Escape to Mackinac Island: A Dreamy Weekend Itinerary You’ll Love
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Do you know what is worse than a Monday? A Monday after a weekend exploring Mackinac Island. This week is going to be a struggle, I can feel it.
The island is so unique that the possibilities for a weekend getaway there feel endless. Classic stops, hidden secrets, and breathtaking moments await travelers this summer.
With most of the island closed during the winter months, as soon as summer hits, thousands of vacationers flock there for a day, a week, or a weekend. When we started talking about taking a #MittenTrip to Mackinac Island, I was beyond excited to explore!
Strangely enough, I have lived in Michigan my whole life and only spent one night on Mackinac Island…in the 6th grade.
After my experience, I’ll do my best to provide a great sample itinerary for a weekend getaway; everything from food and nature to biking, beers, and shops. It’s all right here to help make your next trip to the island a little less stressful!
Taking the Mackinac Island Ferry
The first (and possibly hardest) task is getting to the island. Mackinac Island ferry boats are the main source of visitor transportation, and they leave from St. Ignace and Mackinaw City.
TIP: Shepler’s Ferry offers luggage drop-off at your hotel, and valet parking and gets you to the island in about 20 minutes.
For our adventure, we arrived at our Mackinac Island hotel (The Island House) rather late, but that didn’t stop us from heading to town to try some brews at the famous Pink Pony.
Live music, Short’s Brewing Company beer, and good company make for a pretty great Friday night. The Short’s tap list included Space Rock, Soft Parade, and Magician Irish Red Ale. Each had its own unique taste and was the perfect “it’s been a long day” relaxer.
Biking, Hiking, and Climbing on the Island
Downtown can get quite crowded during the summer months, so biking around Mackinac Island is the perfect way to get away and experience the island’s natural offerings.
The 8.2-mile biking path is almost completely flat, which makes it perfect for every kind of biker.
TIP: Arch Rock is visible from below when you’re on the path, and you can check it out from above by climbing a staircase of (exactly) 207 steps.
Take a short lunch break to fuel up, then you should get back on the trail with mountain bikes. It’s fun, adventurous, and (importantly) crowdless.
The Tranquil Bluff Trail starts at Arch Rock and continues through the island. While we were trying out the path, we passed no other bikers.
TIP: This is good considering the path is barely wide enough for one bike! Roots, rocks, and hills are common obstacles along the trail, but it’s definitely worth the effort.
Sugar Loaf is located toward the center of the island. Free climbers often come here to see how high they can climb. Although making it to the top is nearly impossible, the 70-foot cliff-rock is a must-do for any outdoor enthusiast.
It’s safe to say I was quite tired and sore by the end of our day. My Garmin Vevofit had counted over 14,000 steps, which didn’t include all that bike peddling!
Best Places to Eat on Mackinac Island
Besides bracing for the food prices, there is much to look forward to in terms of food on the island.
If you’re a chocoholic like me, you’ll be in heaven!
There are so many great restaurants on Mackinac Island, that you’ll have trouble picking which ones to try during your weekend getaway!
Mackinac Island fudge is the island’s No. 1 food item. I wouldn’t be surprised if there were more fudge shops than restaurants.
I tried the chocolate cookie crumble fudge at Joann’s and was highly impressed. Kilwin’s is also located downtown and carries some of my favorite ice creams. Debating between fudge and ice cream? Why not both?
For fine dining, I recommend the Carriage House Restaurant, which is attached to the Iroquois Hotel. I started with the goat cheese salad followed by the mouth-watering filet mignon, and I gently slipped into a food coma after their homemade hot fudge sundae.
Mary’s Bistro Draught House is the go-to local taproom; perfect for post-food-coma drinks. New Holland’s Dragon Milk chocolate beer is the way to go if you want to go big — just prepare for the 10% alcohol content!
Not a drinker? Head to Lucky Bean Café on Market Street for the Sugar Loaf Latte.
Of course, I can’t forget to mention the delicious soft wet taco, and chips and salsa at Horn’s Gaslight Bar & Restaurant. So good!
Island Tours, Shopping, and Games
The whole family can all benefit from a Mackinac Island weekend getaway.
Wake the kiddos up early on Saturday and head to the famous Fort Mackinac for a tour and look into what island life was like in older times. Around noon, rent tandem bikes and enjoy the bike path around the island.
After an afternoon nap, it’s time for shopping downtown. Everyone in the family can benefit from some Great Lakes Proud gear — like the new temporary tattoos or High Five Threads shirt (I know you’ve seen them!).
Stop by Little Luxuries, where the adults can pick up some sweet Michigan/Mackinac pride house décor and/or a bottle of wine. Or browse the Island Bookstore for a new book to read on the trip home.
Afternoon ice cream will cause a sugar rush. I recommend combating that with sunset mini-golf at Mission Point. When the night settles in and the kids have crashed, the bottle of wine can come in handy.
This is the time to sit on the porch of your hotel, relax, and listen to Lake Huron waves in the distance.
Save Sunday for a trip to the Grand Hotel where the whole family will enjoy the extravagant interior and a walk down the longest porch in the world. The gardens and landscaping will have everyone in awe of the beautiful hotel.
TIP: If you’re not a guest on the island, access to the porch will cost $12.
That’s not even the half of it — Mackinac Island is fantastic! My personal favorite of the weekend was exploring the island’s paths. Exploring dirt trails will take you away from the bustling downtown, which is good for some wilderness relaxation.
So, what are you waiting for? Adventures on the island await!