After securing the boat, we promptly headed to the busy main street on Mackinac Island to take in the colonial charm of the architecture, lack of cars, and plethora of horse drawn carriages. Both Hannah and Izzy were amazed that bikes and horses did all the work of cars and trucks on this unique island. After grabbing a Mexican combo plate at a mainstreet pub, we climbed the steep trail up to Fort Mackinac. The Fort dominates the landscape from the southern view of the island. Seeing the picketed barrier fences, the old cannons and reading about the history of British and American soldiers at the Fort we were all taken back a to another the 19th century.
Next it was on to the governor’s residence on Mackinac Island. Every incumbent governor of Michigan is gifted the use of a colonial styled white mansion perched high on the sandstone bluffs of the island just down the road from Fort Mackinac. A fiercesome boy scout stood guard the day we walked by. We continued on down the road past a golf course and onto the Grand Hotel. As we approached the world’s longest front porch (yes, this is a fact) we were quickly greeted by a Grand Hotel employee who informed us that after 6pm formal attire was required on the hotel’s grounds. Apparently flip flops, Crocs and bathing suits don’t count. As we strolled downhill towards the town we saw a sign saying that the public was welcome to stroll the grounds of the Grand Hotel and its’ lobby for the small fee of $10 per person. For $40 we could fill our sailboat’s fuel tank and make it out the St. Lawrence to Maine! No thanks….we’ll pass on the Grand Hotel.
Hi Kev and Erin
ReplyDeleteWe have a beautiful picture Bruce's mom drew of the circular rock formation the girls are looking at on Mackinac! Looks like all is well! Fair winds!