We were lucky enough to ride on the ‘Capt. Shepler’ ferry.
Shepler’s Ferry
2021 price: $27 per person for roundtrip tickets from Mackinaw City
The Mackinac Bridge is the line that divides Lake Huron and Lake Michigan. From the dock on Huron, you dip under the bridge into Lake Michigan, and then circle back into Lake Huron toward Mackinac Island. This was a fantastic experience! The boats have two levels of seating and we sat on the top level in the very front right row. This was perfect for photos and helped us avoid the water spray those in the back receive.
We arrived early to be one of the first in line for the 9 a.m. departure, making it possible to choose our seating.
As you near the island, you can clearly see the Grand Hotel from the water and get a real feel for its sheer size. You will also pass between two lighthouses before coming ashore – the Round Island Light and the Round Island Passage Light.
Bike Rental
Cars are not permitted on the island so you will have to rely on your feet, a bike, or a horse-drawn carriage to get around. You can bring your own bike aboard the ferry for a fee if you have one.
We ended up renting bikes for part of the day and walking the rest. There are rental shops all along Main Street and bike racks in many popular locations to park your bike.
Bike Rental
2021 price: $12 per person per hour
I had not been on a bike in years. For me, attempting to ride again was not, as they say, “just like riding a bike.” Plus, you are trying to maneuver around carriages and other people who may not be so comfortable on their bikes either. Eventually I got the hang of it though.
A bit of advice – the main highway around the island (M-185 / Lake Shore Drive) is generally flat and easy to peddle; however, the interior has some steeper hills and was much more challenging.
Arch Rock
Our first big stop was to visit Arch Rock on the southeast side of the island. The arch is within the Mackinac Island State Park, which covers 80% of the island. This natural limestone arch is over 50 feet wide and rises 146 feet above Lake Huron. It can be seen from below on the Lake Shore Drive or up close via a foot trail (called Spring Trail). There is also a paved road and a bike trail leading here as well.
From Lake Shore Drive it is 207 stairs up to the formation. There are racks here to store your bike while you explore.
While you can’t stand or climb on the arch bridge, there is a platform that allows you to observe it as well as broad views of Lake Huron.
Butterfly House
The Original Mackinac Island Butterfly House is the third oldest live butterfly exhibit in the country. There are hundreds of butterflies from all over the world!
Mackinac Island Butterfly House
2021 price: $12 per person
It is magical with iridescent colors and fluttering wings. Guests are asked not to intentionally touch the butterflies but more than once a butterfly landed on me and stayed for a while as I walked around. There is no time limit for your visit, and they provide a wristband which allows you to enter again if you want to return later.
Part of your entrance fee includes an identification chart with photos and names. This is great for kids – create a challenge for who can find and identify the most species. These are a few of the most beautiful butterflies in my opinion.
The Butterfly House was one of our favorite things to do on the island and I would highly recommend it if you like insects. Insect World, part of the Butterfly House, has beetles, scorpions, toads, turtles, spiders, and more.
Art Museum
For the art lover, there is the Richard & Jane Manoogian Mackinac Art Museum which houses Mackinac-related art and photography. Its collection includes paintings, hand-beaded Native American garments, 17th and 18th century maps of the Great Lakes, and original photographs from the mid-19th to the mid-20th century. When we visited, the 2021 juried art exhibition was up, with the theme ‘The Seasons of Mackinac’ on display.
Next to the museum is the Mackinac Island Peace Garden with a sculpture and benches. Beside that is Marquette Park. From the park, if you look up you can see Fort Mackinac, and if you look out you see the bay.
The ticket included the art museum and other buildings in historic downtown Mackinac. You can also buy a combination ticket for access to Fort Mackinac as well.
Historic Downtown Mackinac
Historic Downtown Mackinac
2021 price: $8.50 per person
American Fur Company Store and Dr. Beaumont Museum
Mackinac Island was the main summer depot and supply center for the Great Lakes fur trade between 1780 to 1835. The store sold general merchandise and has been recreated to a period setting. In 1822, a voyageur was accidently shot in the stomach. Fort Mackinac surgeon William Beaumont managed to keep him alive, but the hole never fully closed. Dr. Beaumont was able to conduct experiments and observe the digestive process through this hole. The building’s exhibits describe the accident and the experiments in more detail.
Biddle House, featuring the Mackinac Island Native American Museum
There are two exhibits inside the house as well as a restored parlor. The exhibits tell the story of Agatha and Edward Biddle, merchants who moved here around 1830, and the Anishnaabek of northern Michigan, a group of culturally related indigenous peoples.
Benjamin Blacksmith Shop
The Benjamins ran a blacksmith shop from the 1880s to the 1960s. They fixed carriage wheels, shoed horses, and repaired motors. This shop was reconstructed in 1970 and now a blacksmith demonstrates and explains blacksmithing techniques.
Shopping
There are little shops up and down Main Street and Market Street. They are the perfect place to search for fudge, souvenirs, clothes, notecards, and art.
Little Stone Church
The structure of the church, officially called Union Congregational Church, was built in 1904 with local fieldstone. It is located just down the road from the Grand Hotel, so it is easy to catch a quick glimpse along the way. Three of the stained-glass windows depict scenes in the history of the island.
Grand Hotel and Jockey Club
A historic hotel and resort, the Grand Hotel boasts “the world’s largest porch” at approx. 660 feet (200 meters). It is a national historic landmark where five presidents have stayed as well as Mark Twain and Thomas Edison. Mackinac’s state park was originally the Mackinac Island National Park from 1875 to 1895, which brought a lot of visitors to the island. The hotel opened in 1887 as a summer retreat for vacationers who arrived by lake steamer or rail. Original room rates were $3 to $5 a night.
Its signature white façade can easily be seen from the Straits of Mackinac. Non-guests are charged a $10 fee to enter the building, sit on the porch, or even stand directly in front of the hotel.
The Jockey Club at the Grand Stand
This casual restaurant overlooks the first tee so diners can watch golfers and horse-drawn carriages. It is across the road from the Grand Hotel with indoor and outdoor seating. We had lunch here and enjoyed fried green tomato sandwiches.
Grand Hotel Stables
The Grand Hotel Stables is a working stable and antique carriage museum. It is home to 12 horses and approximately 30 carriages. My favorites were the panel-boot Victoria and folding-top phaeton. The phaeton was used to deliver the ransom for the first prominent kidnapping in the United States. In December 1900, the ransom was $25,000 for the return of Eddie Cudahy.
There is no charge to enter and enjoy the stables which are located uphill from the hotel near Surrey Hill.
West Bluff
After the stables, we headed down Annex Road toward West Bluff Road. Pontiac’s Lookout is here for a nice vantage point compared to M-185. Then we walked a short section of the Pontiac Trail. From there, we took the West Bluff Stairway down to Lake Shore Drive. This is a lot of stairs with breaks between to hike a trail through the woods. Once we hit Lake Shore Drive, we walked northwest with the Mackinac Bridge on our left.
Devil's Kitchen
Our final major stop was Devil’s Kitchen, a group of small sea caves formed in limestone. Stories allege that Native Americans considered the cave to be inhabited by bad spirits. The cave is blackened with soot, supposedly from the evil spirits’ cooking fires, which gave it the name Devil’s Kitchen.
After Devil’s Kitchen, we walked back to town along the Lake Huron shoreline. There were a few openings to get down to the water, so we took a short break to sit and soak our sore feet. Behind the Grand Hotel, a wooden boardwalk starts next to the road. We hit a few more stores and then we were in line for the ferry back to Mackinaw City.
Mackinac Island is also known for carriage rides, horseback rides, Fort Holmes, Fort Mackinac, ‘Somewhere In Time’ filming locations, fudge, Sugarloaf Rock, Skull Cave, and so much more! You could easily spend a few days here.
Have you ever been to Mackinac Island? If so, what was your favorite spot or activity? Comment below!
I grew up in Michigan and I know so many Michiganders who have never been. My memories are of my oldest sister and I on a bicycle-built-for-two and taking a tumble coming down one of the hills you described in your blog, It continues to stay in my heart.
With no cars on the island it really is quite a lovely place.
Favorite activity is always the flora and landscape including Lake Huron. Put my feet in that icy water! Oh, and of course, Murdick’s Fudge.
I can’t imagine trying a bicycle-built-for-two. I had enough trouble with just me 😀 The water was really refreshing!
I’ve been to Mackinac Island several times but never saw all that you were able to see Steph. All the more reason to return. My favorite visit was in the late autumn. We did stay at the Grand hotel, the food was wonderful. One evening we wandered onto the golf coarse and found the Jockey Club. We found a group of people seated at tables enjoying drinks and guitar music. The very talented guitarist would play anything that was called out. The warmth and fun loving travelers made it a lasting memory. Returning to the mainland we encountered an early Michigan snowfall and were covered in snow when we left the ferry.