5 Tips, Tricks, & Secrets of Mackinac Island
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We hope to prevent any “I wish I had known that” for anyone visiting Mackinac Island. If you’re headed to Mackinac Island this year, check out our top 5 insider tips…
1. Bring Cash and Credit
Without going too far down a rabbit hole, this isn’t a place where one credit card will cover it all.
Bring cash and get it broken down into $5 and $1 bills. This will make it easy to tip everyone from tour guides to dock workers. Plus, the taxi only accepts cash unless credit card arrangements are made ahead of time.
Note: Some restaurants will charge a credit card fee of around 3-4% of the bill, but cash payments won’t include a surcharge. Read the fine print.
2. Budget Realistically
This is an island, meaning all the goods and services must come from the mainland, and those transportation charges add up. Plus, the unique nature and superior service could make everything feel expensive.
Peak season means peak pricing. Look for deals and discounts with everything from hotel reservations to ferry tickets. Crunch the numbers before arriving to avoid sticker shock. These are locally owned businesses trying to thrive without corporate influence.
However, let go of any guilt about sampling fudge but not buying a brick of it at each store.
3. It’s an Island, but not Key West
No matter how far away the island feels, this is still Michigan. The hottest average summer day doesn’t break 76°, and lows get into the upper 50s at the warmest. The water averages summer temperatures of 65-70°F. Wear layers and peel off as needed.
Even the beaches aren’t the sandy variety. Water shoes are a must for protection against rocky shorelines. However, seeing the crystal clear blue water makes the rocky walk well worth it.
4. The Smells of Mackinac Island
Three scents are synonymous with Mackinac Island – fudge, flowers, and horse manure. The fudge scent arrives first, as the strategic positioning of vents scents the sweet smell over each guest arriving at the ferry dock.
Flowers will be most “scent-sual” in the gardens, of course. It’s not an overwhelming smell of tulips or whatever is in bloom.
With 600 horses working on the island, there’s bound to be manure. Don’t worry; it’s not a smell akin to Bourbon Street in New Orleans. Manure is quickly cleaned up and taken to compost, while the streets get a bath in the wee hours nightly.
5. “Is That My Bike?”
About 1,500 bikes are available on Mackinac Island, and that’s before guests bring their own. With only so many ways to make a bike, it’s easy for a bike to get lost in the mix, especially downtown.
Using a bike lock is the best way to prevent a bike from going missing, but adding a personalized touch can help a visitor distinguish theirs from the group. All rental bikes come with a hangtag to help identify them from others.
BIKE THEFT CONCERNS? With almost a million people visiting the island each year, crime statistics show that in 2022, only 40 bikes were reported stolen. The five-year average is 54 bikes a year. The risk is low, but the bike lock used consistently eliminates any risk.
BONUS: Download Our Guide
With interactive maps and personal recommendations for food, attractions, and lodging, our Mackinac Island Vacation Guide is a MUST have for anyone who’s headed to the island for the first time or is looking for hidden gems they might have missed before.