The Victorian Resort Island With Zero Cars, 13 Fudge Shops, the Oldest Lilacs in America

Mackinac Island, Michigan

This tiny gem (just 4.35 square miles) sits between Michigan’s Upper and Lower Peninsulas. The Native Odawa people named it “Michilimackinac” – meaning “Great Turtle” – because from the water, that’s exactly what it looks like.

The French showed up in the 1600s, then the British built a fort in 1780. And since then, time just seems to have stopped turning on Mackinac.

Getting around happens on foot, bike, or horse-drawn carriages. The whole island feels like a Victorian postcard come to life.

The old buildings, the clip-clop of horses instead of car horns… no wonder every travel site out there has it on their “best of” lists.

We have our own list right here: our favorite parts of visiting Mackinac Island.

Cars Are Banned Forever on Mackinac Island

Mackinac Island’s M-185 is unlike any other road in America. It’s a state highway that circles the entire island, but it’s only open to walkers, bikes, and horses. Downtown they call it “Main Street,” while the rest is “Lake Shore Road.” It’s one of the most walkable places in America, literally.

Native Americans Named This Land the “Great Turtle Island”

Long before Europeans showed up in the 1600s, the island was home to Odawa people and other Native communities. It was a hub for fur trading in the Great Lakes region.

According to Andrew Blackbird (an Ottawa chief’s son who worked as a government interpreter in the late 1800s), the original inhabitants of Mackinac Island were from a small tribe called Mi-shi-ne-macki naw-go.

To learn more about the island’s Native history, visit the Biddle House Mackinac Island Native American Museum downtown.

The Phenomenal Mackinac Island Fudge

The fudge culture on Mackinac Island is unreal. The island brings in 10 tons of butter yearly and 10 tons of sugar weekly during peak season just to keep the fudge shops supplied.

All that sugar comes over by ferry and then gets hauled around by horse-drawn carts. There’s something magical about watching fudge makers pour and fold the warm chocolate on marble slabs.

Visitors often do a “fudge crawl,” and instead of getting drunk, you get the most fun sugar high ever.

The most popular fudge shops include Murdick’s (the original shop, using all-natural ingredients), Ryba’s, Joann’s, May’s Candy Shop (dating back to the 1930s), Murray Hotel Fudge Company, Sanders, and Kilwins.

America’s Second National Park is on Mackinac

Mackinac National Park was America’s second national park, right after Yellowstone. It was easy to set up since soldiers were already at Fort Mackinac. When the fort closed in the 1890s, it became Michigan’s first State Park in 1895.

The park has over 70 miles of trails with some really neat spots like Fort Holmes (the highest point), Arch Rock, Sugarloaf Mountain, and places with spooky names like Devil’s Kitchen and Skull Cave.

You Can Ride Horse Carriages Throughout the Island

What’s an old-fashioned Victorian island without horses? By the way, one of the coolest things about Mackinac is watching the horses arrive each spring. About 500 of them come by ferry, along with 5,000 horseshoes, 1,550 tons of hay, 460 tons of oats, and 200 tons of other food to keep them going all season.

For the full experience, carriage tours leave from the main dock area and take visitors through downtown, to Surrey Hills, Arch Rock, and Fort Mackinac. A little insider tip – catch one early in the day (they’re across from Ferry Dock 1 or in front of Marquette Park) because the lines get crazy in summer.

Tours last about an hour, and you can hop on and off at different spots.

Mackinac Island Has Amazing Historic Attractions, Too

This is one of those bizarre stories that sounds made up, but it’s true. Back in 1822, a guy named Alexis St. Martin got accidentally shot in the stomach at the American Fur Company store. Dr. William Beaumont, the Army surgeon at Fort Mackinac, treated him, but the wound never fully closed.

Instead of just treating it as normal, the doctor saw an unusual opportunity. He actually used the opening to study digestion by tying food to strings and pulling it back out to see what happened. Gross but genius – he discovered digestion is chemical, not just mechanical.

Visitors can learn about this wild medical experiment at the American Fur Company Store and Dr. Beaumont Museum downtown. It’s part of a cluster of historical buildings including the Benjamin Blacksmith Shop and McGulpin House that show what island life was like way back when.

Walk Among Free-Flying Butterflies in Two Glass Houses

A break from biking and history can be found at the butterfly houses. There are two on the island. The Original Butterfly House and Insect Museum opened in 1991 – it was Michigan’s first and is the third oldest live butterfly exhibit in America.

The other one, Wings of Mackinac, is in the Surrey Hill area where visitors can walk among butterflies.

Wings of Mackinac is an all-glass butterfly conservatory where visitors can walk among hundreds of free-flying tropical and native butterflies in a beautiful, controlled environment. Both open May through October. Sure, there’s an admission fee, but it’s totally worth it to have colorful butterflies landing on shoulders or hovering right in front of faces.

This Charming Island is Wedding Central

Mackinac is called the “wedding capital of Michigan” for good reason. Almost every day during season, there’s a wedding happening somewhere on the island. There are 63 different wedding vendors, and many couples arrive at their reception in a horse-drawn carriage.

Weddings happen at so many gorgeous spots – Arch Rock, the Grand Hotel, or among the gardens and Victorian streets. The water views and historic buildings make an incredible backdrop.

Planning a wedding here means choosing from various packages. The Mission Point Resort and Grand Hotel are popular splurges, but more budget-friendly options exist at Marquette Park or Arch Rock with a restaurant reception downtown.

Just plan ahead – the best spots book up a year in advance for summer weekends.

The World’s Longest Front Porch

The Grand Hotel’s porch is something else – 660 feet long and officially the “World’s Longest Front Porch.” This place helped make Mackinac famous as a summer getaway spot. They keep it old-school too, and men still need to wear jackets and ties for dinner.

Visitors not staying there (it’s pretty pricey) can still visit by paying a $10 admission fee to see the famous porch and public areas. Treating yourself to their afternoon tea or lunch is worth the splurge.

The gardens are gorgeous, and they have several fancy restaurants. Even just sitting in a rocking chair on that massive porch with views of the straits is worth the admission fee.

The Oldest Lilac Trees in Michigan Still Bloom Each June

The lilacs on Mackinac are legendary. They’re not native to the island, but they’ve been there since at least 1861. We know because Henry David Thoreau wrote about them in his journal.

The biggest lilac tree in Michigan grows right in front of the Harbour View Inn on the island. Every June, they hold the Lilac Festival to kick off summer.

The festival runs about 10 days with parades, music, and garden tours. Plant enthusiasts should see Market Street and Cadotte Avenue when the lilacs are blooming. Some trees are over 150 years old.

Hundreds of Sailboats Race 333 Miles to Reach the Island

Every July, hundreds of sailboats race 333 miles from Chicago to Mackinac Island. They’ve been doing it since 1898, making it the oldest yearly freshwater distance race anywhere.

Sailors call it “The Mac,” and it’s no small feat. Crews sail non-stop for about 40-60 hours depending on the wind. For many families, racing in The Mac is a tradition passed down through generations.

Visiting the island in mid-July means heading to the harbor when boats start arriving. The shore and Yacht Club decks are perfect for watching. After the race, the whole downtown turns into a party as sailors celebrate.

The Fort That Traded Between British and American Hands

Fort Mackinac sits on a limestone bluff overlooking the harbor. Built in 1780, it contains one of Michigan’s oldest buildings, which is the Officers Stone Quarters. During the Revolutionary War and War of 1812, it bounced back and forth between British and American control.

Today, the fort is a living history museum where you can explore the barracks, officers’ quarters, and hospital. They do daily cannon firings and historical reenactments that make the place come alive.

Admission is about $15 for adults and $10 for kids, but that ticket also gets you into several other sites like the Mackinac Art Museum and Native American Museum.

Don’t miss lunch at the Tea Room inside the fort because the view of the harbor is incredible. Try to catch the first cannon firing of the day, usually mid-morning when it’s less crowded.

More Bikes Per Person Than Anywhere Else in the World

Biking is absolutely the best way to see Mackinac. The island has over 1,400 rental bikes to choose from, everything from tandems for couples to three-wheelers for easy riding to fat-tire bikes for the trails. They even have tag-alongs for kids and special carriers for pets.

The rental shops line Main Street near where the ferries dock. You really can’t miss them.

Rates vary for hourly, half-day, or full-day rentals. Once on wheels, riders can take the 8-mile road around the island or head inland on trails through the state park. There’s even a hidden gem called the botanical trail that connects Fort Mackinac to Arch Rock.

Most shops give maps and can suggest routes based on how ambitious you’re feeling. Just remember to walk your bike in the busiest parts of downtown.

Visiting Mackinac Island

Getting to Mackinac is half the fun. Take a ferry from either St. Ignace (Upper Peninsula) or Mackinaw City (Lower Peninsula). The ride only takes about 16 minutes, and offers awesome views of Lake Huron and the Mackinac Bridge.

Shepler’s Ferry runs from late April through October, with boats leaving every 30 minutes during the busy season.

For 2025, round-trip tickets run about $30 for adults (plus a 3% credit card fee if not paying cash). Kids’ tickets are cheaper, and under 5s ride free but still need a ticket. Military ID gets a discount.

The best place to arrive is Main Street dock, which puts you right by the Visitors Center where you can grab maps and information.