- …one of the Best U.S. Islands, Condé Nast Traveler Readers’ Choice Awards
- …the Hottest U.S. Summer Destination, TripAdvisor
- …one of the Most Tourist-Friendly U.S. Cities, Expedia
- …one of the Best Little Beach Towns, Coastal Living
- ...one of the Coziest Small Towns for a Winter Weekend Escape, mydatingadviser.com
- …the Best Picnic Spot in Michigan, Readers’ Digest
- …one of the Best Golf Experiences in Michigan, Golf Digest
- …one of the World’s 15 Most Romantic Island Getaways for Couples, TripAdvisor
- ...the No. 1 Best Island in the Continental U.S., Travel + Leisure


Clip-Clop Pace of Life on Mackinac Island
Mackinac Island has been car-free for more than a century. That translates into a slower pace. The island isn’t the kind of place where your vacation is held hostage by the clock. Instead, it has the feeling of being timeless. There’s no hurry here. You can just relax. Great Ways to Unplug and Relax on Mackinac Island
Bicycles on Mackinac Island
With no cars to get around, Mackinac Island residents and visitors alike pedal bicycles to get from place to place. In fact, there are more bicycles per capita on Mackinac Island than anywhere else in the world! Many people enjoy a leisurely 8.2-mile ride around the outer rim of Mackinac Island on M-185, the only state highway in the country that prohibits motor vehicles. Here's how much it costs to rent bikes on Mackinac Island. You can also bring your own bike on the ferry boat to Mackinac Island. Bringing your own bike vs. renting a bike on Mackinac Island
Horses on Mackinac Island
In addition to bicycles, horse-drawn carriages are another popular way of getting around on Mackinac Island. Instead of the roar of 120-horsepower car engines, the island air is filled with the gentle clip-clop of actual horses. Here's how much it costs to ride horses on Mackinac Island. And here's the lowdown on the popular horse-drawn carriage tours of Mackinac Island. 10 things to know about horses on Mackinac Island
Mackinac Island History
Not only does Mackinac Island sound like a place out of the past, it is home to historic Fort Mackinac and several other Michigan State Historic Parks attractions. The British built Fort Mackinac on the island’s bluffs high above the Straits of Mackinac. It was a pivotal point of control in the Great Lakes fur trade of the 18th and early 19th centuries and the site of the Battle of Mackinac during the War of 1812. Check out these fascinating things to do on Mackinac Island for history buffs. A look at Mackinac Island history through the centuries