Mackinac Island day 1

That's right, we’re on Mackinac Island sitting astride the Straits of Mackinac between Lakes Michigan and Huron and the Upper and Lower Peninsulas of Michigan. (Mackinac is derived from the Native American word Michilimackinac apparently meaning “Great Turtle”.) Specifically, I’m writing from the Harbour View Inn, one of many lakeside hotels on the island and the former home of Madame Magdaleine La Framboise. Located just a stone’s throw from downtown and along M-185, the scenic 8.2-mile drive around the island, it’s a perfect location.

Susie and I left Grand Rapids yesterday a little after 9am and arrived in McBain, Michigan a little before 11am. We were keen to visit Bernice’s Lucas cousin Harvey and his wife Ev and we found them both outside soaking up the lovely morning. The four of us chatted about one thing or another, solving the world’s problems, and catching up on all the Lucas family news so we could pass it along to Bernice. 

Shortly after noon we were back on the road heading north, this time to Lake City where we turned east and made our way to M127 and back north again. Joining I75 we were in Mackinac City, in the shadow of the great Mackinac Bridge, a little after 3pm. Driving was smooth with little traffic and very little construction.

After parking the car in the designated area at our ferry terminal we handed our bags over to the ferry attendants and they marked them for our hotel. Very efficient and we didn’t see our bags but once, and then only briefly, until we arrived at our hotel on the island.

The ferry left Mackinac City with probably less than 30 people aboard and swung slightly west so we could all get a good view of the Bridge before heading for the island.

The water was a bit choppy and there were some leans and rolls but nothing serious. Twenty minutes later we were dockside, our bags were handed off to the hotel porter, and we strolled up Main Street to the Harbour View and checked in.

The one glitch was our room was up four flights of stairs, beneath a mansard, on which I continued to bang my head, and it was supposed to have a balcony which turned out to be more the size of a closet without porch type seating. (The other balcony rooms below us had lots more space and furniture to boot.) Not a big deal in the overall scheme of things to be sure but still my head was taking a beating! Oh, and the Wi-fi would only work in the main building! Sheesh. Anyway, the management kindly agreed to move us down a floor and into a new room the following day and so they did.

That evening we strolled back into town and had a superb meal at the Carriage House located in the Hotel Iroquois. Lots of folks in the restaurant that night and since we didn’t have a reservation we had to sit at the bar for dinner but that was just fine with us. 

After dinner we made our way leisurely back through town to the hotel, stopping to pay our respects to a lady who is much-maligned today. . . . . you'll see her at the end.

Mackinac City ticket office and bag drop off

not a lot of passengers

waiting area and gift shop at the end of the dock

Mackinac Island from the dock - note the Grand Hotel in the distance

the Mighty Mac

Round Island Lighthouse

Saint Anne's church, center and our hotel to the left

landing

Marquette Park just opposite the waterfront and at the base of Fort Mackinac 

slower times. . . 

our hotel is just beyond the green building on the left

Harbour View Inn

view up Main Street from our first night's room balcony

view looking back into town

Scottish salmon at the Carriage House

Cesse fiocchi pasta stuffed with pear and Robiola cheese with sautéed zucchini, summer squash in a pesto sauce with grilled shrimp

entrance from the door of the restaurant back to the street

Lady Liberty across from Marquette Park