Imagine putting your ship ashore on Mackinac Island and then making your way uphill, through the woods, in the dark, with cannons and other artillery, in order to surprise the occupants of Fort Mackinac the next morning from the high ground above. That really happened on Mackinac Island, and it’s…
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Does Mackinac Island have an airport? The short answer, yes. The longer answer: It’s a self-service airport available for regional charter flights or private planes. Major commercial airlines do not land at the Mackinac Island Airport. OVERVIEW OF THE MACKINAC ISLAND AIRPORT The Mackinac Island…
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One of the first things you’ll notice about Mackinac Island when you step off the ferry boat is that there are horse-drawn carriages everywhere. It’s a big part of the charm of visiting a car-free destination! Some of the carriages are shuttles that take visitors to a particular place to stay, such…
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Mackinac Island has always been a part of me. I grew up an hour away, visited historic Fort Mackinac on an eighth-grade class trip and even worked on Mackinac Island. So, when I learned my father-in-law had never been to Mackinac Island, I knew I needed to take my family there. My parents-in-law…
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We spent weeks planning a unique and family-friendly vacation to Mackinac Island. Then one night on our trip, as my family was finishing a wonderful evening bike ride around Mackinac Island, absorbing the sounds of gulls and loons over the lake and water lapping at the shore, we pulled into town for…
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Students have gone on field trips to Mackinac Island for years, taking a break from the classroom for experiential learning in one of Michigan’s most historic places. But you don't have to be in school to go on a field trip. Mackinac Island is a great place for real-life learning the entire family…
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Some people who work on Mackinac Island tend bar or wait tables while others take care of guests in the many beautiful places to stay. But there are many other jobs on Mackinac Island, too. For example, you can work as a historical interpreter. Here's how one historical interpreter describes what…
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Whether you climb the 207 steps from Lakeshore Drive all the way up to Arch Rock or you make your way there on bicycle or horse-drawn carriage, you deserve a break. The new Milliken Nature Center is just the place. Located on the Arch Rock Plaza just a few steps from the picturesque limestone…
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Mackinac Island in many ways looks just as it did in the late 1800s. Just as there were no automobiles then, there are no cars on Mackinac Island now. Just as soldiers manned Fort Mackinac then, costumed interpreters on Mackinac Island manage the historic stronghold now. And just as guests enjoyed…
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Mackinac Island is blessed with four distinct seasons, from bright, sunny summers to cold, snowy winters and from crisp autumns with gorgeous fall colors to rejuvenating springs with the return of sweet-smelling lilacs. At some times of the year, it almost feels like Mackinac Island experiences all…
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