The time has come for the big celebration event. Yes, we have been enjoying mini-events all year to celebrate our 50th anniversary, but our stay at Mackinac Island will be the Big Event marking the 50th. We are driving north to cross the Mackinac Bridge to St. Ignace where we will park the RV for the time that we travel over to Mackinac Island for our adventure.
Here’s a nice look as we start to cross the Mackinac Bridge.
We really liked the campground. I made the reservation for the campsite back when all of the area was just opening after there winter hiatus. I guess it pays because it seems we got the best site in the park.
This was the view out our front window of Lake Huron, not bad, eh?
The next day we were off with our bags, golf clubs and headed to the ferry dock. We arrived, dropped everything and had them sent onto the Grand Hotel, parked the car and got in line for the ferry ride to the island.
Oh yes, remember that bridge that we approached yesterday? Well here it is in all of it’s glory, The Mackinac Bridge. It’s been standing like so since the 1950’s.
We were deposited at the ferry terminal on Mackinac Island where we walked through and felt that we had stepped into another time. The first thing you see is all of the bicycle rentals. They do not allow motorized vehicles on the island with the exception of some emergency vehicles and electric carts on the golf course. Our luggage was picked up by a horse drawn cart and delivered to the Hotel.
Our first order of business was to find a tour “cart” to get the lay of the land. This was the grand tour which took us through town and then after changing to a larger cart we then went out to tour the countryside. Then back to barn and a walk down the hill with some great views to the main town. No, the island is not all that large. Our entire tour took about 90 minutes.
The town was kept quite clean by a group that would ride around pulling a little cart and cleaning up all of the road apples it could find. We were told that about half of the horse manure was shipped off island and sold to farmers for fertilizer.
Our next goal was to get a taxi to the hotel.
This certainly was breathtaking as we pulled into the entrance of the Grand Hotel.
We stopped in the Parlor to wait until the room was ready. We got a phone call shortly after taking this picture, that the room was ready, and off we went.
Just the layout and fancy trimmings made you feel special. When we booked, we did not specify the view, but we were hoping that it would be a front view.
We weren’t disappointed. Not only a front view, but we could sit and watch the carriages as they discharged and picked up their fares below.
Five minutes after we had entered our room, there was a knock on the door and our luggage was delivered. The golf clubs were delivered directly to the golf course next door.
Well enough lollygagging around, it’s time for tea. So, off we went to have our first tea at the Grand. For this we returned to the Parlor. We sat in some comfy chairs with a nice little table between us. They asked if we would like some sherry with our tea, which seemed fine to us. They came out with a little three-tiered stand full of tiny sweet treats and small cut sandwiches, one for each of us. Also, tea in a small pot and a sherry in a glass. This we sat and enjoyed as a young lady plucked the strings of a harp. So very civilized, wouldn’t you say?
After our 3 o’clock tea, we returned to the room where we sat enjoyed the view and read for a while awaiting our next adventure which would be dinner at 6 o’clock. This we would have to dress for.
After putting on our finery, we went down to the enormous dinning room and got in line to be seated. The line moved quickly and soon we were following a young lady with her hand in the air to our table. We were promptly handed our menus and asked for our preference of drink. You had a choice of an appetizer, salad, soup, and entrée (at least 2 different choices of each). Once your choices were made, the food would start arriving. As soon as we were both done with one course, the table would be cleared and the next course would arrive. When all was done, the dessert menu arrived. Everything was done efficiently, but you never felt rushed, but you sure felt full when you were done.
This is an after dinner picture, yes, we’re quite content.
Did I mention that Pat got the tea for two package. That means tea, tee for two. First, we head back down to the dinning room. Again, we are seated, but now we have a choice of ordering our breakfast off the menu or going to the buffet. We opt for the menu. They keep the juices and coffee flowing as we enjoy our wonderful breakfast.
Now Pat doesn’t play golf but our package does allow me to go out and play golf. So, Pat is headed for the labyrinth and wandering the hotel grounds and I am headed for the course. I walk over to the pro shop next door and they have my clubs there ready to go. Off I go on my own on the front nine using an electric cart.
This is a view back at the hotel from hole #1. On hole #2, I caught up with the largest single group I have ever seen playing on a course, there must have been seven of them. Fortunately, they let me play through. When I got on number nine, I looked back and saw this group.
You’ve got to love this group playing in period costume. However, they are using modern equipment. When I asked if I could take their picture they agreed, with the young lady on the left running from about a hundred yards out over to get in the picture.
This is my next golf cart taking me to the back nine where I will get another electric cart to finish there. Once done with the back nine I’ll be back on this buggy to return to the hotel. I told them that I will be returning to St. Ignace on the following morning, and they would take care of the clubs.
The rest of the day was much like the previous day. Rest after a round of golf, wander around a bit then head for our afternoon tea. Follow that up with our wonderful dinner.
The next morning is our last on the island. We slept in a bit later, after all the bed was quite comfortable. Then we went down and had a wonderful breakfast, afterwards we went back to the room, packed up the bags and put our tags on them and put them outside the door. Then we went down and checked out. We went to the doorman and told him we needed a taxi and he took our name and told us he would call us when it became available (a lot of people were waiting). So, we found a couple of rockers and enjoyed the view from the porch.
We did a little sightseeing around town, purchased some fudge (the largest export next to manure). But, it’s only about 4 blocks long. We decided that they should have our luggage over to St. Ignace by now, and it’s time for us to bring our little event to an end. We went to the ferry and headed back to the RV. Picked up our luggage and golf clubs when we landed, loaded them in the jeep and headed back to the campground.
It was an adventure that we enjoyed to the max. We can say that we did it. Would we return? Probably not, after all, we have been there, haven’t we?
More traveling to do as we head home…… more to come.
