Mackinaw Island
Jul 12th, 2008, 08:39 AM
#21
Join Date: Jan 2003
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Liz
Just something to think about. How about 1-75 to 72 and drive 35 miles to Traverse City and then 31 north? The drive along the lake is wonderfuland very scenic. If you have time to spend a day there, Traverse City/Old Mission Peninsula,Sleeping Bear Dunes are all great, further north is Harbor Springs, Petoskey/Charlevoix wonderfu areas to drive thru. You can do a search here if interested.
Also, Mackinac is very casual. I would suggest brunch/lunch At the Grand Hotel. The food was very good and then take a stroll out to the front porch and sit a spell
in the rocking chairs with terrific views.
We rode around the island on bikes. The water is clear but the shoreline full of pebbles. I do not remember seeing a beach.
Just something to think about. How about 1-75 to 72 and drive 35 miles to Traverse City and then 31 north? The drive along the lake is wonderfuland very scenic. If you have time to spend a day there, Traverse City/Old Mission Peninsula,Sleeping Bear Dunes are all great, further north is Harbor Springs, Petoskey/Charlevoix wonderfu areas to drive thru. You can do a search here if interested.
Also, Mackinac is very casual. I would suggest brunch/lunch At the Grand Hotel. The food was very good and then take a stroll out to the front porch and sit a spell
in the rocking chairs with terrific views.We rode around the island on bikes. The water is clear but the shoreline full of pebbles. I do not remember seeing a beach.
Jul 12th, 2008, 09:50 AM
#22
Join Date: Oct 2003
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Yes there are restaurants in town and they were all casual from what I could tell. We ate at Mary's Bistro and got hot dogs from a snack shop on the street (there weren't tables there that I remember -- we ate on benches while waiting for the carriage ride). They have menus in front of the restaurants so you can decide if you want to go in and eat. Lots of fudge shops, ice cream, etc also.
We didn't go all the way around the island, but were next to the water the whole way we went and didn't see any swimming beaches (which is what I assume you are asking for).
We didn't go all the way around the island, but were next to the water the whole way we went and didn't see any swimming beaches (which is what I assume you are asking for).
Jul 14th, 2008, 05:19 AM
#24
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A great place to get lunch or a before dinner drink is the Iroquois.
http://www.iroquoishotel.com/
They have a great patio right on the water and you can watch the boats come in. Very cool. And very casual. Probably 99% of people on the island in the summer are tourists, so tourist casual is definitely the dress code. I think that is why the Grand makes such a big deal of their formal dress code. They are trying to create a bygone era.
I believe you can go for tea or lunch at the Grand and therefore can walk around without paying the entrance fee. It won't be the cheapest lunch, but seeing the hotel is worth it. If you do tour the Grand, make sure to peek in the Cupola bar. It is at the tippy top of the hotel and offers amazing views.
http://www.iroquoishotel.com/
They have a great patio right on the water and you can watch the boats come in. Very cool. And very casual. Probably 99% of people on the island in the summer are tourists, so tourist casual is definitely the dress code. I think that is why the Grand makes such a big deal of their formal dress code. They are trying to create a bygone era.
I believe you can go for tea or lunch at the Grand and therefore can walk around without paying the entrance fee. It won't be the cheapest lunch, but seeing the hotel is worth it. If you do tour the Grand, make sure to peek in the Cupola bar. It is at the tippy top of the hotel and offers amazing views.
