Leave the car at home. There are no motorized vehicles permitted on Mackinac Island, even to rent. The only way to the Island is by ferry boats departing from Mackinaw City from the south and St. Ignace from the north. The trip takes about 30 minutes. You can also fly into the small airport on Mackinac Island, but there is no commercial airplane service.
Bring comfortable shoes. Most people spend a good deal of time walking as they tour Mackinac Island. The hotels are in or close to the downtown area, and historic sites are close by as well. The rest of the Island is perfect for hiking.
Use pedal power. Because Mackinac Island is small, it's perfect to tour via bicycle. Rent bikes from several shops in the downtown area, or choose to bring you own on the ferry boat ride onto the island. It can be crowded trying to ride downtown, but you'll encounter fewer people on the more natural backside of Mackinac.
Saddle up. With no motorized vehicles on Mackinac Island, horses are a key method of transportation for both tourists and businesses. Several hotels use horse drawn carriages as taxi service for you and your luggage. You can also rent horses or carriages to ride around the Island.
Sample the fudge. It's the most popular food item on Mackinac and no tour of the Island would be complete without trying some of the famous Mackinac Island fudge. You can find it at several stores in the downtown area.
Go back in time. Mackinac Island is the home of Fort Mackinac, originally built by the British during the Revolutionary War. The Fort is still intact, and you can walk inside its walls and see historic demonstrations and reenactments. Start your tour by entering off Main Street downtown or along Huron Road on the north side of the Fort.
Enjoy the natural beauty. Eighty percent of Mackinac Island is a State Park featuring distinctive stone formations such as Arch Rock. There are plenty of footpaths to tour the 1,800 acres either on foot, on bicycle or by horse. Pick up a Visitor's Guide and map downtown.
