Visitor Information, News, Guide, Videos, Photos, History

Things to do on Mackinac Island - Part Two

In Part One of my guide of the top things to do, I listed many of the most familiar island activities, but also a few that some may not be familiar with. I think that's a good thing. Like so many activities we engage in, we tend to stick with what we know - the tried and true. Sometimes it's going back to a favorite restaurant or hotel. On Mackinac Island, it's doing the things that, well, are easiest to do! But Mackinac Island has more to offer if you leave the few blocks of Main Street and venture to sights most never see.

A good map is a necessity, but fortunately the Tourism Bureau kiosk across from the Arnold Line docks has a great map that is quite detailed, printed in color on glossy paper and best of all - is free. Pick up a copy and you will be well on you way to locating some of the real treasures of the island. It's almost a necessity, really, since many intersections are not well marked on the inland roads and trails. That said, it's difficult to get lost and what looks like a long distance on the map is usually just a few hundred yards!

Over the summer, I'll include video guides to some of my favorite listings and get more detailed with a new 'Island Information' section in the blog. In the interim, here are my top picks, part two!

Take an early morning hike past the West Bluff cottages including a walk along Pontiac Trail
Visit Point Lookout for a great view of Sugar Loaf, then take the stairs down for a closer look at Sugar Loaf
Take the Mackinac Island Carriage Tour and see the carriage display at the Surrey Hill Museum
Fly a kite at Windermere Point
Stop at British Landing and have a deep-fried pickle at the Cannonball Drive-In
Enjoy some island humor at one of Stu Stuart's comedy shows
Take a walk along Market Street and visit the specialty stores
Visit the Crack in the Island and Cave of the Woods
Walk through Hubbard's Annex to see some of the oldest homes on the island
Take the Haunts of Mackinac haunted history tour
Enjoy dinner and drinks waterside at The Pink Pony
Buy some fudge from one of the island's many fudge shops

Hopefully you will see a few new ideas in this list in addition to some old standards. If you are staying on the island, Stu Stuart's comedy show and the Haunts of Mackinac tour are good evening activities that usually occur after the last ferry leaves the island. Both can be followed up by a visit to one of the many restaurants and bars that line Main Street and also come to life after the last daytripper departs.

Have a great summer and I hope my suggestions add to your Mackinac Island adventure.

0 members like this

Comment

You need to be a member of Mackinac Island Blog to add comments!

Join Mackinac Island Blog

Comment by Chelle on June 30, 2009 at 10:46am: I went on my second "Haunts of Mackinac" tour a few weeks ago. It was great! I highly recommend it. I even rented one of their K2 "ghost meters" (measures electromagnetic current) and got a reading by Mission point. It was right at the end of our tour, and we saw our guide go back to where we picked up "something" after our group disbanded. FUN - if you are into that sort of thing. :-)