Morning on Lake Huron
Last night in St Ignace, I had a very nice room , clean, spacious, with a view of the harbor, for $35, $39 with tax, at the San Dune Motel. Got the tip from an older couple at a rest stop. I would recommend the place to anyone.
Morning had blue skies and a lovely calm lake, which looks like and is connected to Lake Michigan but is actually Lake Huron. Another biggie.
Ferry to Mackinaw Island
I got the ferry to Mackinaw Island. It’s Michigan’s Disneyland, but with the smell of horse shit. 🙂 I mean no offence here, but my nose is a realist.
Arriving in the harbor
They allow only horse drawn carriages and bicycles, and they have people cleaning up the streets with little bicycle carts so the place looks as pretty and feels as otherworldly as Disneyland.
Carriage on Main Street
All the buildings are either late 19th Century or made to look that way. It became a State Park, with about 20% of the land privately owned. It’s an island, it had a lot of rich people upgrade their cottages, and it’s now an expensive place to stay. lt’s also a popular place to come over and mosey about on by hordes of tourists. Like me.
I arrived thinking this would be a cool place to spend the day, and maybe stay overnight. I headed to the info center and scored a $155 room for $75, as a walk-in midweek and low season, plus tax for a total of $97. ($190 weekends mid June to mid Sept) I checked with a young family at lunch, and they are paying about $300 for a suite.
So the question is, how good is the value? Well, the pictures tell the story.
Rolf’s room
Pontiac Lodge with bicycle traveller
With the streets all yours to walk and bike on, I was soon in a pleasant fantasy state, wandering around, soaking up sun, and enjoying the relaxed pace.
Bicycles on Main street
Gardens
Library reading deck
Main street is all trinkets and junk and art like every other place like this, and nicely disguised by the old buildings.
There are about a dozen fudge shops in three blocks. I never knew you could sell that much sugar in so small a space. For me, it was mainly interesting to watch them make the stuff.
Then I headed up to the Grand Hotel, which is seriously grand, and charges $10 for non-guests to enter. Amazing to see the parking lot of only bicycles.
The Grand Hotel
Tulips at the Grand Hotel
Enter here my lords and ladies
West Bluff cottages
Grand Hotel parking lot
Then I biked the 8 mile highway around the shore and realized how much I’ve liked the quiet paths and back roads on this trip.
Lakeshore Blvd
Looking down at park & harbor
Looking up at Park & Fort Mackinaw
There was a guy playing some mellow music in the park when I got back, so I hung out there and did what tourists do best—eat a yogurt sundae and sit and enjoy just being there.
Serving the carriage trade at $135/hr for up to 5 people
It’s been a great day on a great island. Good value. At least for what I paid.
