Community Chat

[CA annie]

Wow, did I ever love Mackinac! Trip got off to a bad start when another passenger mistook my suitcase for his at the Pellston Airport, and off he went with my bag! I got it back the following day in the evening. This occurance really stressed me out and it took me a while to "get on with it."

The Grand Hotel was simply wonderful! Our room had an excellent view of the gardens and the Esther Williams Swimming Pool. What a treat to be able to stay at this historic hotel for two weeks. Grand Hotel personnel got to know my friend and I very well as usually guests don't stay for that long. It was so nice to dress in the evenings and be treated to the 5 course meals.

We took 4 different tours by the Grand Hotel Historian (Bob Tagatz) and even got to see the Grand Hotel kitchen, and then we got to ascend to the porch of a magnificant Victorian mansion on the bluff. We met Mrs. Manoogian, who along with her husband, established the Art Museum on the island, as well as being a huge benefactor to the Hotel. She was a very sweet lady, who was just out and about one day walking her dog.

Other activities including swimming, hiking, walking, bicycling, and going from one fudge store to another asking for samples, which were freely and gladly given.

One of the best things we did was tour the Round Island Lighthouse. It is only open for tours one day out of the year, and we just happened to be there during that time period. We took a motorboat over and then had to transfer from that to a little dingy to get to the island. So cool!

You were so right about having to watch where you step! Horse poop everywhere it could possibly happen. Even though the streets were continually being cleaned, there was no escape from that or the ensuing smell.

The Race to Mackinac by the Chicago Yacht Club took place when we were there. It was the 103rd race, and the only one where two sailors died after their sailboat capsized in Lake Michigan during a horrible storm My friend and I witnessed that storm from our hotel window. I have never seen so much lightening in my life! It was very sad, and the flags on Mackinac Island flew at half mast for these sailors.

Besides a sunburn, a few mosquito bites, the luggage fiasco, and the death of the sailors, the trip was lovely. I feel like I know the island intimately now.

nnie "the fudgie"