Aug 14 - 18 St. Ignace, Mackinac Island, and Beaver Island, MI

August 18, 2025

On the 14th we motored to St Ignace, MI. It was a sunny smooth day and what a beautiful marina! The water is so blue and clear! We got off the boat in time to go to the Farmers Market, and then greeted Pat and John, who were driven to St. Ignace by John's sister Sally and her husband Jim. We celebrated their arrival with Aperol Spritz's and then walked across the road to a great little restaurant!

On the 15th we took the ferry from St. Ignace to Mackinac Island (pronounced Mackinaw, whether it is spelled with a "c" on the end or a "w.") This pronunciation is due to the origins in the native Ojibwe language and the influence of French and British spellings.

What a delightful tourist town. And boy was it crowded! We hustled to the carriage ride station and hopped on a horse drawn wagon that took us on a 1 hour and 45-minute tour of the island. Our driver, Jeff was knowledgeable and very funny which made for an enjoyable ride!

The tour ended at Fort Mackinac which was initially captured by the British in the war of 1812 in the war's first land engagement. It became a key strategic point for them. The fort was eventually returned to the US after the war ended. The Fort was also the USA's 2nd National Park.

The island is basically non-motorized with just two fire trucks and one police car. And it has the only post office in the USA that does not deliver mail. Residents have to pick it up! The funniest site was the horse drawn delivery trucks all over town! Oh yes, and bicycles everywhere!

After the tour we walked the main shopping area, had a bite to eat and then relaxed with a beverage at the Carriage House, a high-end restaurant hotel on the waterfront. That night, the city of St. Ignace had fireworks right across the harbor from us!

On the 16th we walked the town of St. Ignace and followed the Lake Huron trail for a mini self-lead tour of the area. It ended at a site of a ferry, Chief Wawatam, that carried 28 railway cars across the Straits of Mackinaw. This went on until 1984 when the majority of the freight went across the Mackinac Bridge (Big Mac). The Mackinac Bridge is the longest suspension bridge in the Western Hemisphere and the fifth largest worldwide. It is approximately 5 miles long!

On the Sunday, the 17th, we entered Lake Michigan and then docked at Beaver Island. GO BEAVS! Beaver Island is the largest island in Lake Michigan. It is called America's Emerald Isle and is an International Dark Sky Sanctuary. The water is clear and a beautiful aquamarine in color! We walked the town and went out to a local restaurant for dinner!

That night the wind came up and we bounced around in bed like we were in a washing machine! We managed to wake up slowly in the morning and walk the other direction in town to see the Marine Museum, St. James Boat Shop, and a strange Toy Museum (store).