Day 13 - Boat Trip to Mackinac Island

Our boat ride to Mackinac Island in Lake Huron

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First part of our boat trip was to go out and see the Mackinaw bridge. A 5 mile long bridge going from St. Ignace to Mackinaw City in Michigan and marks the deviding line between Lake Michigan and Lake Huron 

Under the bridge (refered to as "The Big Mac")

The Grand Hotel on Mackinac Ialand. (Pronounced as Mackinaw but spelled different than Mackinaw City because the residents on the island wouldn't Change it.) Many celebraties have stayed in this hotel

Other Houses on the Island (population of 492)

Our first view of the town.  No cars! You get around by foot, Horse or Bicycle.  The only motor vehicles allowed on the island are Police cars, Fire engines, and snow removal equip.  PS. You can use roller blades too.

The first thing to do was to get a tour of the Island and of course, we had to toke a carriage ride.

These were the only Clydesdale Horses on the Island

Candy and Judy while waiting for our Carriage ride around the island.

The start of the Carriage Ride

3 Belgian Horses used to pull the carriages up the steep hills

other horses used were Percheron and Friesian breeds mainly because of their pulling capabilities.

Fort Mackinac (pronounced MACK-in-awe) is a former British and American military outpost garrisoned from the 18th century to the late 19th century.  It was the scene of two strategic battles for control of the Great Lakes during the war of 1812.  It is now a museum.

Our view from the fort during lunch

We had lunch at the Fort overlooning the bay

This was our walk down from the fort.  We could have taken the carriage down but this was more fun.

The high prancing Hackney horses used for the carriages of the Grand Hotel.

Flags flying over the port on the island

We finished off the day by viewing the Mac Bridge all lit up at night.