I took a day trip to Mackinac Island this weekend, enjoying the clear blue skies, spring temperatures, and reduced crowds on the popular vacation spot.
If you haven’t visited Mackinac Island, it’s an island located in Lake Huron along the Straits of Mackinac, a waterway separating Michigan’s Lower Peninsula from the Upper Peninsula.
And it’s one of the places that attracts people within Michigan and beyond because of it’s beauty, resorts, and well-known fudge shops.
Exploring the island is a great way to take a step back in time when there were no automobiles.
On Mackinac Island, vehicles are prohibited. The only way to travel within the island is by foot, bicycle, horseback, or horse-drawn carriage.
Mackinac Island boasts Michigan’s first state park, Mackinac Island State Park, which originally was named the second U.S. national park after Yellowstone National Park.
In the summer, when it’s very popular to visit the island, the main street is overrun with pedestrians, bicycles, and horse-drawn carriages, making it challenging to navigate the streets.
Despite it being cleaned up very quickly, I’ve learned it pays to look out for horse manure as I cross the street.
Taking a walk around the island with it’s 140 miles of trails and roads is popular as is bicycling the 8.2 miles around the island, which I’ve done many times.
Watching people fly their kites on the shore is one of my favorite things to do.
The island has one highway, M-185 which circles the island, where the speed limit is 25 miles per hour. I was fascinated to learn the speed limit applies to everyone, whether they’re on a bicycle or horse.
On my carriage ride around the island, the tour guide told me that on one steep hill, it’s possible to reach speeds over 40 miles per hour on a bicycle.
If a bicyclist is caught speeding, they will be issued a ticket. And two points will be added to their license.
Did I get any of that wonderful fudge sold on the island? You bet I did!
