Mackinac Island Attractions
Butterfly Conservatories
There are two live butterfly displays on Mackinac – Wings of Mackinac Butterfly Conservatory up-Island at Surrey Hills and the Original Mackinac Island Butterfly House & Insect World downtown. Both offer butterflies of every imaginable size and color that dance amidst the tropical plants. Get up close and personal, and for the romantic, both offer their gardens for weddings, renewals, elopements, unions and reunions.
Haunted Theatre
Mackinac Island’s scariest fun family attraction is the Haunted Theatre, a haunted house and wax monster display. Not recommended for very small children but a blast for everyone else. Free babysitting for the weeuns while the rest of the family visits the dark interior meeting Mackinac’s legendary Manitou and the Phantom of the Opera performing his requiem for all. Open everyday of the season, May through October. Located in the heart of downtown.
Haunts of Mackinac
Ghostly happenings on the Island? The SyFy channel’s Ghost Hunters say…indeed. Adventure into the unknown. The Haunted History Tour is based on the success of the bestselling book Haunts of Mackinac by Todd Clements. he has created this companion tour and it includes paranormal stories found in the pages of his book, but adds numerous additional tales and history from locations throughout the downtown area.
Professor Harry’s Old Time Photos
Step into the past with and Old Time photo portrait. Costumes from the Wild West and the Victorian era will ensure your antique photo will be the finest. Wedding parties, families, romantics and groups welcome. Did we mention its a blast to play dress up? For large groups, reservations suggested: 906-847-6000
on the Water
Sailing
Private charters for parties, wedding, and daily catamaran sails for the public are offered during the summer months.
For day sails, the Mackinaw Breeze Catamaran is docked at the Chippewa Hotel. For persons with limited mobility – meaning you must be able to walk and swim – it’s very enjoyable. Please note: for those with limited mobility, it can be very difficult to get on and off the boat, as one has to take a large step from the dock to the deck of the boat which is often moving.
The Ugly Anne, a former lobster boat from Maine has now made itself right at home doing shipwreck tours and under the bridge tours in the straits of Mackinac. Now offering sunset cruises every Wednesday during peak season as well as excursions to neighboring Islands.
All three ferry lines – Arnold Line, Shepler’s & Star Line – offer their vessels for parties, reunions, cruises and more each summer. For large events, these boats are perfect. They all offer fireworks cruises on the 4th of July and Arnold Line offers service to the Antique Wooden Boat show in Hessel from the Island each August.
Charter Fishing
Atlantic Salmon, King Salmon, Lake Trout and Steelhead are plentiful in the Straits and there are two charter fishing companies in the straits of Mackinac; Dreamseaker Charter & EUP Fishing Charter. Daily or seasonal licenses may be purchased locally.
On the Ground
No trip to Mackinac Island is complete without visiting Mackinac Island State Park. The best way to begin is with a carriage tour, then grab some bikes and take a spin around the Island . Trail riding, hiking or walking is so memorable and an excellent way to see our favorite places among the 2250 acres of trails. There are no admission fees to explore.
Shoreline
Lake Shore Boulevard, also known as M-185, encircles the Island’s eight-mile perimeter. It is the only interstate in the nation that does not allow personal motor vehicles. You can bike, walk, ride around the shoreline or Drive Your Own Buggy from town to British Landing, all while stopping to admire and photograph the Island’s many breathtaking geological wonders when you please. The road is fairly level and easy to traverse. M-185 is 8.2 miles and passes Arch Rock, Silver Birches, British Landing, Brown’s Brook and Devil’s Kitchen with simply stunning views of the straits of Mackinac.
Golf
The Island features three golf courses and one executive putting course.
At the Grand Hotel, the Jewel features two 9 hole courses, the Grand Nine and Woods. Both are scenic with lush landscaping and perfectly manicured tees, fairways and greens. To play 18 holes, Grand Hotel provides a horse drawn carriage to transport golfers and their clubs between the two courses. Club rentals, golf carts and more are available.
Wawashkamo is Michigan’s oldest golf course featuring rough terrain in the Scottish tradition resplendent with thistle and heather. Once a former War of 1812 battleground, the course is a National Historic Landmark and a State of Michigan Historic Site. Club rentals, including hickory stick clubs and golf cart rentals available. Each season, Wawashakamo features the Hickory Stick Tournament where golfers dress the part and traverse the course with hickory stick clubs and caddies as in the days of yore.
Mission Point Resort hosts the Greens of Mackinac, where you can polish up on your putting game – it’s an 18-hole, two-acre, executive putting course with sculptured greens that overlook the Straits.
Vintage Baseball Game
Each July, this baseball game is played by “gentlemen’s rules” just like in the olden days. It takes place at the Scout Barraks at Fort Mackinac with catering by Grand Hotel, music by a live brass band and is an summer Island tradition.
Governor’s Summer Residence Tours
A weekend getaway for Michigan’s governors since 1945, this guided tour of the Governor’s Summer Residence takes place from mid-June to late-August each season. The tour is free and does not require reservations.
Kite Flying
The winds are strong here and they provide outstanding buoyancy for kite fliers of all levels. This great tradition peaks in August with the Great Kite Ascension during the Fudge Festival.
Mackinac Island State Park Geological Features
The landscape of the Island comprises fields, meadows, marshes, swamps, bogs, coastline, a boreal forest, limestone formations and caves. The Island preserves a unique environment for all plant and animal life while at the same time providing an atmosphere for humans to reflect, explore and rejuvenate their spirits. Taking the time to explore the landscape while respecting the environment is an integral part of the Island experience.
Arch Rock
Stretching nearly 150 feet above the water, Anishinaabe-Ojibwa tradition describes Arch Rock where the Great Creator blew the breath of life into the newly formed earth. Like Devil’s Kitchen and Sugar Loaf, this slowly eroding limestone formation was formed over thousands of years by wind, water and receding glaciers.
Devil’s Kitchen
This excellent example of a limestone cavern created by the effects of erosion and cedar-root displacement can also be seen from ferryboats. Easily accessible by bike, it’s a popular picnic spot and resting point where travelers enjoy the view of the Mackinac Bridge and the many freighters passing through the Straits.
Sugar Loaf
The original dwelling place of the legendary Great Spirit Gitchie Manitou, this breccia mass stands 75 feet above the forest floor and is the largest limestone stack on the Island. It can be reached by foot trails or by bike and is a popular Nordic skiing destination in the winter. A long stairway leads travelers up the bluff to Point Lookout.
Skull Cave
Skull Cave is believed to have been the hiding place for English fur trader Alexander Hendry during Pontiac’s Rebellion in 1763. As recalled in his memoirs, his close friend, Obijwa chief Minavavana, sent him to hide in the cave in order to save him from certain death. He spent very uncomfortable nights sleeping on a bed of human bones as the cave was used as a burial ground.