{Patriotic & Romantic Mackinac Island, Michigan}

As promised in my previous post where we took the Ferry: See you on the other side, on Mackinac Island!  

Here we are, back in time to the late 19th Century that is, as cars have been banned since 1898 on this Patriotic & Romantic Mackinac Island, Michigan.

Patriotic in many ways, not only because of the historic Fort Mackinac but you will find more below.

Back to the Romantic era without cars... What better way than showing you 'Carriage House'...

We did not notice the fellow on the roof, while walking there; only on this photo!

Squatting down with my Carriage Tour tickets on the stones, for making a photo with my iPhone before trading them in...
Cherry tree is showing some 'late' cherries.

In February they had -40°F = -40°C as well! So nature is rather late in this part!

Only bikes and carriages, apart from the ambulance and fire truck they have. 

Husband Pieter using his camera; in this paradise for photographers!

Roaming Main Street with its patriotic waving flags!

And 'YES' one does smell those horses as they use the street as their 'outlet'. 

Part of the package for going back in time!

Horse transport for everything or on a bike, as you see in front of me.

Main Street Inn...

Patriotic little island that gave so much!

Look at all those names listed for all wars... Starting with WWI at the top left and followed by a LONG listing of names for WWII, Korean War, Vietnam War, Persian Gulf.

Considering that Mackinac Island only consists of some 500 people and is the size of 3.776 mi² or 9.779 km² they have been a very patriotic people for having THAT many Veterans that gave it all!

American Fur Co.

RETAIL STORE

ROB'T STUART AG'T

Represents 1820’s fur trading era on the island.

Fort Mackinac ←click it.

Those orange umbrellas you see lined up are from the Tea Room with outdoor and indoor seating.

We just hit bingo with such a perfect sunny day! 

Romantic view of Fort Mackinac...

View of Lake Huron at the end of this rather steep street.

Further view of Lake Huron with another island visible.

Lilac shrubs budding out...

Church steeple from St. Anne's Catholic Church.

Lovely Trinity Episcopal Church with its steeple.

Picnics on the lawn.

Church in the distance.

A very unique sight for our hectic era. Really we went back in time to a peaceful and romantic setting of the late 19th Century.

Lovely homes, this one with its Patriotic US flag and blooming white lilacs!

We visited on June 3, and on June 5-14, they were celebrating their annual Lilac Festival.

But this island has so much more to offer!

Isn't this a dream?

With all these blooming lilacs it became a perfumed wall!

Awesome those lilacs against the blue sky and again a patriotic flag waving.

A  very friendly young mother with a baby stroller took this photo from both of us.

Husband Pieter took this photo of me inhaling the Lilac's perfume!

Goes well with my Escada top and shorts.

Fond memories from my childhood and I wish we could grow these in Georgia but it is way too hot...

Snacking on cherries that we bought outside of Detroit at a Costco, together with bottled water.

Soon our Carriage Tour will start!

So we will continue...

Have you ever been to Mackinac Island?
Check out: MackinacIsland.org

Related links:
{Shepler's Mackinac Island, Michigan Ferry} | previous post by me
{505 S Huron Avenue, Mackinaw City, Michigan} | previous post by me
{Delta Annual Companion Certificate Flight to Detroit, Michigan} | previous post by me

{Shepler's Mackinac Island, Michigan Ferry}

Okay, from the Best Western Plus Dockside Waterfront Inn with their extremely courteous staff, we got picked up by a FREE Shuttle, courtesy of Shepler's Mackinac Island Ferry. 

FERRY BOARDING

To the left is the building where you can exchange your online SheplersFerry tickets for the real ones.

There only was one thing that they ought to list on line: the FREE Shuttle from and to the hotel!

Such a great courtesy and important for knowing up front.

We did book us the Ferry/Carriage Tour Packages and I can only highly recommend that to anyone!

Since Pieter's heart cramps around my Mom's death in January, it would perhaps be too much for him to walk the island. But this was perfect!

We were so lucky with the sunny weather on June 3!

Blue sky as you can see.

We sat on the upper deck, once we did board.

Of course it is very windy on the open water but it was not cold.

On the way back we did go inside though.

This is Mackinac Bridge from Shepler's Mackinac Island Ferry photo.

You can read more about Mackinac Bridge here as it is an enormous span of 26,372 feet or 8,038 meters. Just click on the pink hyperlinks for info.

See you on the other side, on Mackinac Island!

Related links:
{505 S Huron Avenue, Mackinaw City, Michigan} | previous post by me
{Delta Annual Companion Certificate Flight to Detroit, Michigan} | previous post by me

{505 S Huron Avenue, Mackinaw City, Michigan}

So here we are, at our destination on 505 S Huron Avenue, in Mackinaw City, Michigan and overlooking the enormous Lake Huron and its surface area is 23,011 square miles (59,600 square kilometers)

We did have a private beach but have not used it during our 2-night stay.

It was quite a drive from Detroit Airport to Mackinaw City, Michigan... And it took me far more than 4 hours due to extreme heavy traffic with traffic jam, right at the beginning of my drive.

Were we happy for reaching our Best Western Plus Dockside Waterfront Inn before dark!

We woke up on June 3, to sunshine! 

Had to have a photo from this ROSE carpet...

Happy me with my back pack from Last Call Neiman Marcus, ready for having breakfast.

In the distance you see Lake Huron with a ship at the dock.

Husband Pieter standing in front of this large U-shaped hotel. This really was HUGE and also excellent!

But where will we go next... stay tuned!

Related link:

{Delta Annual Companion Certificate Flight to Detroit, Michigan} | Previous post by me