Been there once, it’s nice, if if a bit tourist trappy. Don’t forget to buy some fudge while you’re there...
“The Grand Hotel is such a draw among tourists that non-guests must pay a $10 admission fee.”
Not unless you sneak in. ;^)
Stayed there, at the Grand Hotel, several times with my Grandparents back in the early Fifties. I have watercolors my Grandma painted there. It was quite a magical place back then!
If in Michigan try several islands that do exist:
Les Cheneaux Island (East of Mackinac Island)
This Islands are on Lake Superior:
Grand Island near Munising (Pictured Rocks is nearby too)
Isle Royale National park (Nearby Copper Harbor) This is part of the Keenewaw Bay area even though you have to take a ferry to the island
Wisconsin has the Apostle Islands too.
No cars but an airport.
I boarded a ferryboat and spent the day there. I probably couldn’t afford the hotels there, the place is so popular. It has a lot of charm. Bike rentals are cheap, and I pedalled the entire perimeter of the island and then criss-crossed the interior. The old fort is great!
I found just one single family residential property for sale on Mackinack Island - an 8 bed 11 bath place for 2.9mil - it probably houses a B&B
FYI
Four years ago my husband had to speak at a conference at the Grand Hotel. We had never stayed there before. We enjoyed it. I was recovering from a fall, and he pushed me all over the island in a wheel chair. He earned his dinner and some of mine too! The flowers growing around the hotel are beautiful and well fertilized.;-) I did see one truck on the far side of the island. I think it was a repair vehicle of some sort. I have a picture somewhere as proof. I also saw someone having a large appliance delivered to their home on a horse drawn cart. Someone I knew in college got her first teaching position at the school on the island. I don’t think she stayed there long. If the lake freezes over, I believe transport to the island is by plane or snowmobile. That’s a little too isolated for me.
We drove by the places where you get on boats.
Dress warm for the ferry ride.
Even if its 80 degrees on shore in the middle of the straight its freezing ass.
Over hyped vacation spot. The whole island smells of horse crap. Flys swarm everywhere and get on the fudge. The horses they use to pull the carts are some of the ugliest things I’ve ever seen, old and with something that resembles a snot covered mustache.
On my list of places to visit now. Thanks.