Summer 2024 Vacation ~ Mackinac Island State Park

Since Mackinac Island State Park is...well...an Island, the first order of business was to hitch a ride on a ferry across Lake Huron. We boarded a Shepler's ferry boat with about a hundred (or more) other people and set out across this gorgeous span of crystal blue water.

In my last post, I showed you pictures and a video of the 5 mile bridge that crosses the Straits of Mackinac (pronounced Mackinaw) so we won't talk about that again today.

But let me tell you the one thing that I love, love, loved the most about traversing this island was doing so in a horse-drawn wagon!

If you know anything about me at all, you know how much I adore horses and these are some beauties.

Matter of fact, the only way you can explore Mackinac Island is by horse, on foot, or by bicycle as they have been auto-free for over 100 years.

There is so much to see in this nearly 4 acre park which is open year-round despite limited access in the Winter. 

Can't imagine why, LOL! I can promise you this much though, you won't find me there in the winter.

Anyhoo, other attractions are The Grand Hotel where the movie Somewhere in Time with Christopher Reeve and Jane Seymour was filmed. If you've never seen this movie (available in DVD or on Blu-ray) or read the book, you are sorely missing out on a great adventure and a beautiful story of love that trancends time. I loved the movie when it came out and watched it again after we returned home.

While on our wagon ride, we visited Arch Rock, a famous rock formation that is fifty feet wide and towers above the water.

We also visited Ft. Mackinack and many of the other Historic places and Museums. Since we weren't driving anywhere, even to and from the campground, and it was hot, hot, hot, we did a little bar hopping at the Pink Pony Bar & Grill and Great Turtle Brewery & Distillery.

Of course we picked up souviners at one of the many (many!) shops along the waterfront. 

All-in-all, our time on the island was one for the books.

Hope you enjoyed reminiscing with me and that you'll check back next week to see where else we traveled on our 2024 Summer Vacation.

Until then, happy trails.

PamT