October 2018 – After enjoying some wonderful fall foliage in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, we made our way to the town of St. Ignace that peers over the Mackinac Bridge at Michigan’s Lower Peninsua.

Mackinac Bridge at sunset.
The Mackinac Bridge is a beautiful suspension bridge that sits between Lake Michigan on one side and Lake Huron on the other side. On a hunch we headed out at sunset to see if we could get some pics as the sky changed color and the lights on the bridge were lit.
Using slow shutter speeds we captured the traffic crawling across the bridge.

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During our RV travels this year we managed to hit Michigan’s Upper Peninsula during a three week long spate of miserable rainy cold days, and a look at the forecast showed more thunderstorms, rain and cold for the next week. But there was one day that had a mere 20% chance of rain, so we decided to hop on Sheppler’s Ferry and head out to Mackinac Island for a day. (“Mackinac” is pronounced “Mackinaw” by the way).

Sheppler’s Ferry brings tourists to Mackinac Island.
The surf was up and big waves hit the side of the ferry in blasts of spray. The captain took us over to the Mackinac Bridge so we could let Lake Michigan’s waves lap the hull for a moment, and then we headed over to Mackinac Island which sits in Lake Huron.

Water from the waves rolled off the ferry windows as we slipped under Mackinac Bridge.

The water calmed down a bit when we passed the lighthouse marking the harbor entrance.
As the ferry pulled into the dock at Mackinac Island we got our first glimpse of the pretty buildings by the shore.

The pretty Victorian buildings of Mackinac Island came into view as we pulled into the harbor.
Mackinac Island is unique because even though the island has lots of paved roads, there are no cars or motorized vehicles allowed anywhere. So, as we stepped off the ferry we were greeted by horses and carriages waiting to take passengers to their hotel destinations or on a ride around town.

An old time horse and carriage waits to take arriving passengers to the Grand Hotel.

Horse drawn buggies were everywhere.
Mark had been to Mackinac Island many times before, but this was my first visit, and the quaint charm of the horses and buggies all around us captivated me. I could barely walk down the street for all the photos I was snapping of the teams of horses carrying tourists here and there.

These buggy rides are the local taxis!

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Heading home… Wow!
Even though it was cold and wet and miserable out, the mood on the street was festive and we quickly got into tourist mode.

We quickly got into tourist mode at the fudge shop!
When we poked our heads into an ice cream shop, we noticed that ice cream wasn’t selling quite as well as it does on hot summer days.

“Line begins here” … no line today!
We walked down the main drag and watched the comings and goings of the community. Mackinac Island has been a tourist destination since the Victorian era, and the behind-the-scenes work of serving tourists hums along smoothly. Peering down a back alley, we saw an open horse drawn wagon that was hauling some cargo. How neat to have a community where goods are carried by horses and wagons!

A team of horses pulls a wagon of cargo.

Images like this gave us a glimpse of yesteryear.
If you ride a horse around town you can tie him up at a little post with a horse head on top. Folks with bikes like to lock them to these posts too.

A decorative place to tie up your horse or your bike.
Bicycles are the most popular means of individual transportation, and there were cyclists, bicycles for rent and parked bikes absolutely everywhere.

Bicycles were as common as horses, even in the cold weather.

Bicycles were parked all over the place.

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No fear of cars here!
Mackinac Island is a destination for cruise ships too, and we saw one pulled up to the dock.

A cruise ship waits at the dock.
We wandered beyond the downtown area and found some gorgeous mansions. Standing in front of one with an ornate roof, we were soon deep in conversation with the gray haired owner of the place. It turned out his dad had picked up the property when it was condemned in the 1960s, and he had spent his childhood summers living in this picturesque house just steps from the beach.

We met the man who spent summers in this beautiful house as a kid. Now he operates it as a B&B.

A nice summer cottage!

Beautiful (with Buddy streaking past)

Tranquility — even on a blustery day.
Some of the homes are perched right on the edge of Lake Huron. Walking a little further on, we found a huge resort that has a slew of Adirondack chairs set out on a lawn facing the lake.

A spot to watch the sunset — when there is one!

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Mackinac Island must be a true delight in July, but we were getting a big kick out of it on this dreary October day too. The wind was whipping and the waves were pounding.

Storm and fury on Lake Huron.
Wandering back into town, we came across Lady Liberty and some pretty churches.

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But it was the horse drawn wagons and buggies that captured my imagination all day long. How wonderful that there is a place where motorized vehicles aren’t allowed and visitors can experience a vivid immersion in another era.

We couldn’t stop taking pics of the horse drawn wagons.

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Mackinac Island would be a fantastic place to spend a few days during the holidays! Even though the ferry ride might be rough, the island has ongoing celebrations throughout the holiday season, and some of the hotels and restaurants remain open.

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We won’t be there when the snow flies, but we loved our day trip to Mackinac Island in October!

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If your RV travels take you to Michigan’s Upper Peninsula (or the northern tip of the Lower Peninsula), set aside a day to spend on Mackinac Island. No matter what the weather forecast is, it’s a very fun excursion!
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More info about Mackinac Island:
- Mackinac Island Tourism Info
- Sheppler’s Ferry – from either St. Ignace or Mackinaw City
- RV Parks and Campgrounds near St. Ignace, Michigan
- Map showing St. Ignace and Mackinac Island
More from our travels in Michigan:
- Halloween Camping – RV Witches & Goblins at Michigan State Parks! 10/26/18
- Fall Foliage in Michigan’s U.P. + Lake Superior at Sunset 10/12/18
- Waterfalls in Michigan’s U.P. – Tahquamenon, Bond Falls & Black River Jewels 10/05/18
- Lake Michigan – Charming coastal towns 06/29/09
- South Haven – Harbor Village 06/27/09
- Soo Locks – Freighter Elevator 06/25/09
- North Lake Michigan – Alluring Coastal Towns 06/25/09
- Upper Peninsula (MI) – Cute Towns & Fine Craftsmanship 06/15/09
- Lake St. Clair, Michigan – Quick Trip Abroad 05/20/09
- Lake Huron MI – Hydroplane Races and the Joseph S. Fay Shipwreck 05/19/09
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- North Lake Michigan – Alluring Coastal Towns 06/25/09
- Lake Michigan – Charming coastal towns 06/29/09
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