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What makes spring so special on Mackinac Island

From the time the Mackinac Island ferries resume a regular schedule of passenger shuttles from the mainland in late April, it's usually about five weeks until Memorial Day and the start of the peak tourist season. That means each year you have about five weeks to experience Mackinac Island in a way…

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Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue Photo Shoot on Mackinac Island

Three decades before Travel + Leisure named Mackinac Island the No. 1 Best Island in the Continental U.S., another magazine already had identified the Crown Jewel of the Great Lakes as one of the country’s most picturesque destinations. Back in 1993, the Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue featured…

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Why there are no cars on Mackinac Island

Out of more than 4 million miles of public streets in the United States, there’s an 8.2-mile stretch of road on Mackinac Island that stands apart. M-185 is the only state highway in the country where motor vehicles are not allowed. Instead, the traffic on Mackinac Island consists of pedestrians…

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Golf courses on Mackinac Island

There are 15,000 golf courses in the United States. Yet, only one involves a scenic mile-and-a-half, horse-drawn carriage ride between nines. And only one is laid out on a battlefield where American soldiers died in a failed attempt to wrest control of the Great Lakes from the British. Both of those…

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How Mackinac Island became fudge capital of the world

Ten thousand pounds! That’s how much world-famous Mackinac Island fudge gets handcrafted daily during peak tourism season. Five tons of fudge every day! All that fudge begs the question: How did little ole Mackinac Island become such a huge producer of the sweet treat? The History of World-Famous…

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Where to dock your boat for overnight stay on Mackinac Island

Most Mackinac Island visitors arrive by boat because cars aren't allowed (and, besides, there’s no bridge to get to Mackinac Island anyway). While many people board a commercial ferry to Mackinac Island from the mainland in either St. Ignace or Mackinaw City, some visitors take their own personal…

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Swimming pools on Mackinac Island

Swimming and Mackinac Island have gone hand in hand for more than 75 years, since a national champion swimmer starred in a Hollywood movie shot on location at Grand Hotel. In fact, the pool at Grand Hotel still bears the name of that swimmer-turned-actress, Esther Williams. Just as tourists came to…

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Mackinac Island web cams

Anytime you find yourself thinking wistfully about the No. 1 Best Island in the Continental U.S., just bring up a Mackinac Island web cam to get a soothing dose of peaceful beauty. You can get a look at what’s happening right now on Mackinac Island through web cams located in at least four places:…

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Everything to know about horses on Mackinac Island

One of the best-known things about Mackinac Island is that it's a car-free destination and has been that way for 125 years! As a result, people get around Mackinac Island on foot, by bicycle or on a horse. Taking a break from our auto-driven society is part of the charm of visiting Mackinac Island…

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What to pack for a trip to Mackinac Island

What to bring on a trip to Mackinac Island depends. It depends on what time of year you visit Mackinac Island. And it depends on what Mackinac Island things to do are on your itinerary. What’s for certain is that no matter when you visit Mackinac Island and no matter what you do when you get here…

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