We spent the day on Monday at one of the nicest places you can visit in the country, Mackinac Island. Mackinac is a four square mile island located just east of the Mackinac Bridge, which connects the Upper Peninsula to the rest of Michigan. While it is definitely a tourist haven, it is a place you should put on your “must visit” list.
Many years ago motorized vehicles (except for emergencies) were banned from the island. Transportation is by foot, bicycle, or horse-drawn wagon. There is an eight mile loop road around the shore of the island that is paved and very flat. Our ride around it was spectacular as it was sunny and in the high seventies, making for great scenery and comfort.
To get to the island you need to take one of three ferries that make trips to and from the island every thirty minutes.
Our ferry boat
Another ferry line
The morning was a bit cool, but the scenery was outstanding.
Mackinac Bridge from the ferry
The Grand Hotel
After a ride of about 20 minutes you exit the ferry onto the most crowded part of the island. Main Street and a few surrounding streets are where visitors stay and most of the small permanent population live. It is crowded and, while there is no exhaust smell, the main source of transportation does leave a bit of an odor.
Deluxe trans. to the Grand Hotel
Main Street
Horses make for cool scenery and may be smart animals, but apparently they cannot be potty trained, so you need to watch your step as you cross the street. But every negative provides a positive, and, in this case, there is “job creation!”
Sweep first, key to success!
Pick up second . . .
We studied many of the “pickerupers” and decided the gentleman pictured had the best technique. Try to imagine the conversation he has each evening at the dinner table.
“How was work today, honey?”
“Oh, things were picking up!”
I wonder if he gets to take any “samples” home. Probably as much as he can carry!
The eight mile ride around the perimeter of the island may have been the nicest bike ride we every had. The road was smooth, the temperature moderate, and the scenery beautiful.
A beautiful, young biker approaches
Scenery along the road
Just off the road, the Mackinac Bridge in the background
Zoom shot of the bridge
The village area of the island is filled with hotels and bed/breakfast houses but the “grandest” is the Grand Hotel. You can’t ride your bike in front of the hotel but, for $10, you can walk through the lobby and stand on the balcony. The $10 is deducted from your tab if you eat lunch there.
The Grand Hotel
View from the hotel
We did spend some time just standing on the sidewalk watching all the everyday tourists walk by. I was surprised as I stood there taking pictures and caught a celebrity coming out of a quaint local coffee shop!
Guess who stopped at Starbucks ? ? ?
Be sure to put Mackinac Island on your bucket list. It’s a wonderful place to visit.
Next adventure? Cross that five mile long bridge to the upper peninsula ! ! !
Oh, the Places They Go! 
I’m disappointed in the lack of zoom levels in that bridge picture! There’s nothing I love more than a good series of zoom photos.
We do have them just for you!
Enjoying your “places” – I have always wanted to visit Mackinac! I rather jealous of the cool weather there – humid as can be here!
About the horse guy… just exactly what is his job title? Chief **** picker-upper? I wonder how long the training takes. Thanks for showing us all the finer points.
Isn’t that the hotel where “Somewhere in Time” was filmed. Looks like a fabulous place to vacation.
Correct, most of the film was shot in the hotel.