Visiting Mackinac Island in the Fall
For my birthday this year, I didn’t think we would be doing much celebrating, because we had invested so much money into our home over the last several months. I had mentally prepared myself for a weekend on the sofa wearing sweats, and saying a little “woo-hoo” when the clock struck midnight. Being the surprise-artist he is, my husband surprised me with 2 plane tickets to Mackinac Island, Michigan - a place I’d never heard of before.
I had about a week to prepare for the trip, and after doing some investigating, I realized this island was going to be like visiting a little slice of heaven. The island sits in Lake Huron and it exudes elegance and charm. After looking through photos, I was thrilled to go and shocked that my husband found such a perfect place to take me - and kept it a secret!
How to Get There
We flew from Atlanta to Sault Ste. Marie and took a car to the ferry port. The ferry was a short ride to get to the island. My husband and I sat on the top of the 20-minute ferry on our way to the island and then learned our lesson that you should sit on the bottom, covered area in the fall and winter months. The ferry was very affordable (compared to the ones I’ve been on to various other cute islands), at around $25-30 per person. Once we made it to the island, we checked in to the cozy Island House Hotel. It had so much charm. With a beautiful waterfront view, it was convenient and a lovely place to stay.
How to Get Around
With no motors allowed on the island, people get around by horse-drawn carriage or bicycle. We were able to reserve a private horse-drawn carriage ride and it was such a great way to see all of the little nooks and crannies of the island.
The homes and architecture we passed were beautiful and quaint. Not to mention there were picturesque views of Lake Huron from every angle throughout the ride. The entire island is only about 8 miles around and is paved the whole way. When we weren’t taking the “horse taxis”, we rode bikes to take in the views around the island. It was a great opportunity to plan for a picnic and stop along the way, enjoying lunch with beautiful views!
What to Do
Mackinac Island is known for its fudge, so of course, we indulged. We went to Ryba’s Fudge Shop where they make hand-crafted, world-renowned fudge using recipes that have been worked on for over four generations. We decided on the ‘Best of Mackinac Sampler’ which included 3 selections. We tried the sea salted caramel, pumpkin, and maple pecan fudge.
To work off all of the fudge we consumed, we took a bike ride to visit the Arch Rock. The arch towers above the water and is made out of natural limestone. It is such a beautiful sight to see but unfortunately, it won’t be around forever. We were told that it may collapse within the next 20 years, so if you have the chance to go see it, I highly suggest you plan a visit to do so.
The Grand Hotel was one of my favorite places we visited throughout our trip. As someone who loves home decor, the bright and colorful decor in the hotel was such a treat to tour and very inspiring. No detail was overlooked, down to every linen, rug, you name it.
The hotel has the largest front porch in the country and it is beyond stunning. We sat on the porch and watched the sunset each evening with a glass of wine. The waiters will come to you, so it was nice not having to miss a second of the view by having to go inside to the bar.
They also have a beautiful garden and fountains in front of the hotel that are stunning to look out at. The fall foliage was in full swing making it an amazingly charming fall destination.
Dining
Here's a list of everywhere we ate and enjoyed:
BREAKFAST / COFFEE
Lucky Bean Coffee House - great coffee and perfect for a small breakfast
Watercolor Cafe - such a cute and quick, waterfront spot for coffee and breakfast
LUNCH
Pink Pony - relaxing and cute atmosphere on the waterfront. Everything is PINK!
DINNER
Carriage House Dining at Hotel Iroquois - waterfront fine dining
The Gate House - a Grand Hotel restaurant with a casual dining atmosphere
A Day Trip
After speaking with locals, we decided to do take a day excursion over to the Point Iroquois Light House. We used our rental car and drove about an hour to get there.
Point Iroquois is a lighthouse located on a gorgeous pebble beach where you can see Canada from right across the water.
Visiting Mackinac Island was such a lovely getaway filled with amazing views. My husband and I had the best time exploring everything the island had to offer and I am already wanting to go back. If you ever have the chance, Mackinac Island is an incredible vacation destination no matter what time of year.
