Marvelous Mackinac

The Grand Hotel, one of the largest summer hotels in the world, was built in the late 19th century and is as much a tourist attraction as an hotel. Staying here was like a trip back to the early 1900s when a hotel stay was a glamourous adventure.

If you're lucky enough to be here in June, the annual Lilac Festival is one of the main (and most fragrant) events of the year.

Quick Tips:

Camping is not allowed on Mackinac so leave the camping gear at home and stay at The Grand or one of the beautiful Victorian homes that has been converted to a B&B.

Best Way To Get Around:

Each bedroom is individually decorated with antique furntiture and matching accessories. Our room had two dark wood, high poster double beds with a hunter green floral pattern on the bedspreads, drapes and carpet. The adjoining 4 piece bathroom wasn''t overly large but had a full array of geranium scented toiletries.

Geraniums can be found aplenty in baskets and pots along the outdoor covered porch that overlooks the gardens and swimming pool. The porch is equal in length to four football fields and is lined with white rocking chairs - a perfect place to have a drink and relax. It is such a popular spot that non guests are charged $10.00 admission to the porch.

The Hotel has some nice shops to browse through as well as a number of restaurants and bars to choose from.

The acres of gardens include tennis courts, a public golf course and horseback riding. Croquet sets are available if you want to play on the lawn. The heated, outdoor Esther Williams Swimming Pool has nearby changing rooms, whirlpools and a sauna. There is also an exercise room and a masseuse if you want to be pampered.

Guests and luggage are met at the ferry terminal and the luggage is deposited in your room. The hotel is located within easy walking distance of downtown or you can travel in style via a horse drawn carriage.

Packages start at $195.00 per person and include dinner and breakfast.

The tour goes through Mackianc Island State Park which was Michigan's first state park. It has been named by National Geographic as one of the 10 finest parks in America and it contains one of the most photographed parts of the tour - Arch Rock. This is a natural arch or rounded rock "bridge" that frames great views of the water below.

The tour guide provides lots of information about the Island and the horses and there are lots of opportunities for picture taking.

There is a stop at the stables (near The Grand Hotel) where the horses are kept. The stables are very large since they house hundreds of horses and the company is one of the largest of its kind in the world.

In the winter, the horses are taken back to the mainland via ferry for their winter vacation.

The Grand Hotel operates a tea room at the Fort. Although we didn't eat here, I have no double it is good since The Grand is involved.