Mackinac Island/City, MI
Mackinac Island is a picturesque Victorian community dedicated to the tourists who are on a severe car-diet because none are allowed on the island.
Biking or walking is the major get around mode and paved trails run throughout allowing one to go to all kinds of historic military buildings,
gorgeous Victorian homes and hotels, and butterfly sanctuaries to name a few where we stopped.
But watchout for the horse droppings as there are many tourist wagons and taxis as well as work wagons running around the streets.
As you get off the 18 minute ferry ride, the crowd pours out onto the main downtown where bikes are everywhere and the horse drawn carriages wait to carry you off somewhere else in-time except that there are E-Bikes whizzing by. 
There is an eight mile bike loop around the island that is an easy ride and affords many views of Lake Huron and of course the Mighty Mac, the 5 mile long suspension Bridge that connects the Michigan Mitten to the Upper Peninsula and as of 1957 defines the division between Lake Huron and Lake Michigan.
Lake views and forest canopies, gorgeous Victoria lake front estates where people come out in their horse drawn carriages and workers whizz by with half a dozen paint cans hanging from the handle bars.
The Grand Hotels abound and a quick look seems like $400+ a night and could no VRBOs. The most beautiful ornate homes sit on the wooded bluffs that view the lake, but we didn’t see a single swimmer, although it was somewhat of an overcast day.
I could probably count the docking and boating areas on one hand that were not in the protected waters of the main jetty and town docking areas.
Biking around the Island was so easy and relaxing that I would highly recommend this route and there are all types of bicycles for rent and even adult tricycles for those who are skittish on two wheels.
St. Anne church with grandma, Anne, Mary and Jesus, where Annie relieved suddenly her name and connection to,this painting.
Arch Rock is one of nature’s best on the island as you stop at the pull-offs along the trail and see all the different tree specimens that are plaquered. We had already walked up to the Fort and along a beautiful nature path to Arch Rock with Ed and Ann the day prior.
And then there is Wings of Mackinac, the butterfly and insect preserve. We lucked out and observed one of the twice daily butterfly releases into the warm humid climate of the protected preserve space.
John found a compadre with one that sat on his hand the entire 30 minutes we were there; he appeared to be licking the sweat of his hand with a long antenna. He finally had to brush it off while I went observing the butterfly bullies , and had to protect a just released beautiful purple one that sat on the pavement camouflaged until she opened her wings. I situated her between my feet so no one would step on her, and then she climbed onto my shoe.
I hope she survived and had to get the attendant to move her. She was so beautiful.
Our first time in a butterfly preserve, I forgot to ask if they relocate the larvae or what happens in the winter when they are closed. No pictures of the tarantulas, and bugs from the the next room, but it was delightfully cool after the hot butterfly habitat.
We played what I call Scottish rough putt-putt golf where the views are incredible, but the greens and fairways have some severe rough areas and there is no difference in turf, just like putt-putt, but what do you want for $15 for 18 holes overlooking the Lake Huron.
We rode the 8 miles once and decided to do it again after we went to butterflies, golfed and ate at the yellow umbrella Mission Bistro overlooking the Putt-Putt.
Here the horse drawn drawn taxi and luggage carriages among the gardens and the white adirondack chairs along the green overlooking the Lake just seemed to put one back into another era.
It was a 20 mile day of easy riding by time we added in the bike ride from KOA campground to the Shepler Ferry – both times we got on with our bikes in the last minutes before it pulled away.
The auto absence and Victorian architecture make it a delightful day getaway.
Mackinaw City, is the gateway city on the mitten to this step back in time of Mackinac Island. We camped at the Mackinaw Mill Creek Campground where Ed and Annie had rented a cabin too.
The water was beautiful and did the toes in but the Irish bright white of the Parkinson side of the family did not encourage getting out into the sun, and it was not optimal for paddling.
Annie was quite happy with her mosquito lamps and bug shirt life was good at Mill Creek
Michigan never seems to disappoint when it comes to bike trails and both Mill Creek and the KOA had trails right from their grounds. Of course Mill Creek had the best Camp Store ever, even featuring our favorite Ole Smoky Salted Caramel Whiskey and the lake was right there so why leave.
Well except to go to Rusted Spoke Brewing where we also learned much about Romania as our server,Jessica. She presented Billy with a Romanian candy bar after she told us they did not serve dessert. We just connected with her and had a particularly lovely evening drinking beer and enjoying the interactions with her.
Transfer to Mackinaw KOA afforded us an on-site laundry mat and the washers were loaded before we even got pulled into our campsite. And oh the superb Wi-Fi here, although as I type, the weekend traffic or rain has slowed it considerably, but it is still existent, not like at Mill Creek. All photos have been loaded safely to the cloud ! Why do I love Dropbox ? Because you can see the files that are waiting to upload and the progress they make, all be it ever so slow when there is poor connection, unlike the Cloud where you just hang out for days.
The KOA dirt bike trail through the woods leading to the paved trail that leads directly downtown and also ferryside is less than 2 miles, and the long Michigan days make a noon start no problem for a full day of outdoor activities.
After clean clothes, we rode downtown and to the Might Mac bridgeside park for a look from along the shoreline,
Both over and under
The extravagant and cute houses alone Mackinac City shoreline built up our appetites.
You should have seen the shoreline view of this one. We thought it was a hotel and not a private residence.
The Keyhole Restaurant covered with keys veneered on the bar, on the tables and floors, locks and keys hanginging everywhere was a busy and another place for the delicious Michigan White Fish that is common here as this time I had it on a Rueben sandwich.
And luckily there are no sharks on the Great Lakes
Travels with Vinny VanGo 