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Mackinac IslandAug 18, 2007
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Aug 18, 2007
We had the regional meeting today and with dinner and a cruise that returned late this evening we had to drive to Mackinaw City to catch the ferry at 8:30 a.m.
The morning was filled with the meeting and then lunch. That afternoon six of us, Drapper's, Bendsen's and Mike and I went for a carriage tour. Our first driver was from Russia but cute and had great jokes while telling us all about the island and its history.
One of the main attractions on the island is the Grand Hotel. The movie "Somewhere in Time" with Christopher Reed and Jane Seymour was filmed here. The Grand has 378 rooms with prices ranging from $366-$650 a night. In fact it costs $12 just to walk through the lobby or sit on the massive porch in one of the famous rocking chairs.
The Grand is so grand it can be seen quite easily from the ferry as you arrive at the island.
The majority of the island is the Fort Mackinac State Park and in fact for the 20 years from 1875-1895 this was a national park, the second to be so designated following Yellowstone. When the Federal soldiers left the island the state took over and holds most of the land on the island.
There are few residents who winter on the island and if the winter is severe they mark a road across the ice to St. Ignace with Christmas trees and ride over in sleighs.
The group had dinner at the Island House Hotel and then boarded one of the Arnold Ferries for a sunset cruise out under the Mackinac Bridge. We were rewarded with a beautiful sunset and the return trip took us up the west side and around the top of the island and back to the harbor.
We quickly said our goodbyes and headed over to the over dock to catch our ferry back to St. Ignace.
