We left from Minneapolis and drove to Manistique Michigan the first day and spent the night. There was a nice lighthouse across the street from our hotel so I had to go down there to start my picture taking!
The next morning we headed the rest of the way to Mackinac. Here is our first peek at the bridge.
We headed to the ferry next to get on the island. Waiting at the docks; time to take some more random pictures!
On the high-speed ferry.
From the ferry we saw some amazing houses on the bluffs of the island.
And, of course, The Grand Hotel.
Pulling into the harbor. Our hotel is the large, white building on the point on the left.
A beautiful church near the harbor.
Looking up at Fort Mackinac.
Here is a closer look at the church. It was really pretty inside and had a neat story associated with it (click on the story below to enlarge the picture and read about it).
We took a carriage tour of the island which was very interesting. This is the Michigan governor's summer home - not bad!
A pretty stone church.
The island is very hilly in the center. The horses had to rest three times going up one hill on the tour.
We saw Arch Rock on the tour as well.
The coastline.
This picture gives a sense of the steepness heading up out of town.
Downtown. Horses, bikes and walkers!
The Grand Hotel had a fancy carriage!
Later that afternoon we rented bikes and rode around the island.
Look out mainlanders!
This gives a sense of how far around the island it is (~7 miles).
Along the coastline bike trail.
Looking up at Arch Rock from the bike trail along the water.
A few pictures of our hotel (Hotel Iroquois).
Lounging by the shore at the hotel. Not my usual warm, sandy beach, but relaxing non-the-less.
This is definitely Cory's kind of vacation (cool and rainy much of the time) - He didn't miss the sand!
Lighthouse outside the hotel along the point heading into the harbor.
Close up of the bridge with a large barge coming towards us.
The next day we hiked up the hill to tour Fort Mackinac. The view from the Fort is beautiful and the lilacs were in full bloom - very fragrant!
Lining up for the rifle demonstration.
Their rifles were originals from the 1840's.
Then we headed up for the canon demonstration (in between rain showers).
At lunch that day we saw a sign with a mis-spelling. It took me awhile to figure out what the difference between Sunday and Monday cups were.
This guy watched us intently as we ate!
Our last afternoon on the island we headed out to rent bikes right after the rainstorms passed to bike up into the center of the island. It was very hilly but beautiful and peaceful - everyone else was scared off by the rain!
I took a lot of pictures of flowers!
Trillium
Lady Slippers
A double!
This was called Sugar Loaf.
We hiked up some stairs to get a better look at it...
... and then I almost step on this guy! Cory didn't know I could scream that loud!
In the middle of the island there is an airport. We just happened to see a plane land right after we biked up there (it was associated with the Grand Hotel).
On our way down we rode through the East and West Bluffs. It is beautiful from up there.
Our last morning there we took some pictures of one of the barges going by. They are huge!
More beautiful lilacs.
After our visit on the island we drove across the Mackinac bridge.
If you get a chance, go check out Mackinac. It really is fantastic!
