Mackinac Island is located in Northern Michigan in the United States. The island is a unique place with a magical charm. Cars and motor vehicles are banned on the island, which makes things rather interesting. Tell me, what do you LOVE about Mackinac Island?

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1. Love – Bicycles

There really are no cars on the island. We all get around by foot, bike, horse and carriages. If you come, no you can’t bring your car and yes, you have to leave it on the other side.

Might as well make the best of it and rent a tandem to go around the island. I mean, why not?

It’s really fun though, kind of takes you back to the good ol days as a child when your bicycle was your first form of transportation.

Hate – Crowds

The island has grown immensely in popularity and has become a very hot tourist spot. During peak season or any weekend mid-summer the downtown streets are flooded with people. The biggest issue is people confusing the island with Disneyland and walking down the middle of the street! They aren’t even phased by the two-ton horses coming straight at them.

Plus it can be dangerous when people are so careless and oblivious. This is a living, breathing city – even without cars the street is still for bicycles and carriages.

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2. Love – Carriages

Which brings me to our other most common activity – carriage rides! You should ride one. Whether it’s a taxi to dinner or a tour of the island, going by carriage is the most hands-off.

All the carriage horses have names and homes on the island. If you want to see some horses up close, go by the stables. Please don’t be touching and kissing on the horses on the street, they’re not pets. Imagine if hundreds of people were in your face all day and all you were here for was to work. You would be antsy too.

Hate – Poop

Horses poop. Yes, they do! And the Mackinac Island horses aren’t potty trained, so of course they are going to poop in the street. There are employees whose job is dedicated to cleaning the streets and sweeping up the horse litter as fast as possible. Even with all their hard work and effort, you will still see some poop scatters here and there. It stinks, get used to it.

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3. Love – Sunsets

Man are they amazing! Being that we’re on island, some parts of the island have great visibility. From the Mackinac Bridge in the West where the sun sets, all the way over to Canada on the East; the sun reflects off the water just magically.

Hate – Hills

Just like most islands, Mackinac Island is a big giant hill in the middle of the lake. So going towards the interior or top of the island will call for climbing some hills. The steepest hills are by Grand Hotel, Fort Mackinac and the East Bluff. There isn’t a short cut – don’t even ask!

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4. Love – Water

The Great Lakes are incredible. Specifically, Lake Huron where Mackinac Island is located. The fresh water is crystal clear and on any given day you can see straight to the bottom. It’s clean refreshing… but not that warm. With the great depth of the lake and the winter months, the water just doesn’t get enough sunlight to warm up.

Hate – Rain

Rainy days here are the pits! Majority of the island is outdoors. On rainy days it’s inevitable, you’re going to get wet! If you’re riding bike and it doesn’t have fenders, you’ll also get poop/mud splattered all up your back side. Pack a poncho or bring an umbrella if you’re walking.

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5. Love – Beauty

The natural beauty of Mackinac Island is just magnificent. It is such a unique place that at any given moment, you can stop right in your tracks and marvel at all that surrounds you. From the giant trees deep in the woods, to the cliff-side lookouts and the bike ride along the beach. The slower pace of the island really allows you to take it all in!

Hate – Cost

The island can be pretty pricey. There are only two ways to get to the island – boat or plane. A ferry ride costs about $26 per person for a round-trip ticket. Flying across from St. Ignace is $40 one-way. From there, it costs to bring bikes $10 per bike (actually the most economical transportation option), $8+ per hour to rent a bike or $5+ for a one-way fare on a taxi. There’s one grocery store – so of course their prices are higher, all the food is brought across by freight boat. Hotel rooms are rarely less than $100 in the off season and $200 plus during peak season. So, save up!

I would love to hear your feedback! Leave me a comment. Check it my other Mackinac Island tips!

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