• Friday-What'sUP July 25 - 01:41 pm

Beth Collins recently stopped in her journey, to snap this photo of the Mackinac Bridge from the U.P. side. I like this view of the Big Mac, because you don't often see it at this angle in pictures. I think most folks take their photos when they're on US-2 or from Mackinaw City, near the lighthouse, so that makes this one just a little different. Before this bridge was built, you had to take a ferry ride to get from one peninsula of Michigan to the other.

Now the only ferry ride you need to take in the Straits area is for the trip over to Mackinac Island and that's just what Brooke Gubacz did recently. She started her tour of the Island at Marquette Park, which is located just below Fort Mackinac and across the street from the Harbor Marina. Brooke also toured on the upper roads of the Island and found this lookout spot with a view of the downtown area and a portion of the ferry dock too.

Next stop in the tour is the famed Arch Rock, where you can take in the view from underneath the natural arch formation or step out on the viewing platform and not only enjoy the vista of Lake Huron, but also a quick glimpse of highway M-185 (picture # 5). I'll end today's notes with a bit of trivia about this "motorless highway", that you can use to dazzle your friends with...

• M-185 is an 8 mile, narrowly paved highway that circles Mackinac Island
• It is the only state highway in the country that does not allow cars
• It has no connection to any other Michigan state trunkline highway
• It is one of only three state trunkline routes in Michigan on islands (the other two are - M-134 on Drummond Island and M-154 on Harsens Island

WOW great pics today! they made my day.

Excellent photos...and information!

Hi
My parents & I were sitting in that park near the lighthouse in Macinaw City and a man with a strong southern accent asked, if he went across the Mackinac Bridge, if he could drive to the island. We said "You know there are no cars allowed on the island?" He said yes, but, could he drive there? I don't know whether he was visualizing a huge barge offshore with cars parked or what. In any event, we informed him that he would have to take a ferry.

I love any pic of the Bridge!! Cause it reminds me that when I see it I only have 5 miles to go before I am where I want to be...the U P!!

That is a FABULOUS picture of the bridge from the Yooper side. Wish I was there....

Thank goodness for all these awesome pictures everyday! If you can't be there yourself, this is the next best thing!

I got to go across that wonderful bridge for the first time about a month ago! I was so excited when she finally came into view! Had a wonderful trip to the UP! There is a webcam for your viewing pleasure of Mac Island - go to: www.mackinacisland.org/webcam.html Its great! Thanks for the pics today!

Will be there in a week. Never was interested to visit the island. Can't walk and figure I won't see much without wheels. But since I'm taking a local friend I guess I'll go. I'm not big into fudge shops and t-shirt joints.Very nice photos tho.

Next saturday we will be there! I love that bridge. I love the city of St.Ignace. Not sure really why, but it feels like home for me there.

WOW! Those are wonderful. Seems like just yesterday I was there, and am going to be again a week from today. I can't wait!!!
Pennie & Kay, see you there!!!!!!!!!!!!
Kay, you can take a horse and buggy ride to see the sites on the island. I'm going to walk, but that would be an idea for you guys.

Ms. Katie, the carriage tours are definitely worth it. You hear the interesting history and get away from the main streets and shops. It goes by the lovely governor's mansion.

The ferry over is a great ride as well. You go along the coast and can gaze at the waterfront mansions. (at least from the St. Ignace ferry you do)

you can also get a taxi (horse-drawn of course) to get you where you might want to go. The fort is interesting and very well done for history lovers, and the views from there are spectacular.

Depending on your interests and $$, it is also worth it to pay to go in the Grand Hotel. You're free to wander, sit on the porch, and get a cool drink up in the cupola bar which has an amazing panaramic view of the island and straits. For romantics who love the Christopher Reeve movie, Somewhere in Time, it's great just to be in there, and there are great pictures. Also great photo galleries of the dignitaries who have stayed there.

I had never been there (too eager to get to the Keweenaw) until I helped chaperone student tours a few times. Since then I've gone back several times, although not in the height of summer season, and I stay away from the main street. It's very beautiful there.

Mackinaw Island is certainly a tourist trap, but it is a trap in
which you enjoy every minute. and of which you never get tired
of experiencing. The views are spectacular and it is a trip well
worth making whether it be your first time or a repeat visit.
Bring your camera, your binoculars, plenty of film or memory
discs, and most certainly comfortable walking shoes, a large hat,
clothing to protect you from the sun, and plenty of drinking
water. i suggest one of those airline luggage carts to
comfortably haul your stuff around so that you do not have to
carry it. Come prepared and you will have a very enjoyable
experience. Come unprepared, and you will deeply regret that
you came unprepared. Sunburn, sore feet and dehydration await
the unprepared.

We chose to tour the island with bikes and my daughter actually took the last 2 pictures on my camera since she forgot hers. Going around the island is not hard at all, going inland like we did was a little tougher because of the hills but was not bad and well worth the views we got. Coming back down was fun until my uncle found out one spot was called "suicide hill" thought it sounded like fun and made me lead. No broken bones, lacerations or head injuries and we all made it to the bottom still on the bikes as they were meant to be ridden.

This weekend- 4hrs. to the bridge, wave to the island while going over the grates, gas U.P., change the CD, and set 'er pointed towards the Keweenaw! Can't wait! Gas price? who cares, it's worth it!

I'm with you Uncle Chuck, just wave to the island while crossing the bridge, head west on US2 to Blaney Park (M77), head north to M28, turn left (west) and keep going pointing the car to da Keweenaw. Daughter and family left Oxford around 1 this morning pulling a trailer and is now at McLain State Park for two weeks. Grandson, who is six, would not sleep till they left this morning. He was afraid that they would forget him. Slept once they started out, then got up asking a millions times are they there yet.

I hope to be going UP next week! Finally! Uncle Chuck, what do you change the CD to? Ms. Katie, the best part about the Island is staying overnight. It's so peaceful and you wake up to the sound of streets being shoveled clean from the horses. I'm not being sarcastic (for once), that's a good way to wake up! We used to stay at the LakeView. A lot of people like the Bed & Breakfasts, such as the Butterfly House and the Lilac House, I think. It is touristy in town, but that's not really as bad as you'd expect. Carole, you take the same route we do. I like Blaney Park because it's a quick skip from US2 to almost being at Superior (and I love the Seney Visitor Center for a BR stop).

Thanks for the Friday afternoon chuckle. So the road around the island is a state highway! Whooda thought!

Marsha, I like Country, Classic Rock, and Jazz, but the wife will be with me on this trip, so it will be the Stones, Eric Clapton, Neil Young, The Who, any Classic Rock, Top 40, or Motown. She hates Country music, but she keeps me any way,lol.

i remember seeing a picture of gerald ford (king) sitting on top of the arch rock when he was a student at michigan, and worked on rhe island. i remain walter p.

lol poor chuck...tell her to suffer! country isn't that bad, thats about all i listen to! infact thats all my mp3 player has on it and about 99.999% of my cd collection is made up of.

these are awesome pictures. i haven't been across the mackinac bridge in about 7 years. my first trip across it was to play a basketball game in indian river. last trip across it was coming back from visiting u of m's campus and msu's campus this was in my senior year of hs.