Mackinac Island

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Pink Pony

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lilredhairgrl
lilredhairgrl
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4 out of 5
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Editor Pick

Muffins with the Hoi Polloi

  • December 9, 2008
  • Rated 3 of 5 by callen60 from Ozarks, Missouri
Muffins with the Hoi Polloi

Establishments of all kinds on Mackinac Island benefit from basic laws of supply and demand. Construction has been limited for years: hotels and restaurants may change hands, but few are added as the years go by. This makes doing everything on Mackinac fairly pricey, but occasionally it’s worth it.

The leading establishments on the Island are, without doubt, the Grand, Iroquois, and Chippewa Hotels. Each has been here for over a century, with reputations and history that might even justify their rates. I gave some thought to staying overnight somewhere on Mackinac, something I’ve never done, but eventually reverted to the usual approach of spending the night in St. Ignace and banking the savings, since (Mackinac Hotel) - (Holiday Inn Express) = $200/night.

But it’s fun to visit these places, and find a more controlled way to splurge a little. The Chippewa sits right downtown on the waterfront, and we headed that way along the boardwalk after returning our bikes. We were ready for a mid-morning snack, and decided to enjoy a treat among the hoi polloi. As I learned several years ago, even if I can’t stay at the world’s leading hotels, I can probably enjoy (and afford) a drink in their lobby bars.

Like many of Mackinac’s structures, the Chippewa is a classic Victorian building. Constructed in 1902, the rooms all have balconies that look out over the bay. The hotel’s front is the waterfront, and guests can watch the ferries come and go from its location between the Arnold Transit Co.’s dock and the State Park Visitor Center. A 1995 renovation added a deck and two-story patio out on the water, and we were lucky enough to get a table right in the corner at the deck’s edge.

Awnings covered the entire deck, and the small bars in several corners made it clear that the beverages available would be different in just a few hours. But it was a wonderful location for brunch, with gingham checked table cloths, fresh flowers in a small vase, and attentive service. We ordered a selection of muffins, a few pastries, coffees and orange juices, and relaxed after our bike ride and some waking around the island. The server was pleasant, the atmosphere was calm, and it was a nice respite from both the growing crowds on Main Street and the rising temperature.

From journal Up North: A Classic UP Vacation

Pink Pony

  • October 4, 2001
  • Rated 4 of 5 by lilredhairgrl from Harrison, Michigan
Second time I have been here. They have great parm. white fish. And their garbanzo salad is to die for. You can sit at a table that overlooks the marina as the sun goes down. They also have a pub/bar attached and we could here a great singer singing folk music-it wasn't loud in the restuarant but just perfect. We were smiling all night.

From journal Mackinaw and Above

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