As a former employee of one of the hotels on the island, things are pricey for a reason, tourism is the sole industry on the island, and with it not being accessible to cars and such it takes alot of manpower to staff it and keep it as clean and beautiful as it is, as well as the fact that it provides a large amount of jobs that put food on folks tables both here in the US and other nations due to its immigrant workforce. The people at the Grand work very hard long days to provide the best service and experience, whether it be dining, cleaning, entertaining etc. Please don't encourage visitors to bring their lunch to the lobby , basically in front of the dining room..Good coverage of things to see there though.
I like watching videos about Mackinac Island, and yours is the most recent I came across today. I live about 3 1/2 hours from the Island here in the U.P. For the purposes of the video, you did good. Anybody that wants to try and save a few bucks can do that off of your visit. One thing about anybody that wants to ride around the Island on a bike--its 8 miles around and if you just go at a leisurely pace, you can do it in an hour or so. Thing is, its nice to stop periodically and check out the sights. My wife and I have been to the island many times over the years, even honeymooned there. Yes, it can be extremely pricy. I like doing simple things like running around the Island, or at night just walking along the boardwalk and taking in the sights of the bridge all lit up at night. But of course that means staying in a hotel which is very expensive. Truth be told, I'll never do just a day trip again because there is nothing like staying overnight on the Island--if you can swing it! :) Thanks for the video, its fun to watch knowing I'm just a few hours away...(Steve Orchard, Kingsford, Michigan)
Thanks for watching and for the extra info! I'm sure it would be lovely to stay overnight on the island. We were certainly captivated by northern Michigan :)
I have never been to Michigan however my hubby grew up there. We are doing three nights. I insisted to stay on the island to immerse myself in the “feel” of it so to speak. I do appreciate any tips.
It does seem lovely. I looked up the prices. Just wow. For the price for three nights, plus the extras, I can literally get myself to Asia. The prices for being oceanfront and eating well, even taxis -is just inexpensive, even in one of the more expensive countries. It makes it difficult to stay in the States for a vacation.
The first time I visited Mackinac Island was with my fiance in 1972. We brought our three girls up here a few times since then for day trips. In 2004, our girls and their families came up and we stayed at Mission Point Resort, just outside of downtown Mackinac. We decided to do it again every three years. And, we have. We had to skip last year, but going this summer (2023). We love Mission Point Resort and it's a great place to stay. We always bring bikes since we do a lot of riding, including a few times around the island. The highlight is our dinner at The Woods restaurant on top of the island. We rent a "taxi", a horse-drawn carriage. The Woods is owned by the Grand Hotel and is a little pricey. But the food is great! Everyone's anxious about the trip.
It's all subjective right?...but to a history buff... there's a lot there and with the Great lakes and the Mackinac (pronounced Mack-in-naw) bridge which is as spectacular as the Golden Gate !!...it holds up!!...😊 My opinion
I live in cheboygan Michigan which is 14 miles from mackinaw city I haven't been to the island for years because it's too expensive even the ferry is pricey
Part of the fun is renting a bike, eating in the many restaurants, buying fudge and staying at the Grand Hotel 😊. Your video was really good… 😊 PS the mayflies got in without paying 10 bucks.😂
As a frequent visitor ...you could saved even more money by buying the farry tickets half price with their black Friday sale. Also you missed free fudge at every fudge shop by asking for a free sample.
Great video! And a great title, and great tips! Those criticizing the video probably didn't read the title or they wouldn't have left such rude comments. We're a family of five and if we take the ferry and rent bikes we're going to be into it $400.
Thank you, I appreciate that! You’re right, paying for a whole family is where costs can really get out of hand. When our kids were little, we became experts at finding free stuff!
This has been #1 on my bucket list and I finally got to visit last fall. We only stayed a day. I need to go back and stay longer! We did a road trip from Maine and up through Canada. Only wish we’d rented an RV
Thank you sooooo much for your detailed video with tourist tips. You are extremely well-spoken young lady and I can tell highly educated since you home-schooled your children. What wonderful parents you must be! You convinced my wife and I to visit this very special island in Sep 2023. I am still puzzled though why the C is not pronounced ha ha! The name itself must be native American.
Thank you for your kind words! Once a homeschooler, always a homeschooler 😊 even if I am now teaching people online instead of my own kids! Hope you have a wonderful trip.
You mentioned that the ferry tickets were $30.00 per-person, is that one way, or round trip? Also, if the tickets happen to be $30.00 round trip, does that round trip ferry ticket apply to people that choose to staying overnight on the island as well; for example, if I paid the ferry fee onto the island and stayed a couple days there, then when its time to leave the island via the ferry will I have to pay an additional $30 bucks, or does the same ticket apply if when leaving a couple of days later? I did enjoy your content of information!
That was the round trip price. I believe you would be able to use your return ticket on a different day if you choose to stay overnight, but you'd want to confirm that with the ferry line. I don't know how many days the tickets are good for. We only paid $30 for each round trip. Thanks for watching, glad it was helpful for you!
I thought this was a wonderful video. Love the idea of grabbing a sandwich and salad and the grocer and eating out by the water. I have ate at those fancy restaurants and not all that. I took the carriage ride around the island and it was okay but horses are stinky popping everywhere along the way or at least the ones that drove us. This was great. If I go back next time will walk more
Thank you for your video. What is the best month to visit while it's not too cold? I know peak is May thru Sept but don't the crowds die down in Sept? tu
I only know how it was when we were there in May, low crowds and a bit chilly. I imagine crowds are also less in Sept after school starts again, but not sure! Thanks for watching :)
Yes it's pricey, but it's a delightful experience. Now it's been taken over by a corporation, so I don't know what all the changes are. However in the past breakfast and dinner were included in the price too. There's music & dancing in the evening and other things to entertain you. We had a problem with one of the bikes we brought over one time & the "bike mechanic" fixed it for us gratis.
Most establishments have rules against bringing your own food in. Often, there are local ordinances against it and there could be liability issues for the hotel. It's also rude to plunk yourselves down on their sofa for your private picnic. There are picnic tables on the island.
@@lorihummert7930 People pay to get in to TOUR the hotel; not plunk themselves down for a personal picnic. As has already been said, there are liability issues with bringing food and drink in. They could have toured the hotel and eaten their picnic elsewhere before or after.
I’m all for saving money if that’s a concern, but please. Plopping down on a sofa in the lobby of the Grand Hotel and pulling out a sandwich is just plain bad behavior. There are ways to act in public, especially in semi-public places. You’re adults. If you can’t afford (or choose not to afford) being in a place like this simply don’t go there. I’ve been going to the Island for years and have never seen anyone do this. If you choose not to eat in one of the restaurants, fine, but you can grab a sandwich and eat in a park or somewhere on your walk. Paying the entry fee to the hotel does not justify boorish behavior.
One thing is for certain, you probably won't be coming back, and that's good news for the people who have a little class.If you planned ahead like you say you did, you already knew the visit was going to be expensive. It is not important that we find out how cheap you might be.
I do not need tips on how to rip people off.If you have to do it because you're a tight wad, keep it to yourself. End of story.No replys answered.@@MariaRojas-vf2yu
As a former employee of one of the hotels on the island, things are pricey for a reason, tourism is the sole industry on the island, and with it not being accessible to cars and such it takes alot of manpower to staff it and keep it as clean and beautiful as it is, as well as the fact that it provides a large amount of jobs that put food on folks tables both here in the US and other nations due to its immigrant workforce. The people at the Grand work very hard long days to provide the best service and experience, whether it be dining, cleaning, entertaining etc. Please don't encourage visitors to bring their lunch to the lobby , basically in front of the dining room..Good coverage of things to see there though.
I totally agree. The island isn't a public park.
Why no cars then? Would that solve the problem?
Went to Mac island every summer as a child. The fort is great and riding bike around the island is great. Worth the cost to me
I like watching videos about Mackinac Island, and yours is the most recent I came across today. I live about 3 1/2 hours from the Island here in the U.P. For the purposes of the video, you did good. Anybody that wants to try and save a few bucks can do that off of your visit. One thing about anybody that wants to ride around the Island on a bike--its 8 miles around and if you just go at a leisurely pace, you can do it in an hour or so. Thing is, its nice to stop periodically and check out the sights. My wife and I have been to the island many times over the years, even honeymooned there. Yes, it can be extremely pricy. I like doing simple things like running around the Island, or at night just walking along the boardwalk and taking in the sights of the bridge all lit up at night. But of course that means staying in a hotel which is very expensive. Truth be told, I'll never do just a day trip again because there is nothing like staying overnight on the Island--if you can swing it! :) Thanks for the video, its fun to watch knowing I'm just a few hours away...(Steve Orchard, Kingsford, Michigan)
Thanks for watching and for the extra info! I'm sure it would be lovely to stay overnight on the island. We were certainly captivated by northern Michigan :)
I have never been to Michigan however my hubby grew up there. We are doing three nights. I insisted to stay on the island to immerse myself in the “feel” of it so to speak. I do appreciate any tips.
Is the island accessible during April?
It does seem lovely.
I looked up the prices. Just wow. For the price for three nights, plus the extras, I can literally get myself to Asia. The prices for being oceanfront and eating well, even taxis -is just inexpensive, even in one of the more expensive countries. It makes it difficult to stay in the States for a vacation.
The first time I visited Mackinac Island was with my fiance in 1972. We brought our three girls up here a few times since then for day trips. In 2004, our girls and their families came up and we stayed at Mission Point Resort, just outside of downtown Mackinac. We decided to do it again every three years. And, we have. We had to skip last year, but going this summer (2023). We love Mission Point Resort and it's a great place to stay. We always bring bikes since we do a lot of riding, including a few times around the island. The highlight is our dinner at The Woods restaurant on top of the island. We rent a "taxi", a horse-drawn carriage. The Woods is owned by the Grand Hotel and is a little pricey. But the food is great! Everyone's anxious about the trip.
I'm so glad I found your channel! We're going to Mackinac next week and are also getting our RV next month! Excited to watch the rest of your videos!
Welcome, thanks so much for watching! Hope you have a great trip.
And take your lunch to the park.
It's all subjective right?...but to a history buff... there's a lot there and with the Great lakes and the Mackinac (pronounced Mack-in-naw) bridge which is as spectacular as the Golden Gate !!...it holds up!!...😊 My opinion
I live in cheboygan Michigan which is 14 miles from mackinaw city I haven't been to the island for years because it's too expensive even the ferry is pricey
Part of the fun is renting a bike, eating in the many restaurants, buying fudge and staying at the Grand Hotel 😊.
Your video was really good… 😊
PS the mayflies got in without paying 10 bucks.😂
Thanks for watching!
As a frequent visitor ...you could saved even more money by buying the farry tickets half price with their black Friday sale. Also you missed free fudge at every fudge shop by asking for a free sample.
Aw, that’s a great tip. And I didn’t know about the free fudge samples, thanks!
I appreciated you cost conscious money saving tips. We are grateful.
Thanks so much for watching, glad it was helpful for you!
I didn't know of the existence of that island. It's cute!
I love this video, found it very informative, and the way of narration was amazing.
Thanks so much for watching!
Very informative and helpful. Thanks for making this video.
Great video! And a great title, and great tips! Those criticizing the video probably didn't read the title or they wouldn't have left such rude comments. We're a family of five and if we take the ferry and rent bikes we're going to be into it $400.
Thank you, I appreciate that! You’re right, paying for a whole family is where costs can really get out of hand. When our kids were little, we became experts at finding free stuff!
@CircuitRidinRV Great tips! Thank you, video was very informative!
Loved the information 😊
Have a cheeseburger at the Chuck Wagon.
This has been #1 on my bucket list and I finally got to visit last fall. We only stayed a day. I need to go back and stay longer!
We did a road trip from Maine and up through Canada. Only wish we’d rented an RV
Great job explaining the simple and inexpensive way to visit Mackinaw Island. Love Home Schoolers! ❤️
Thank you sooooo much for your detailed video with tourist tips. You are extremely well-spoken young lady and I can tell highly educated since you home-schooled your children. What wonderful parents you must be! You convinced my wife and I to visit this very special island in Sep 2023. I am still puzzled though why the C is not pronounced ha ha! The name itself must be native American.
Thank you for your kind words! Once a homeschooler, always a homeschooler 😊 even if I am now teaching people online instead of my own kids! Hope you have a wonderful trip.
The upkeep on that place is got to be over the roof
You mentioned that the ferry tickets were $30.00 per-person, is that one way, or round trip? Also, if the tickets happen to be $30.00 round trip, does that round trip ferry ticket apply to people that choose to staying overnight on the island as well; for example, if I paid the ferry fee onto the island and stayed a couple days there, then when its time to leave the island via the ferry will I have to pay an additional $30 bucks, or does the same ticket apply if when leaving a couple of days later? I did enjoy your content of information!
That was the round trip price. I believe you would be able to use your return ticket on a different day if you choose to stay overnight, but you'd want to confirm that with the ferry line. I don't know how many days the tickets are good for. We only paid $30 for each round trip. Thanks for watching, glad it was helpful for you!
Good information.😊
The islands and everything are beautiful but you don't want to mess around with those great
I thought this was a wonderful video. Love the idea of grabbing a sandwich and salad and the grocer and eating out by the water. I have ate at those fancy restaurants and not all that. I took the carriage ride around the island and it was okay but horses are stinky popping everywhere along the way or at least the ones that drove us. This was great. If I go back next time will walk more
Thanks so much for watching!
Best to eat your lunch in the park.
I heard if you eat at Sadie's ice cream shop at the Grand you get free admission to the hotel.
Oh wow, great tip if that’s true! Thanks for watching 😊
Love your videos.
Great info that we appreciate.
Thanks, Mark! :)
I think I saw the flowers in the gardens
Thank you for your video. What is the best month to visit while it's not too cold? I know peak is May thru Sept but don't the crowds die down in Sept? tu
I only know how it was when we were there in May, low crowds and a bit chilly. I imagine crowds are also less in Sept after school starts again, but not sure! Thanks for watching :)
Once I went mid September and it was 70s. It wasn't as crowded loved it.
Dreary, gloomy, gray skies up in the UP are a common sight.
I priced a stay at the Grand Hotel a couple years ago, the prices were INSANE.
Yes it's pricey, but it's a delightful experience. Now it's been taken over by a corporation, so I don't know what all the changes are. However in the past breakfast and dinner were included in the price too. There's music & dancing in the evening and other things to entertain you. We had a problem with one of the bikes we brought over one time & the "bike mechanic" fixed it for us gratis.
It's the Grand Hotel what do you expect?
@@karlgailrichter4105that would have been nice. I just looked it up and meals were not included.
Sometimes you got to stop up to the plate and hit a homerun
If anyone could imagine the upkeep on
Try to imagine what it would be like
By not taking the carriage tour you miss a lot of history!
I was wondering how many acres Mackinac Island is
Most establishments have rules against bringing your own food in. Often, there are local ordinances against it and there could be liability issues for the hotel. It's also rude to plunk yourselves down on their sofa for your private picnic. There are picnic tables on the island.
Lorri Lewis: Good grief, I'd regret being in your company even briefly.
@@gregorywilson1114 Am I supposed to care?
@@lorrilewis2178Lori loser
They paid to get in. So what they ate their lunch in the lobby. Sometimes it’s just fun to get out of your house, walk around and see some new sites.
@@lorihummert7930 People pay to get in to TOUR the hotel; not plunk themselves down for a personal picnic. As has already been said, there are liability issues with bringing food and drink in. They could have toured the hotel and eaten their picnic elsewhere before or after.
The road is a state HIGHWAY
100 years ago
Why would you expect it to not be expensive
Why walk to arch rock??? It's a rock.west bluff right there
Go big or go home
I’m all for saving money if that’s a concern, but please. Plopping down on a sofa in the lobby of the Grand Hotel and pulling out a sandwich is just plain bad behavior. There are ways to act in public, especially in semi-public places. You’re adults. If you can’t afford (or choose not to afford) being in a place like this simply don’t go there. I’ve been going to the Island for years and have never seen anyone do this. If you choose not to eat in one of the restaurants, fine, but you can grab a sandwich and eat in a park or somewhere on your walk. Paying the entry fee to the hotel does not justify boorish behavior.
You can also fairy your own horses over to the
The food at the Grand Hotel is way way overrated. Not worth the price.
I thought is was fantastic
One thing is for certain, you probably won't be coming back, and that's good news for the people who have a little class.If you planned ahead like you say you did, you already knew the visit was going to be expensive. It is not important that we find out how cheap you might be.
You are being rude for no reason at all.
I do not need tips on how to rip people off.If you have to do it because you're a tight wad, keep it to yourself. End of story.No replys answered.@@MariaRojas-vf2yu
Did you see the title of her video? That should have been your clue to not read it. Reading and comprehension are important.
I know she's so annoying and cheap. Go to some other Island.
I totally agree. She's Riff Raff@@davidbrown-xk8zl
If you cant afford to eat on the island you shouldnt go. Geez