Mackinac Island
 

Has anyone stayed at the Harbor Inn on Mackinac Island recently or the Bayshore Resort in Traverse city- Any feedback?

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We had a family reunion at the Bayshore exactly one year ago and really liked it. Spent 4 nights there. We had lake front rooms which were very nice. Worth the extra money to us. The beach was behind the hotel and very nice for swimming and sunning. Great deck for sitting outside with a bottle of wine and cheese and crackers. Breakfast was pretty good. I researched places to stay in and around Traverse City to death and was glad we ended up here. The trip advisor reviews were accurate. I forgot to post one... It's a good 15 minute walk or so to downtown Traverse City or a short drive. The Bayshore was centrally located for exploring other parts of northern Michigan. Went to the Dunes one day. Hit a bunch of wineries on another day. We took a day trip to Mackinac Island which was nice but it's very Disneyesque. It's one of those places we were glad to say we went but have no interest in returning. Wouldn't want to stay there.

Not being familiar with Michigan or the midwest at all for that matter- We were thinking of around the first or second week in June- Wondering if the weather is conducive to sunning and being on the beach- Also are the kids out of school by this time- Our school season ends the last week in June- Not looking for tons of crowds

I'm not a Michigan expert by any means. If you want to avoid crowds, I'd avoid staying in Mackinac. I'm from St. Louis and alot of folks here vacation every summer in upper Michigan. Every one seems to have a favorite lake they go to. The "regular" Michigan travelers tend to stay away from TC during the busy summer months. Our family reunion included teenagers so TC was a good spot for various "things to do". Good restaurants, too. Michigan publishes an excellent booklet with pictures and descriptions of activities. www.travel.michigan.org should give you a phone number. I didn't think the Bayshore was over run with kids, altho there were some there. Last summer the upper Michigan peninsula was in a prolonged heat wave. Usually it's very temperate in early June altho I'm not sure it's tanning weather then. You could call the Bayshore and ask. If it was just my wife and I and we were looking to get away from the crowds and relax, I'd probably have found a place on a lake
that had a kitchen. I remember finding a cite that listed such places for upper Michigan but I apparently didn't save it. Michigan is a nice place to visit. Hope this helps.

Mackinac Island being compared to Disney gave me a good laugh. I didn't see that all???? How very funny.... You never know I guess. Don't worry it isn't stroller city!

I would highly suggest staying on Mackinac Island. I don't think you would really appreciate it if you didn't. It is so relaxing with no cars etc.

http://www.mackinacisland.org/hotels.html
We stayed at the Murray in 2001. The rooms weren't big but it was very nice. The cookies at night were good and they were building a nice garden area while were there.

Activities
- Bike around the island
- Horseback riding
- Lunch at the grand hotel
- Shopping
- Writing in stones on the beach and then taking a picture of it through the arch
- Watching the movie Somewhere in Time in the hotel :)

Oh we liked the coke pop shop in here too.
http://www.mackinawcrossings.com/shopping.php

Have fun!

In early June there will be no crowds on the Island and you should find some hotel bargins.

Unfortunately, although you could get weather conducive to sunning, you could just as easily have a day that doesn't get out of the 50s.

Keith