arts & life
travel
An Island Getaway
Lynne Konstantin | Arts & Life Editor
A horse-drawn carriage guides visitors through the historic streets of Mackinac Island.
T
here are few places you
can travel to that grace
you with the feeling of
being in a specific and special
place on the globe. Take a walk or
a bike ride, and the bridge beyond
— connecting two pieces of land
distinct from your island — rein-
forces your disconnect from the
rest of the world. On Mackinac
Island, you’re not Up North —
you’re away, secluded, yet also
standing in the middle of an
entirely open, spacious blue land
of its own. And it’s only a four-
hour drive from Metro Detroit.
Home to Native Americans
before 17th-century European
exploration, the 3.8-square-mile
island in the Straits of Mackinac,
where Lake Huron and Lake
Michigan meet, is all about its
impressive and gorgeous history
while still catering to its modern
visitors.
32 July 7 • 2016
A vital hub of trade along the
Great Lakes, the island became a
summer tourist destination in the
19th century. The entire island
is a National Historic Landmark,
with more than 80 percent of it
preserved as the Mackinac Island
State Park. It is also notable
for its prohibition, since 1898,
of motor vehicles — meaning
visitors are required to explore its
exquisite shoreline with pristine
blue waters, lush forests, fur-
trade era homes and shops and
grand Victorian cottages by foot,
bicycle or horse-drawn carriage.
It also means an island vacation
can be as energetic or laid-back,
romantic or family-friendly as
you choose.
WHAT TO DO
Visit Fort Mackinac, established
by the British in 1780, for a tour
of its 14 original buildings led by
guides in period costume. Stroll
Downtown Mackinac Island’s
boutiques, galleries — and world-
famous fudge shops, a tradition
since the late 19th century. Ride
the trails on a horse from Cindy’s
Riding Stable, drive a carriage
from Jack’s Livery Stable or take
a private or group carriage
tour of Mackinac State Park with
narrated tours of Surrey Hills,
Arch Rock and more. Have some
watery fun: Rent a kayak or
paddleboard, charter a fishing
boat, take a sailing tour or para-
sail. Take in historic paintings,
maps and photographs and Native
American art at the Richard and
Jane Manoogian Mackinac Art
Museum, housed in the historic
Indian Dormitory.
WHERE TO STAY
Sprawling across 18 bucolic acres,
Mission Point Resort offers an
upscale yet relaxed experience, in
the spirit of an old-school summer
camp.
The resort’s original structure,
Mission House, was built by a
Protestant missionary to house
and teach Native American chil-
dren (later, he established Mission
Church, one of the Midwest’s
first Protestant churches). As a
result, the entire southeast end of
Mackinac Island become known as
Mission Point.
In the 1950s, the property was
built up, adding a still-used the-
ater with 50-foot trusses made of
Norway Pine from nearby Bois
Blanc island, a main lodge with a
five-foot marble-encased fireplace
— and a movie-production sound
stage, which Universal Studios
leased for the 1979 summer season
to produce the dreamily iconic film
Somewhere in Time. The entire cast
and crew were hosted at the resort,
then called the Inn on Mackinac.
In 2014, current owners Dennert
and Suzanne Ware purchased the
resort and embarked on a multi-
million-dollar renovation and
upgrade — completed just in time
for this season’s visitors. Along
with a massive facelift, Mission
Point Resort now includes a fit-
ness center and the Lakeside Spa
& Salon (try the Lilac Facial &
Body Treatment, using the island’s
historic varieties of lilacs, or a Great
Lakes Stone Massage).
Many of the 239 rooms and
suites offer Jacuzzis and grand
views of Lake Huron. With four
on-site restaurants to choose from
— kids 12 and under eat free at
Round Island Bar & Grill or Bistro
on the Greens — Mission Point
has created a comprehensive farm-
and water-to-table menu, using
local Native American fisheries
for its signature whitefish. Try the