Lakes Trip 2019: Mackinac Island

We stepped off the ferry onto Mackinac Island mid-afternoon to find a bustling and cute little downtown:

First look at Fort Mackinac, which is perched up high in the island

We decided that the first thing we would do was take a carriage ride tour around the island (there are no automobiles allowed on the island, save for the single ambulance and fire truck for emergencies. Even the taxis are horse drawn, which is lovely):

 

Our tour guide was very informative (actually both tour guides, as you switch to a three horse carriage half way through):

Old military cemetery with soldiers from Fort Mackinac

Skull Cave, which used to be sacred to the native people, but was caved in during the 60s to prevent loitering there

military rifle range

Arch Rock

Walking back to town after the tour. They let you out at the top of the hill and the view as you walk down is spectacular

By the time the tour was done, it was after 5pm and we decided to check into our hotel. All the ferries/hotels have transfer service for luggage, so ours was waiting for us at the hotel and we had not had to lug it around all day:

Historic Mission Point hotel was originally built as a .... mission! It served as a church and boarding school for tribal children until it was bought and turned into a holiday resort in the 1950s.

On the resort lawn (after dinner)

The resort is famous for its lawn (and its chairs, which are one of the symbols of the island)

While most of the movie Somewhere in Time was filmed at the Grand Hotel, a few scenes (including the theater and gazebo scenes) were filmed here

Skipping stones on Lake Huron

Abby wanted me to catch her jumping on film

Then Benji got in on the action

Silly kids

Kevin and I enjoyed a bottle of wine and the sunset (the wine was both expensive and terrible, but the sunset was lovely and the kids were having fun)

After sunset and dessert, we headed down to the resort's "executive putting course," where they have glow golf every night after dark. I love this idea, as (theoretically) all the flags are lit up and the balls glow in the dark. In fact, some of the lights were out and it became very challenging after it was full dark, but still a lot of fun:

We were only able to get a room for one night (the entire island was booked out for July 4th!), so we checked out of the hotel after breakfast the next morning (although thanks to luggage transfer service did not have to deal with bags):

Fourth of July picture in front of the resort

Not an amazing picture, but one of the few that includes mom (and you can see our taxi arriving in the background)

We took a taxi over to the Grand Hotel, which we wanted to explore a little:

This little area had lots of Somewhere in Time stuff

Geraniums are the Grand Hotel theme -- this is the carpet (lilacs were Mission Point's -- also lovely)

On the famous porch

Looking out from the porch (yes, those are geraniums)

historical marker with the history of the hotel

After touring the hotel, we walked back to the main part of town to explore/sample fudge (which Mackinac is famous for) and check out the Stone Skipping championship, which was a much bigger deal than I realized. We got there to find TV cameras and a huge crowd:

People were watching the stone skipping from all sides

One of many fudge shops

In the early afternoon, we made our way to Fort Mackinac, which has an interesting history and great views. The British built the fort during the Revolutionary War to protect the strategic Straits of Mackinac between Lakes Michigan and Huron. The British did not relinquish the fort until fifteen years after American independence. The fort then became the scene of two strategic battles for control of the Great Lakes during the War of 1812. During most of the 19th century, it served as an outpost of the army, but was closed in 1895:

View to the West

View to the East

From the courtyard (between buildings)

A very patriotic 4th celebration, with period music

And a 38 gun salute (for every state that was then in the union)

On the walls

Through the rifle holes

We ended the afternoon in the Fort Mackinac tea room, which is run by the Grand Hotel:

the napkins were very posh

Pretending to be daddy

Abby wanted a picture of the extra rolls of paper in the bathroom, as she thought it was hilarious that they were wrapped

Flag raising over the fort

We ended the day walking back to the park where the stone skipping had been, as we thought it would have a good view of the fireworks:

One of the many, many lilac bushes on the island. The lilac festival was in early June, but they bloomed late this year and missed the festival

Benji found a friend

Pretty old light house

The start of festivities

Round Island light house -- this is the working one

We were disappointed to have to leave to catch the last ferry before the fireworks started, but ended up having a great view of them from the ferry as we crossed: