Mackinac Island

Mackinac Island is where you can walk through history, a place with real doorways through which you can literally step into yesterday.  Resplendent with Victorian charm and reminiscent of a by-gone era, the island boasts horse-drawn carriages and bicycles as the only modes of transportation.

Mackinac Island features a wide array of tourist attractions including the island’s famous Lilac Festival each June, and the Festival of the Horse in July.  There are a multitude of quaint shops and restaurants to explore downtown.  In addition, there are many attractions for visitors to enjoy at a leisurely pace:

Butterflies

Mackinac Island is home to two beautiful butterfly exhibits. Downtown, there is the Original Mackinac Island Butterfly House & Insect World and at Surrey Hills there is the Wings of Mackinac Butterfly Conservatory. Open May through October, both have stunning tropical gardens and hundreds of colorful butterflies flittering about.

Downtown Historic Buildings

Watch hearth cooking and crafts at Biddle House (home to Agatha Biddle, Chippewa Chief), see live blacksmith demonstrations at the Benjamin Blacksmith Shop, visit the American Fur Company and step inside the Mission Church where fire and brimstone preacher Rev. William Ferry delivered his followers from darkness. Open June through September.

Fort Mackinac

Michigan's only Revolutionary War era fort.  Offering 1880's reenactments for today's visitors, Mackinac State Historic Parks provides fourteen original buildings, canon salutes fired over the harbor, military music, and informative films. Open May through mid October.

Golf

Mackinac Island is home to three great golf courses and one executive putting course. The Grand Hotel has the Jewel, which includes the Grand Nine adjacent to the hotel and the Woods Nine, about a mile from the hotel. Wawashkamo is Michigan's oldest course and is a rough terrain Scottish Links course. Mission Point offers excellent opportunities to work on your putting at The Greens, an 18 hole executive putting course overlooking the straits.

Haunted Theatre

Mackinac Island's scariest fun family attraction is the Haunted Theatre, a haunted house and wax monster display. Not recommended for very small children. Open May through October.

Professor Harry's Old Time Photos

Step into the past with an Old Time photo portrait. Dressing up in costumes from the Wild West and the Victorian era make it fun to strike a pose for your antique photo. Open May through October.

Natural Attractions

No trip to Mackinac Island is complete without touring the entire island.  The best way to begin is with a carriage tour, then grab some bikes and take a spin around the island. Trail riding, hiking or walking is an excellent way to see the beauty among the 2250 acres of trails. There are no admission fees to explore.

For more information:

Mackinac Island Tourism Bureau
P.O. Box 451
Mackinac Island, MI 49757
Toll Free: (800)454-5227
Phone: (906)847-6418