Mackinaw City is located at the northern tip of Michigan’s mainland and is the gateway to the eastern Upper Peninsula via the Mackinac Bridge “Mighty Mac” a five-mile long suspension bridge that connects lower Michigan to the UP and Lakes Michigan and Huron at the Straits of Mackinac. One would wonder why the difference in spelling between Mackinaw and Mackinac. Are they pronounced the same? Yes they are. Then why the difference? Basically because of the difference between the French and the English. The French occupied the territory before the British, and spelled the name Mackinac but pronounced it Mackinaw. The British just spelled it the way it sounded, hence the two different spellings. Over time the city retained the “aw” spelling while the bridge, straights and island clung to the “ac” spelling.
Returning to more densely populated areas than they had been used to for the last few months was a difficult transition. More people, more roads, more traffic and more city-like environments in Mackinaw City took some getting used to, but a day-trip to Mackinac Island helped ease Chris and Jay through the change.
The island became Michigan’s first state park in 1895 and local carriage drivers were hired to take visitors on sightseeing tours of the island. As the destination became more popular and motor vehicles were introduced, it was decided in 1920 to restrict the use of motorized transportation to emergency vehicles only. Thus, when Chris and Jay arrived at the heart of Market Street, via a half-hour ferry ride, it was teeming with tourists on bicycles, in horse-drawn carriages, or on foot. The options for seeing the entire island were to rent bikes, horses, or hoof it themselves. They opted for the bikes and with maps and guides in hand, proceeded to enjoy the remainder of the warm but cloudy day tooling around the many roads that led to geological formations, forts, and interesting spots along the coastline.
The ferry that took them to the Island.
One of the many horse-drawn carriages and bicycles found on the Island..
Their first adventure was to cruise the flat loop road, aptly named Lake Shore Drive, circling the entire island and stop along the way to explore the geologic features of Arch and Chimney Rocks and Devil’s Kitchen. Several springs bubbled forth along the way and the waterfront homes confirmed the wealth of those that chose to live on the excusive island.
There were hundreds of these rock cairns along a section of the Shore Drive.
Making their way onto the interior roads took them down wooded lanes leading to the earthen Fort Holmes, cemeteries of both island residents and those that fought in the battles between the French and British for control of the Island, and a geological fracture in the ground several feet wide. They ended the day with a tour of Fort Mackinac, a formidable stone fortress sitting atop a 200 foot bluff which was founded during the American Revolution by the British. Although they arrived late in the day they were in time to visit most of the buildings and watch demonstrations of rifle and cannon firing before the cloudy skies finally opened to release their pent up moisture.
Preparing to fire the cannon.
They decided to dodge the drops by enjoying dinner out; then with pavements drying but the daylight diminishing, they walked the downtown area while waiting for the return ferry. Chris was entranced by a beautiful garden lining the walkway to a posh restaurant adjoining a waterfront, Victorian era hotel. Another visiting family was equally entranced and very impressed by the photographs that Chris took of them surrounded by the pinks, purples and greens of the colorful paradise.
The garden leading to the restaurant was so beautifully inviting.
It had been a relaxing, fun day filled with new experiences and they left the island looking forward to what lay in store for them the rest of their stay.
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