The stables for the horses used by the Grand Hotel is open to the public. You can see the care…read moretaken for horses in the new stable. It is also a museum of horse drawn carriages. It's such a clean place. Also they have a bathroom there

I mean this is a free stop you can make when you visit the Grand Hotel. So cute and self guided you…read morecan see the horses resting and read up on the carriages through history. It was a nice little stop on our tour around while biking around.

While the 'librarians' at the book store didn't seem as though they wanted to be bothered with the…read moreselling of the tickets for this tour, I'm glad we went through with it. This tour was informative and fun. We had a great girl - I believe her name was Jess - she was spunky, informed, and tried to impart some historical spookiness onto the tour. I'm not the type to believe in these sort of things, but just hearing about what has happened on the island is really interesting! If you want to be that guy or girl looking to get wasted on the tour - heed the warning at the beginning of the tour - it's nice that kind of thing.

Awesome tour! Totally made our trip to the Island. Very informative. Great history of the island…read more Very easy walk. A must do when on the island. If you only do one tour, this is the one to do.

They offer two different types of parking here, and they both cost money. The regular parking costs…read moreless, but you need to take a shuttle to the parking lot, which is off site. The premium parking costs more but it's near the dock. So you choose! We chose the regular parking, but we almost missed getting on the ferry because it took a while to get to the parking and back. Ferries leave every hour, usually, so we would have had to wait an hour. So, four stars because of the parking situation. It's kind of a bummer, but they got you by the cojones because where else are you going to park if you want to catch the ferry to Mackinac Island? The rest of the ferry experience was great. The people expertly tag and handle luggage, and the ride is smooth. You can sit on the deck and take in the view, but keep in mind that it's very windy and can get cold, even during the summer months. Or you can sit below deck where it's climate controlled. You can still get a great view below deck. The trip from the mainland to Mackinac Island (and vice versa) takes about 17 minutes, and they depart right on time. Don't be late, or you'll have to catch the next ferry.

I've only ever taken Shepler's ferry to and fro Mackinac Island from Mackinac City! It's typically…read morea really smooth experience and the porters/boat crew are always friendly and helpful. The ride itself is about ~15 minutes one-way unless you're taking one of the morning Mighty Mac where it travels under the Mackinac Bridge! That Mighty Mac journey is about 25 minutes. The FAQs are also really helpful and detailed so read that before going on and parking! FYI that Arnold Transportation (another company) holds the winter contract so Sheplers doesn't operate after Oct 31.

Due to unforseen events my cruise had to be refunded. Captain Chris was quick to notify my of the…read moresituation, and I understand fully. I highly recommend either cruises they offer. A wonderful, friendly crew, very knowledgeable and funny. A truly enjoyable adventure to take again and again. Mark Muetzel.

Nice boat ride with great views and lovely staff. It would have been better to have some narration…read moreof the area to go along with the ride. But it was an enjoyable time.

This is Michigan's 1st state park. The landscape is characterized by high limestone bluffs,…read morebeautiful vistas of sparkling water, vibrant forests & mystical geological formations. Cars have been banned since 1898, this is a a quieter way of life away from interstate noise of cities. Over 80 percent of Mackinac Island is within this park. The island is sacred to the Ojibwa & Odawa Great Lakes Indian tribes.

It is definitely worth spending at least several hours if not half a day at Fort Mackinac. You can…read moretake your time to leisurely look about or you can take the period-dressed docent led tours and educational talks. There are rifle shooting displays as well as cannon loading & firing displays. You can stop in the restaurant for lunch and a beverage while enjoying fantastic views of the island.

We scheduled an 11am start time to see the Arch by kayak. We were driving from Petoskey. We thought…read morewe left in plenty of time to park and catch a ferry to get there on time. Well, we missed the 10:15 ferry by a minute, then were too far back in line to catch the 10:30. We ended up on the 10:45 ferry and I called to say we would be late. Our guide, Glen, and the two other kayakers were so gracious as to wait for us. We were so grateful! It helped that the shop is right next to the ferry dock. Glen was a great guide. He was very attentive to a member of our party that was not experienced, and gave clear direction. After we got in a groove, he answered my stream of questions about the island and was a wealth of information. He took our photo in front of the arch, and came to my hangry rescue with a granola bar I desperately needed. We were so glad to get out of the crowds and be on the crystal clear water of Lake Huron. It was so peaceful. The kayaks and life jackets were very comfortable. I highly recommend Great Turtle Kayak.

What a great way to spend a few hours on the Island! Don't get me wrong, the Island is great…read more... transportation choices are walking, bicycling or by horse . Horses are cute, however.... When a horse has to go, a horse has to go and it isn't perfume or roses. Kayaking around the island and seeing the sights is a wonderful addition to the experience. The equipment is an excellent shape and the guides are well trained, informative and funny too. Don't forget to visit their gift shop..... nice shirts at a good price too.

Chad is amazing! We come and see him every summer we come to the Island. We learn new stuff every…read moretime we come. He's been here for so long that everyone knows him. If you need something he's your guy on the Island.

From the owner: Come visit Chad's Wonderful Walking Tours when you visit Mackinac Island…read more A local & Veteran owned business. I offer 1,2,2.5, and 3 hour tours from a local perspective. I've been a tour guide here on Mackinac Island since 99' when I got Honorably Discharged from the Marine Corps. Price $25 per person per hour. Veterans & kids 5-11 are half off. Little Stone Church Secret Garden Grounds of the Grand Hotel West Bluff Hubbard's Annex And that's just to name a few. Can't wait to walk you around. Sincerely Chad Bennett USMC/USN

I was made aware of Fort Mackinac when I heard a loud boom coming from the direction of a hill. I…read morethought something had exploded on the island, but no: it was just Fort Mackinac doing their thang. Apparently, they have rifle and cannon firing demonstrations here, which are scheduled, so if you want to see one while you're visiting the fort, make sure to meet at the allotted time. This is a living history museum, and you'll learn a lot about American and British military history. I mean, you probably will, because you'll read the signs and information that's posted. I mostly looked around and admired the architecture and the view, and took photos of pretty or interesting things that I saw. So from my perspective, Fort Mackinac is a cool and visually interesting place to spend an hour or two. You are basically walking into and out of different houses and structures on what used to be a military outpost. Each building has something new to learn about military life, with exhibits that appeal to all ages. I was surprised by how many interactive and hands-on exhibits there were for kids. Keep in mind that some of the buildings are very airy, so if you visit on a cold day, it might be a little chilly. Plus, you're walking in and out a lot, so if you visit during the fall like I did, you might need a jacket. The gift shop is pretty big, with lots of souvenirs to remember your visit not just of Fort Mackinac, but Mackinac Island, as well.

Went to Fort Mackinac during our trip to Mackinac Island. Sadly not impressed…read more It was raining and cold, which made it more miserable - but that is not the fort's fault of course. It seemed pretty run down, not a lot of exhibits, minimal information on the exhibits, a lot of meh rooms. Sadly not impressed. Because of the rain there was no riffle/cannon demonstration. Got through it rather quickly. The staff was pleasant. Pricing is ok, around $17.50 I believe. The climb to get to the fort is rough.

From the first contact with Sue to arrange our tour to a perfect paddle with Tim on Lake Huron…read moreseeing the absolute best of Les Cheneaux Islands, to Tim's recommendation for a post-paddle hike, we had the perfect U.P. day! We were looking for an adventure with our new-ish kayaks. We fortuitously read a Michigan tourism magazine tucked into the Chicago Tribune; the magazine featured a story about kayaking in Les Cheneaux with Woods & Waters. It sounded great! Though we are comfortable on the water, we thought it would be good to have a guide in an area new to us -- and Tim was a perfect guide for our half-day paddle! We learned so much about this beautiful and interesting area, saw an eagle and its nest, did a quick mid-paddle hike to get an amazing view to go with our rock skipping and gained a few kayaking skill tips that will make us better kayakers. It certainly was a bonus that the water and weather cooperated -- water like glass and just enough sun. Tim - thanks for the advice to do the Narnia hike - that was our afternoon adventure! We ended our day at Les Cheneaux Distillers. The day couldn't have been better. We loved our paddle so much and felt comfortable with our newfound knowledge from Tim that we went back for a quick paddle the next morning. We wish we could have stayed on the water all day! Thank you Sue and Tim. We will see you next time!

Sue is an absolute rockstar. We called the night before and she got us all set up for an early…read moremorning solo kayak rental. Checking in was easy. She fit the equipment and had us test everything out before going to the water. She set up a route for us on the map according to our skill and time. Even recommended a few sights to see and a small hike. Overall just awesome