I have a love-hate relationship going on with the Mighty Mac, but more than anything, I do love it. I truly do. It's a sight to behold and a wonder of modern engineering, but I'm kinda creeped out by the thought of driving over it myself.
First of all, it's glorious in all of its splendor. Whether it be day or night, partially hidden in fog or shining underneath the sun's playful rays or lit up against a dusk backdrop, it is beautiful. Simply put, there's no denying that. Its grandeur and beauty can be seen on full display for the throngs of Northern Michigan tourists that come up this way every year. Truth be told, I've been up to Mackinaw City, Mackinac Island and St. Ignace so many times since I was little, it's hard to keep track of those individual vacations.
As a kid, we played a car game to see who spotted the bridge first. First one to do so earned a $1. Needless to say, as the resident pain in the butt in the family car, I made the most change.
It is a breathtaking sight, for certain. Taking photos of it never gets old. I swear it's probably one of the most photographed sights in the United States (and no doubt the most photographed image in Michigan), right up there with the Grand Canyon and the Washington Monument.
At any rate, Mighty Mac (its affectionate nickname) connects upper and lower Michigan and to get to St. Ignace, you have to either drive over the bridge or take a boat to see the beautiful falls and whatnot. Some people drive across it every day just to get to work. Honestly, I couldn't do that because the bridge kinda scares the hell out of me. I love the bridge, I admire its beauty and the ingenuity that went into its design and eventual construction, but I don't enjoy driving across it. Sorry, I just don't, especially if it's the least bit windy. I have walked over it during the Labor Day walk before (so has my husband), but that's a shade different than driving across it. I have been across at least six times, but I always make someone else drive, instead. I mean, there have been a few occasions where a car accidentally drove off the side of the bridge and plunged into the water. It makes me a little queasy to think about driving across the bridge by myself. Perhaps one day...
Regardless, I do think it's probably the most impressive bridge in this country. I've been across the Brooklyn Bridge and the Golden Gate Bridge, etc, but none come close to the beauty of the Mackinac Bridge (in my opinion) and only a few bridges anywhere measure up in relation to it in size (I believe it's one of the largest suspension bridges in the world, measuring over 26,000 feet and remains the longest suspension bridge connecting two anchorages within the Western Hemisphere and is the third longest suspension bridge in this country now). Do I relish driving across it myself? No. Do I think it's the loveliest sight in Northern Michigan? Absolutely. Do I feel compelled to photograph it to no end when I'm up north? Definitely. Will I ever feel entirely comfortable driving across the bridge myself? Good question- next.
Probably the best time to photograph it is during dusk on a clear night, when the bridge lights start to illuminate the structure. The lights reflect onto the water, therefore creating some of the most iconic images of Upper Michigan. Heck, it's even beautiful to photograph when it's slightly foggy and the fog hangs over the bridge.
During my most recent trips up north, we just sat in the park in Mackinaw City at dusk and took pics of the bridge as it was being lit up for the night. We weren't alone. There were plenty of other bridge-gazers there with us. It was a sight to behold. We did take photos of it from the shore during the day, too. As I said before, there really isn't a bad time of day to photograph this wonder of Michigan. It's a great selfie backdrop, too.
My tip- don't drive across it during less than ideal weather (ps it's a toll bridge, but the cost is still pretty cheap) and take plenty of photos of it. read more