Mackinac Island, Michigan
Some people head south in the summer... not the Hartnells! In addition to spending time in Traverse City, we would also head to Mackinac Island - a quiet getaway nestled in Lake Huron between the Upper and Lower Peninsulas of Michigan.
Since the Mackinac Bridge doesn't connect the mainland with the island, you've got to go by boat! And our boat of choice (year-in and year-out) was Shepler's!
Fraser made his first trip to Mackinac Island on August 1, 2010. He certainly appears ready!
We always jockeyed for position on the left hand side of the boat on the way TO the island (and the right hand side of the boat on the way FROM the island) in order to get an unobstructed view of the Mackinac Bridge. Opened in 1957, the bridge is the longest suspension bridge in the Western Hemisphere (26,372 feet) and third longest in the world. It connects the Upper and Lower Peninsulas of Michigan... and is a thing of beauty.
Almost there! Just around the light house...
We have arrived at the docks!
We used to come across to the island just for the day - and catch the last ferry back to Mackinaw City (yes, spelled with a "w"). I remember our first time staying overnight at the Lake View (in the giant room above the sign). Listening to the horse hooves clip-clop past our room was a natural way to fall asleep.
Every trip to Mackinac Island starts out with a visit to "Mighty Mac". While I remember the burgers tasting better when I was younger, it's still part of the tour!
While there were generally items of little monetary value in any of the dozens of triket shops along the main drag, it didn't mean these purchases weren't poured over and mentally debated in our childish brains. I mean, do I really need a hat shaped like the Mackinac Bridge? Yes. Yes, I do.
How do you get around on Mackinac Island? Well, since cars are not allowed... you go by foot, bicycle, or horse (of course)!
The island is 8.3 miles in circumference, and riding bikes around it was always a great time... just don't ask me or my siblings about the year Dad took us on a "short cut".
Once you get out of the town, the sites (and sounds) are gorgeous.
Taking time to pull over to the side of the road and venture down to the shoreline - just to stare out to the seemingly endless water - helped slow down the pace of the trip around the island.
Everyone in my family has fantasized about working for Mackinac Island Public Schools, and this generally was our “pit stop” our way around the island. There is only one building that serves the entire island and has between 80-100 students in grades K-12. (I mean, could you imagine walking out of the school's front doors and hearing the waves and seeing the Mackinac Bridge? Heavenly!)
While I always liked Fort Michilimackinac in Mackinaw City better, Fort Mackinac is still astounding (although maybe not the climb to get to the entrance.) Once inside, however, the views out over the rest of the island are unparalleled - and totally justify why they picked this location from a defensive standpoint!
Click here to see and read more about Fort Michilimackinac
The snack before we left - because eating hamburgers at Mighty Mac and gorging on fudge at Murdick's wasn't enough - was always ice cream! (In my case... Superman ice cream!)
Leaving the island was downright depressing, and despite my Mom's reassuring statements that we'd be back again next year, it sucked. Yep. I have a doctorate, and that's the best word I can find to describe leaving... it sucked. But, once we got done fighting my sister for the window/railing seat, and as our sugar comas began to set in, we realized Mom was right, and we would come back again.