Today we visited Mackinac Island, located in Lake Huron between Michigan’s Upper and Lower Peninsulas, is a unique and charming destination known for its preserved 19th-century atmosphere, natural beauty, and lack of motor vehicles.

Our shop anchored out in Lake Huron and we took a tender boat ride to the dock. During our arrival we went under the longest suspension bridge in North America. The Mackinac Bridge, often referred to as “Mighty Mac,” is an engineering marvel that connects Michigan’s Upper and Lower Peninsulas. It spans the Straits of Mackinac, the narrow waterway where Lake Michigan and Lake Huron meet. The bridge was constructed between 1954 and 1957. The project was a major feat of engineering, requiring innovative techniques due to the challenging conditions of the Straits of Mackinac. The Mackinac Bridge is a beloved symbol of Michigan, representing the unity of the state’s two peninsulas. It appears on Michigan license plates and has been featured in various works of art, literature, and media.

The Grand Hotel,  Opened in 1887, is one of the most iconic landmarks on the island, famous for having the world’s longest porch. Even if you’re not staying there, you can visit the hotel for a fee to explore its grounds or enjoy afternoon tea. The hotel has been a setting for various films, including *Somewhere in Time*.

The downtown area is filled with charming shops, restaurants, and, most famously, fudge shops. Mackinac Island is known as the “Fudge Capital of the World,” We also found our favorite turtle sculpture which I know some of our grand children would love.

They only allow bicycles and horses on the streets so it has a slower feel but it is also very busy. September would be a better month, less people.  You can take a horse carriage ride or even drive your own carriage. 

The highlight of our visit was meeting Bishop Bob. We met Bob on our Transatlantic cruise. We connected from our ND connection and our love of trains. Bishop Bob also blogs his trips and he has inspired me to up my game on the blogs. We had a great visit and talked……. ND, trains & cruises 😀

Tomorrow is the Fathom Five national Marine Park in Canada 🇨🇦