Mackinac island is located in the straits of mackinac, the body of water that connects lakes michigan and huron, and which seperates michigan’s lower peninsula from the upper peninsula. The impressive mackinac bridge (pictured in some of the images below) connects the two peninsulas of Michigan; the island is reached via high speed ferries.
With the exception of an ambulance, a fire truck, and a police car (which are only used in emergency situations), all motorized traffic on the island is forbidden. The main modes of transportation are feet, bicycle, and horse drawn carriage. In fact, Mackinac island is home to the largest working horse population left in north america.
About 9 miles in circumference, roughly 80% of the island is heavily forested state park land with lots of nice bicycle and walking trails, the rest is occupied by historic Victorian cottages, several resorts, an old fort dating from british colonial days, and a town & harbor on the island’s southern end. For over 3 centuries mackinac has served as an important control point on the great lakes separating lake michigan from lake huron, giving the island a rich commercial and military history.
I’ve been going up to the island every summer for the past 31 years and the island is truly home away from home for me. The pics below are from last week. Any way, enough rambling about the island, on with thw pics.
01. Sunlight filters through the leaves on one of the island’s many bicycle trails
free jpeg images
02. The house my family and i stay in on the island, deep in the woods on about 3 acres of forested land.
03. The trail from the road leading up to the house we rent
04. One of the centuries old cemeteries in the island’s interior
05. An attractive garden in town
06. A scenic view from a trail along one of the island’s many bluffs.
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07. Marquette park, on the edge of main street
08. One of the island’s many limestone formations back in the woods
09. Overview of the eastern side of town
10. Trail in the island interior
11. The famous arch rock overlooking the water
12. A dead seagull I saw on the beach
13. A cottage on the east bluff
14. Busy main street in town. Busy streets rock when they ain’t full of cars
15. A view from fort holmes down to fort mackinac
16. The island’s pleasure craft marina
17. Another scenic overlook
18. A nice round stone church
19. The grand hotel, the island’s most famous resort
20. An alley in town
21. A quiet residential side street in town
22. East side cottage
23. Market street in town
24. East side B&B
25. East bluff cottage
26. A side street ending in a stairway up the bluff
27. Bike trail in the interior
28. The murray hotel
29. Main street
30. The old decaying entry gates of fort holmes, at the very top of the island
31. East side Victorian hotel
32. Marquette park
33. Pretty flowers. This island has some immaculately maintained gardens
34. Main street
35. Marquette park with the marina beyond
36. Outdoor restaurant on the edge of town
37. Private horse stable
38. A giant iron ore freighter passing by the island
39. The old barracks building inside fort mackinac
40. East side
41. Mission church, one of the oldest existing churches in Michigan. It looks like it belongs in new england
42. Pubs in town
43. West bluff cottages
44. A newish condo development on the water, seen from across the harbor
45. The stately st. anne’s church on the east side
46. The majestc grand hotel in all of its linear porch-laden glory
47. The beautiful waters of the straights area
48. East side, with the fort looming in the distance
49. Main street
50. View of the harbor from the fort
51. View of town from the fort
52. More east side cottages
53. The new harbor lighthouse
54. Main street
55. Another big ore boat plying the waters of the straits
56. Main street
57. The fort looming over the marina
58. Main street
59. A classic motor yacht
60. the marina with east bluff cottages above
61. town
62. Private boat docks in the harbor
63. A nice west bluff victorian
64. Harbor scene
65. A high speed ferry leaving the dock
66. You know these guys are having a blast out there
67. St. anne’s from across the harbor
68. Side street in town
69. A west bluff beauty
70. The dilapidated coal dock in the harbor
71. town
72. My arts and crafts project for the week, a model of mighty mac
73. Market street
74. The backside walls of fort mackinac
75. Windimere hotel
76. West bluff view
77. There’s the real deal, mighty mac stretching cross the straits
78. A small alley in town
79. Market street
80. I just can’t get enough of that beautiful great lakes water
81. A block house of the fort
82. The bridge at sunset
83. Even in the harbor, the waters are crystal clear, this water is about 25 feet deep
84. Cottages on the west side of town
85. A freighter passes in the south channel with the old round island lighthouse in the foreground
86. East bluff
87. East bluff over the harbor
88. Pretty clouds over the harbor
89. Trying to be artsy at breakfast one morning
90. Two pallets of dry wall loaded on a dray bound for a construction site on the island
91. Lighthouse at sunset
92. A ferry pulls into the harbor catching the last rays of the day
93. A ferry speeds in front of the bridge at sunset
94. The bridge with some cool clouds
95. Main street with the fort looming above
96. Goodbye mackinac, until next summer
