Summer 2018 Part 4: Horse Powered

We boarded the 8:30 AM speed ferry to Mackinac Island.  Seventeen minutes later we disembarked at the dock to this long held #bucketlist site.  We were ahead of the crowd.

Jamie, John, Becky & Mary for the selfie shot on the ferry

Sunny skies and water spray on our ferry ride to the island

 Leaving the dock, we stepped into a street scene from a movie, or it could've been Disney World's Main Street.  Shops and restaurants lined each side of the street, while horses with buggies made their way through the street.

Street view on Mackinac Island

Some horses carried passengers; some carried supplies.  All were working.  A local pointed us toward the carriage tour headquarters where we purchased tickets and boarded a carriage with a dozen other folks to tour the island.  Horses and bicycles are the only forms of transportation available on the island; there are no cars or motorized alternatives.

Golf, anyone?

The horses were beautiful.

Our guide narrated the tour, pointing out several historical sites, and giving us insight into life on the island. It's hard for us to imagine how life slows to a standstill in the winter months here, then bustles with activity from April to October.   At one point, we traded carriages - and horses - for the second part of our tour.  We were told the different types of horses we needed for pulling us up the hill versus for strolling through the streets of town.

Cemetery

Cemetery

Three hard-working horses hauled us to the top of the hill where we were awed by the view of the lake and Arch Rock.  This limestone formation frames a view of Lake Huron like no other.

Arch Rock on Mackinac Island

View of the lake from atop Mackinac Island

We exited the carriage at the last stop.  A short walk downhill and we arrived at the Grand Hotel. And how grand it is!

The Grand Hotel

Red geraniums were so pretty on the porch at The Grand Hotel.  The Mackinac Bridge is visible on the horizon.

For $10 each we were allowed to tour the public areas of the hotel, soak up some sun rays on the massive front porch, and smell the flowers in the garden.  For an additional $37 each, we were treated to a buffet lunch nearly as massive as the porch.

A well-appointed dining room with formal place settings on a white linen tablecloth, fresh floral arrangements, dinnerware reminiscent of grandmother's china,  a view across the porch of the bluest water, a delectable selection of salads, vegetables, meats and desserts . . . an experience worth the price.

Lunch at The Grand Hotel Dining Room

View from our table

Just a few of the dessert items offered

After lunch, we relaxed on the porch, experiencing the summer island life of history's rich and famous.

Jamie conducting business on the porch at The Grand Hotel.

John soaked in a little sunshine after lunch on the porch of The Grand Hotel

The Grand Hotel

View of Mackinac Bridge from the porch of The Grand Hotel

The garden fountain at The Grand Hotel

Hotel shuttle

View of The Grand Hotel from the ferry

When we'd had our fill of the island, we boarded the ferry for the return trip to the Upper Peninsula, then headed north once more for the hour's drive to Sault Sainte Marie.  Lucky us: we arrived just as a couple of freighters were going through the Soo Locks.

Ship passing through the Soo Locks

Ship passing through the Soo Locks; the bridge to Canada is visible in the background.

Soo Locks

A two story viewing station sits along the locks providing a close-up view of the process.  The ship's deckhands wave and holler out "where are you from?" to onlookers.

I continue to be astonished by the size of these boats and by the amount of cargo they carry; the sheer number of containers atop the boat is amazing.

Souvenir shops beckon tourists; the freshwater taffy shop got our few dollars.