Common questions about visiting car-free Mackinac Island have to do with where to park your vehicle during your trip and where to board the ferry boat. How to get your luggage to your Mackinac Island hotel or arrange a horse-drawn taxi are other common concerns.
For detailed answers to these and other questions, the official Mackinac Island Tourism Bureau blog is a great resource. However, sometimes it’s nice to speak with someone directly.
Fortunately, you can reach knowledgeable Mackinac Island travel professionals by calling 906-847-3783 or by stopping by the Mackinac Island Tourism Bureau window at 7274 Main St.
What Makes Mackinac Island’s Information Specialists So Informed
Calling the tourism bureau’s information specialists “knowledgeable” is really an understatement. Many of them are true island experts, having lived on Mackinac Island for years.
Take Emily Fullerton, for example. She has six decades of experience on the island, starting with summers spent at her aunt and uncle’s cottage on the East Bluff. Over the years, she’s taught at Mackinac Island Public School, worked on the docks, given horse-drawn carriage tours, served as a historical interpreter at Mackinac Island State Park and even owned a retail shop on Main Street.
Margo Hessler is another information specialist. She lives on the island, has worked at the school, helps organize the annual Christmas Bazaar, owns the Mackinpaws shop and is married to the island’s doctor. Carrie Will spent years working with one of the ferry companies. Anne Borowicz is a lilac docent during the Mackinac Island Lilac Festival.
Patty Prendergast has worked at Grand Hotel, Hotel Iroquois and Mission Point Resort, plus stints at ABC News, the American Film Institute and the U.S. Embassy in Turkey. But, as she says, “the only place I wanted to spend the rest of my life was Mackinac Island.”
“I believe each of the info specialists would tell you we have the best job on beautiful Mackinac Island!” Prendergast says. “We are fortunate to meet folks from all over the world and direct them to all the marvels that make up Mackinac.”
Tips from Mackinac Island Information Specialists for a Memorable Trip
With their vast experience, the tourism bureau’s information specialists are packed with valuable insights for visiting Mackinac Island during spring, summer and fall. Here are some of their best recommendations, along with what they love most about helping visitors:
The Most Common Question They Get: What is there to do on Mackinac Island? Fullerton always recommends Fort Mackinac. “Fort Mackinac is the reason that everything came here. There are such cool things going on up there and they have great displays and demonstrations.”
Other Top Recommendations:
- Visit Grand Hotel and stroll along the world’s longest front porch
- Take a public or private horse-drawn carriage tour—or drive one yourself
- Bike around Mackinac Island
- Check out Arch Rock
- Enjoy the beautiful flower gardens at Mission Point, Grand Hotel’s Secret Garden and around local homes and cottages
Their Best Advice: Venture off Main Street to explore Mackinac Island’s hidden gems and natural history. Over 80% of the island is a state park. Some of Fullerton’s favorite spots beyond downtown include the East Bluff viewpoints at Anne’s Tablet or Robinson’s Folly, the wildflowers of Mackinac Island State Park and, for a drink with a view, The Cupola Bar at Grand Hotel.
What They Enjoy Most About Being Information Specialists: The people! “It’s never a dull moment,” Borowicz says. “That’s what I like about working the window is we’re meeting people from all over the place and people sometimes share their stories.”
What Makes Their Job Rewarding: Seeing happy visitors who truly appreciate the island. “The big payoff for me is when a tourist returns to the info window and is so happy with suggestions that they just had to let us know,” Prendergast says. “It happens every day. We are their touchstone.”
The Biggest Mistake Visitors Make: Arriving on a late afternoon ferry without a solid plan. For example, if you arrive at 3:30 p.m. in the middle of summer and you haven’t purchased a tour yet, you might not get a tour that day. “I don’t think people have done their research sometimes,” Fullerton says. Make sure to call the tourism bureau or check the official Mackinac Island website for the best experience.
Their Super-Secret Insider Tip: If you're in need of lodging last-minute, the visitor center can help. The information specialists are in contact with all the places to stay on Mackinac Island, so if somebody has an opening they know about it.
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