Sail Away to Mackinac Island, Michigan

Looking for that million-miles-away-from-it-all feeling you only get from breaking free from the mainland? To visit Michigan’s Mackinac Island (Mackinac is the French spelling of an Indian word pronounced mack-in-awe), you’ll have to leave your RV parked at a ferry terminal in Mackinaw City or St. Ignace. Any one of three ferry companies will get you there in about 16 to 30 minutes. The entire island is vehicle-free, so once you arrive, rent a bike to enjoy the postcard-perfect coastline, walk in and around downtown, or hire a horse-drawn taxi to see the sights and lovely setting. No matter which mode of transportation you choose, wear comfortable shoes, prepare for various weather conditions, and you’ll be set to spend the day, night or even longer.

Built high on a bluff by British soldiers during the American Revolution, military history buffs won’t want to miss Fort Mackinac. In addition to the spectacular view overlooking Haldimand Bay, you’ll find the oldest building in Michigan here (the Officers Stone Quarters, started in 1780) and 13 other historical structures. Exhibits throughout the Fort explain everything from military training and battles to French fur traders, American Indians, and the life of British soldiers and their families. Guides dressed in period costumes provide plenty of live action as they blast the cannons, fire the rifles, and march the parade grounds.

The whole of Mackinac Island immerses you in a bygone century. Setting out on foot is the best way to see quaint churches, Victorian homes and hotels, shops and art galleries, and many historic buildings. St. Anne’s is a church and museum that highlights the religious history of the Island back to the late 1600s when dedicated Jesuits and Catholic immigrants helped form the Island’s culture. The magnificent Grand Hotel opened in 1887 and boasts the longest colonial porch in the world. It’s also the world’s largest summer hotel. Although rather plain on the outside, the Biddle House is probably the oldest on the Island, dating back to 1780. Another interesting stop is the Surrey Hills Carriage Museum featuring antique carriages and a working blacksmith shop.

Voted one of the “Top 10 Islands in the U.S.” it’s fun to get ferried away to this small island in Lake Huron where it feels like you’ve stepped back in time. Don’t forget to indulge in Mackinac Island’s Famous Fudge— it makes a great souvenir that won’t gather dust!

IF YOU GO:

For general information on Mackinac Island, visit http://www.mackinac.com and http://www.mackinacisland.org

Click here for Mackinac Island Transportation