Super-fantastic Journeys

The Grand Hotel is one of the first buildings you will see as you cross over to Mackinac Island on the Ferry.  It stands out with all its great opulence and its impressive size on the hill.  This historic hotel opened on July 10, 1887, as Mackinac Island became a popular place for summer vacations for people from around the Midwest, especially Chicago and Detroit.  Mackinac Island had grown in popularity since it had become our nation's second National Park in 1875, before transitioning to a Michigan State park in 1895.  Train and steamship services provided a means for visitors to make the journey to Mackinac Island.  Amazingly the hotel only took 93 days to complete construction. In 1957 the Grand Hotel was designated a State Historic Building and in 1989 the hotel became National Historic Landmark.  You can feel the history of the hotel today as carriages drop guests off in the grand portico outside the front entrance. The bright yellow awnings capture your eye alongside the imp

 Old Fashions are a popular drink in the upper Midwest and you can find this popular drink in a number of local bars on Mackinac Island.  The great thing is that because you will not be driving a vehicle on the Island and many of the bars are close to the lodging, you can safely try a couple of these local spots and make it back to your hotel. An Old Fashioned is a muddled mixture of whiskey, sugar, water, and bitters.  It is a classic and aptly named as it has a long and rich history. In Michigan, we found that most were muddled with an orange slice and a cherry, which makes it classic Michigan. 1. Seabiscuit Cafe Our favorite Old Fashion was from a restaurant we stopped in for dinner called Seabiscuit Cafe.  The bartenders here were excellent and really made a great Old Fashion, along with other drinks. At Seabiscuit they let you build your own Old Fashion so you decide on your sweetener and your choice of Burbon.  They had Makers Mark, Bulleit Rye, Woodford Reserve and Woodford Res

 Taking the ferry over to Mackinac Island takes you to a lifestyle that we are not used to, one with not motor vehicles driving around on the streets.  There are horse-drawn carriages available that serve as taxis and shuttles, but who wants to sit behind a horse, not me. If you are wanting to cover some distance on the island then renting a bicycle is a great way to get around. Our favorite activity while on Mackinac Island was riding the perimeter trail around the island.  At 8.2 miles this trail circumnavigated its way around the whole island at lake level.  This means that there is no elevation gain or loss on this ride.  The marked two-lane path provides a smooth riding surface and makes it an easy ride for all levels. Along the water from there are multiple vendors that will rent you a bike by the hour.  A nice leisurely ride will take most groups no more than 90 minutes, with many finishing quicker than that.  We rented from Mackinac Island Bike Shop which was located just below