Why Honeymoon on Mackinac Island
The car ban changes everything. Without traffic, the island feels calm and old-fashioned. Simple pleasures like a bike ride or a carriage tour feel special.
It also mixes nature and history well. Trails lead through cedar and birch forest to rock formations like Arch Rock and Sugar Loaf. Fort Mackinac, a restored 18th-century military outpost, sits on the bluff above town with reenactors and cannon firings.
The Grand Hotel adds old-world romance, with its porch, formal gardens and evening dress code. Smaller inns and bed and breakfasts give a cozier option.
For couples in the Midwest, Mackinac is a drive-and-ferry trip rather than a long flight, making it a strong choice for a shorter honeymoon or a stop on a Michigan road trip that includes Traverse City.
When to Go
June through August is peak season. Days are warm, long and generally pleasant, with lake breezes. The Lilac Festival in June celebrates the island's old lilac trees. July and August weekends bring the most day-trippers.
September is a favorite for honeymooners. Crowds thin, the weather is crisp and the hotels are still open. Early October brings fall color to the island's forests, though some businesses begin to close.
May is cool and quiet as the island wakes up. Ice in the straits can delay the start of ferry service in early spring.
From November to April, most hotels and restaurants close and the island's year-round population drops to a few hundred. Winter visits are possible but limited, with snowmobiles allowed on the island during that season.
Where to Stay
The Grand Hotel is the classic choice, a sprawling white hotel on the bluff with a long porch lined with rocking chairs, gardens and a pool. Rates typically include breakfast and a multicourse dinner. After 6 p.m., the hotel asks guests to follow a formal dress code in public areas, so pack a jacket and tie or a cocktail dress or other dressy outfit. Check the current rules before packing.
Mission Point Resort, on the island's quieter east end, has wide lawns facing the water and a more relaxed style. Hotel Iroquois sits right on the water near downtown, with a cozy inn feel.
Smaller inns and bed and breakfasts in Victorian homes line the streets near downtown. Expect roughly $250 to $500 a night for good inns, with the Grand Hotel higher because meals are included.
Romantic Things to Do
Rent bikes and ride the 8.2-mile loop around the island on M-185, a state highway closed to cars. It is flat and takes about an hour without stops. Pause at beaches and rock formations along the way.
Hike or bike inland to Arch Rock, a natural limestone arch high above the lake, then on to Fort Holmes, the island's highest point.
Take a carriage tour through the state park, or hire a private carriage for a romantic ride at sunset.
Visit Fort Mackinac for history and views over the harbor. Sit on the Grand Hotel's porch with a drink, even if you are not staying there; the hotel charges non-guests a fee to visit.
Kayak along the shoreline on calm days, or walk the quiet East Bluff to see Victorian summer cottages.
Getting There and Around
Ferries run from Mackinaw City, on the southern side of the straits, or St. Ignace, on the northern side. The crossing takes roughly 15 to 30 minutes depending on the boat and route. Ferry companies and schedules have changed in recent seasons, so check current operators and times before you go.
Pellston Regional Airport (PLN), about 25 minutes from Mackinaw City, has flights connecting through Detroit. Many couples fly into Detroit, Grand Rapids or Traverse City and drive. Detroit is about four and a half hours away by car.
Leave your car in a ferry lot. On the island, walk, rent bikes or hire a carriage taxi. Bike rentals are everywhere downtown. Hotels often arrange luggage transfers from the dock by carriage or porter bike.
Food and Drink
Fudge is the island's signature. Dozens of shops make it on marble slabs in their windows. Visitors are nicknamed fudgies. Try a few flavors and take some home.
Whitefish from the Great Lakes is the local specialty, often served broiled, smoked or in a dip. Look for it on menus around town.
The Grand Hotel's dining room serves a formal multicourse dinner, which feels like an occasion. Downtown restaurants range from pubs and casual cafes to waterfront dining with views of the straits.
For a drink with a view, head to a bar or terrace overlooking the harbor at sunset. Several spots have outdoor decks where you can watch the ferries come and go. Reservations help on summer weekends.
Honeymoon Tips
Stay overnight rather than day-tripping. The island empties out in the evening and feels completely different after the last ferries leave.
Watch out for horses and their droppings on the streets. Bicycles must yield to horses and carriages. Riding on the sidewalks downtown is not allowed.
Bring layers. Lake breezes make evenings cool even in summer. Pack rain gear in case of storms.
Plan your wardrobe if you stay at the Grand Hotel, which has a formal evening dress code. Elsewhere, dress is casual.
Book ahead for summer weekends and the Lilac Festival. Many hotels have minimum stays on weekends and holidays. Confirm your hotel is open on your dates if traveling in May or October.
