Mackinac Island makes a great day trip or a week's vacation. Once you dock your boat at the marina or step off the ferry, you step back in time to the early 1800's.
During the summer, the island atmosphere is simply enchanting, with it's historic waterfront village, horse-drawn carriages, Colonial homes, and locals dressed in period clothing.
We took the ferry from Mackinaw City to Mackinac Island and on the way in, we can see the giant mansions way up high.
Sitting high on a hill overlooking the straits, is the Grand Hotel with the worlds largest veranda.
As the ferry pulls in, I know this is going to be a fun day.
No motor vehicles are permitted on the island, so the mode of transportation is by horse, bicycle or foot.
So we join our friends, Jim and Joy, and Michael and Judy, on a carriage tour around the island.
These three boys will be our mode of transportation today. They only work half a day and in the winter they are brought over to stables on the mainland.
We load up and start our tour of the island.
Once a commercial depot for fur trappers, the island was then occupied by the British during the American Revolution. Several downtown buildings are National Historic Landmarks.
Fort Mackinac, overlooking the Straits of Mackinac was originally a British outpost until American troops captured the island 20 years after the Revolution.
Today, it is home to military reenactments, bugle and drum corps music, and rifle and cannon demonstrations.
No visit is complete without a visit to the Grand Hotel.
This opulent hotel of yesteryear, offers guests formal gardens, tennis, biking, golf, fine dining and royal hospitality.
There were three weddings that we saw going on at the time.
The porch is famous and runs the full length of the building.
What a place and what a day!
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