Made it to Mackinac

So, today was a Bucket-List check-off so perfect I was almost in tears at the end.  In the early 80s, I watched a wonderful, romantic movie (on that new phenomenon HBO) called Somewhere In Time.  It starred Christopher Reeve and Jane Seymour, and was filmed on location at the Grand Hotel on Mackinac (pronounced Mackinaw) Island.  Ever since then, it has been my dream to visit this relatively remote place. 

On the ferry

It was a cold day, but at least not raining.  It started out with a ferry ride from St. Ignace, on the Upper Peninsula, to the Island. There are absolutely no motor vehicles allowed on the Island.  Your choices are walking, biking, or taking horse-drawn transportation.  Of course our first stop had to be the Grand Hotel, which looked like a short distance away from the boat dock.  By the time we realized it was not so short, we were too far down the road to walk back to take a horse-drawn taxi.  So, we finished the walk, and made it up a hill to the hotel.  

After reading signs about its dress code (right out of the 1890s: after 6 PM, no ladies in slacks), we learned there was an ENTRANCE FEE if you were not a registered guest.  We were about to leave, when I decided that we had come all that way that it was silly not to be able to see it.  In for a penny, in for a pound, as they say, and we paid the ransom.

Once in the hotel, we of course had to have the Grand Lunch Buffet, and we made sure to get our money’s worth; the desserts alone were worth the price of admission.  We walked all over the grounds, as much as we were able, (we had to walk off all the calories from lunch)  and the gardens, the supposedly longest veranda in America, the pool, and the spectacular views of Lake Huron were wonderful.

We then walked back into town (this time downhill), and bought tickets to a (horse-drawn) tour of the whole island.  The main street of the only village was, as you might expect, very touristy.  Lots of shops with t-shirts, postcards, tchotchkes, but also very pricey, locally produced artwork, ceramics, and clothes.  I did my share of shopping, mostly of the postcard genre.  We rode through the grounds of the Grand Hotel, and then on to the Summer Governor’s mansion,  and through beautifully wooded trails.  The tour ended at Ft. Mackinac, which is no longer being used as a fort, and is high above the town.  More beautiful views of Lake Huron.  But, the “two minute, steep walk” back into town, as the driver had described it was a ten minute, EXTREMELY steep walk, and when I got to the bottom I was as relieved as I used to be when I was able to ski down a steep hill.

And, surprise, surprise.  Even though I had thought after our Grand Hotel lunch that I would never eat again, I was hungry, and we stopped for pizza and salad.  And ice cream.  And then it was time to get back on the ferry for the ride back to the St. Ignace dock, and then back to our hotel.

The day on Mackinac Island was everything I had thought it would be.  The only downside was that it was very crowded.  I think a better time to visit might be after Labor Day when the crowds die down.

As soon as we get settled, I am going to rewatch Somewhere In Time.  And, I encourage you to do the same.  Tomorrow it is On (to) Wisconsin