Mackinac Island, Michigan - September 2018 - Leslie Abbott

Zee Frensch pronounced eet “Mackinaw,” therefore so do we, oui? Also, there are no cars!! The town is charming, charming, charming AND it is totally worth it to take one of the horse-drawn carriages around the island to see a lot of the wooded Mackinac Island State Park. Even though I enjoyed the beauty, honestly I also geeked out watching everyday operations and maintenance being done via carts, rickshaws, bicycles and horse-drawn carriages.

: Turns out that riding on the upper deck of a ferry first thing on a humid morning gives your hair a lot of body. Mackinac Bridge

: Main Street

: I had been resisting the urge to buy fudge for days, but this shop PUMPED CHOCOLATE FUDGE SCENT OUT OF THAT BIG VENT onto the sidewalk. And I caved.

: Marquette Park

: Grand Hotel, which was the setting for the movie “Somewhere in Time” with Christopher Reeve and Jane Seymour.

: Grand Hotel

: Grand Hotel has the fanciest carriages in town! There are also horse-drawn carriage tours, horse-drawn carriage taxis, and horse-drawn all kinds of luggage and supplies. And lots of bicycles!

: 80% of the island is Mackinac Island State Park and is lovely, peaceful, lush wooded area.

: Arch Rock and Lake Huron from Mackinac Island State Park

: Lake Huron from Mackinac Island State Park

: Michigan Governor’s Summer Residence

: Doud’s Market has been a family-owned grocery store since opening in 1884.

: One of many, many charming houses, bed-and-breakfasts, inns, restaurants, shops, etc.

: The post office and one of the many workers on the island to-ing and fro-ing supplies NOT utilizing motorized vehicles.

: Community Hall & City Offices on the left Stuart House Museum on the right

: Though there are no cars on Mackinac Island, there are a few emergency vehicles and snow plows. What I love about this photo are the signs on either side of the driveway – “POLICE BIKES ONLY” on the left and “FIRE DEPT BIKES ONLY” on the right.