
Pick a hotel or bed and breakfast, downtown or on the outskirts of town, and you will enjoy your stay on Mackinac Island.
Since shortly after we started publishing the magazine in the 1980s, our family has visited Mackinac Island in the Upper Michigan Pennisula. We have stayed at several places, including the Grand Hotel, but in recent years, we have stayed at the Harbour View Inn on the outskirts of town.
Whether on your honeymoon, a romantic getaway, or spending time with the family or friends, the Harbour View Inn, located at 6860 Main Street, will exceed your expectations for excellence!
The Harbour View Inn is comprised of four unique buildings designed for a variety of styles and tastes. The Chateau LaFramboise, the original mansion, is furnished in an elegant blend of French and Victorian décor; the Carriage House and Guest House are secluded behind the mansion and feature a quaint summer cottage theme; and the Harbour View Bed and Breakfast is as its name implies. All accommodations offer views of either the magnificent harbor, exquisitely manicured courtyard or nearby heritage buildings.
Guests are greeted at the front door of the “Chateau LaFramboise.” Property manager, Michelle Dean, or other staff will check you in, and are happy to work with you in making your reservations. We prefer to visit the island during the week when it is least busy. Early spring and fall are even better, when the kids are in school.
Like many of the properties on the island, the Harbour View Inn was once a single-family dwelling, owned by Madame Magdelaine LaFramboise, a woman who defied the odds to become one of the most successful fur traders in the territory during the 19th Century.
Madame LaFramboise was also a philanthropist, and her good deeds have had a lasting impact on the island. Among her good deeds was donating land to St. Anne Catholic Church located next to her estate. She also dedicated herself to educating the island’s children. Madame LaFramboise died in 1846 and was buried at St. Anne.
Transportation To, From & Throughout The Island
There’s only two ways to reach the island in the summertime – by ferryboat or by airplane. Automobiles are not allowed on the island. Once on the island, either you walk, ride a horse, ride on or drive a horse-drawn carriage, or ride a bicycle. There are 500 horses on the island during the summer. In the winter, most of the horses are transported to a farm on the mainland because transporting feed to the island by ferry is expensive. In fact, due to transportation costs, food and beverages at area restaurants are not cheap either, but reasonably priced considering. Breakfast is complimentary at the Harbour View Inn, but lunch and dinner are not available.
A favorite restaurant and pub of ours is Mary’s Bistro Draught House at the Star Line Ferry, serving fabulous French Bistro for lunch and dinner with a view of the harbor. Mary’s Bistro features one of the island’s best wine lists and the Draught House features 50 taps of beer. Checkout Mary’s Bistro online a www.theislandhouse.com/marys-bistro. See other restaurants with a view and how they are rated online.
Dave Weiman Photo
Mackinac Island Airport (KMCD)
For those who have never flown to the island, you will be pleased with the airport. The State of Michigan has made it one of pride and joy for tourism.
After you land, and park and tiedown your airplane, walk into the small terminal building and pay your daily tie-down fee, and the park ranger will call for a horse-drawn taxi to your destination. Once you are settled in, go for carriage ride throughout the island to see the sites and learn of its history. Of course, you can bring a folding bicycle and not be dependent on anyone to get to and from the airport. Our folding bicycle of preference is the Montague (https://midwestflyer.com/?s=montague). The Harbour View Inn also has bicycles for rent for your convenience, or you can rent one downtown as well, including a bicycle built for two. Those who live or work on the island can apply for a permit to operate an “electric-powered” bicycle.
Mackinac Island
Mackinac (MACK-in-awe) became one of the nation’s favored summer resort destinations during the Victorian era. Vacationers arrived in large lake excursion boats from Buffalo, Cleveland, Chicago and Detroit seeking the cooler weather on the island. They danced to Strauss’ waltzes at the Grand Hotel, listened to Sousa’s stirring marches, dined on Whitefish and strolled along the waterfront and boardwalks of the downtown area. Today, visitors can enjoy a vibrate nightlife or relax on the patio at their hotel or along the docks.
Historic sites include Mackinac Island State Park, one of Mother Nature’s most awe-inspiring treasures with its natural wonders including soaring limestone bluffs, stunning vistas overlooking clear, but cool, sparkling blue waters; verdant rolling forests; and miles and miles of trails for hiking, biking, horseback riding, cross-country skiing, and snowshoe adventures. The park is America’s second national park – established three years after Yellowstone – and consists of over 80% of the island’s entire landmass. It is open year-round and is free of charge!
Let your imagination enjoy “Fort Mackinac,” located on a bluff that overlooks the entrance to the Straits of Mackinac. The fort was founded during the American Revolution. The British captured the fort in the very first engagement on American soil in the War of 1812. The fort features 14 original buildings, cannon salutes, bugling, daily reenactments, and interactive displays.
Dave Weiman Photo
After the British and their allies captured Fort Mackinac, they quickly built a small outpost and called it “Fort George.” When the Americans regained the fort by treaty at the end of the war, it was renamed “Fort Holmes” after American Major Andrew Hunter Holmes who succumbed to wounds during a futile attempt to retake the fort from the British in 1814.
Since horses play an important role on the island as a primary mode of transportation, the Mackinac Horsemen Association showcases the island’s unique horse culture with a compilation of photographs at the entrance of the Mackinac Community Equestrian Center (MCEC).
The newest museum on the island is the “Richard and Jane Manoogian Mackinac Art Museum,” which is a three-level structure that focuses on fine and decorative arts throughout the years. There are interactive displays, hands-on activities, exhibitions, and an art studio for kids.
The Surrey Hills Carriage Museum features antique carriages and a working blacksmith shop.
The Stuart House Museum illuminates the island’s history and is where John Jacob Astor made his living as a fur trader during the 1800s.
The Tower Museum not only offers the best view on the island – eight stories above ground level – but it is also a fascinating look at the past.
Some of the special events during the tourist season include the Mackinac Island Lilac Festival in June; Mackinac Island’s Star Spangled Fourth, July 4; Chicago Yacht Club’s Race to Mackinac in July; and the Grand Hotel’s Labor Day Jazz Weekend in September. For a complete events calendar, refer to www.MackinacIsland.org.
Reservations & Special Deals
You can find special deals and packages at the Harbour View Inn website at www.harbourviewinn.com. You can also make reservations by calling 906-847-0101. But if you know when you want to visit, don’t wait too long to make your reservations, whether it is at the Harbour View Inn, the Grand Hotel (https://www.grandhotel.com, (906) 847-3331, or elsewhere.
Aircraft Fuel
100LL and Jet A fuel are available across the bay from Mackinac Island at Mackinac County Airport (83D) in St. Ignace, Michigan. You may wish to consider topping off your tanks before landing on Mackinac Island in the event you need to depart the island IFR.
This marker dedicated in 1993 to the motion picture “Somewhere In Time,” starring Jane Seymour and Christopher Reeve, is located along the 7-mile road around the island. Many scenes were shot at the Grand Hotel which is located on the hill behind the road. Other scenes were shot in the studio at Mission Point Resort. Christopher Reeve flew his twin-engine Beechcraft Baron to the island to film the motion picture. Dave Weiman Photo