I'm a native Michigander and want to show my wife some of the beauty of my native state, including Mackinac Island. The Grand Hotel is a little too pricey. Any secondary hotel suggestions? What other can't miss Northern Lower / Eastern Upper sites should we visit?

The official website for Mackinac http://www.mackinac.com/content/acco...ons/index.html lists lots of B&Bs, etc. that look lovely, but I'm guessing you'll pay at all of them for being right there on the island.

If you really want to watch the pennies, consider staying in/near St. Ignace, the northern end of the ferry route, and take the ferry over for the day. It's a nice ride (you can also book cruise/tours from there), and you'll have had at least a little taste of the UP.

Bumping this because I would also like info on any other hotels on Mackinac.

We stayed in the Hotel Iroquois a few years ago and loved it. It is positioned perfectly on the water.
If you have the budget, stay in the top floor.

If you decide to stay in Mackinaw City, http://www.mackinawcity.com/accommodations-36/ is the site to use.

Avoid mackinaw-city. com & mackinawinformation. com like the plague. They are owned by the owners of the motels listed there. They are not a third part impartial site.