Mackinac Island

Introducing Mackinac Island

From either St Ignace or Mackinaw City you can catch a ferry to Mackinac Island, Michigan’s first tourist destination. The British built a fort atop the famous limestone cliffs in 1780 and then fought the Americans for control of it during the War of 1812.

The most important date on this 2000-acre island was 1898 – the year cars were banned to encourage tourism. Today all travel is by horses or bicycles; even the police use bikes to patrol the town. The crowds of tourists (called Fudgies by the islanders) can be crushing at times, particularly at summer weekends. If at all possible, spend a night on Mackinac Island; the real charm of this historic place emerges after the last ferry leaves in the evening.

Last updated: Feb 17, 2009