Remember when you were growing up and kids from around the neighborhood would gather and embark on spontaneous summertime adventures? That’s still a daily occurrence in the residential areas of Mackinac Island.
Whether they end up playing games at Great Turtle Park, swimming in the pool at Grand Hotel, biking the endless trails through Mackinac Island State Park or nibbling on chicken fingers at a restaurant in town, it doesn’t really matter so long as they’re not in school. The little everyday joys add up to one awesome summer vacation – and they never even have to leave home!
See the eye-opening ways real Mackinac Island families spend summer vacation
Summer Break in the USA’s Best Summer Travel Destination
While many families travel for summer vacation, those who live on Mackinac Island experience the season differently. For year-round residents of Mackinac Island, summer is peak visitor season, when families earn their livelihood. Parents are often busy running hotels, shops and attractions, and even many teenagers take on summer jobs on Mackinac Island as early as age 14.
Extended vacations off the island aren’t usually part of the summer plan. Yet, the kids who live on Mackinac Island just might experience the best summer vacation of all. They enjoy a level of freedom and independence that’s rare in today’s world, riding bikes on car-free roads and safely exploring the USA’s Best Summer Travel Destination.
A typical summer day for kids on Mackinac Island might involve sports such as soccer, baseball or golf, organized by the city’s recreation department in partnership with the Mackinac Island Community Foundation. Or it might include sampling world-famous Mackinac Island fudge, making friends with tourists and catching frogs.
For teenagers, summer days often are spent working in shops or restaurants. Then, after quitting time, they enjoy hanging out with friends on summer nights that seem to last forever.
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It Takes A Village On Mackinac Island
Because of the unique demands of life on Mackinac Island, there is a strong sense of community among year-round residents. Families support one another, especially during the hectic summer months when many parents have extraordinarily busy schedules.
Library programs, art workshops and free or discounted access to island attractions ensure that kids have plenty to do. Parents also coordinate playdates and outings such as jumping off the docks or swimming at British Landing. Often, kids spend the day going from one house to another and feeling at home in each one.
It's a summer vacation from simpler times, when kids were free to be kids. Where every bike ride, every swim and every laugh becomes part of one grand summer vacation story.
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