Travelers come from all over to experience this Michigan island’s stuck-in-time feel.
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Mackinac Island, Michigan, is a secret most Midwesterners would prefer to keep.
Though it’s less than four square miles, Lake Huron’s hidden gem has no shortage of personality.
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(Legend has it the nickname stuck because no tourist leaves without sampling the island’s famous fudge.)
For many, the charming island embodies the ultimate American family vacation destination.
Whether it’s your first visit or your fiftieth, here’s everything you better know about Mackinac Island.
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It wasn’t until 1780 that Fort Mackinac was erected here.
A few decades later it would become the site of two major battles in the War of 1812.
But the island’s charm isn’t limited to just history.
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Facts About Mackinac Island
It’s like traveling back in time.
It’s home to the world’s longest front porch.
Travelers arriving from the Straits of Mackinac can’t miss it.
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It also has the country’s oldest grocery store.
It’s still a community staple, selling everything from beer and wine to fresh cheeses and snacks.
Most of Mackinac is green space.
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A whopping 82 percent of Mackinac Island is parkland.
The end of its national park era, in 1895, coincided with the closing of the fort.
When Is the Best Time to Visit Mackinac Island?
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All you really need is a light sweater.
Believe it or not, it’s a popular option, particularly for locals.
Where Is Mackinac Island?
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Mackinac Island sits in Lake Huron, between the Upper and Lower Peninsulas of Michigan.
Round-trip tickets cost about $30 per adult and about $20 for children ages five to 12.
Kids under five ride free.
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For a fee, theMackinaw Shuttlecan transport you the 15 miles between the airport and the ferry station.
She recommends hiking to Arch Rock, a remarkable limestone formation on the Lake Huron shoreline.
Created thousands of years ago by water erosion, it towers 146 feet above the turquoise-blue lake.
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You’ll have to fight the urge to climb up to the top, though.
A sign warns all visitors to “Keep Off” for safety reasons.
It offers everything from tagalongs and tandems to mountain bikes and cruisers with baskets.
Courtesy of Mission Point Resort
Bike rental rates start at around $16 per hour.
Horseback riding is a great way to navigate those seemingly endless miles of trails.
Today, the company possesses a fleet of around 100 carriages.
You’ll pass theWings of Mackinac Butterfly Conservatory, Arch Rock, and Fort Mackinac’s Avenue of Flags.
Now a museum, the site was an active military outpost from 1780 to 1895.
Visitors can also try a whopping 25 flavors of fudge atJoann’s.
There’s live music and dancing almost every night.
Officially Mackinac Island’s tiniest eatery, the old-school diner dates back to the 1950s.
Rooms are charming, with bright, floral decor and mismatched furniture.
For aromantic getaway, book the one suite located in the turret.
Its position affords beautiful views of the harbor through a generous bay window.
Some even come equipped with Jacuzzis, four-poster beds, and separate dining rooms.
There, you’ll want to make time for theDetroit Institute of Arts.
As a result, manyregional dive centersoffer unique chartered tours and dives around Mackinac’s 12 documented shipwrecks.
