Mackinaw City - Michigan - Brief Article

Travel America, Sept, 2001 by George Bushnell

Lighthouses, colonial history, and bracing lake breezes bring vacationers to northern Michigan

Perched on the tip of Michigan's lower peninsula, Mackinaw City is a classic frog-to-prince transformation.

Just a decade ago, the town was largely known as a parking lot for the ferries to idyllic Mackinac Island. Today Mackinaw City is a tourist destination in its own right.

During the June-to-August peak season, the town's 880 permanent residents play host to nearly 2.5 million visitors. Situated on the Straits of Mackinac, where lakes Michigan and Huron meet, Mackinaw City is the jumping-off place for St. Ignace and the Upper Peninsula, via the mighty, five-mile Mackinac Bridge. (Whether spelled "Mackinaw" or "Mackinac," the last syllable is pronounced "aw.")

A major attraction is Colonial Michilimackinac (Indian for "sacred turtle"), reconstructed on the site of a 1715 French trading post and fort. The fort is just west of the bridge, itself a "must" experience for breathtaking views of the blue water and shipping far below.

Colonial Michilimackinac includes a 1750 French church, priest's house, guard house, blockhouses and elevated walkways, barracks, blacksmith's shop, and a British trader's house. Visitors can watch periodic archaeological digs to unearth 18th century artifacts (from gun-locks to buttons) or watch musket and cannon firing. On Memorial Day weekend, the fort's British redcoats and Indians re-enact a 1763 battle.

For nature buffs, Wilderness State Park is a short drive west, an unspoiled strip along Lake Michigan, with rocky beaches, thick woods, and rental cabins (booked a year in advance).

Another popular drawing card is Mackinaw Crossings, a Victorian-style entertainment-shopping complex in the downtown area. Its 50 shops sell art, clothing, gifts, and collectibles. Have lunch at the Depot Pub and Grill and plan to see a live performance of "Lost in the Fifties" at the Center Stage. The complex has a five-screen movie theater and nightly laser shows.

Mackinaw Trolley Company operates six different tours. Shepler's offers June-to-September lighthouse cruises past four or more lighthouses. In the planning stage is the Great Lakes Lighthouse Museum, to be located on the Mackinaw City State Ferry Dock.

Choose from three ferry lines that serve Mackinac Island--Star, Arnold's, and Shepler's. The island has been a cool summer escape since the 1880s. Automobiles (except for emergency vehicles) are banned. You can rent bicycles at the dock or hire a horse-drawn carriage with a driver knowledgeable about the island's colorful lore.

The majestic white Grand Hotel with its 660-foot-long front porch is set on a bluff overlooking the straits. Fort Mackinac, built in 1781, has been restored to its 1880s appearance.

Sault Ste. Marie, a 50-minute drive north of Mackinaw City, is the boarding point for the famous Agawa Canyon Tour Train, an all-day excursion into rugged Ontario wilderness. It's wildly popular in fall. Passengers have two hours to explore the canyon floor on foot.

For information, contact the Mackinaw Area Tourist Bureau (TravelAmerica Magazine), P.O. Box 160, Mackinaw City, MI 49701; (800) 666-0160; www. mackinawcity.com.