A Travel Path Podcast: The ULTIMATE Guide to Mackinac Island @Open Roading

www.atravelpath.com

https://delicioats.com?sca_ref=2606128.heLxZNHtFuUse code “PATH”

 

Wow! What an information-filled episode this was as we welcomed back Joe and Kalyn from Open Roading to Travel Tips! We learned a ton about Mackinac Island in Michigan, and after speaking with them, it sounds like such a fascinating place to visit. It certainly doesn’t hurt that they spent a full season as Joe worked at a campground near the island (more on that in Part 1.) In this episode you’ll learn all about:

 

Mackinac Island

First of all, it is pronounced MackinAW, and Joe informed us pretty quickly that if your pronounce it they way it is spelled, the locals will be quick to correct you. The small island offers an escape from the modern world, as there are no cars on the island. Everything is either on foot, horseback, or bike.

 

Biking

Bike rentals are a popular activity at Mackinac Island, and the eight-mile loop along the edge is a scenic and peaceful ride. They shared the tip of renting a bike on the island as opposed to renting one and bringing it on the ferry. This way, if something happens with your bike, the company is on the island to fix it.

We also cover the best time to visit, nearby attractions, where to stay, and so much more! You’ll definitely want to listen to this episode a few times if you plan on making a trip. And if you haven’t heard of Mackinac Island or weren’t considering visiting it, after listening I’m sure it will be on your list.

 

3,2,1 Countdown

3 Things to Bring to Mackinac Island:

·        Bike

·        Warm Clothes

·        Comfortable Walking Shoes

2 Complaints or Things You Should Be Prepared For:

·        Smell of Horse Manure

·        Dress Code at Grand Hotel

·        Bonus: Bugs

1 Thing You CAN’T Leave Mackinaw Island Without Doing:

·        8 Mile perimeter bike ride

 

Chapters

·        00:00 Introduction to Mackinac Island

·        05:30 How Long Should Someone Plan to Spend on Mackinac Island?

·        06:30 When is Mackinac Island Shut Down/Best Time to Visit?

·        09:15 Dog Friendly/Kid Friendly Activities on Mackinac Island?

·        11:30 Bike Rentals

·        12:30 Lodging & Transportation

·        15:00 Activities

·        16:30 Overall Cost of Mackinaw Island

·        18:45 Planning and Reservations

·        20:00 Favorite Food Spots

·        21:30 Nearby Attractions

·        23:00 Delicioats.com use code PATH

·        24:00 3, 2, 1 Countdown

 

 

Ferries

·        Shepler’s Ferry: https://www.sheplersferry.com/

·        Mackinac Island Ferry Company: https://www.mackinacferry.com/

 

 

Lodging

·        Mackinac Mill Creek Camping: https://www.campmackinaw.com/

·        Grand Hotel: https://www.grandhotel.com/#

 

Restaurants/To Do

·        Millie’s On Main: https://www.milliesonmain.com/

·        Sanders Fudge: https://sanderscandy.com/pages/stores

·        Ryba’s Fudge Shops: https://ryba.com/

Mackinac Family Heritage Pass (gets you into multiple locations in the area) https://tickets.mackinacparks.com/webstore/shop/viewItems.aspx?cg=MSHP&c=3

·        Butterfly House: https://www.originalbutterflyhouse.com/

 

 

Fireworks

·        Saint Ignace: https://stignace.com/event/fireworks-over-the-bay/2024-05-25/

·        Mackinac City: https://www.mackinaw-city.com/mackinaw_city_events_bak.php

 

 

Nearby Attractions

·        Wilderness State Park and Beach: https://www2.dnr.state.mi.us/parksandtrails/Details.aspx?id=509&type=SPRK

·        Harbor Springs: https://www.michigan.org/city/harbor-springs

·        Petoskey: https://www.michigan.org/city/petoskey-area

·        Charlevoix: https://www.michigan.org/city/charlevoix

·        Drummond Island: https://www.visitdrummondisland.com/

 

Previous Podcast Episodes

·        Indian Lake State Park and Upper Peninsula: https://atravelpath.com/michigan-upper-peninsula/

 

Music

·        Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):

·        https://uppbeat.io/t/sky-toes/ready-as-ever

·        License code: WYQ2IKRBMVFP3EJS

 

Disclaimer

*All content from atravelpath.com, including but not limited to The Travel Path Podcast and social media platforms, is designed to share general information. We are not experts and the information is not designed to serve as legal, financial, or tax advice. Always do your own research and due diligence before making a decision.

 

Transcript

Host: Hey Joe and Kalyn, welcome back to the Travel Path podcast. Thanks so much for being here again.

 

Guest: Thank you for having us.

 

Host: So, if anybody missed part one, we delved deep into your full-time travel lifestyle with your fifth-wheel RV. We covered everything from your work camping life to budgeting and all the other aspects of living on the road. Today, for travel tips, we're focusing on one particular destination. Where are we talking about today?

 

Guest: Yeah, we're going to Northern Michigan and specifically Mackinac Island. Surprisingly, a lot of people haven't heard of this little island up there.

 

Host: That's awesome. How much time have you guys actually spent on Mackinac Island?

 

Guest: On the actual island, I think we've done four trips, four days in total. But we spent the entire summer in Mackinac City, which is just a ferry ride away from the island. So, the entire area is kind of immersed in Mackinac City, Mackinac Island, this whole space. And as a public service announcement to your listeners, it is spelled M-A-C-K-I-N-A-C Island, but when you go there, make sure you pronounce it "Mac" or the locals will be very eager to correct you.

 

Host: That's a great travel tip. You always need to know exactly how to pronounce where you're going, otherwise that can happen. What made you guys want to share about this destination today?

 

Guest: It's actually one of my favorite places because there are no cars allowed on the island at all. So, it really feels like you're stepping back in time. Everything is either accessed by walking, biking, or taking a horse taxi. Even the "garbage trucks" are horses pulling wagons to pick up the bins. It's just a quaint little place we've fallen in love with.

 

Host: Sounds amazing. So, Mackinac Island is a great destination for someone who likes what type of experience?

 

Guest: I would say a more laid-back experience, obviously. You're not rushing from place to place because you don't have a car. But if you want to be a bit more active, there are walking and biking options. And if you enjoy quaint shops, popping into boutiques, and indulging in the fudge, it's perfect. There are around 15 to 20 fudge shops on the island. And if you're into history, there's a fort and other old structures to explore.

 

Host: The Grand Hotel sounds fascinating. It must be quite an experience.

 

Guest: Definitely. It's very old and still functioning.

 

Host: Sounds like a place where you'd really be stepping back in time when you visit. How long do you think someone should plan a trip for to get the full Mackinac Island experience?

 

Guest: You can do the full experience in a day. But something we really want to do is spend the night sometime. We hear that it's a different atmosphere after the last ferry leaves for the day. The foot traffic builds up throughout the day, but you can see everything you want in a day or even an afternoon. It's a place you want to come back to and experience again and again. I think it's not just like one and done and yeah forget about it.

 

Host: Perfect, so you could do it in an afternoon and just make it part of your trip to the Michigan Upper Peninsula. But of course, you could keep going back there every day, just taking the ferry over. I think it's nice to have that versatile type of trip. Now, I know that Mackinac Island does shut down for part of the year, correct?

 

Guest: Yeah, yeah, I believe it's October. I mean, shut down, quote-unquote, if they can get through the ice, they will run a ferry. But most people are not taking that back and forth unless they're locals. There is an airport on the island, so if you're living on the island and can't get out via ferry, you can pay, which is pretty pricey, to take a flight out. And then you have to pay weight actually in the grocery and items that you bring back, in addition to the trip.

 

Host: Wow. So, what would you say is the best time of year to visit to avoid the ice and flying situation?

 

Guest: Yeah, July and August are probably going to be my favorite. I know people are like, "Oh, go maybe in the spring or the fall to avoid crowds." But the problem with the springtime is there are these things called midge flies, and they are like clouds of black flies all over the place, specifically by the water. And Mackinac Island is surrounded by water. So, if you go in May and June, expect to have that experience, which may color your entire view of the island. July and August are really the best, and then September, it's just getting really cold because, again, it's on the water. And so that breeze coming off the water is pretty cool. And when she's saying black clouds of midge, she is not exaggerating. Like, they are clouds. And if there's any white surface, the white surface just becomes black with these flies. They don't bite, but they are just a pain. Along with the time frame though, if you really want to enjoy the island, there's two ferry companies, Shepler's and Star Line, and Shepler's is the main ferry company. And you want to get on one of the first two boats out to the island because if you jump off one of those first two boats, you're one of the first people on the island, except for anybody who's spent the night the night before. And the streets are quiet and clean and, yeah, and clean. Everything is horses. And so, you really get the peaceful downtown. And there's a courtyard in front of the castle, and you can really just kind of walk through the courtyard, take pictures, and there's nobody around. And like I said, throughout the day, the amount of foot traffic builds, everything starts getting more and more crowded. So, your most enjoyable time will be those two to three hours in the morning.

 

Host: That's awesome. So, don't sleep in those days. Plan to get up and get over there.

 

Guest: Yes.

 

Host: Awesome. Now, would you say it's a dog and kid-friendly place? Have you seen a lot of families there or pets at all?

 

Guest: Well, that's a great question. For the dogs, I'm not sure. I've seen them take smaller dogs. In fact, I know you can because they sell tickets for them to put them on the ferry. But I guess it depends on where you take your dog. If you take your dog with you everywhere, you can take them on the island. There's not going to be anything, unless they're going to scare horses. I wouldn't — that's true — if they're afraid of horses or if they're going to bark at horses, probably not a good idea. Interestingly enough, selling tickets in the campground store all summer, we sold ferry tickets, and the number of times I would see one parent come back to the campground with the kids was very high. You know, one parent would come back and the kids would be getting ready to go swimming and be like, "Oh, did you enjoy your island?" And, "Oh, my husband's still there," or "Oh, my wife's still there." But the kids weren't having a good time. There's just not a lot of kid-friendly entertainment. There's history and things like that. But if you're walking and biking and shops, yeah, not a lot of transportation where the kids are going to get a break, where they're not going to be on their feet or not going to have to walk places. However, I would say in Mackinac City, which is where you're either going to from Mackinac City or St. Ignace, you're going to take the ferry over to Mackinac Island. There are three indoor water parks in Mackinac City, and so the kids really, really loved those. So, you can still take your family to the area and enjoy Mackinac City. And it's my understanding that you can get one wristband that will go to all three of those indoor water parks as well.

 

Host: Oh, very cool. So that's something that you could go and like you said, go in the morning, go to Mackinac Island, take the family, and just plan to be there for maybe a couple of hours or where your kids' threshold is for being able to walk and pop in and out of shops, and then head back. And then you've got those really fun activities that they can kind of look forward to throughout the day. So, I think that's perfect.

 

Guest: Exactly.

 

Host: And we have talked about transportation. Obviously, you're either taking the ferry or you're flying over there. But do you bring your own bikes? Do they have bike rentals once you get over there?

 

Guest: You can totally bring your own bikes. So, I think it cost — this last year, I think $16 per bike.

Okay, that was more than I remembered. But anyway, it costs you to take your own bike. You can rent them over there. There are places on the island that you can rent them from as well. But don't rent them from the mainland and then take them over. It's not going to be as cost-effective. It's not really that expensive to rent the bikes on the island. The only thing I wouldn't rent the bikes is off the island and then pay to bring them over because if they break down on the island, you don't have anyone to replace that, whereas if you rent on the island, the company will ride out to you with another bike so that you can keep going. So, that is nice to know.

 

Host: Wow, very good information. Yeah, that's a good tip. So, lodging. I know you said there are hotels or boutique hotels that you can probably stay at on Mackinac Island, which you haven't done yet. But where are you staying when you are going there in your camper?

 

Guest: Specifically for RVing, there are RV parks on the Mackinac City side, and I think there's an RV park in St. Ignace. There's also a couple of casinos in the area that allow some overnight parking. So, if you're looking just for a quick overnight, you might be able to just pop into one of the casinos and park there overnight. I do recommend — and you know I'm not a shill for them, I worked for them, I'm done — but the best campground I think in that area is Mackinac Mill Creek. They have over a mile of their own beachfront property. So, they have a beach that you can walk your dogs on, they have a beach that's dog-free, and it's just really a beautiful place to stay if you're planning on staying for more than one or two nights. Yeah, it's kind of spaced out so the spaces feel a little bit like a state park with trees and everything, so we had a look at the other campgrounds in the area, and I think Mackinac Mill Creek by far would be the most enjoyable.

 

Host: Awesome. And how are you getting from your campground to the ferry?

 

Guest: So, you can take a couple of ways. If you're taking your bikes to the island, there's actually a rail trail that goes right to the ferry parking lot that you can ride your bike to the ferry parking lot and then just jump on the ferry. Otherwise, there's ferry parking pretty close by and they will shuttle you to the ferry. Or, a lot of times, campgrounds in the area have shuttles that run from their campground again to the docks. And not a lot of people know this, but there's free parking if you can get there early enough behind the Rusted Spoke.

 

Host: That's specifically for that one ferry company, right?

 

Guest: Yeah, they're rebranding, it's hard to keep it straight. That's specifically for that one. They are very much in competition, so you don't want to park in one slot and go to the other.

 

Host: Very good. So, what is there to do at night? I know you guys have not stayed there and really experienced the full nightlife. I'm not sure the last ferry, so maybe what do you do right before you get on the ferry or what do you do once you get off the ferry back in the city area?

 

Guest: Yeah, there are a lot of different restaurants there that you can go to. But if you're staying on the island, something that we would like to do the next time that we go is they have dinner at the Grand Hotel, which is very, very pricey, and you have to really dress up for it, no jeans, like you need to be wearing suit coats. So, it's again that kind of step back in time to another era. And so, that would be like a fun date night activity that you could do at the Grand Hotel. And then as far as just general activities throughout the summer, generally every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday night, there are fireworks that are launched from either St. Ignace or Mackinac City. It rotates depending on the day, and you would be able to see those from the island or from either mainland.

 

Host: Very cool, that's awesome. So, I guess transitioning, speaking about nighttime, any good sunset spots you guys have found?

 

Guest: Pretty much everywhere, I think, because it's on like this, where the sun sets is kind of like on the water. So wherever you are, like on the beachfront, either on the island or over in Mackinac City, watching the sunset from one of those locations, you'll be able to get a good view.

 

Host: Yeah, perfect. And now, because you guys are very budget-conscious, and if you haven't listened to episode one, make sure you do that. I have enjoyed seeing all your posts on your social media every month because you keep us updated that way, so it's really nice. But would you say the overall cost is more or less than you expected when you visited Mackinac Island?

 

Guest: I think it's about what I expected because you are paying for the ferry and then you're paying to rent a bike, so you have to factor that in. And when you're on the island, really the only extra things that you would be paying for are activities. So, like, whether you're getting into the fort or you're paying for a horse taxi carriage ride or you're buying souvenirs from the shop. So generally, I think it was what we expected. To save probably the most amount of money and to have a good experience is to buy a ferry carriage ride combo ticket. Those are actually some pretty good deals rather than just taking the ferry and then getting to the island and deciding you want to do the carriage ride. And especially if you're not a fan of maybe biking or walking or you're not able to, that's a really great way to explore the island.

 

Host: Perfect.

 

Guest: One thing that is not budget-friendly is the Grand Hotel, like Kalyn said. You can't tour the hotel without paying, and then any meal there, anything that they have there, I mean, it's just... I think dinner was over $100 a person. Yeah, it's another level.

 

Host: Is that the same thing as the castle you referenced earlier?

 

Guest: No, you meant the fort. Oh, castle, sorry. The fort is the historical — this is a step back in time. Oh, no, no, no. Castles, forts too, though.

 

Host: Those are definitely a step back in time.

 

Guest: Yeah. And you can get a pass, I think, from any really the stores sell them, the campgrounds sell them. I can't remember the name of the pass, but I'll have to look it up and let you know, you can put it in the show notes. But it gives you access to the fort and to like a butterfly garden there, and to another place. So if you buy like the one-time pass, it's actually worth the that amount if you go to all the locations that are featured on the pass.

 

Host: Awesome, very good tip. Yeah, we'll definitely link that in the show notes. Now, did you guys have to make any of your reservations ahead of time or do you feel like if you were just decided you wanted to head there you could get a ferry ticket and go on the island and enjoy the day?

 

Guest: Yeah, you could totally buy everything day of, especially if you're getting on those first boats. Actually, if I was getting on the first boat, I'd want to buy my ferry ticket the day before. All the tickets are untimed, so you just buy it and then it's first come, first serve to actually get on the boat. So if you get there and the line is too long, you're just getting on the next boat as opposed to the first one.

Yeah, and they run about every half hour to an hour.

 

Host: Perfect. So for campsites too, are they pretty flexible?

 

Guest: So, campsites, I would book further in advance if you are planning on staying for a weekend. If you can stay Monday to Thursday or Monday to Friday, you'd probably be fine booking anytime. I know Mackinac Mill Creek has 600, I believe, campsites, so they have the capacity, but they do fill up on the weekends, especially if there's any sort of holiday weekend going on. And so I think the other campgrounds fill up as well. But yeah, if you're staying Monday through Friday, you could just drive in and get a site.

 

Host: Very good info. So, how about food spots? What did you guys find any favorites?

 

Guest: Yeah, I don't know, we're not great foodies, so we eat PB&J. We do just pack sandwiches and save some money. But one of the restaurants that we did like on Mackinac Island was Millie's on Main, and we went there twice, and we got different things each time, and it was really, really good. The two fudge shops that I recommend, like I said, there's so many on the island, so you could actually just have fun sampling them all. But we really liked Sanders and Ryba's Fudge the best, so I would try those first.

 

Host: Perfect. I'll take those recommendations, do my own little fudge tour there.

Yep, it's the humidity, right? Is it really humid there or is that not so?

 

Guest: So, we lived in Florida for six years, and it did not feel like Florida at all. So, it was interesting because when certain people would arrive there, it was never really got above 80 the whole summer, and there would be some people, and I can't remember where they were from, that would be complaining about the heat, and Kayla and I would just kind of look at each other and be like, "Where are these people from?" It's not hot. And so, it definitely didn't feel like if you're used to a Florida humid, it is nowhere near anything like that.

 

Host: They're from northern Michigan.

 

Guest: Probably.

 

Host: Too funny. Alright, and if you haven't mentioned it already, any other nearby attractions either on the island itself or outside the island maybe near your campground that you haven't mentioned yet?

 

Guest: Yeah, there is a Wilderness State Park, which you could stay there in an RV, but we found I liked the beach there the best. It was the quietest. It didn't seem like a lot of people knew it existed. So that is one place I would go. If you want more quaint towns, you can go a little bit further south of that into like Harbor Springs and Petoskey and Charlevoix. They're cute, just lakeside towns that you can visit. And then if you want to go north, kind of to the east side, we visited Drummond Island, which not a lot of people have heard about. It's very outdoorsy, like not as quaint as Mackinac Island but definitely more for like, what is it, four-wheelers, ATVs?

Yeah, if you were into being more active.

One thing too, one thing too with the Wilderness State Park and that area in general is the Wilderness State Park is a dark skies park. So if you are going to Northern Michigan and hoping to catch the northern lights, that is a good place to set up if you've seen that, you know, that, hey, the northern lights are possible tonight. It's a good spot to go.

 

Host: That's very cool, and if you don't get the Northern Lights, you probably get some awesome stargazing, so take that. Perfect. So I think now we'll transition to the 321 countdown.

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Alright, the final three segments of the podcast, 3-2-1 countdown. I just want to say too, you guys have rocked this interview talking about Ma Island. Thank you for being so detailed, and I feel like this is a place everyone, when they talk about going somewhere, it's out west, it's down south, but people sleep on Northern Michigan. There's a lot of cool things, fun things to do so out there. And I think we're lucky we had some insider knowledge working at a campground for a whole season. And if you're looking to go to Northern Michigan, we had it with Jim and Michelle, episode six or seven, I believe, and they talked about Upper Peninsula, and there really wasn't much overlap here. We could really listen to both episodes and have completely different things to do. So if you're going to do an extended stay there, definitely tune in. But we'll start wrapping this thing up here. So, what are three things you're packing when you're heading to Mackinac Island?

 

Guest: I think number one is if you do have your own bike, pack your bike because that's hands down the best way to visit the island in our opinion. Dress in warm layers because you've got sometimes a cold ferry ride out in the morning and a cold ferry ride back in the evening, and then it will warm up throughout the day. And then good walking shoes, whether you're biking or walking, make sure you're really comfy as you're getting around the island.

 

Host: Nice, bring your own bike, good walking shoes, and warm clothes. What are two complaints somebody might have or things they should be prepared for before visiting?

 

Guest: So, it's an island where the primary source of transportation for a lot of things is horses, so it's going to smell like two things on the island, especially as the day goes on. It's going to smell like fudge and it's going to smell like horse poo. So that, a lot of people, they come back and they're like, "I wasn't prepared for that." So, again, if you go early, a lot of the horse poo isn't out yet, it's been cleaned up from the day before. But as the day goes on, it's going to smell a little bit more. And along those same lines, don't step in the mud puddles because they're not water. And then the second one is the Grand Hotel. A lot of people go expecting to be able to, "Hey, we're going to get to walk around the Grand Hotel, see a tour," and whatnot, and they're surprised that A, it costs money, and B, there's a dress code. At certain, is it all day to get in the Grand Hotel? The dress code, I think it's more at night.

 

Host: Yeah.

 

Guest: But, you know, they're just surprised that they can't go in in their shorts and a t-shirt. But you can walk the grounds, like the courtyard, which is very beautiful. So, smell some of the restrictions at the hotel, maybe a bonus would be bugs if you go at a certain time of year.

 

Host: Yes, that's an interesting combination, horse poo and fudge, and don't get them confused which way you're downwind from. We've talked about a lot of things to do on Mackinac Island, but what is one thing, if you had to pick one thing, you could not leave without doing?

 

Guest: The eight-mile perimeter bike ride. Yeah, I know we keep bringing up bikes, but it truly is so enjoyable. And you start in the town, and then you kind of get out of town, and you just have trees overhanging and you're by the lake the whole time. And it's, again, with that back in time feeling with you being on a bike and not driving, the perimeter, it really helps you just slow down and savor and enjoy the experience.

 

Host: That's great. That does sound, I feel like it sounds like a really great place, but when you bring the factor that there's no cars, it just makes it that much more kind of alluring and desirable to go to, just to take a step out of for a little while and get on an island where you're riding bikes, it's horseback sounds like a really wonderful place.

 

Guest: Yeah.

 

Host: Well, guys, thank you for being so thorough with this podcast. We definitely want to add this to a stop at some point. And guys, if you're listening to this podcast right now, you saw, you heard how thorough they just were, and the part one was exactly the same. They shared their story on how they started out, how everything from budgeting and their entire basically their five past five years traveling full-time. So definitely tune in to that one. And Joe and Kayin, before we let you go, where can our audience find out more about you guys?

 

Guest: Yeah, we're on YouTube, youtube.com/openroading, and same place on Instagram at openroading. And we respond to DMs there primarily.

 

Host: Awesome. Alright, guys, thanks again.

 

Guest: Yeah, thank you so much for having us. This was a lot of fun.

Episode: https://sites.libsyn.com/491798/mackinac-island

Podcast: https://atravelpath.com/