“Discover Mackinaw City, gateway to the Upper Peninsula, it is one of the top-of-the-list places to see in Michigan.”–Pure Michigan website
The Mitten State: America’s High Five✋
It’s our neighbor, geographically speaking, and yet, as so often happens with neighbors, I have only had passing encounters with it, nodding as I passed by. That is, until this year. Recently, I had the opportunity to spend a small bit of time in the only state divided into two peninsulas, and I hope this positive encounter will lead to more return visits.
I am talking about Michigan. With its lower peninsula shaped like a left-hand oven mitt, and its upper peninsula shaped like a child’s rendering of a bird flying over water, Michigan is full of natural wonder. With over 3,288 linear miles of coastline, according to Michigan.gov, the state considers itself steward to the nation’s longest freshwater coastline. This is due in large part to the fact that Michigan is surrounded by four of the five great lakes, and I was able to catch a small glimpse of its aquatic glory on a recent trip with my husband, John.
Mackinaw City, MI: Crossroads to the Great Lakes⛴️
Driving from southern Ohio, north towards Toledo, OH, and continuing all the way to the top of Michigan’s mitt, as it were, we arrived in Mackinaw City just south of the Mackinac Bridge. This stunning suspension bridge, the longest in the western hemisphere, connects the Upper and Lower peninsulas of Michigan. It spans the Straits of Mackinac, the five mile channel that joins Lake Huron to Lake Michigan. In fact, from the hotel window in which John and I stayed, Hamilton Inn, we could see Lake Huron, the Mackinac Bridge, and nearby Mackinac Island, a Michigan icon.
No wonder, according to Mackinaw Visitors Bureau, the average vacation stay in Mackinaw City has lengthened over recent years. It is not only the perfect jumping-off point due to its convenient location to major attractions, but also because Mackinaw City is home to three National Historic sites, Headlands International Dark Sky Park, three passenger boat lines to Mackinac Island, an abundance of local shopping and eateries, as well as numerous hotels, bed and breakfasts, and resorts. Plus, the town itself is walkable and tourist friendly.
Lilac Love💜
One unique feature of Mackinaw City, we observed when we arrived for an overnight stay in mid-June, were the scores of lilac bushes lining its walks. As it turned out, we happened to arrive during the popular Mackinac Island Lilac Festival, an annual ten-day event that celebrates the bush’s unique local history and offers a wide array of activities. On the morning of our departure, John and I went for a walk through town, and we encountered large groups of people making their way towards the ferries ready to take them to Mackinac Island to enjoy the last weekend of the lilac celebration. Meanwhile, John and I continued our early morning trek, enjoying the fragrant lilacs, as we headed towards Old Mackinac Point Lighthouse.
Town Trekking🚶🏽♀️
Following the walking directions given to us by an app on our phone, John and I began to encounter signposts with historical information along with a QR code. We were inadvertently following part of the Mackinaw City Historic Pathway, a three mile loop through town that celebrates the town’s unique role as a crossroad of the Great Lakes. This self-guided tour with its audio guidance via cell phone includes 46 historical/informative kiosks, six historical wood carvings by Jerry Prior, and includes additional audio that can be used when visiting the Icebreaker Mackinaw Maritime Museum, Headlands International Dark Park, McGulpin Point Lighthouse, and Heritage Village. Due to time constraints, however, we were not able to explore the full pathway, but we definitely have hopes of returning one day to complete the entire route.
Light the Way💡
We did follow the historic pathway long enough to take in the sights of Old Mackinac Point Lighthouse. Beginning its operation in 1889, this lighthouse served as a guiding beacon, safely helping ships navigate the treacherous waters and fog of the Straits of Mackinac for 67 years. Of note, Old Mackinac Point Lighthouse had only four head keepers during its years of operation. Unfortunately, we weren’t able to spend much time at this well-kept site of history; however, we hope to return in order to visit the inside of the lighthouse keeper’s quarters, take in the two movies–Shipwrecks of the Straits and Old Mackinac Point Lighthouse Tower Tour, visit the Shipwreck museum, take a tour of the tower, and perhaps catch a demonstration of the Fog Signal Whistle led by a costumed interpreter.
Did someone say Pizza?🍕
While staying in Mackinaw City, we had time for one meal out, and there were certainly several worthy choices for dining options. We decided to give Nonna Lisa’s Italian Ristorante a try. All of the restaurant’s tables, chairs, as well as its bar, were handcrafted from hardwoods and accented with juniper, creating a woodsy/rustic atmosphere. Nonna Lisa’s menu offered a plentitude of pasta dishes, wood-fired pizzas, full-service espresso bar, and classic Italian flavored sodas. John and I experienced friendly service and good food. It is certainly worth checking out when visiting this pleasant town.
Is That A Katy Perry Song I Hear?🎆
Strolling the shop lined streets after dinner, we were told that Mackinaw City offers a spectacular fireworks display every Friday and Sunday night over Lake Huron that begins at dusk. Since we happened to be staying in town on a Friday night, we were able to observe the colorful explosives from the comfort of our hotel room. According to the town’s website, the fireworks will continue every Friday and Sunday (they began at the end of May) through the end of September.
Places to Go and People to see🏙️
Hindsight, as the saying goes, is a wonderful thing. Therefore, looking back on our short stay-over in Mackinaw City, I now wish that John and I would have allowed for more time to explore this scenic and historical area. This unique area has a wide-array of offerings, appealing to many interests. Sites we would consider visiting on a future trip include Colonial Michilimackinac, Icebreaker Mackinaw Maritime Museum, Headlands International Dark Park, McGulpin Point Lighthouse, perhaps take Shepler’s Lighthouse Cruise, and we would definitely take the ferry over to visit Mackinac Island.
It’s a Shore Thing🌊
Regardless, I am so grateful to have visited this extraordinary and fascinating part of Michigan and the Great Lakes. The shores of the lake in Mackinaw City were pristine–where Lake Huron seemed much more like an ocean than a lake–the town and its walks were well-kept, and its people were warm and welcoming. Mackinaw City truly is, as their website claimed, the perfect jumping off point! If you’re ever in the neighborhood, I encourage you to stop by this charming town for a visit!
Here’s to safe and happy travels!
A few more images from Old Mackinac Point Lighthouse.
A few more images from Nonna Lisa’s featuring a gluten-free veggie pizza, a classic pepperoni and sausage pizza, and a side salad with creamy house-made dressing.
Steph Simply 