Mackinac Island: Our Ultimate List of Things to Do

If you missed it, our last post was a beginner’s guide on traveling to Mackinac Island. Once on the island, there are so many great things to do. Many ideas are off-the-beaten-path, and as such, are easy to miss. Because of this, we‘ve done a lot of research, gathered recommendations from friends and family, and ultimately compiled a comprehensive list of our favorites. Some of these we’ve done already, and some are definitely on our bucket list for our next trip.

Top 10 Must Do

This is our top 10 list of the quintessential Mackinac Island things to do & see. Most of these can be done in a one-day visit, and Nate and I have done all 10.

1. Take a ferry to the island. Unless you have access to a small plane or yacht, you pretty much have to take a ferry to get to Mackinac Island. Since it’s so much a part of the experience, we have to mention it. Ferry tickets are about $29 per adult (cheaper if you buy online in advance).
2. Bike around the perimeter of the island on M-185. It’s 8ish miles equalling about a 45-minute ride with no stops. An adult bike rental runs approximately $12 per hour. Bonus: take a tandem bike ($18 per hour) & make a date of it.
3. Snap a picture of Arch Rock. It’s a 9 minute bike ride or a 25 minute walk/hike from downtown Main Street.
4. Go on a guided horse-drawn carriage tour. It’s very insightful if you’re new to the island. Tickets are around $34 per adult. Don’t forget to stop into the gift shop at the end of the tour. There are some historic carriages and coaches inside that are fun to see.
5. Walk West Bluff Road to see Grand Hotel (a National Historic Landmark) & the historic homes along that road. Bonus: pay the $10 per person admission fee to enter Grand Hotel‘s private grounds, relax on the expansive porch, and even enjoy the inside which is a museum in itself.
6. Stop into one of the many fudge shops and enjoy the Island’s famous treat: Mackinac Island Fudge. Bonus: get several different kinds from different shops and hold your own fudge tasting.
7. Browse the shops on Main Street. One of our favorites is Caddywampus.
8. See history come alive at Fort Mackinac. You’ll be able to witness cannon and rifle demonstrations & tour the various historic structures including military barracks where soldiers and their families lived centuries ago. $13.50 per adult.
9. Relax on the lawn in Marquette Park.
10. Take a hike in Mackinac Island State Park & stop in the British Landing Nature Center to learn about the plants and wildlife on the island.

5 Extra Things To Do for History Buffs

For those interested in history and with more time on the island, here’s a list of more historic places to be sure to visit during your stay. Nate and I enjoy history and have done most of these.

1. Peek inside the Missionary Bark Chapel.
2. See the Historic Governor’s Summer Mansion.
3. Admire the island’s historic churches: Little Stone Church, Trinity Church, Historic Mission Church, & St. Anne’s Catholic Church.
4. VisIt the Biddle House & Mackinac Island Native American Museum.
5. Stop by the cemeteries. There’s a pamphlet at the visitor’s center that explains more on the history about them.

5 Extra Things To Do for Nature Enthusiasts

Lovers of the outdoors will enjoy all of the trails and nature the island has to offer. Here’s our list of favorites. We’ve only hiked to Fort Holmes, and the rest of these are on our list for next time!

1. Hike various trails including to Fort Holmes, Manitou Trail, Tranquil Bluff Trail, Coffee Trail. Bonus: there’s even an adventurous bike trail.
2. Go horseback riding on the trails.
3. Find the crack in the island & the secret garden.
4. Explore the island from the outside – on a kayak.
5. See butterflies at either Wings of Mackinac Butterfly Museum or the original Mackinac Island Butterfly House.
   Bonus: Visit during the Lilac Festival in June for more spectacular scenery.

Bonus Extra Special Things to Do

If the previous lists were too “boring” or ”basic” for you, here are a few extra bonus ideas.

1. Dine at the Pink Pony – an unusual but popular bar & grill.
2. Take a sunset cruise. You can do this from the mainland too, but it would be a really relaxing activity for after day-tourists leave the island.
3. Visit the “Somewhere in Time” cult-classic film locations: particularly the “Is it you?” tree and the gazebo. If you’ve seen the movie, you may enjoy seeking out these spots.
4. Stop in at Forge a Memory, blacksmith shop run by Chad, a master blade smith & blacksmith who was featured on History Channel’s Forged in Fire. For a next-level experience, schedule in advance for your own forging experience where you can select and create a keepsake knife.
5. Rent a horse and buggy. Every visitor rents bikes or takes the carriage tour, but renting your own horse and buggy that you control yourself is a unique experience.
6. Spend the night on the island. We’ve been told the island is a different place once the last ferries leave with day-tourists, and we are definitely going to stay overnight next time we visit.
   Bonus: stay at Grand Hotel: This pricy, 4-star hotel is a National Historic Landmark and absolutely iconic as basically a museum in its own right. As a guest, your stay includes some meals and some other amenities that the majority of island visitors do not have access to.

Note:

We know that no list is comprehensive and would please everyone, but this is our list of favorites. How many of these activities have you done? Nate and I tallied 17, which I think is pretty great considering we’ve only visited once (over two days). We would love to hear about your adventures! Finally, we want to give a major shout-out to our friends and family who have contributed their knowledge and experience to this list. We appreciate you so much, and we can’t wait to add your recommendations to our next trip to Mackinac Island!