Awards & Recognition
2024 Awards
#1 Best Summer Travel Destination
After a panel of experts curated a short list of must-see summer vacation places in USA Today’s 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards, people voted Mackinac Island the Best Summer Travel Destination! Readers adore Mackinac Island’s car-free roads full of horse-drawn carriages and bicycles, the island’s historic sites including Fort Mackinac and the outdoor recreational activities you can enjoy in Mackinac Island State Park.
#1 Best Place to Bike in the US
Since 2018, PeopleForBikes’ City Ratings program has identified, analyzed, and compared the best cities and towns for bicycling in the U.S. and abroad. This year’s City Ratings feature 816 new U.S. cities, including a brand new #1 city for bicycling — Mackinac Island, Michigan.
#2 Best Flower Festival
Mackinac Island is blooming with pride after being named the #2 Best Flower Festival by USA Today! This recognition comes thanks to the island’s beloved annual Lilac Festival, a 10-day celebration of its historic and fragrant lilacs.
#3 Best Island in the Continental US
Mackinac Island has once again captured national acclaim, earning the #3 spot on Travel + Leisure’s list of Best Islands in the Continental U.S. Known for its timeless charm, car-free streets, and breathtaking waterfront views, the island enchants visitors with its historic sites, scenic trails, and world-famous fudge.
#7 Top Island in the US
Mackinac Island has been named the #7 Best Island in the U.S. by Condé Nast Traveler, earning recognition for its timeless charm and breathtaking scenery.
#2 Best Place to Visit for Fall
Mackinac Island has been named the #2 Best Place to Visit for Fall by USA Today 10Best, celebrating its stunning autumn beauty and charming seasonal experiences. With fewer crowds, breathtaking views, and cozy island charm, fall is truly one of the most magical times to experience Mackinac.
2023 Awards
#1 Best Summer Travel Destination
After a panel of experts curated a short list of must-see summer vacation places in USA Today’s 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards, people voted Mackinac Island the Best Summer Travel Destination! Readers adore Mackinac Island’s car-free roads full of horse-drawn carriages and bicycles, the island’s historic sites including Fort Mackinac and the outdoor recreational activities you can enjoy in Mackinac Island State Park.
#2 Best Island in the Continental US
Mackinac Island has been named the #2 Best Island in the Continental U.S. by Travel + Leisure, a testament to its timeless charm and breathtaking beauty. With no cars, visitors explore by bike or horse-drawn carriage, taking in stunning waterfront views, historic architecture, and serene natural landscapes.
#3 Best Place to Visit for Fall
Mackinac Island has been ranked the #3 Best Place to Visit for Fall by USA Today 10Best, recognized for its breathtaking autumn colors and charming seasonal atmosphere. As the island’s foliage transforms into vibrant shades of red, orange, and gold, visitors can soak in the scenery with crisp bike rides, tranquil horse-drawn carriage tours, and stunning lake views.
2022 Awards
No. 1 Best Island in the Continental U.S.
Travel + Leisure magazine readers voted Mackinac Island atop the publication’s list of top islands in the Lower 48 states, calling it “quintessential vacation spot for enjoying the simple pleasures.” Mackinac Island’s charming atmosphere, extraordinary hospitality, diverse shopping and dining, and abundance of outdoor adventure all contributed to the top ranking.
One of the Best Islands in the U.S.
You might think of Hilton Head, Maui or Nantucket when imagining the best islands in the country. But ranking right alongside those dreamy destinations in the Condé Nast Traveler Readers’ Choice Awards is Mackinac Island. The magazine hails Mackinac Island as “both well-preserved and filled with natural beauty,” since a state park makes up more than 80% of the land.
2018 Awards
One of 10 Hottest U.S. Destinations for Summer
Yellowstone National Park and Martha’s Vineyard are uber-popular summertime vacation spots. But the No. 1 destination is Mackinac Island, according to TripAdvisor. Not only is the “charming island” a “throwback to old-timey seaside leisure” with a quaint downtown, the travel site says, but it’s also “world-famous for its homemade fudge and travelers can work off sugar highs by exploring the limestone bluffs of Mackinac Island State Park.”
Most Tourist-Friendly Cities in the U.S.
“Storybook charm” combines with a fantastic selection of unique, high-quality places to stay, a helpful visitor’s center and lots of great activities to make Mackinac Island a wonderfully pleasant vacation spot, says Expedia.