Family Trip to Mackinac Island

Last September, my family and I took a trip to Mackinac Island www.mackinac.com. This was not our first trip to the island, but this time it was extraordinarily special, particularly to my mother. You see, at this point in our lives, we rarely have time for family get-togethers. My brother and I are living independently, attending college, and developing careers. We do not have as much family time as we used to, and so vacations like these are rare and very valuable.

So, the trip began on a warm September weekend, my family and I pile into my mother’s new car and prepare for our journey from Detroit detroitmetro.travel up to Mackinaw City www.mackinawcity.com . The drive was a fun bonding experience with beautiful scenery. When we finally arrived to Mackinaw City, four and a half hours later, we began our search for a hotel room.   We decided on the Best Western www.bestwestern.com  because of its beach location and continental breakfast. We had a beach access room with three beds for a cheap rate due to the timing of our trip and AAA www.aaa.com discount. After we brought all of our suit cases into the hotel room, we went out our sliding door to appreciate the beautiful sunset. The water was clear and crisp. The site of the bridge strong and sturdy reassured us we had made the perfect lodging choice.

The next morning, after our delicious continental breakfast, we headed to the dock for a ferry ride. We decided to go with Shepler’s Mackinac Island Ferry www.sheplersferry.com and were not disappointed. The boat was clean and the ride smooth. While on the island, we rented two-seater bikes from the Mackinac Island Bike Shop bikemackinac.com. Along our bike route, we viewed sites such as the Governor’s Mansion, Grand Hotel www.grandhotel.com , Devil’s Kitchen, Arch Rock, and Skull Cave. After a refreshing ride around the island, we went to Turtle’s Soup and Salad for lunch, a very good choice I must say. With our bellies full, we headed to Fort Mackinac www.mackinacparks.com/fort-mackinac . Admission was ten dollars and fifty cents for each adult, totally worth the price. We were put back in time as we viewed the fourteen original buildings designed for the soldiers of the Revolutionary War. We experienced 1880’s reenactments including the canon salutes fired over the harbor and military music. When the time arrived for the fort to close, we headed over to Main and Market Street in search for some authentic Mackinac Island fudge.  We decided on Joanne’s Fudge Store and did not leave disappointed. We then boarded the ferry with our newly purchased treats.  

Upon our return to Mackinaw City, we decided to do more exploring. We had dinner at the Dixie Saloon www.dixiesaloon.com , which was located strategically along the water. The food was wonderful and the staff attentive. After dinner, we sauntered about looking for desert. We found Kilwin’s Fudge and Ice Cream Shop www.kilwins.com  and were very pleased with our discovery. After leaving the shop we were lured in the direction of upbeat music. When we finally found the source, we realized there was a laser show going on that night, accompanied by music from artists such as Michael Jackson and the Beetles. We thoroughly enjoyed the experience! After the laser show, we returned to our hotel room for some much needed rest.       

The next day we loaded up the car and began our journey back to the Detroit Metro Area. The time went by way too fast, but every experience I had that weekend with my family I will never forget. We had beautiful sites, tasty food, and wonderful company. I realize that even though our lives seem to become busier as we age, we must always take time out for self-rejuvenation and family. Someday when I have a family of my own, I will definitely take them to Mackinac Island for such an experience.