The charming streets without a car in sight. The horse-drawn carriages and the clip-clop sound that’s ever present. The smell of chocolate in the air from the fudge shops on every corner. This magical-sounding place can only be Mackinac Island! There’s a reason why my youngest child says that he wants to live on Mackinac Island when he grows up. It’s because this Michigan island, located on Lake Huron in the state’s upper peninsula, is truly an extraordinary place.
This was my family’s second time visiting the island, and we kept our itinerary pretty relaxed this time around. We visited at the end of the tourist season, which typically ends in October. (Tourist season begins in May.) So, if you’re planning a trip to Mackinac Island, keep that timeline in mind: a good time to visit is between May through October.
Mackinac Island is a great vacation destination for families. There are lots of things to do, see, eat and discover around the island. If you want to fall in love with Mackinac Island like my family and I have, the read on.
Getting to the Island
Getting to Mackinac Island is part of the adventure! Most people travel to Mackinac Island via a ferry. There are a couple of ferry options, but we booked tickets on the Shepler’s Mackinac Island Ferry, which took us on a 16-minute ride over Lake Huron, from St. Ignace to the island. (You can also choose to depart from Mackinac City.) Sit on the upper deck to enjoy spectacular views and the wind whipping through your hair, or sit below deck for a more climate-controlled ride.
Things to Do on the Island
One of the reasons why my family loves Mackinac Island so much is because of the relaxed feel. The pace is different in a place with no cars! We took it easy this trip, and in between going on long walks and bike rides to explore the island, we also did a few family-friendly activities.
Take a Horse-drawn Carriage Tour Around the Island
Because there are no cars on the island, your only options for getting around are walking, biking and via horse. We hopped aboard a group horse-drawn tour one afternoon with Mackinac Island Carriage Tours, which took us on a 1.5-hour ride around the island. It was fun listening to the history of the island and the clip-clop of horse hooves. The tour also takes you to the newly remodeled Milliken Nature Center and Arch Rock, the most famous rock formation on the island.
Explore Fort Mackinac
Another must-do, especially for history buffs, is to visit Fort Mackinac. This historic military outpost was built by the British in the late 18th century during the American Revolutionary War. The fort played an important role in controlling the straits between Lake Michigan and Lake Huron. Today, it is a museum where you can see original buildings, cannons, and exhibits about the fort’s history and the soldiers who lived there. The site also offers amazing views of the island and lake!
Visit The Butterfly House
Surround yourself with thousands of live butterflies in a beautiful indoor garden at The Butterfly House, a fun attraction where you can see butterflies, insects, turtles and even a hedgehog. Sit and enjoy the butterflies flitting all around you (and landing on you, too!), and then make your way to Insect World, an area of the house where you can see beetles, walking sticks, cockroaches, arachnids and various reptiles. At specific times during the day, the house also offers animal encounters, where some of the animals are taken out of their living spaces so you can see them up close.
Bike, Walk or Stroll Around the Island
The quickest way to get around the island is via bike, but walking lets you go at a leisurely pace and see the sights up close. My family and I had fun walking and riding all around. We checked out some of the important places on the island, like Fort Holmes, the highest point on the Island, Arch Rock and Devil’s Kitchen, a limestone cavern with a creepy legend that sits on the southwest shore.
Have Frightful Fun at The Haunted Theatre
Speaking of creepy: We had a scary-good time visiting The Haunted Theatre, a vintage theatre-turned-haunted-house that has been on the island for 50 years. Surprisingly, it’s not just open around Halloween time, but all year round when the island is open for visitors. It’s a fun and frightful way to pass the time, and learn about some of the monsters of Mackinac’s history.
Shop ‘Til You Drop
Of course, downtown Mackinac is the place to be if you want to do some serious shopping! From clothing and shoe stores to toys and books and souvenirs, you could spend the better part of a day just walking up and down the street and popping into cute shops.
What to Eat on Mackinac Island
Fudge, Fudge and More Fudge
Oh, fudge! As you walk through downtown Mackinac Island, the smell of chocolate permeates the air. This is a fudge-lover’s paradise! The island houses 13 fudge shops, each with their own signature flavors. We stopped into Joann’s Fudge to pick up some pumpkin spice fudge, which is a seasonal offering and tastes exactly like pumpkin pie! It might be difficult to decide which fudge to get, and fortunately, the fudge shops around the island are more than happy to offer you samples.
Family-friendly Dining on the Island
There are many family-friendly dining options on Mackinac! Here are some of our favorites that we visited while on the island:
Mary’s Bistro Draught House: Try to get a table on the deck or near a window to enjoy spectacular views of the water. Don’t miss out on Mary’s Famous Crispy Chicken Tenders, which are some of the best chicken tenders we’ve ever eaten!
Millie’s on Main: This cozy pub serves up homestyle fare, including meatloaf and pasties, a flaky pastry filled with meat and vegetables. Get the whitefish dip, a warm and cheesy appetizer served with crackers.
Pancake House: Attached to the famous Ryba’s Fudge shop, Pancake House is known for their pancakes (of course!) and no-nonsense breakfast offerings. You’ll get a lot of food for a great price here!
Pink Pony: Located adjacent to Chippewa Hotel is Pink Pony, a fun restaurant and bar that serves a signature, bright-pink slushy drink for adults called the Rum Runner. The menu is large and serves everything from burgers to whitefish, plus breakfast, and kids menu has kid favorites like pancakes, pasta wheels and quesadillas.
Watercolor Cafe: This artsy eatery with lakeside views is a great place to grab a nutritious smoothie, avocado toast or a tasty Poppie, their version of a Pop Tart. Spend some time creating art in the cafe’s creative corner, where they offer paper, crayons and colored pencils for visitors to use.
Where to Stay on Mackinac Island
There are lots of hotels to stay at on Mackinac Island — from resorts like the famous Grand Hotel to smaller boutique hotels.
We stayed at the Chippewa Hotel Waterfront, which offers lakeside views on one side of the hotel, and views of the hustle and bustle of the downtown area on the other. Inside, the hotel is cute and shabby-chic, with old-fashioned touches everywhere, and yet with all of the modern conveniences you need. The location cant be beat: We were steps away from Fort Mackinac, dozens of shops and restaurants (including Pink Pony, which was just downstairs), and a short 10-minute walk from the ferry dock.
Start dreaming about your Mackinac Island vacation by visiting the Mackinac Island Tourism Bureau for more ideas and information. Mackinac is mainly a May through October destination, so keep that in mind when planning your trip!
