If you live in Michigan, you really are not a true Michigander until you have gone up north for a fall color tour and have gone to Mackinack Island. Even if you are not from Michigan, these are the MUST DO items that everyone should do. But first, let's have a brief geography and history lesson. Michigan has 2 main parts: The Upper Peninsula and the Lower Peninsula and they are connected by the Mackinac Bridge. Between the 2 peninsulas is Mackinac Island. Watch this video for a fun comparison between the UP and LP!
Around the mid 1800's, the fur trade business was winding down. The use of railroads and steamboats made the island more accessible and the island transformed into a tourist destination. In the late 19th century, Mackinac Island was transformed into a fashionable resort destination. Rich families built summer homes and hotels like the Grand Hotel (built in 1887). They enjoyed carriage rides, tea socials, and mineral spring excursions. In 1898, the island banned automobiles. This has helped to preserve the unique charm and character of the island promoting horse-drawn carriages and bicycles as the primary modes of transportation.
Since we are all Geezers here, do you remember the 1979 time-traveling romance movie staring Jayne Seymore and Christopher Reeve, Somewhere In Time? That movie was filmed almost exclusively on Mackinac Island. Many of the scenes take place at the famous Grand Hotel. The Grand Hotel first opened it's doors in 1887 as a summer retreat for vacationers who traveled to Michigan by train and then came to the island by steamer. At the Grand Hotel, you can experience the tradition of Afternoon Tea in the Parlor, dressing up for dinner, dance to the sounds of a live orchestra, or relax on a rocking chair on the world's longest porch while overlooking the Straights of Mackinac.
For those of you that have never been to mackinac island, the island is only assesible by boat. There are two ferry services to the island: Shepler's Ferry and Arnold Ferry. The ride takes about 20 minutes. You can spend the day on the island or you can choose to stay at any of the many hotels or Bed and Breakfasts on the island.
The island is about 8 miles in circumference and about 3.8 square miles in total area. There are no cars allowed on the island (except for emergency vehicles), so the only way to get around is to walk, rent and ride a bike, take a cab that is pulled by horse, or horseback. For geezers who don't want to walk or ride a bike, we highly recommend the Carriage Tour. This one hour and forty-five minute horse drawn carriage tour will take you past the Grand Hotel, stop at the Surrey Hills Museum and the Butterfly House, past Arch Rock, and Fort Mackinac.
Kathy has been going to Mackinac Island since she was a child but has never STAYED on the island until October 2024. Kathy met up with a couple of friends and spent 2 nights at the beautiful Mission Point Resort to attend a seminar. (Dan and Kathy's Mom stayed in Mackinac City.) Mission Point is a dog friendly, family owned resort where they really try to give you the "island experience". The hotel has 243 guest rooms and suites, a conference center, the Lakeside Spa and Salon, and the Promenade Deck Outdoor Pavillion event space. This makes Mission Point the perfect place to meet all your needs. The 18 acres of gardens and grounds make this the perfect place to relax on the the adirondack chairs on the Great Lawn or even fly a kite! If you are looking for a wedding venue, Mission Point Resort can accomodate an intimate ceremony of 15 guests or a large gathering of 250-300 guests. This is the place for anything.
When the conference was over, Kathy said good-by to her friends and met up with her mom and Dan in Mackinaw City. They crossed the five mile Mackinac Bridge to the upper peninsula. It was a beautiful sunny October day and the colors were perfect. They drove along Lake Michigan for a couple of hours, stopped by some casinos and then turned north towards Lake Superior. They were on their way to Houghton, Mi to see her nephew who was attending Michigan Tech University. It was a beautiful Saturday. Not surprisingly, there were a lot of cars on the road.
It was about that time that Kathy realized that she should have made a hotel reservation for the night rather than flying by the seat of her pants and expecting there to be lots of hotels open. She called hotels in Houghton and Marquette. No one had any rooms available. They started stopping at the hotels as they drove by to see if there were any openings. There was nothing! So, Dear Geezers, Kathy took one for the team this time! Lesson learned! Make reservations ahead of time if you are going during color season!
Another fun side trip in northern lower Michigan is to drive the Tunnel of Trees. The Tunnel of Trees starts in Harbor Springs, Michigan on M-119 and travels for 20 miles to Cross Village. The Tunnel of Trees is known for the amazing fall colors and the lovely arching canopy of trees. The drive from Harbot Springs to Cross Village takes about 40 minutes if you don't stop and look around. Be sure to drive careful. The road is only about 18 feet wide. You may have to pull over to let another car pass.
Along the way, feel gree to stop at the Good Hart General Store. For over 70 years, this tiny general store has housed the U.S. Post Office's Good Hart Branch and currently serves as the local bakery, deli, general grocer, and real estate office. Be sure to try their World Famous Pot Pies! Don't forget to get some swag while you are there!
Make sure have your appetite with you when you get to Cross Village! Lunch at the Leggs Inn is definitely in order. Leggs Inn is a historic restaurant that has been serving authentic Polish cuisine for over 90 years. The Inn's name is comes from the cast iron stove legs that adorn the roof which were used by the owner, Stanley Smolak, to create whimsical carvings and furniture. Smolak, a self-trained artist, used tree limbs, drift wood, and roots to carve fantastical creatures into the furniture and decorative objects used in the inn.
The restaurant is open for the 2025 season from May 23rd to Oct 19th daily 12-9 but they are closed on Tuesdays. The lunch menu is served 12-4 and the dinner menu is served 4-8. Plan ahead! They don't take reservations. We thought we would stop for a late lunch on a Saturday afternoon and there was a 3 hour wait! Even if you don't stay for a meal, feel free to shop and look around!
