“With awe-inspiring sunrises and unforgettable sunsets, Mackinac Island centers the spirit and soothes the soul.” —The Daily Voyage
Following a cruise stop at the port of Lake Huron last month, Cecile and I and our friends Susan and Nelson Bye enjoyed a charming tour through Mackinac Island State Park via horse-drawn carriage. Our entertaining guide told us his horses Jumbo, Rupert and Clovis were raised by the Amish. Most of the land was designated a national park in the latter part of the nineteenth century. Although Oldsmobile was making automobiles in nearby Lansing, Mackinac banned cars which is a distinctive characteristic to this day. It is surrounded by beautiful landscapes and had become an ideal vacation spot for centuries. Mackinac became famous for it fudge-making that dates back to the 1920s. Downtown shops innovated the brilliant techniques of demonstrating fudge making in front of its customers. By using large ceiling fans you could smell the sweet scent that wafted out onto the street. We brought some home for ourselves and family. We watched soldiers fire a cannon at the historic Fort Mackinac and enjoyed the stunning views of the Straits of Mackinac from the world’s largest porch at the legendary Grand Hotel that opened in 1887. Over forty years ago the cult classic “Somewhere in Time,” a romantic fantasy starring Christopher Reeve and Jane Seymour was filmed at the world famous Grand Hotel. The hotel has hosted a number of notable guests including five United States presidents, two Russian presidents, Thomas Edison, and Mark Twain.
