Has anyone been there relatively recently? I'd like to plan a trip up there for anniversary #3. My wife told me it's bicycles only there and I was wondering (among other things) how does one get their bicycles there? Kinda wondering how you get your luggage to the hotel.

No motorized vehicles and you take a ferry to get on the island. Cool place to visit, some good restaurants, the Grand Hotel, and a golf course. There’s a lot of horse shit so it sometimes gets a little smelly, especially when you eat outside on the main roads. We never did the island with bikes so 8 can’t help you there. Fun place to visit with nice cool weather during peak season, expect lots of daily tourists.

Yes, you can take your bikes on the ferry, or rent when you get on the island. It’s 8.2 mostly flat miles on pavement around the island. After that there isn’t a big need for a bike. Of course with renting could be an issue with availability or your type of bike.

There are places to stay besides the Grand Hotel, research. Most ladies seem to like the older movie ‘Somewhere in Time’. It stars Christopher Reeve, I think mostly filmed at the Grand Hotel.

The next option is to stay on the mainland, spend a day on the island. On the way check out the Traverse City area, and points North.

Yes, more special to stay overnight on the island. It’s a great choice for summer.

Bring your camera, you never know: Hauntings

Besides that, the Island looks like a great place to vacation.

FYI: The Bridge is under construction, so be prepared for delays on busy days. Check the website before your trip for updates.

Oh, this is for May of next year. I start planning early.

quote:

Originally posted by YooperSigs:
FYI: The Bridge is under construction, so be prepared for delays on busy days. Check the website before your trip for updates.

The good new is that from Arkansas you can save an hour and a half by turning right from Chicago and going through the Lower Peninsula of Michigan to get to the ferries in Mackinaw City completely skipping the bridge.

I’m fairly sure the ferries and hotels have arrangements to get your luggage back and forth. Have you checked the FAQs on the Grand Hotel’s website?

Biking around the perimeter of the island is not an issue. There is 300’ of elevation change between the shore and highest point of the island itself, so be prepared for that if you go across the island. There’s rules about bikes and e-bikes you should know before you go. Something about registration being required. We just went for the day and did the horse drawn carriages, so I wasn’t really paying attention to those rules.

We went in late September midweek last year. We stayed in Mackinaw City and took the earliest ferry over. Our B&B was walking distance from the ferry and they let us leave our luggage since it was well before normal check-in. We each had a small backpack full with just enough for an overnight. We did the horse drawn carriage tour with the Fort admission upgrade. It was great weather and a comfortable number of visitors. However, I'm sure the crowds are intolerably (at least for us) bigger on weekends and during high summer.

We had spent the previous several days in the Upper Peninsula and had crossed its length from the Keweenaw. If you're going over to the UP, the detour up to the Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum on Whitefish Point is worth it.

Here are a few of my pix:

This is where we stayed - yes, there's an elevator.



View from the Fort



When we were at the Museum the previous day, the SS Arthur M Anderson sailed by. The Anderson was the last ship the SS Edmund Fitzgerald communicated with before she sank in 1975. The Anderson started hauling ore in 1952 and - besides refits - has been ever since. We just happened to be at the Museum on the right day and at the right time.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Blackmore,

Been up there many times. You don't need to take a bike, they rent them, and it would be a real pain to take one across on the ferry and they probably charge extra. I rented and used it one time only, ride around the island, once is enough. Walking around sightseeing is far more pleasant.

As far as the Mackinac Bridge, there's a ferry in Mackinaw City, so no need to take the bridge. But, highly recommend going over and back on the bridge, if you've never done it, pretty neat. You can also take a brief flight across to the island, that would give a great look at the land and seascape.

Booking a dinner at the Grand is a must, pricey and there's a dress code. One of a kind place.

Edit: I prefer not to stay at the Grand since it is up the hill from all the activity in town. The Cloghan B&B, beautiful place and food, is a pretty easy walk up there anyway. My other fave place stay is the Island House Hotel, just marvelous. You'll need room on your plastic, anniversary $$.

quote:

Originally posted by Blackmore:
If you're going over to the UP, the detour up to the Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum on Whitefish Point is worth it.

If you go to the museum, you’ll drive through Paradise. We stopped for lunch and had cheeseburgers in Paradise.

We went to Tahquamenon Falls as well. Fair warning: the hike from the Upper Falls to the Lower Falls is not exactly all downhill. I don’t think my kids will ever let me forget that.

Oswald’s Bear Ranch in Newberry, but probably more a family thing than anniversary thing.

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Originally posted by trapper189:
If you go to the museum, you’ll drive through Paradise. We stopped for lunch and had cheeseburgers in Paradise.

I missed Paradise entirely, but drove through Hell a few summers ago.

I’ve been at least 20 times. My only advice is take your time, take your bikes if you want, it’s not that much more to take them over on the boat. Pedal around the island see everything there is to see. The last couple times I was in The Grand they didn’t charge to get in but in times past they have. It’s well worth the price if they do. I have sat on the porch several times and ordered a drink, well worth the outrageous cost. I always stay in Mac City and go from there or stay in Paradise and go from there. If you’re into historical stuff or architecture, the Grand Hotel and the forts, both on the Island and in Mac City are worth it. I’ve never stayed overnight at the Grand but it’s on my bucket list just to say I did it, it’s like stepping back in time when you walk in. If you have time to squeeze it in go to Pictured Rock and take the boat tour. The Soo boat tour is an amazing experience also and take the back roads over to Paradise and Whitefish Point, and then do the falls. I go up north every chance I get and I’ve been all over, the people are some of the kindest most down to earth people I’ve ever encountered. Next trip this summer I’m going back to Copper Harbor. Enjoy yourself and you will not see everything you want to see, there’s just too much to do and see. If you’re driving, go up the west side and run M22, so much to see even before you get over the bridge.

If you are not overnighting on the island the only place to stay is Mackinaw City. Better choices for lodging and dining.

Highly recommended. Staying on the island is great, but you can do almost all of it in a day, easily. We were in no big hurry, rented bikes (recommended), saw just about everything AND even rode around the island with an 8yo on his own bike. It's not that big, and the ride is not hard.

If you want to see more stuff in the area, I would also recommend staying in Mackinaw City or St. Ignace and rent a car. Some notable sites in the area, but also take care that they require a bit of a drive:

- Mackinaw City does fireworks on weekends through out the summer
- Mackinaw City has a ton of "touristy" shops, but also lots of of the same stuff as on the island (fudge shops, restaurants, etc) but cheaper
- Tahquamenon Falls state park is beautiful and has some pretty awesome falls https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tahquamenon_Falls
- Whitefish Point - Shipwreck museum / Edmund Fitzgerald stuff https://www.michigan.org/prope...-point-light-station
- Sault Ste. Marie - The Soo Locks, etc. It's worth seeing. We've stayed up there too, and it's an easy way to bump up into Canada should you desire. (Well, pre-911 it was anyway.) https://saultstemarie.com/attractions/soo-locks/

My family has been up to the island a couple times, and my mom and my siblings and our families have stayed in Cross Village a number of times, which is just down into the lower peninsula along Lake Michigan a bit. We'd take the kids up to the bridge/parks in the area for a day sometimes.

If you're looking for laid back and low-key, staying ON the island is totally fine too. There's a ton to do, but the water can be pretty dang cold around there, depending on when you go, and there aren't really beaches on the island. Just a lot of rocks. Decent golfing though, I guess.

We stayed last year for few days while my wife attended a conference at the Grand Hotel, We did not stay there though. We are also going back this summer for two nights and then are heading down into the lower peninsula. I am looking forward to it. The island can be a tourist trap but at the same time is a different experience with no cars.

The hotel we stayed at last year was just east of the one Blackmore stayed at next to the catholic church called the Harbour View Inn. It was very well run. Because the island thrives on tourism, you probably won't go wrong anywhere you stay. I can report back on the hotel we are slated to stay at this year as well if looking for recommendations. Depending on group size or needs, you should plan on trying to book rooms by the February or March before you go.

With having the kiddos with, we only walked by the Grand Hotel on a few occasions. It is quite impressive and I imagine if the wife keeps going to this conference it will be something we can check out further as they get a little older. I highly recommend visiting the Fort though as it's very interesting, plus as Blackmore posted, it has an amazing view. FYI the small white building with the red roof you can see in his shot down towards the harbor at the base of the hill is the visitor center. Has a lot of unique information and public restrooms. 2023 marked the 150 year anniversary of the ban on automobiles on the island, so they had some special signs made up featuring that which I thought were cool.

As others have said, you can rent bikes from several outfits on the island or can have yours brought over on the ferry. We rented two bikes and burleys for part of a day. I haven't biked in years but had no problems doing the 8.2 mile loop even with the burley.

There are two companies providing ferry service, Star Line and Sheplers. We used Sheplers as they had a reduced rate for the conference. Both run multiple trips daily. I know Sheplers also does a "scenic" option where they spend a few extra minutes showing you the bridge before heading to the island. With you coming from the South, I agree that Mackinaw City would be the better spot to go over from. We came over from St Ignace as we came from the west and continued north after our time on the island so it made sense for us.

As someone else mentioned, there are not the best beaches on the island. We did go once up by British Landing on the NW side of the island and it was rocky but shallow enough to get the job done for the kiddos.

Besides checking out the "downtown" area, there is plenty to see via bike or walk further into the island. We are hoping to go to the other fort, Fort Holmes this summer and my wife really wants to see the historic cemetery I found last year when I was out and about. As far as dining recommendations, we enjoyed the Chuckwagon (hole in the wall) in the downtown area, the Gate House and Mackinac Island Pizza Company (both are in the same building down the hill from the Grand and owned by it) and the Bistro on the Greens over at the Mission Point resort.

One of the days we were there we got tickets and went over and spent part of the day in Mackinaw City as well. The fort there was interesting and I know there is a museum about building the bridge above Mama's pizza on the main drag. I was there years ago but did not go this time. We would recommend lunch at Wienerlicous though and had good donuts and coffee from Mackinaw Bakery & Café adjacent to the Sheplers dock. While it's on the to-do list for me at the moment due to the kids, there is a newer museum featuring the former lakes Coast Guard icebreaker Mackinaw that is also docked and open during the tourist season.

As others have also mentioned, if you continue north ward, I also highly recommend the Tahquamenon Falls Park area and the shipwreck museum at Whitefish Point. Another bonus at Whitefish Point are some very nice beaches as well. If you do go to Sault Ste. Marie for the locks (there are public accessible viewing decks to watch the freighters move through) the Soo Locks boat tour is informative and you cannot miss Clyde's Drive In along the river on the east edge of town.

Let me know if you have any other questions as you plan your trip.

ETA: I see you asked about luggage, with us we checked it on the mainland with the ferry company and told them which hotel we were staying at. Once on the island there were porters from the hotel who you spoke too to confirm and they then took the luggage to the hotel for you. When we checked out, the hotel asked what time we were leaving and had it down to the dock so you didn't have to lug it around with you since we spent a few hours taking in the island after checkout before our ferry ride back.

It's a bridge
Get over it

( Or under it, whatever )

One of my favorite recent vacations. Got a Groupon for a Bnb weekend and drove up. Took our time driving and caught a ferry in the afternoon. We rented bikes for one of the days and went all around and into the interior of the island. A little caution, bikes there are pedal braking. Restaurants are okay, nothing spectacular. Bnb had no elevator or bathroom in the room so take your physical abilities and comfort level in mind. The grande hotel probably provides better amenities and dining options.
One of my fondest memories is riding bikes through the morning fog and getting covered in condensation. Good luck