Mackinac Island

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Mackinaw and Above

An August 2001 trip to Mackinac Island by lilredhairgrl

McLeod HouseMore Photos

In our continuing effort for Bodega (from England) to see Michigan while we live here we went to Mackinaw Island and then headed to Newberry so we could see Taqu. Falls too.

  • 6 reviews
  • 1 story/tip
  • 4 photos

Mackinaw and AboveBest of IgoUgo

Overview

The best way to enjoy Mackinaw Island is to get to the Island about 2-3 pm in the afternoon, check into your lodging, take a nap and get up about 6 to have dinner. By that time most of the day tourists have left the Island. You can have a dinner in peace and ride bikes around the island without a lot of people. At night it gets quiet except for the occasional passing of young workers going home; their laughter and the sound of horses going by adds to your experience. The next morning enjoy the island early and take the 11 or noontime ferry off to beat the crowds again!

Quick Tips:

Many hotels/lodging establishments do not have air conditioning, if this is important to you make sure you ask before making reservations.

Best Way To Get Around:

Of course, on Mackinaw Island you have to bike or walk or ride a horse. We took our brand new Huffy's from K-mart, matching bikes of course! We have rented horses yet but plan to in the future.

Harbour View InnBest of IgoUgo

Hotel | "Harbor View Inn"

Very typical hotel room but great view, the porch off our room looked right into the straits, bay area, it''s just beautiful. Clean, nice furnishings. Very friendly and helpful staff. Good variety of food on their cont. breakfast buffet.
  • Member Rating 3 out of 5 by lilredhairgrl on October 4, 2001

Harbour View Inn
1207 HURON STREET Mackinac Island, Michigan 49757
906-847-0101

McLeod HouseBest of IgoUgo

Hotel

McLeod House
One of my favorite B&B''s. True victorian decor all over the house, beautiful inlaid floors. This is what we wish our houses could look like to look at but not to live in so it''s great to be able to visit. Comfortable suite with whirlpool.
  • Member Rating 4 out of 5 by lilredhairgrl on October 4, 2001

McLeod House
Route 2 Box 943 Mackinac Island, Michigan
(906) 293-3841

Pink PonyBest of IgoUgo

Restaurant

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.
  • Member Rating 4 out of 5 by lilredhairgrl on October 4, 2001

Pink Pony
Main Street Mackinac Island, Michigan
(906) 847-3341

Chameberlin's Ole Forest InnBest of IgoUgo

Restaurant | "CHAMBERLIN'S OLE FOREST INN"

Great rustic type resort that has a dining room with a neat pub like bar. You can eat on the porch, like we did, overlooking the lake. Look here www.exploringthenorth.com/chamberlins/inn.html They have a gazebo lit up at night...and, oh yeah, the food was wonderful! Things are very laid back in this part of the world, very different from the hustle and bustle of a large restaurant. They also have 12 guest rooms in the B&B style I would like to try. Absolute getaway from it all in the middle of nowhere...paradise!
  • Member Rating 4 out of 5 by lilredhairgrl on October 4, 2001

Chameberlin's Ole Forest Inn
P.O. Box 307 Mackinac Island, Michigan
1(800) 292-0440

Tahquamenon Falls State ParkBest of IgoUgo

Attraction

Tahquamenon
The falls are really pretty but I would make this a side trip to an already planned itinerary. You hike about a mile to the falls, they are beautiful, but once you've seen them, you've seen them and there isn't much else to do (in my opinion). We only went to the uppper falls, to tired to tackle the walk to the lower falls.
  • Member Rating 3 out of 5 by lilredhairgrl on October 4, 2001

Tahquamenon Falls State Park
Star Route 48 Mackinac Island, Michigan

Song of HiawathaBest of IgoUgo

Story/Tip

Tahquamenon Falls is located in Hiawatha National Forest.....

Give me of your bark, O Birch-tree!
Of your yellow bark, O Birch-tree!
Growing by the rushing river,
Tall and stately in the valley
I a light canoe will build me,
Build a swift Cheemaun for sailing,
...........
Thus aloud cried Hiawatha
In the solitary forest,
By the rushing Taquamenaw,
When the birds were singing gayly,
In the Moon of Leaves were singing,
And the sun, from sleep awaking,
Started up and said, "Behold me
Gheezis, the great Sun, behold me."

Song of Hiawatha, W.W. Longfellow

About the Writer

lilredhairgrl
lilredhairgrl
Harrison, Michigan

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