On Watch

Mackinac Island: A Laid-Back Boating Haven on the Great Lakes

Little changed since 1897, when the town leaders banned automobiles (they scared the horses), Mackinac Island, at the top of Lake Huron and just around the corner from the top of Lake Michigan, is perhaps the leading summer destination in the Midwest, and certainly is one of the most picturesque in the United States. With its own marina on the historic island, and two more nearby, it’s also a major boating destination, and that’s before you count the 320 sailboats that will arrive there from Chicago at the end of the annual Mac race in July.

For the uninitiated, the name of the island is pronounced MAK-in-aw, to match the city of Mackinaw, Michigan, across the way at the eastern end of the Straits of Mackinac. The island’s strategic location, connecting the Great Lakes, first became important to French fur traders in the 17^th century. The British took control of the area after the French and Indian War and then built a fort on the island’s bluffs during the Revolution. Two battles were fought there in the War of 1812.

In more peaceful times, the island, which is less than four square miles, became a summer destination for Midwest families in the late 19^th century, particularly once the Grand Hotel opened in 1887. It’s still there, and is best recognized for its iconic front porch, supposedly the longest in the world, overlooking the Straits. The hotel plays to its heritage, with afternoon tea in the parlor and dinner dancing nightly to the Grand Hotel Orchestra.

Mackinac is known for its relaxed ambiance. The most common form of transportation is by horse and carriage. The entire island is a National Historic Landmark because of the extensive preservation of historic homes and buildings.

If you arrive on your own boat (as opposed to a ferry), the Mackinac Island State Harbor, under a bluff on a protected bay, has 80 slips (including 74 transients) and is just a few steps from downtown. I’ve stayed at the St. Ignace Public Marina on the mainland town of St. Ignace, a short ferry ride from Mackinac; it’s a large, first-class marina with 136 slips, including many for transients, and the Mackinaw City Marina on the mainland has 78 transient slips (it also has a ferry running over to the island).

Then there’s the Mac race, which started in Chicago in 1898 with five boats; the winner took 51 hours to go the 289 nm up Lake Michigan to Mackinac. Sponsored by the Chicago Yacht Club, the race in recent years the race drawn more than 320 boats in many classes; most finish in 40 to 60 hours.

For more about where to go and what to do on Mackinac, see this story from Lakeland Boating: