When I was a teenager, a place called Mackinac Island entered my consciousness through an old movie called Somewhere In Time.
This time travel themed movie starred Jane Seymour and Christopher Reeve of Superman fame and was filmed on the island and at the historic Grand Hotel.
I was fascinated with the idea of the place and even more so after learning about the real life island. So, when the Savannah trip got cancelled and we were looking for a Plan B, northern Michigan and a day trip to Mackinac Island sounded like the perfect option.
There are two ferry companies that service Mackinac City to Mackinac Island. We used Shepler's Ferry for roundtrip service at the cost of $34 per person.
We took an early ferry so we could have a head start to the day and I'm so glad we did. The ferry was just half full and the island was quiet when we arrived.
One quality that is integral to Mackinac's identity is that no motor vehicles are permitted on the island. Village council actually outlawed them back in 1898 when these horseless carriages began finding their way to the island and spooking the horses.
In a day when cars have taken over every other corner of the world, the streets of Mackinac seem positively quaint for their lack of motor vehicle traffic.
Instead of driving a car, you can walk, ride a bike or even a horse. When we got off the boat, we encountered horse taxis and island tours waiting for guests to transport and inform about local history. A smattering of bicycles zipped by on the empty street.
Literally fresh off the boat, we found everything charming. From the perfectly manicured lawns to the refuse man who tipped his cap as he made rounds to pick up trash, I was enchanted.
We first headed up to the Grand Hotel where we were greeted by a lovely uniformed young man who intercepted us near the property line and politely inquired if we were staying at the hotel or just visiting for the day. This is a gracious way to discern if tourists who can't afford a room at the fancy hotel are there for the $10 self guided tour.
We were.
I will take you on a tour of this landmark tomorrow but here's a picture to entice you to come back for that story.
After this, we strolled the town, checking out some shops and old churches, sightseeing along the way. We had an al fresco lunch overlooking the lake while enjoying a swift breeze.
And with each passing hour, the place became busier and busier and busier. The streets filled with wagons full of people taking sightseeing tours, large groups of people walking and folks who looked uncomfortable on horseback meandering the streets on guided horseback tours of the island. Some positively reckless cyclists sped through the streets, zig zagging in and out of bikes and horses.
By early afternoon, Main Street started to resemble Times Square. Crowds flowed down the sidewalk and shops were clogged with people. The ferry line was a mile long and growing by the minute.
We left the island on a completely full and crowded ferry. I can't speak for my cousin but I was thrilled to be there, thrilled for the early day experience, and thrilled to leave.
Someday, I want to go back during midweek and spend a couple of nights so I can have time to enjoy the early morning quiet and explore the island outside of town.
So, I'm putting the island back on the bucket list and will happily return another time!
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