{"id":1325,"date":"2022-05-20T11:00:00","date_gmt":"2022-05-20T11:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.manifestescapes.com\/blog\/?p=1325"},"modified":"2023-05-24T14:21:07","modified_gmt":"2023-05-24T14:21:07","slug":"sunday-manifest-mackinac-island","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.manifestescapes.com\/blog\/2022\/05\/sunday-manifest-mackinac-island\/","title":{"rendered":"Sunday Manifest: Mackinac Island"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Photo credit: Craig Washington\/unsplash<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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When you dream of an idyllic summer vacation destination, it\u2019s hard to imagine any place lovelier than Mackinac Island, located in Northern Michigan.\u00a0With sparkling blue water framed by rocky shoreline, summer homes and grand hotels set within acres of lush green trees and\u00a0gardens, a sweet downtown lined with pastel-colored storefronts, and streets designed for walking, biking, and horse-drawn carriages, vacationing here feels like taking a step back in time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Located on Lake Huron\u2014one of the largest lakes in the world\u2014and accessible only by ferry<\/a><\/strong>, private boat, or chartered plane, Mackinac (MACK-in-awe) is a quiet, three-season, family-friendly resort island steeped in history, with much to see and do.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You won\u2019t find cars, hotel chains, or department stores here, but there are lake homes, upscale resorts and inns, cozy cafes and shops, historic landmarks, and over 1,500 acres of gorgeous greenspace to enjoy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You can hike the trails of Mackinac Island State Park<\/a><\/strong>; visit the lovely Butterfly House<\/a><\/strong> tropical garden; or take a guided bike tour to famed landmarks\u2014Arch Rock<\/a><\/strong>, Lover\u2019s Leap<\/a><\/strong>, and Fort Mackinac<\/a><\/strong> (just don\u2019t forget to bring your camera!). On water, you can enjoy a guided kayak tour<\/a><\/strong>, take a sailing cruise<\/a><\/strong>, or book a fishing charter<\/a><\/strong> to see the beauty of the island from a different perspective.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Photo credit: pixabay<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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The busy downtown area<\/a><\/strong> of Mackinac is the figurative heart of the island and the best place to start your vacation. It\u2019s both timeless and welcoming, with a Main Street lined with quaint storefronts, wide sidewalks, lush trees, and overflowing flowerpots bursting with color. The only traffic is from the horse-drawn carriages<\/a><\/strong> you\u2019ll find throughout the island, as well as guests on foot or bike.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pop into boutiques<\/a> <\/strong>selling unique gifts and fashion (the quirky Caddywampus<\/a><\/strong> is particularly interesting), rent a bike<\/a><\/strong> for the day, or sample the many varieties of locally made fudge<\/a><\/strong> that Mackinac is famous for. The clopping of the horse hooves and the nostalgic smell of sugary fudge make the whole Mackinac Island experience feel like a vacation hug. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Photo courtesy of the Grand Hotel<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Just outside of downtown, be sure to visit the iconic Grand Hotel<\/a><\/strong>, an architecturally stunning resort known for its massive front porch, famous gardens, and incredible amenities. Established in 1887 and recently refurbished, this National Historic Landmark is a popular place to stay\u2014or visit for the day\u2014when vacationing on the island.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Overnight guests of the hotel can enjoy Afternoon Tea in the Parlor before dressing up for dinner in the glamorous Main Dining Room, dance to the music of the Grand Hotel Orchestra, or play bocce ball and croquet on the expansive front lawn\u2014reliving the elegance and charm of bygone days.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\"Garden
Photo credit: Aaron Burden\/unsplash<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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For visitors who aren\u2019t staying at the hotel, inexpensive day passes are available, allowing you to explore the property and gain access to restaurant reservations, the gardens, and Sadie\u2019s Ice Cream Parlor<\/a><\/strong>, located next to the hotel\u2019s east entrance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If golf is your thing, don\u2019t miss the opportunity to play on Mackinac\u2019s two unique courses\u2014the stunning 18-hole Jewel Course<\/a><\/strong> (complete with a 15-minute carriage ride from the front nine to the back nine) and the Wawashkamo Golf Club<\/a><\/strong>, a nine-hole links course on the site of the historic 1814 Battle of Mackinac Island. Both offer different challenges and breathtaking scenery from each hole.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For indoor exploration, consider a visit to the Surrey Hills Carriage Museum<\/a><\/strong> or Richard and Jane Manoogian Art Museum<\/a><\/strong>. Or check out some of Mackinac\u2019s more unusual offerings, such as the interesting Haunted Theatre<\/a><\/strong> or 3D Maze of Mirrors<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\"Downtown
Photo credit: pixabay<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Finally, while you\u2019re here, make sure to try some of the great restaurants on the island. Grab a quick breakfast from the Chuckwagon<\/a><\/strong>, Mackinac\u2019s quintessential diner; enjoy lunch with a view at the artsy Watercolor Caf\u00e9<\/a><\/strong>; and relax with dinner and drinks at Mary\u2019s Bistro Draught House<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Keep in mind, Mackinac\u2019s weather ranges from mild in the spring, to temperate in the summer, to cool and chilly in the fall\u2014making June through September the peak time to visit. Winter on the island (though still beautiful) is relatively quiet, with only a handful of lodging options and shops open for business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Our Manifest Team has curated a Classic Summer Getaway to Mackinac Island<\/strong><\/a> for you on our Experiences<\/a><\/strong> page. But if this timeless Northern Michigan island destination isn\u2019t on your travel wish list, let us know. We\u2019re always happy to create a custom trip for you wherever you\u2019d like to go.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

When you dream of an idyllic summer vacation destination, it\u2019s hard to imagine any place lovelier than Mackinac Island, located in Northern Michigan.\u00a0With sparkling blue water framed by rocky shoreline, summer homes and grand hotels set within acres of lush green trees and\u00a0gardens, a sweet downtown lined with pastel-colored storefronts, and streets designed for walking,…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":11,"featured_media":1326,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[47,53,94,77,106,54,107,46,16],"tags":[14,38,24,25,81,130,82,27,13,15,36,12],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/www.manifestescapes.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/MackinacChurchunsplash.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.manifestescapes.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1325"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.manifestescapes.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.manifestescapes.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.manifestescapes.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/11"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.manifestescapes.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1325"}],"version-history":[{"count":10,"href":"https:\/\/www.manifestescapes.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1325\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2926,"href":"https:\/\/www.manifestescapes.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1325\/revisions\/2926"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.manifestescapes.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1326"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.manifestescapes.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1325"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.manifestescapes.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1325"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.manifestescapes.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1325"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}