3 Days on Mackinac Island & the Straits of Mackinac
Mackinac Island is a time capsule: no cars have been allowed since 1898, and the island's Victorian architecture, horse-drawn carriages, and famous fudge shops feel transplanted from a different era. Perched where Lakes Michigan and Huron meet, it's perfect for families, couples seeking romance, and anyone wanting to escape the modern world for a few days.
What to expect
- Ride horse-drawn carriage around the 8.2-mile M-185 Loop Road with water views
- Watch fudge-makers hand-pull 300-lb batches in candy shop windows
- Tour the Grand Hotel, America's largest wooden building, with its famous 660-ft porch
- Hike to Arch Rock, a natural limestone arch 146 feet above the water
- Kayak or boat around the island's rocky shoreline and past Mackinac Bridge
Day by day
Take a ferry from Mackinaw City or St. Ignace; dock at the Main Street waterfront.
Check into a Victorian B&B or hotel; explore Main Street's fudge shops, galleries, and ice-cream parlours.
Sunset walk along the waterfront bluffs; dinner at a harborside restaurant with whitefish or trout.
Book a horse-drawn carriage tour around the 8.2-mile M-185 loop; driver narrates island history.
Hike to Arch Rock (1.3 miles round-trip) via the bluff trail; see the natural limestone bridge 146 ft above the water.
Tour the Grand Hotel's main parlours and famous porch (non-guests pay a $15 fee); fudge shopping and dessert.
Kayak or rent a small motorboat to circle the island; see sea caves and rocky shorelines inaccessible by land.
Browse galleries and buy fudge to take home; visit the Mackinac Island Butterfly House (seasonal).
Sunset ferry back to the mainland.
Palcation builds the whole plan in seconds: flights, stays, food and a day-by-day itinerary you can share and budget.
Plan this trip free