Oh the Places You’ll Go

 I truly hope everyone gets the opportunity to travel to Michigan!  It is one of the most beautiful states in this country.  Most people assume all of Michigan is like Detroit and well they couldn’t be more wrong (not knocking Detroit – that’s where I was born!)

Western and Northern Michigan is one of my favorite summer vacation places (great in the winter too if you like skiing).  Summers are spent visiting my family and taking a drive up to Northern MI where the world is full of wineries, hills and gorgeous lakes.  The best place in Michigan though is Mackinac Island in the Upper Peninsula.

Pronounced Mack-i-naw, the minute you step onto the island you are welcomed into a new world.  First off, you can’t get there via car only by boat.  If you’re lucky enough to own your own boat or yacht please feel free to make yourself at home.  If you’re like the rest of us, hop onto one of the lake shuttles and cruise on over.

Because you are not able to drive your car over, you’ll quickly notice your new means of transportation is a bike, a horse and carriage or your legs.  This is real life – no cars.  And honestly, it’s one of my favorite things about Mackinac.

Once off the cruiser you’ll step onto Main Street.  This is where all the adorable hotels, shops, bed and breakfasts, pubs and restaurants are located.  Mackinac Island is also known for their taffy, Ryba’s is the most common so be sure to have some.  Don’t like taffy we’ll you’re in luck, there’s also Ice Cream on every corner, sorry Starbucks…

Where to stay when you visit Mackinac – well where do I begin?  The list of B&B’s goes on and on and the hotels list is not much shorter.  We’ve stayed at several different places but ____ is our favorite.  I can’t forget The Grand Hotel.  It is Grand and gorgeous. You have to pay to walk on the patio, dinners are black tie and you’ll pay a penny (or a few thousand) to stay there.  My parents honeymooned on Mackinac and stayed at the Grand – lucky!

(This is the same B&B, our favorite)

The Grand Hotel

(also the location of the movie "Somewhere in Time" with Christopher Reeve and Jane Seymour)

I’m almost done, I promise! There are just so many great things about Mackinac!

The island is not very large, it’s about 4 miles around and since bikes are the main mode of transportation, there are plenty of bike trails, including one that goes around the whole island.  It’s a great way to start the day, just a quick bike ride around an island.  After your bike ride, how about flyin' high over Lake Michigan?

And last but not least – when is the best time to go? Well not the winter time.  My recommendation is Fourth of July week/end.  The island is packed but never too packed.  The weather is perfect. And Fort Mackinac hosts the greatest 4^th of July Party!

The Grand Hotel caters the event, there is booze (with a valid ID), the Fort employees come out in their old garb with their old games and the band plays in the background.  It really depicts how life was lived back then and it’s magical (especially because after a few days you can go back to reality).

This year marks the bicentennial of the War of 1812, a war that had its first skirmish on Mackinac Island when British soldiers surprised and captured the American outpost on July 17, 1812.  This would be a great year to visit! Celebrations and opening of the Fort start May 3rd.

I would vacation there every summer if I could.  It’s become my husband’s favorite summer vacation spot also.   It’s the perfect carefree vacation, and isn’t that what a vacation is all about?  So, want to go to Mackinac Island? 

Me and PT at Chateau Chantal - Traverse City

View of Lake Michigan from the Chateau