It’s sort of embarrassing, but Keith and I really struggled with pronouncing the name of Mackinac Island. Our coastal tongues desperately wanted to pronounce it “mack-i-nack.” That’s how it looks on the map after all. But, apparently that is wrong.
When you visit this part of Michigan, sometimes you’ll see signs with Mackinac and other times you see Mackinaw. There’s Mackinac Island, Mackinaw bridge, the Straits of Mackinac, Mackinaw City, Mackinaw cloth, etc.
Despite the different spelling, you pronounced them exactly the same. Mackinac and Mackinaw both end with the “-aw” sound. Don’t pronounce it “-ack”…unless you want the locals to start shaking their heads at you like you’re a moron.
Why do they use two spellings for this name in the exact same part of the state? I have no clue. This part of the country changed hands a few times between the British and French, and once something is written down, you know people are reluctant to change it. Instead, we Americans just choose to slaughter the pronunciation.
Mackinac Bridge as seen from the ferry
Visiting Fort Mackinac
Getting to Mackinac Island isn’t cheap. The only way out there is by ferry. The ride is only about 25 minutes long. Yet once you arrive, it’s like being transported into a different time.
The first place we headed was Fort Mackinac.
You can’t have a fort without a cannon or two!
Fort Mackinac was a sleepy little post, that mostly served as a place to protect the fur trade. The only really combat it saw took place in the War of 1812. As a former Soldier, let me forewarn you – this particular war was NOT our Army’s most brilliant showing.
When the War of 1812 kicked off, the British troops in North America got the news well before the American troops. Seizing on this intelligence coup, the Brits attacked Mackinaw Island and took the Americans by surprise. It didn’t go well from there. There was a quick battle for the fort. The British won handily and controlled the island for the next two years.
The Americans tried to retake the Mackinac Island in 1814, but failed miserably. Since we couldn’t retake the fort, we decided to cut off the British supply ships and starve them out. We left two of our Navy ships in the harbor to blockade it. The Brits got hungry. They stormed the two ships and ate to their hearts’ content. So, the blockade was an abysmal failure.
In 1814, the Treaty of Ghent officially ended the war. The treaty gave us the island back. So we still get to enjoy the sunsets from Mackinac Island; and the Brits get Canada and poutine.
Despite this depressing bit of military history, there are some really cool things to learn about at Fort Mackinac. I enjoyed seeing how several families lived while stationed there, as well as the exhibit on courts-martial and military medicine. Let me tell you…Soldiers today don’t know how good they have it.
Yikes!
The Horses
You probably know cars aren’t allowed on Mackinac Island. That’s mostly true. They do have a few emergency vehicles (we saw an ambulance out assisting someone in the July heat).
For those not experiencing a medical emergency, you can walk, ride a bike, or take a horse and carriage around. Having so many large draft horses all over the island also means someone is always running around and cleaning up the road apples. So be careful where you walk.
The horses were absolutely beautiful, but we saw a few mightily struggling to get a cart full of luggage up the hill to the Grand Hotel. Watching this made my heart nearly break. I’m sure none of the visitors who packed a 70 pound suitcase for their 3 day vacation gave any thought to how their luggage would get transferred from the ferry to the hotel. Heck, they were probably too busy off buying postcards and fudge to worry about those little details.
Horses all over the island
Enjoying the rest of the island
Much of Mackinac Island is actually a State Park. Originally, there was a National Park there. Established in 1875, it was the second National Park established (three years after Yellowstone). After Fort Mackinac was decommissioned, the Federal government turned it over to the state of Michigan, and now it’s a State park.
There’s a paved bike path that goes around the entire island that is a great way to see the natural beauty outside the main part of town. Technically, this road is called State Highway 185. (Seriously Michigan, a highway?? It’s only 8.3 miles total. This must be some scheme to get funding from the highway department, because it’s NOT a highway. Much like Lake Champlain is NOT a Great Lake! But, I digress…) The “highway” is split between walkers and bicyclists for the sections closer to town and it’s also a great way to see the island and get away from the main touristy strip.
Mackinac Island is located in Lake Huron and the water was spectacular looking near the shore. It seemed like 15 shades of turquoise going from the beach to the depths of the lake.
On the west side of the island and see the famous Grand Hotel, which has the longest porch of any hotel in the world and some simply magnificent gardens.
Bet it costs a pretty penny to stay somewhere this swanky.
Or you can head to the east side of the island to a lookout at Arch Rock. This picturesque rock arch frames the water perfectly, it doesn’t seem real.
It’s like a postcard, right?
Back on the main strip there are all the touristy places you’d expect to visit. The fudge shops are what everyone seems to love. Fudge wasn’t created on Mackinac Island, but they like to say they perfected it. I don’t really care for fudge (gasp!), so I can’t vouch for how good it may be. But, the island is so synonymous with fudge that multiple ice cream vendors in Michigan boast some version of Mackinac Island Fudge ice cream. So, there must be something to it, right? But I still believe there a lot more to the island than just the fudge.