Things To Do On Mackinac Island: 10 Favorites

Top 10 Favorite Things To Do On Mackinac Island

If you’re looking for a quaint island to escape to for a long weekend, look no further than Mackinac Island.

I’m not sure if it’s because I have a long family history of visiting the island (my mom and step-dad got married there!) but I’d even venture to say that it’s one of my favorite weekend getaways. It’s like the Hamptons of the midwest. Gorgeous, colonial-inspired houses and hotels, interesting history, lake views everywhere you turn, and of course, the famous element of getting around via bikes or horses. (In case you didn’t know, there are no cars on Mackinac Island!) It’s lake life, island life, and weekend life all rolled into one relaxing adventure.

During the last weekend of June, my family and I took an impromptu trip to Mackinac Island. My mom and step-dad had won an auction item at a charity event years back, and the package included a Grand Hotel stay that was about to expire. Given that the upper part of Michigan is in Phase 5 and has a very low quantity of COVID cases, we figured it’d be the ideal place to road trip after months of quarantine. And so, we set off to the island!

NOTE: Be sure to scroll to the bottom of this post for recommendations on where to stay and places to eat! Also, I’ve provided context on how we handled COVID-19 precautions/thoughts while on the island.

Given that this past trip marked the 5th time I’ve been on the island, I thought it’d be fun to put together a roundup of my favorite things to do while there. It’s truly such a magical place! (FYI – the photos in this post are a mix of this past trip, and a trip Doug and I went on two summers ago!) Let’s dive in!

Top 10 Things You Must Do On Mackinac Island

Enjoy The Ferry Ride

I’ve taken both Star Line and Shepler’s, and both are great options to get to and from Mackinac Island. The best part about the ride to the island is the view! While leaving from Mackinaw City, it takes about 20 minutes to reach the island, and on the way you get amazing view of the Mackinac Bridge (A huge bridge that connects the lower and upper parts of Michigan), and the surrounding landscape that includes deep blue water and lush green land. It’s Michigan at its finest!

Eat Fudge On Main Street (And Explore The Cute Shops, Too!)

One of the things Mackinac Island is known for is endless fudge! It’s definitely not a trip to Mackinac Island if you don’t indulge in some. I honestly don’t have a favorite place to get fudge — they’re all good! Try one or try many, either way you can’t go wrong. Fudge is also the best thing to bring home as a gift for others from your trip!

There’s also a lot of great shopping on the island. Cute boutiques with everything from touristy knick-knacks to unique art pieces. My favorite stores on the island are The Pink Pony (The super cute apparel sister of the restaurant), Little Luxuries (Michigan/island-inspired gear), and Poppins (Darling stationary options!)

Bike Around The Island

Perhaps my most favorite thing to do on Mackinac Island is to rent a bike and ride around the island. (Side note: Doug and I rode a tandem bike a few years back and it was so much fun!) Every time I’ve visited the island I’ve done this, and it’s always a great time. The entire ride is about 8.2 miles, and it’s filled with breathtaking scenery and lots of surprises along the way.

Keep an eye out for popular stops such as Fort Mackinac (Be sure to explore this if you’re into history — it’s really impressive!), Mission Point Resort (There’s a huge grass field that leads to a beach where you can sit and enjoy the view) The Butterfly House (A kid favorite!), historic churches and buildings, Arch Rock (see below), British Landing, and more!

Visit Some Of The Island’s Hidden Gems

The island is filled with hidden gems that don’t get talked about much; every time I visit the island, I find something new! If there’s one thing that Doug and I love to do while traveling, it’s to explore all the must-see spots including (and sometimes especially!) those that aren’t talked about as much. Here are a few that are fun to seek out.

Eat fried pickles at Cannonball, which is right near British Landing. It’s the best pit stop on your bike ride around the island. While you’re eating your fried pickles, dip your toes in the lake at the beach that’s right across from the little restaurant. (Which honestly looks more like a shack!)

See the Crack-In-The-Island. The island literally has a huge limestone crack in it, which is kind of fun to see. Plus, finding it takes some inner-island exploration, which is something that is totally underrated.

Admire Sugar Loaf Rock & Sugar Loaf Point Lookout. First, the rock is huge! And it’s at a central part of the island where there’s a lookout point nearby, which has amazing views of the surrounding water.

Walk or bike down Cadotte Avenue. This is the road that leads up to the Grand Hotel, and it’s so beautiful! It’s lined with immaculate gardens and is straight out of a storybook.

Visit (Or Stay At!) The Grand Hotel

It is an experience, to say the least. The massive grounds are filled with eye-candy from flower gardens to huge fountains, and the inside is just as lovely. If you’re a decor-lover, you’ll go bananas over the interior. It’s colorful, pattern-filled, and constantly leaves you in awe. Truly, words don’t do it justice, so you just have to see it for yourself!

While you’re there, make sure you enjoy sitting on the famous Grand Hotel porch, ideally at sunset, and also have a cocktail in the Cupola Bar, which has an INCREDIBLE view of the water.

Watch The Sunset From Above

The sunsets on Mackinac Island are incredible — Doug and I were even saying they rival Greece sunsets! They’re just so unique with the 360 views of the water. they’re always filled with so much color. The higher you can get, the better! One of the hidden gem places we found while there recently was a trail called Pontiac Trail. I’m not sure how to best describe how to get there, other than to tell you that we walked straight up from the Grand Hotel and found it off the road that went up the hill. It is a small path along a cliff that you can walk, and it’s absolutely gorgeous!

You pass by lots of adorable houses, can see views of the Mackinac Bridge, and we literally had the path to ourselves because it’s a little hidden. Grab a bottle of wine (and a cigar, in Doug’s case!) and enjoy the views from here if you have the chance!

Arch Rock

While on your bike ride around the island, this is a must-do! Arch Rock is one of the most famous sites on the island. It’s a huge natural limestone arch that is beautiful to see, and interesting to learn about. The Native Americans saw Arch Rock as a place with lots of spiritual power!

Pay Attention To The Houses and Hotels

Everywhere you turn on the island, there’s a house, or bed and breakfast, where you find yourself thinking, “Now that is a house!” One of my favorites to see is the Governor’s Summer Residence — it dates back to 1902 and is the official summer residence of Michigan’s leader! The houses are all grand, historic, colorful and – you guessed it – charming! 😉

Take A Carriage Ride

Going to Mackinac Island without taking a horse-drawn carriage ride is like going to the beach and not dipping your toes in the water. You just have to do it to take in the full experience! I always find it so endearing that there are no cars on the island and people get around via horses or bikes. There’s also something very cool about walking around and hearing the horse hooves pitter-patter on the road.

A word of advice: Just make sure you watch out for the horse poop as you walk around. It’s everywhere! (Yikes.)

Find A Remote Beach & Swim

As you’re cruising around the island on your bike, make sure to stop and really take in the scenery. There’s everything from little beaches to huge rocks to climb that line the shore. The water is freezing but it’s also so clear and refreshing. Jump in!

Recommendations On Where To Stay & Eat

Where to stay on Mackinac Island

Hands down, you’ve got to stay at the Grand Hotel if you’re able to. It’s expensive, yes, but it’s also such a unique place and experience! Another famous hotel on the island that’s impressive is Mission Point Resort — I’ve never stayed there, but I’ve been on their grounds and it’s beautiful.

Another, more cost effective, place we’ve stayed at and recommend is Harbour View Inn. Though of course the Grand Hotel is amazing, I have to say that I typically prefer a bed and breakfast. They’re a bit more approachable and I find them just as lovely! The Harbour View Inn is in a great location just off the heart of Main Street.

Where to eat on Mackinac Island

There are lots of great restaurants on the island! Here’s your one must-do, though. First, grab a drink and eat appetizers at the Grand Hotel Cupola Bar. I promise you, it’s worth it and will not disappoint. Then, take a horse-drawn carriage to Woods. (You can grab the carriage in front of the Grand Hotel!) Woods is deep in the – you guessed it – woods. It’s decorated like you’re in a Bavarian mansion, and the food is delicious.

Off of Main Street, The Pink Pony is a must! They have a great space for outdoor dining, so be sure to grab a seat outside and enjoy the views of the harbor.

The Elephant In The Room: What About COVID-19?

Alright. So. COVID-19.

Honestly, I was a nervous wreck going on a trip in general. Especially after being quarantined for 3 months, it was a lot mentally to tackle. A few things made us feel like it was a low risk decision for our family. First, northern Michigan is in phase 5 – a phase ahead of lower Michigan – and at the time had very low COVID counts. Second, we were heading to the island on a Sunday and Monday nights, presumably the lightest of traveler traffic. And third, we were of course committed to following all safety guidelines including social distancing and wearing masks. We figured if worst came to worst…we could always leave!

The pros:

For the most part, I felt safe and that it was easy to practice social distance on the island, particularly while exploring the island on bike. The island has signs everywhere. There are requests for masks to be worn and people to maintain distance. Public spaces and situations like the ferries, and the hotels, require mask wearing as well. We did mostly everything outside, including eating most meals outdoors, which was very easy to do. We did have one meal inside, a dinner at the Grand Hotel. But the tables were more than 6 feet apart and all guidelines were followed, so we felt okay.) In terms of staying at a hotel, we disinfected all high-tough surfaces upon arrival. Plus, the hotel was able to accommodate our request to not put us in a room that had someone in the night before.

The cons:

People made me SO MAD. While walking on Main Street specifically, I’d say only half the people were wearing masks. It was crazy frustrating. Beyond arriving on the island and leaving, and riding through to grab food once, we ended up avoiding Main Street all together. I also did have to angry stare down a few people in the hotel who didn’t follow the rules and chose not to wear a mask.

The net, net:

Overall, I think we did a pretty good job, as did the island infrastructure and businesses, in promoting safety. But I won’t sit here and tell you I felt comfortable the entire time, largely because of other people’s choice to not wear masks where they should have. If I were to go again, I’d strongly recommend going on off days like we did, taking the ferries over during hours that aren’t peak travel times, and gravitating toward eating meals in places that offer outdoor dining.