Is Mackinaw City an awful tourist trap? We're staying there for a couple of days. Day trips to Mac Island.

Question

Should we do this?

Answer 1

Have you ever been there before?

If not, you should go, just for the experience.

The main part of town can be kind of tacky, but the Island is real rich in history, and the Mackinaw straits (and the Island) played a very strategic part in our nation's early history.

My advice. Go on a nice day (for a day). Rent some bicycles or a horse draw carriage (Its the ONLY way to get around on the Island). Go visit the historic Ft Mackinaw. See the famous Grand Hotel. Bike around the island. Stay in the main town only long enough to get a souviner or sample some fudge (the main strip of town is the tacky part of the island, so be forewarned).

Go early so that you can get everything you want to do done in a single day. The Island is a good one day experience, but I'm not sure you want to go for more than a day - especially when there is so much else to see and do in the area.

Bottom line: Mackinaw Island is a great one-day experience. Mackinaw City? Yea it's kind of a tourist trap. Other places you want to check out in the area are St Ignace and of course the famous Soo Locks at Sault St. Marie.

Hope this helps with your vacation plans.

(BTW, I grew up in Grand Rapids MI and spend the better part of a couple of summers up in the Northern MI area).

Answer 2

Mackinaw City is a "tourist trap", if you mean a place that exist mostly for the business of tourism. If you stay on I75 (the north/south highway) or US2 (the east/west road on the northern side of the bridge) prices are higher then normal for everything. Go over into St. Ignac on the north, and drive into town and you will find a McDonald and a couple grocery stores that are normall in prices.

While there, be sure to visit downtown Mackinaw City and the little courtyard of specialties shops they added there about four years ago. It makes a nice afternoon. Be sure to get some fudge.

Then cross the bridge and go into St Ignac and walk around. It is not as much a tourist trap, and you will find a couple nice free museums. Also ask someone to direct you to St Anthony's rock. It is a weird natural stone structure that stands in the middle of one of the downtown parking lots. We have pictures of my parents, siblings, kids and now grandkids taken every year in front of the rock since 1960.

And be sure to stop somewhere NORTH of the bridge and get yourself a "pastie" for lunch. (Under no circumstances even consider eating one that is made in the troll lands south of the bridge. That would be sacriligious!!)

If you cross the bridge and follow US 2 west for about 10-15 miles, you will past several "tourist trap" stores that are fun to window shop in. Also a lookout point from which you can see the bridge and the troll land south of it. You will also come to an excellent free swimming beach about 12 miles west of the bridge. No party, signs, etc, just a couple miles of open bench with on the side of the road where you can stop and swim.

When you get to the island, remember that no cars are allowed. So be prepared to do a lot of walk (5 1/2 miles around it), rent (or take) bikes, or rent a carriage. Be sure to see the Arch Rock.

Answer 3

We went 2 summers ago. Yeah, it's a bit of a trap, but you can do things that aren't too touristy- swim in the lakes, fish, drive up into the Uper and look around..

The island is the REAL trap there.. hope you like to buy fudge.

The island is nice for a hike.. everything is on foot (or bike) there you know, so it is really a good place to hike around. Lots of pretty, paved trails and unique scenery.

Yes.. you should go. it's a nice place to visit.
Enjoy.

Answer 4

the suitable island to loosen up and snorkel would be Kauai. that's no longer as commercialized as Maui or Oahu. Maui would be next. Oahu is extremely commercialized. stroll out of your lodge onto the busy streets. each and every little thing you prefer or prefer is interior of an exceedingly short distance on Oahu.

Answer 5

Been there several times it's absolutely beautiful BUT expensive. Worth experiencing.