Before we leave for our destination, first things first! What is the correct pronunciation of Mackinac? We already messed up Beaufort along the way. 🤦♀️
Question: Is it pronounced Mackinaw or Mackinac????
Answer: Mackinaw City retains the “aw” spelling while the bridge, straits and island steadfastly cling to the “ac” spelling. No matter how it is spelled, however, it is always pronounced Mackinaw! Easy enough!
Mackinac Island is a small island, 4.35 square miles, in Lake Huron. Its history has been one of a long time home to the Odawa Settlement, a center of fur trade in the Great Lakes Region during the 17th century, a fort settlement during the 18th and 19th century, and finally today a tourist destination. So successful at the later, that Mackinac Island, in 2022, was named the best island in the Continental US to visit by Travel and Leisure. Its attractiveness is multi faceted; Perhaps it is its history and charm, or the fact that 80% of the island is protected as a state park, or its unique feature of no motor vehicles allowed (except those service vehicles such as ambulances, fire trucks, etc.), but most likely the combination of all of this makes for a trip into the past but with all the luxury accommodations of the present.
The downtown streets are filled with shops, restaurants, bars and fudge shops. The smells of food, candy and horse excrements combine and, at times, can overwhelm one’s senses.👃🏻 Luckily, the majority of the Island is park like and the air quite pleasant.
Our first night, we meet up again with Captain Scot and Sue on Restless Soul. They invite us, along with their dock neighbors for happy hour. Lucky for us, their dock neighbors bring some of their homemade brew. I’m not a huge whisky drinker, but I have to say the Manhattan they made me was pretty darn tasty!
We spend the next two sunny days sightseeing, checking out the fort and museums, hitting some stores, eating at local restaurants, listening to live music, and even playing their miniature, but grand, golf course.
The views from the fort are amazing! From downtown Mackinac, to the marina, to the Mackinac Bridge, every direction offers a magnificent feast for the eyes.
With its stately grand colonials, the island is home to only 450 people year round.
However, during its busy summer months, the island accommodates up to 15,000 visitors a day. Since it is after Labor Day, the crowds are not as thick, but we still see lots of vacationers and celebrations galore.
We were so fortunate to have such wonderful weather for our few days. Mackinac Island definitely has proven worthy of its first place rank as the best island destination in the US.
Next stop: Petoskey, MI.
As much as we miss you guys I’ve really enjoyed your history lessons and pronunciation tips! Great blog. Hope to get together soon.
Lets plan for late October or early November!
Tom and Jackie — Thanks for clearing up the mystery of the pronunciation of Mackinac vs Mackinaw. Looks like a great place to visit.
It was Gordon! Of course, the sun played a part.