Exploring Michigan’s Mackinac Island on Lake Huron

Jun 29, 2024

Situated between Michigan’s Upper and Lower Peninsula, the picturesque Mackinac Island in Lake Huron is a dream vacation destination chock full of historic landmarks and stunning naturescapes. Today, we’re sharing our picks for best spots to visit and activities to enjoy on a summer vacation at Mackinac Island! From swimming to boating and kayaking to hiking and museums, you’ll find a little bit of everything. We recommend at minimum a one-weekend stay, but ideally a week would allow you to visit and explore at a leisurely pace to really take in all the sites and experiences.

Get in Touch with Local History

Featuring beautiful rocky cliffs, outcroppings, and structures like the incredible Arch Rock landmark, the island is an integral part of local Anishinaabek Peoples history and tradition. The island was once a sacred burial ground and local spot for fishing, trapping and travel, and its name is derived from the Native Michilimackinac, Ashinaabek for “Place of the Great Turtle”. If you’d like to learn more about the island’s history while seeing beautiful trails and local flora and fauna, we recommend opting to tour the Native American Cultural History Trail! We also recommend the Biddle House Mackinac ISland Native American History Museum, the Benjamin Blacksmith Shop, the American Fur Co Store & Dr. Beaumont Museum, McGulpin House, and the Richard & Jane Manoogian Mackinac Art Museum. You can also book a “Mackinac Island Legends and Lore Trek” for a personal guided history tour with local guide Dr. Mary! For another unique perspective on the island, check out the Mackinac Island Horse-drawn carriage taxis, a blast from the past! Or spend a day exploring both Fort Holmes and Fort Mackinac.

Appreciate the Natural Beauty of the Island

Mackinac Island offers more than 70 miles of trails for hiking, cycling, and horseback riding which cover more than 80% of the island. Visitors love exploring Mackinac Island Outer Loop Trail, the Arch Rock trail, Tranquil Bluff Trail, Fort Holmes Trail, and the Mackinac Island Inner Loop Trail as their top five favorites!

If you’re looking for some top tier nature photography ops, we’ve got some landmarks for you to explore. Mackinac Island’s Arch Rock is one of the most photographed spots on the island. It sits 140 feet above the water level, and you can check out the Arch at multiple angles from a hike, a horse-drawn carriage tour, or a kayaking tour from the water. Sugar Loaf juts out 75-feet up into the air in the center of Mackinac Island State Park Forest, and can be seen from Point Lookout or from the ground level. You can take the carless highway M-185 around the outer rim of the island by biking or trail running, and get a waterfront view of the area. Crack-in-the-Island can be reached by horseback or bike, and is one of the most interesting geological formations in the area; you can walk through the crack and explore, or stop for a funny photo op being “stuck” in the island! Devil’s Kitchen is a small cave along the southwestern shore of Mackinac Island, featuring two stacked carved hollows in the side of a rocky cliff, carved during the post-glacial period by the magnificent waves on Lake Huron.

Activities and Experiences to Enjoy on the Island

If you’re the type of traveler who enjoys a hands-on experience, we’ve got some suggestions for that, too. The Forge a Memory Blacksmith Shop is an unforgettable stop on your vacation! You’ll learn how speciality items like knives, swords, axes, and other important tools are forged, and the history of Blacksmithing. You’ll also have an opportunity to help customize your own special handmade knife, finished right in front of your eyes. Appointments are recommended.

Stop by the Haunted Theatre and enjoy a 3D/4D interactive haunted house featuring local artists’ interpretations of “Monsters from Mackinac’s History”. Now celebrating its 50th anniversary as a local attraction, this campy local favorite offers a fun rainy day excursion and perfect for the “halloween all year” crowd! We also recommend the 3-D Maze of Mirrors for another unique excursion, as you walk through a life-sized maze of mirrors and creative glasswords.

Learn more about local plants and insects at Michigan’s 1st butterfly house, and the 3rd oldest in the US, at The Original Butterfly House and Insect World of Mackinac Island! Featuring hundreds of insect specimens and butterflies, your whole family will enjoy this interactive science attraction. Likewise, the Wings of Mackinac Butterfly Conservatory allows you to walk through magical glassed-in displays and habitats of hundreds of butterfly species.

An afternoon spent at the Watercolor Cafe affords visitors the opportunity to create scenic nature inspired landscapes and harbor scene paintings inspired and led by local Mackinac Island and surrounding area artists. Adults can enjoy one of the Paint & Sip evenings, jewelry workshops, or personal watercolor lesson workshops. The studio offers made-to-order meals for breakfast and lunch, and a delicious menu of coffee drinks and smoothies. The facility also offers a select number of small, intimate afternoon activities for kids such as sun prints, watercolor painting, and even marbled paint and coloring workshops!

See the island in a new light with a unique tour opportunity! Adults can book a fun adventure on the Mackinac Island Cruise “Sip-n-Sail” experience around the island. You’ll have an opportunity to do some shopping, scenic tours, enjoy themed cruise nights, live music and entertainment, and so much more. View the island from a new perspective with an air tour from North Country Aviation or My Flight Tours, offering visitors a small aircraft or helicopter tour ride. Thrillseekers will love the Mackinaw Parasailing experience and visit the “Straits of Mackinac” right from the water!

Enjoy an Afternoon of Snacking and Shopping Downtown

The Downtown Shopping District is dotted with beautiful shops carrying local artwork, beautiful home decor, specialty clothing and jewelry, fine artwork and accessories, and even books. Kids will love visiting the Great Turtle Toys Shop, Mackinac Kids, The Island Bookstore, and bringing their furry friends a souvenir from Mackinpaws Dog Gear shop! There are numerous clothing retailers including Pink Pony Store, Nadia’s Fashion Shop, Threads of Mackinac, and more. Shop for unique artwork and gifts at Mackinac’s Little Gallery, Lilacs and Lace, Benjamin Gifts, and other small retailers.

The island is home to numerous restaurants and seasonal eateries offering everything from casual grab-and-go snacks to fine dining date-night options and plenty of family-friendly fare. If you’re looking for a bite to eat, local favorites include Woods Restaurant and Bobby’s Bar, The Gate House featuring traditional american cuisine, the Pink Pony Grill, Bistro on the Greens, Yankee Rebel Tavern, Kingston Kitchen at the VIllage Inn for some delicious Jamaican Cuisine, The Carriage House for fine dining, the Ice House BBQ for outdoor dining and seasonal bites, just to name a few.

Have you been to Mackinac Island with your family and friends? Let us know in a comment on our social media which places you’d recommend to a first-time visitor. If we’ve left one of your favorite picks off the list, tell us and we may include it in an upcoming post!