For a place that’s lovingly renowned for being the same year after year, Mackinac Island sure has a lot of new things going on in 2025. To give you a glimpse of what’s changing, here’s a quick rundown of 25 things to notice when you visit this year:

1) Two ferry companies once again are operating daily boats from both Mackinaw City and St. Ignace. Shepler’s Ferry and Arnold Transit together will increase service 10% compared to last year with extended hours during peak season.

2) The iconic Grand Hotel is restoring the original roofline of its 1887 structure and the wooden columns and flagpoles along the world’s longest front porch

3) Mission Point Resort’s Chianti restaurant is being transformed with the addition of the Lilac Lounge for a refined aperitif experience

4) Sip ‘n Sail Cruises will offer afternoon history tours by request, providing fascinating insights about the island’s development. This is perfect for groups!

5) The 205-year-old Harbour View Inn is upgrading its dining room, lobby and parlor, with more room updates planned for 2026

6) New gourmet treats will be available at the 1852 Grill Room at Island House Hotel including espresso and affogato

7) Lucky Bean Coffeehouse will host Coffee Cupping Sessions, designed to enhance your tasting skills and help you master the subtle nuances of specialty coffee

8) Milestone Anniversaries: The Island Bookstore is celebrating 50 years as Mackinac Island’s only full-service bookstore, while Benjamin marks 75 years of providing photography accessories and unique gifts

9) Speaking of anniversaries, this year is the sesquicentennial of the establishment of Mackinac National Park. That’s 150 years! Check out mackinacparks.com for details on anniversary events.

10) Grand Hotel’s Gate House Restaurant is being completely renovated, with new furniture and a live entertainment area

11) Inside Out Tours of Mackinac is introducing a children’s treasure hunt that ventures off the beaten path using a treasure map

12) Great Turtle Kayak Tours is now offering stand-up paddleboarding at British Landing, along with guided hiking tours on land

13) Fort Mackinac is adding or updating three historical exhibits including “A Military History of Fort Mackinac” from the late 1700s through 1895, “A Desirable Station” that highlights the lives of soldiers during the national park era, and “Mackinac, An Island Famous in These Regions,” which gives an overview of the island’s complete history

14) The Inn at Stonecliffe is opening a new kitchen and bringing in a new chef

15) United is now offering direct flights to northern Michigan from Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport (ORD), with daily service from May through September to both Chippewa County International Airport (CIU) near Sault Ste. Marie and Pellston Regional Airport (PLN) near Mackinaw City

16) Two more Great Lakes cruise lines have stops on Mackinac Island this year: Victory and Ponant

17) Great Turtle Toys is introducing Speed Puzzle Competitions, a Dope Slimes Sundae Station and Beary Cozy Nights, where stuffed animals spend the night at the store for a sleepover

18) Chippewa Hotel and Lilac Tree Suites are renovating some of their rooms

19) Island House Hotel and Pine Cottage B&B are making over several bathrooms

20) The annual fudge festival is moving from the summer to Oct. 2-4 and is now known as the Mackinac Island Fall Fudge Festival

21) A new shop called Grand Hotel Mackinac Market is opening downtown with clothing, bath and body products, home decor and more including a second location for Sadie’s Ice Cream parlor

22) Sadie’s Ice Cream is adding new flavors, while Mission Point Resort’s Boxwood Coffeeshop & Café will start serving ice cream and Lily’s Lemonade is adding new frozen flavors, too

23) Mission Point Resort is offering interactive mixology classes and Grand Hotel will host a Behind The Scenes Kitchen Tour

24) Mustang Rentals has two 3-bedroom, 2 bathroom, like-new condos available for year-round, extended stays right in the heart of downtown

25) There are several new members of the Mackinac Island Tourism Bureau including Baxter’s art gallery, the Dorothy Draper Home store at Grand Hotel, Grand Hotel Mackinac Market, Mackinac Island Cookie Co. on the historic Arnold Transit dock, Mackinac Island Mobility and Bicycle Rentals, Mackinac Straits Realty Group, Mustang Rentals, Remember Mackinac custom laser engraving and The McCartney Years tribute band that’s back at Mission Point Resort for a second season of live entertainment

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