Last month, USA Today announced its No. 1 summer travel destinations for 2024 as part of its 10 Best Readers’ Choice Awards. Topping the list is one of the most beautiful islands in the Midwest: Mackinac Island.
Mackinac Island, pronounced “mack-in-awe” – is located in Lake Huron, right between Michigan’s Upper and Lower Peninsulas. To get to the island, fly into the small airport or take a ferry from Mackinaw City and get dropped off downtown. From there, you can walk, rent a bike, or take a horse-drawn taxi.
Only about 500 residents live year-round on Mackinac, but over 1 million people visit each year. It is also home to over 500 horses, as motorised vehicles have been banned since 1898 because they scare the horses.
The Grand Hotel is one of the few remaining wood-frame hotels in the US and is a National Historic Landmark. The property overlooks the lake, and its veranda is said to be the longest in the world at about 660 feet long. The property, where no two rooms are alike, was built by steamship and railroad companies in the late 1800s.
Back then, the hotel was frequented by the ultra-elite and wealthy guests who spent their entire summer here. In honour of the historic site’s great history, there is still a dress code after 6:30 PM – guests must wear a coat, tie, slacks, a dress, a skirt or a pantsuit.
If you spend a night at the hotel, you have the option to partake in a spectacular three-course meal in the grand dining room. High tea is served every afternoon in the parlour. There are also stables, museums and outdoor attractions.
Visitors can also visit Surrey Hill, which is home to attractions such as the Grand Stables, which house the Grand Hotel’s current workhorses. There is also a museum that displays antique carriages and sleighs that are hundreds of years old. Some of these were formerly owned by prominent figures of the 19th century, such as William Vanderbilt.
Across the way is the Wings of Mackinac Butterfly Conservatory, which features hundreds of native and tropical butterflies. The area is also home to historical attractions such as Fort Mackinac, the oldest building in Michigan, established in 1780. Perched high on a coastal bluff, the cluster of military buildings is no longer active, but it still serves as a historical attraction open to the public.
You can also rent a bike and cycle around the outer edge of the island. The flat, leisurely 8.2-mile route skirts the shoreline and offers great views of the lake. It’s also worth visiting Mackinac Island State Park, with its miles of hiking trails, forests, and the distinctive Arch Rock limestone formation.
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