August 25-28, 2026
Headed past Mackinac Island on our way to Mackinaw City.
We were meeting Howie’s brother and sister-in-law at the Straits State Harbor marina on August 25 which worked out perfectly with our trip from De Tour, Michigan. The downtown area of Mackinaw City is pretty walkable from the marina.
The blue dot in the above map shows where our boat was located. We don’t tend to fit into the slips, so we are on walls a lot.
Howie cleaned the boat a bit and we enjoyed spending time with Ken and Vicki. Lunch out the first day.
Every third shop seems to be a fudge shop: Joann’s Fudge, Kilwins, Marshall’s Fudge, Fort Fudge, Murdick’s Famous Fudge, Devon’s Mackinac Island, Fudge, etc. Amazing that they all stay in business.
Ken and Bella at one of the numerous fudge shops.
Howie and Ken had a bit of a wee nip!
Even though Wednesday was rainy, we headed out to the ferry and went to Mackinac Island for the day.
At this point in the trip Bella is wishing that she would have been left on the boat.
Had a great time time on a horse drawn carriage tour that took us through the downtown Mackinac area, Grand Hotel, through the Mackinac Island State Park and to Arch Rock.
Rainy, but a really quality horse and buggy ride through Mackinac Island. Bella looks really interested in the tour guide’s jokes.
Looking down from Arch Rock.
A little too much stimulation for Bella, decided to take a nap.
My Dad loved visitor centers so we used to take a picture of him in front of each one we visited. Here is the Mackinac Island center. I am pretty sure we have a picture of Dad in front of this one from year’s past.
Mackinac Island is known for their beautiful flowers and this year did not disappoint.
We had a wonderful lunch at Icehouse BBQ on their patio. We had Bella with us, so it was a nice that we were able to find a quality restaurant with an outside area. Everyone had an “adult beverage” which made the ferry trip back to Mackinaw City that much more enjoyable. Though we sat up top and as it was really windy, Howie lost his raincoat over the side. Guess the jacket decided to “abandon ship.”
Ken and Vicki left early the next morning with the thought that we would be heading to Petoskey marina, the next marina on our journey. Well, we did leave the Straits State Harbor and headed under the Mackinac Bridge, though we definitely did NOT get to Petoskey. Once under the bridge, the waves started slamming the boat head on. Everything had to be battened down-refrigerator doors were tied, fruit basket put inside a cabinet, all cabinet doors taped, every item in the bathroom put in a cabinet or down on a shelf where it couldn’t move. When I realized there were no bale out marinas and we had 35 miles of the crazy 2-3 foot waves, we decided to head back to Mackinaw City.
It was a relief to get back to the marina. We tied up and stayed another night. Actually had an enjoyable time going through the Icebreaker Mackinaw Maritime museum.
This Coast Guard vessel was going to be scuttled, but a local Mackinaw City business man allowed it to be docked at one of his harbors.
If you can, blow up this picture. There is a lot of very interesting information in the boxes. For example, she is trampling Hitler’s “Mein Kampf” with her feet.
Yes, we can do it!!