Mackinaw Island

Mackinac Island, pronounced and also known as Mackinaw Island, is a small, unique community of the coast of mainland Michigan. Although less than four square miles, Mackinaw Island is a popular tourist destination for over 15,000 people a year, and about 500 people live there year round.

Over 80 percent of the island is a State Park, which means that the island as you see it now will most likely be easily preserved for many years. The Park includes many historic places, such as Fort Mackinac, the Grand Hotel, Mission Church, and the Michigan Governor's summer residence. Just off the coast of Mackinaw is Round Island. Round Island is the home of the famous Round Island Lighthouse, which is inaccessible to the public except by private boat. The lighthouse is a replica of a 19th century schoolhouse and is visible from an observation point on Mackinac Island. It is quite photogenic, as is the Mackinaw Bridge, the third longest suspension bridge in the United States.

Upon visiting Mackinac Island, you'll be struck by the lack of cars. The vast majority of motor vehicles are prohibited on the island, with the exception of things like fire trucks and other emergency vehicles. This makes it a cyclist's paradise. A lack of cars does not mean a lack of decent roads. M-185, America's only highway closed to motor vehicles, circles the island and is a great way to tour the coastline.

The only time people can drive to and from the island in private vehicles is in winter, when the portion of Lake Michigan separating the island from the mainland freezes solid. When the ice is thick enough, people can drive snow machines across it, providing a sense of freedom not found in the summer months when the island is accessible only by ferry.

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