Mackinac Island

Mackinac Island, Michigan, is a historic island on Lake Huron known for its Victorian charm.

Cars are not allowed; bikes and horse-drawn carriages are the favored modes of transportation, fudge is a food group, and shopping is a leisure sport.

A major part of the island is Mackinac Island State Park, featuring Fort Mackinac, historic sites, and scenic trails. It's a popular tourist destination for its unique, step-back-in-time atmosphere.

There are no bad views on Mackinac Island. We went for the Grand Hotel (its own post), bike riding (its own post), shopping (its own post), and looking at the houses. This was the splurge part of the trip (in a few respects).

Q: Was it worth it?
A: Well, one location, two days, five posts on Penguins. Yes, Mackinac Island was worth it—a resounding YES.

We had high expectations for the Grand Hotel, and it delivered. Main Street is a complete tourist trap but very enjoyable. We had a successful shopping excursion, and My Lovely had one of the best burgers of her life.

We took two walks as well as a bike ride, and the Victorian homes delivered. We picked house colors for our house as we strolled through. None exactly matched where we'll end up, but it was fun to imagine.Read more