June 4, 2025 - Driving to Alaska
Mackinac Island

Departing Sudbury, our destination today was Mackinac Island which of course is in the United States.   We drove due west  along the Trans-Canada Highway (ON-17) skirting the northern coast of Lake Huron.

Here we have driven through Sault Ste. Marie and are crossing the Sault Ste. Marie International Bridge back into the U.S.
   
Then we drove south on I-75 to St. Ignace, Michigan where we caught Shepler's Ferry over to Mackinac Island.  Shepler's has their own parking lot where you leave your car.  Shepler's was very organized and efficient.  We just walked up to the ticket counter and we were soon on our way.
   
We are still on Lake Huron since we are on the east side of the famous Mackinac Bridge.  Here we are passing one of the large ore ships that ply the Great Lakes.
   
Going to Mackinac Island!
   
Our first look at the famous Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island.
   
Arriving at Mackinac Island which has long been on our bucket list.  I've flown over it in the plane, and knew this would be a place Lynnette would like to visit.  So we are finally here.
   
No motor vehicles are allowed on the island.  There are horse-drawn carriages you can take but we just hoofed it the short distance to Haan's 1830 Inn, our lodging for the next two nights.  Much better than our Sudbury lodging!
   
Our B&B.  We stayed in a room in the left wing.
   
Relaxing in the front yard of the B&B.
   
MMM
   
We started our exploration of the island by heading east around Mission Point.  The Mission Point Resort had a beautiful collection of multi-colored tulips.
   
 
   
 
   
Grassy area in front of the Mission Point Lodge.
   
We ended up having a nice dinner in the Mission Point Lodge restaurant.
   
 
   
Yay, tulips!
   
 
   
Continuing east and then north along the coast.
   
Then we came to one of the must-see attractions on Mackinac Island:  Arch Rock.  Unfortunately you have to climb these wooden steps to get to it.
   
Looking out over Lake Huron.
   
And there it is!  Arch Rock.
   
Obligatory selfie shot.
   
Looking north.
   
And south.
   

The next morning we continued our exploration of Mackinac Island.

We headed west towards town.

Yes, cruise ships do come to Mackinac.
   
Before town, we came to Marquette Park, at the base of Fort Mackinac.
   
From another angle.
   
A miniature Statue of Liberty!
   

A statue of Father Jacques Marquette, whom the square is named after.   A plaque on the pedastal reads:  "Father Jacques Marquette, with Louis Joliet discoverer of the Mississsippi River, founder of the Saint Ignace and Kaskaskia Missions, an Explorer ardent and resouceful - a Shepard who gave his life for the sheep."

Father Marquette (1637 – 1675) was a French Jesuit missionary who founded Michigan's first European settlement, Sault Sainte Marie, and later founded Saint Ignace. In 1673, Marquette, with Louis Jolliet, was the first European to explore and map the northern portion of the Mississippi River Valley, all the way to the mouth of the Arkansas River.  He and his party were the first Europeans to winter in what would become the city of Chicago.   He was only 37 years old when he died.
   
Lynnette checks out the Bark Chapel.
   
Fort Mackinac overlooks the town.
   

About to enter Fort Mackinac.

The British built the fort during the American Revolutionary War to control the strategic Straits of Mackinac between Lake Michigan and Lake Huron, and by extension the fur trade on the Great Lakes. The British did not relinquish the fort until thirteen years after the end of the American Revolutionary War. Fort Mackinac later became the scene of two strategic [but tiny] battles for control of the Great Lakes during the War of 1812. During most of the 19th century, it served as an outpost of the United States Army. Closed in 1895, the fort has been adapted as a museum on the grounds of Mackinac Island State Park.
   
Looking down at Marquette Park.  Our B&B was on the other side of that church at far left.
   
Another ore ship cruises past between Round and Mackinac Islands headed for the Straights of Mackinac.
   

Overlooking the town.
   
 
   
Re-enactors having fun firing the canon.
   
 
   
 
   
Manning the guard house.
   
Looking out over the north wall.
   
The Enlisted Barracks.
   
Most U.S. Army posts had a library and Fort Mackinac was no exception.  By 1890 the Fort Mackinac library contained 653 books.  Mackinac Island had to be a remote place to be stationed for Army personnel, so I'm sure that the Library was a welcomed place.
   
Of course, an even more popular place was the Post Canteen, or bar!
   
The white buildings were the Officer Quarters.  The pink building at left was the Guard House.
   
The feared Cat-O-Nine-Tails.
   
Looking west at the Jewel Golf Course with the Grand Hotel visible at right.
   

Now down at Biddle Point with Round Island at left.    The Round Island Passage Lighthouse is clearly visible. 
 
   
The Mackinac Bridge is barely visible just left of center.  Completed in 1957 only after many decades of struggles to begin construction, the bridge has since become an iconic symbol of the state of Michigan.
   
 
   
The Island House Hotel, probably the second biggest hotel on the island after the Grand.
   
Now in the town.
   
 
   
Continuing east, we came to the Grand Hotel.
 
Constructed in the late 19th century, the Grand Hotel boasts as having the world's largest porch. It is known for a number of notable visitors, including five U.S. presidents, inventor Thomas Edison, and author Mark Twain.
 
I looked into staying here but it was stupid expensive;  over $1,000 per night.  Too much for me.
   
 
   
Cost aside, I must say the hotel's interior was very nice.
   
 
   
 
   
Looking west down the porch.
   
And looking east.
   
 
   
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