Mackinac Island

---

My mom and I actually tried to visit Mackinac Island the day before, on 18 July 2011, but the clouds were pretty dark and thunder was evident, so we held off a day. Turns out the next day, my mom's birthday, was a much better weather day. My mom even demanded to pay for both the round trip ferry ride as well as a private one hour coach ride around the South side of the island. On her birthday! Thanks Mom!

There are some interesting things about the island. No motorized vehicles allowed. Bicycles, horse drive carriages, and walking are the ways to get around. There are people on the island year 'round, but the tourist season ends with the warm weather. To be anywhere in the Grand Hotel is a USD $10 charge if you are not staying at the hotel, including just a leisurely stroll or rocking chair on the biggest porch in the world.

Most of the photos are taken on the island itself, with a couple of the Mackinac Bridge the day before.

---

Photos

Mackinac Bridge
Looking North from the Lake Huron side. That looks to be some kind of buoy there in the foreground.

Very Nice Digs
This home is located just SE of the entrance to the Mackinac Bridge, a very nice home indeed.

Colonial Michilimackinac
Founded 1715? 1719? This the entrance to the fort, of which I failed to snap a picture, that is located to the West (left) of the bridge.

Under Way
Here we are on our 20 minute ferry ride from Mackinac City to Mackinac Island. I believe we took a Star Ferry, and their ferries have this huge rooster tail used to grab the attention of us tourists. That's my mom enjoying the rather breeze less ride over to the island.
We got lucky to get on the 10am ferry by chance as it usually takes a detour under the Mackinac Bridge on the way to the island. This day it was far too foggy at 10am to see anything. It did clear up a few hours later.

Main Street
Here we are. This is the main street on the island, lined with fudge shops, t-shirt shops, restaurants, lodging, bikes, people, and of course the island's main form of public transportation, horses.

Porch of the Grand Hotel
This was early on in our private coach tour of the South side of the island. Boasted to be the World's Largest Porch. If you are not staying at the hotel, you can pay USD $10 to rock in one of those chairs, stroll the porch, go inside, etc. No free milling about though!

Unique Home
All along the South side of the island, away from the touristy hustle/bustle area where the ferries dock, you will find very unique homes in great condition. I wonder if you can buy any of them, when they are for sale, for under say USD $1.5M?

Well kept grounds
On really all the homes, especially these expensive ones.

Busy, Busy
People coming and going all day, lots to see and do while you are in the area. These two ferries look like they are heading to Saint Ignace rather than Mackinac City.

Fort Mackinac Entrance
We didn't try this tour.

Darning, in period dress
This woman on the bench is no tourist, and is dressed to play the part, when the Fort was active.

Up High
This photo was taken not too far from the Governor's (of Michigan that is) Cottage, and clearly we are up a little bit in elevation. Looking from the SE corner of the island.

Our Faithful Steeds
We stopped for about 5 minutes to give these two a break. It was a warm day, and they were likely to feel the heat. Just down the road was some fresh water, and one of them had a nice big drink, and the other sloshed its nose in the water apparantly trying to scratch an itch.

Lots of Sailboats
There are actually quite a lot of sailboats in the harbor there. The reason is that the race from Chicago to this area finished the day before, and likely the contestants were hanging around the area for a while afterward to take in the setting.

Church Service
Two nights ago, there was a significant electrical storm that passed through this part of Michigan, and two of the sailors from one of the competing sailboats perished due to its effects. From what we could tell, there was a service at this church to honor those two fallen sailors.

Fort Mackinac
Looking North from the South edge of the island. In the foreground you see folks readying their sails to be packed up once they have fully dried out.

For Sale
This little piece of property can be yours for around USD $4M as I understand it. It has been for sale for a few years now as I understand it as well.

More Sailboats
The harbor and docks were quite full I was told. Many of the boats would leave fairly soon though and embark on the Eastern side of the race from Port Huron to Mackinac.

Comments

[Mom]

nice
Great pix!!!