September, 1996 Last updated: 3/3/04 3:00pm PT
In 1996, we went on a driving tour around Lake Michigan. We drove from Chicago, through Indiana and in to Michigan, with the ultimate destination being Mackinac (mak’-in-aw) Island. Mackinac Island is located between the upper and lower peninsulas of Michigan, on the Lake Huron side. We parked the car in Mackinaw City (yes, it’s spelled different) on the lower peninsula of Michigan. No cars are allowed on Mackinac Island. Then we took the ferry over. We stayed the first two nights at a place called Mission Point Resort. Old, no air conditioning, and a healthy walk away from it all. (Read that to mean – splurge for the horse drawn taxi). The main reason to go (and the main reason we went) was to stay at the Grand Hotel. Here it is from the ferry, from out front and with Ed lounging on the world’s largest front porch.
Mackinac Island is a throw-back to earlier times. You’re suppose to get the feeling that you are in the 1800’s, but when you walk down the main street and see all the t-shirt shops, not to mention tourists with video cameras (myself included), it’s hard to get in the mood. You can’t take two steps without seeing a fudge shop. And by the way, stop looking at the shops and watch your step!! There are no cars, but there are plenty of horses, if you know what I mean.
One day we rented bikes and rode completely around the island. I believe it’s about 8 miles all the way around. Here’s what the other side of the island looks like.
Other things to do include touring Fort Mackinac (founded in 1780). This was an important Great Lakes military outpost in the 1800’s for the British, and later the US.
You can tour the Grand Hotel without staying there, but they charge an entrance fee. Believe me, that’s a whole lot cheaper than staying there. It is an interesting place and I’m glad we stayed, but it really wasn’t our style. Very old fashioned. After 6:00pm, coat and tie are required! Dinner is included in the price of your room. It wasn’t anything more special than being at a wedding reception.
After our stay at the Grand, it was time to continue on our Lake Michigan Loop drive. We took a small detour up to Sault Ste. Marie, MI on the Canadian border to look at the Soo Locks. The Soo Locks connect Lake Huron with Lake Superior, with Superior being 21 feet higher in elevation than the other lakes. After a short stop there, we drove on to the Tahquamenon Falls in the upper peninsula. There are upper falls and lower falls, and I can’t remember which one is in the picture below.
After the falls we drove west through the U.P. It was a very nice drive. We ended the day at a Best Western in Marinette, WI. The following day, we drove “down the coast” through Green Bay and Milwaukee to complete our journey.