A Day to Getaway in Mackinac Island

Start your morning with breakfast at Darrow's Family Restaurant in Mackinaw City, a former drive-in that has been serving up an exquisite all-American breakfast daily for more than sixty years. Getting there early will serve you well as this is a fan-favorite haunt for many visitors traveling through the area.

Round the corner to visit Colonial Michilimackinac, which contains an 18th-century fort and fur trading village, reconstructed based on historic maps and more than 60 years of archaeological excavations in the area. Historical translators posing as voyageurs, soldiers, and French-Canadian merchants answer questions and perform historical demonstrations from the era. Archeologists continue to excavate the area every summer and have been doing so since 1959, making it one of the longest ongoing excavations of its kind.

Head over to Shepler's Mackinac Island Ferry to catch the boat ride over to Mackinac Island, where you will spend the remainder of the day exploring the beauty and history of the quaint resort island. At 10:30am throughout the summer, the ferry brings you on the "Mighty Mac" tour free of charge, which brings travelers on the ferry for a narrated tour under the Mackinac Bridge on the way to the island. For first-time travelers to the island, this is a must-see for sweeping bridge and lake views, and a little history lesson.

When you reach the island, purchase a bike rental as that will be your main method of transportation around the island, which has no cars on it. We recommend biking the perimeter of the island to get the most sights out of your trip. On your route, you will pass rock formations, caves, and stunning island beach views, and you will bike past the gorgeous Victorian estates that sit on the island's high hills. All rentals come with a bike basket, water, and helmet to keep you prepared on your journey, as well as maps from that shop that will help you navigate your must-see stops.
After grabbing a bike, we recommend picking up sandwiches at a local spot of your choice nearby, such as Good Day Café or Watercolor Café, to pack into your basket— you can stop off to have lunch at one of the many picnic outposts on your bike ride around the island.

Bike through the historic downtown area and head out onto Perimeter Road until you reach Arch Rock, one of the most visited rock formations on the island for its huge, naturally molded arch that sits on the forefront of the picturesque waters. You will park your bike and then take a small hike to the rock that hangs overhead.

Continue riding your bike along the island's outer ring. You can stop off at the Lost Lake Nature trail to see and read signs about the native wildflowers, trees, birds, and wildlife that inhabit the island.

Stop off at British Landing, a historic and beautiful rocky shore stop with some of the most expansive views of the lake the island has to offer. This stop was where British forces landed before capturing Fort Mackinac and the island away from American troops during the War of 1812. It's about the halfway point on the bike ride around the island.
There are picnic tables at this stop where you can stop off to enjoy lunch.

Stop and take a picture at Devil's Kitchen, a peculiar-looking cave that formed during the post-glacial period created by the waves of Lake Huron. The eroded limestone offers a human-like appearance and has been claimed to be inhabited by bad spirits by local legends. The structure is enticing, but if you're a little superstitious, you may want to proceed with caution.

Drop your bike off back at the bike rental, then walk your way through the charming streets and up the hills to Fort Mackinac, a former military outpost that also served as a home for soldiers and their families. It is the oldest building in Michigan, and also has 13 other structures that have been fully restored and open for exploration. The season lasts from May to October.

After exploring Fort Mackinac, make the trek a little north through the island's hiking trails to Fort Holmes, a smaller, wooden fort that sits at the highest point of the island. The fort was constructed by British soldiers in 1814 during the War of 1812 to protect against an anticipated attack by Americans. It is named after an American major named Andrew Hunter Holmes who was killed during the battle for Mackinac Island. The fort is free to visit during normal operating hours from May through October.

After finishing your tour of the island's historic forts, treat yourself to dinner at the island's Grand Hotel, known for its deeply historic bygone charm and a grand porch known for being the longest porch in the world. Dating back to 1887, the hotel has charmed a lengthy list of distinguished guests, including Mark Twain, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, and five US presidents, including Harry Truman and John F. Kennedy. The hotel serves dinner from 6:30 to 8:45pm, with each meal starting with an appetizer followed by soup or salad, entrée, and dessert.
Dining at the Grand Hotel opens in May — call to reserve your dinner reservation in advance.
While the Grand Hotel is a must-see attraction on the island, if you would like to indulge in a more accessible and affordable dining experience, we recommend the Pink Pony on Main Street.

Before heading off the island and wrapping up your trip, you must stop to grab some famous Mackinac Island fudge for your journey home and bring it back to family or friends. Mackinac Island has been called the fudge capital of the world by some, and its fudgy roots date back to the Victorian era when travelers to the island began identifying the island for its sweets. In the 1880s, the Murdick family came to Mackinac and opened the island’s first real candy store, and later became the first to make fudge on marble slabs, which still continues in all the island's fudge shops today.

Come back to the rental to leave your bike and head to the ferry station.

Head back to the ferry to make your way out of Mackinac Island. Enjoy the waves and views from the lake on the way back to the mainland.

Grab your car from the ferry parking lot and head out for the night.

Stay the night in Mackinaw City at a hotel near the shore. If you are up for the drive, you can cut the day shorter and head back home.