Mackinac Island - vacation destination for over a century. With no cars allowed on the island, transportation is only on foot, bicycle, or on horseback or horse carriage. On the island, everything seems to slow down and it feels as if you have been transported back to another era.

Yet there is a lot more to Mackinac Island, that many visitors never get to appreciate, especially those who ride the ferry over only for the day.

Stay on the island for a few days, and you can appreciate a quiet morning stroll along the shore. Or ride your bike around the island in the evening and enjoy the sunset over the Straits of Mackinac. The interior of the island is a state park. Enjoy quiet walks or bike rides on secluded and rarely used trails through the center of the island. Bring your own bikes or rent them on the island. Rent a horse carriage for a leisurely ride around and through the island. Or take horseback rides through the island
Would you like some privacy, away from the hustle and bustle of the center of town on the island? Or do you have a large family, or a couple of smaller families that want to stay together? The cost of ferry fare every day onto the island can really add up. For 8 people it can be over $120 a day, more with bicycles. Stay in town on the island in a couple of hotel rooms, and the cost can add up as well.

Straits View Condo can accommodate entire families, or more than one smaller family. There is a bedroom, living room, dining room full kitchen, bathroom with Jacuzzi spa; and upstairs there is a large loft bedroom with a double bed, pull out couch, and futon, and a second bathroom.
The large two story windows overlook the Straits of Mackinac. Enjoy spectacular sunsets from the balcony. Watch the lights on the bridge sparkle across the water at night.

Enjoy the convenience of a full kitchen. Bring along some food and you can roll out of bed to breakfast, instead of searching for a restaurant. Save money by preparing meals instead of eating at restaurants. You can stock the refrigerator for snacks at any time. There are two grocery stores on the island. This can also be very practical for those with special dietary requirements.

When you do want to go out to eat, the Woods Restaurant (operated by the Grand Hotel) is immediately next door. Or a brief and pleasant bike or horse carriage ride takes you back into town for dining and shopping.
Also adjacent is the Woods golf course, part of the golf courses for the Grand Hotel (open for a fee). Elsewhere on the island are two other golf courses.

Straits View Condo can also serve for business meetings, and golf trips.

Staying on the island, you can enjoy tours of the historic sights in a more leisurely manner. Visit the fort overlooking the straits, historic buildings, and the Beaumont memorial. This is the place where Alexis St. Martin was shot in the stomach, affording Dr. Beaumont the opportunity to conduct his famous research into gastric physiology.

Visit the Butterfly House, the historic island cemeteries or just explore on foot or bicycle. Bicycle rentals are available. Horse carriages may be rented, and horses for riding hired, from several stables.

The 8 mile road around the perimeter of the island offers beautiful views in all directions. The interior of the island is criss-crossed by numerous trails, some paved and some quite rugged.

Of course there are the numerous fudge shops, but there are also restaurants ranging from simple to elegant. Among the numerous shops, there is even a scrimshander that has unique works for sale.

Getting to Mackinac Island

You can get here by ferry from Mackinaw City or St. Ignace, on either side of the bridge. There are three ferry lines operating multiple daily trips to the island.
Mackinac Island is about 4 hours from the Detroit area. Go stright north on I-75, exit at Mackinaw City immediately before the Mackinac Bridge. The ferry boat docks are right along the shore.

Once on the island, a pleasant horse cab ride brings you here. Straits View Condo is at Stonecliff, in the Oakwood building. You can bring your own bicycles over on the ferry as well.

Straits View Condo is also walking distance, or a short ride by horse cab, from the airport on Mackinac Island. Charter flights can be arranged from numerous locations in the region, including charter services at Oakland County International (Pontiac) airport. It's just an hour and a half flight from Detroit or Chicago, and you are right here with no extra ferry ride when you land.

If you want to bypass the traffic on I-75, contact us to get in touch with charter flight operators. For example, you could take off from Pontiac at 5 p.m. on Friday, be on the island by 6:30 p.m. On Sunday, take off at 6 p.m. and be back by 7:30 p.m.



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