21 Oct 2014

Mackinaw City, MI: Mackinaw Car Ferry

Submitted by Wanderlust Andi

When you are working in a city, it helps to take a quick walk - and to read those historical signs as you walk. You can learn a lot about the town.

The Straits Harbor in Mackinaw City, MI, is on Lake Huron and was next to my hotel, just up the road from the town. According to this sign, this is the location of the original car ferries that ferried people and their cars between Mackinaw City in Michigan's Lower Peninsula and St. Ignace,in the Upper Peninsula. The car ferry service was operated by the state highway department and served as a water highway, one of the first of its kind.

Towards the end of the ferry system, the wait time for passengers to board a ferry could be up to 10 hours during peak seasons!  What I find particularly interesting is that the "peak season" of waiting was not summer but, rather, deer hunting season.

You can imagine that the opening of the Mackinac Bridge in 1957 was a truly joyous occasion - especially for those hunters.

It does make you wonder, though, why the Upper Peninsula of Michigan is part of Michigan. For, before the bridge opened, the Upper Peninsula of Michigan was not even accessible to the Lower Peninsula of Michigan except by water - or by going around Lake Michigan through two states: Illinois AND Wisconsin. 

The good news for those who are traveling is that you do not have to wait on ferries anymore. Instead, you can enjoy the magnificent Mackinaw Bridge when driving between upper and lower Michigan.

Mackinaw City, MI

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29 Oct 2014

Taking city tours while travelling

Submitted by Wanderlust Andi

When I travel I tend to spend many hours researching where to go and what to do. This planning can be very stressful and to be honest, I’m not very good at it. Taking a city tour is an inexpensive way to avoid some of that unpleasantness. Plus, I had never really considered the fact that everyone knows about the places mentioned online. It would be nice to learn about the places the locals appreciate and so few tourists really get to see.

20 Oct 2014

Mackinaw City, MI: Mackinaw Pastie and Cookie Co.

Submitted by Wanderlust Andi
If you are in Mackinaw City, MI, don't even think about going to a national fast-food restaurant. Why wold you, when you can go to The Mackinaw Pastie and Cookie Co? You can get a quick and nourishing pastie (and, all MUST eat at least one pastie if you are in Michigan) for not that much more money than fast food. And, before you leave town - take some frozen pasties with you so you can enjoy the taste of Michigan again and again.