• Thursday-What'sUP August 14 - 08:03 pm

While visiting Mackinac Island recently, we were walking around the marina and came across this Statue of Liberty replica, that we hadn't ever noticed before. The wording on the plaque reads: "With the Faith and Courage of their Forefathers who made possible the Freedoms of these United States, The Boy Scouts of America, dedicate this replica of the Statue of Liberty as a pledge of Everlasting Fidelity and Loyalty. 40th Anniversary Crusade to Strengthen the Arm of Liberty 1950.

After doing a little research, I found that this is one of 200 small replicas of the famous Statue of Liberty, donated by the Boy Scouts of America for their 40th anniversary and placed all over the country. Mackinac Island is home in the summer for about 50 Boy and Girl Scouts each week, who serve as Mackinac Island Governor's Honor Guard. The Scouts raise and lower all the flags in the city and in Fort Mackinac, along with acting as guides throughout the Island, dressed in their Scout uniforms. They also complete a service project during their week long stay in the Scout Barracks located behind Fort Mackinac.

Mackinac Island is unique in so many ways, beginning with there being no cars, which leaves you several modes of transportation including, on foot, bicycle or by horse drawn taxis, with which to explore the 8 mile perimeter around this historic, U.P. of Michigan, Island. The Conde Nast Traveler magazine rates it as "One of the top 10 Islands in the World." If you've ever visited before, you know why... if you haven't been there yet, it's time you hop on a ferry and explore this "step back in time" location.

Someday I'm going to get there!

Looks like fun! Never been there myself, as many time as I have passed by. My destination has always been further UP, but one of these days...

Great photos. My wife + I need 2 get back to Mackinac Island soon.

I've ridden a bike around Mackinac Island twice, 9 miles, once a few years ago, and it's beautiful. How wonderful they have this statue there! Just a super place to visit and so great not to see cars...talk about a step back in time. BTW, I'm sure most of you know the movie Somewhere in Time was made on this island, with Steve Reeves and Jane Seymour.

I've ridden a bike around Mackinac Island twice, 9 miles, once a few years ago, and it's beautiful. How wonderful they have this statue there! Just a super place to visit and so great not to see cars...talk about a step back in time. BTW, I'm sure most of you know the movie Somewhere in Time was made on this island, with Christopher Reeves and Jane Seymour.

OOOPS...thought I deleted the first message as I had Reeves name wrong in the first one. Sorry.

Beautiful place to visit....been there 3 times. I would've figured that everyone who lives in middle to upper Michigan has visited there. The horses make it kinda smelly at times :<, but the beauty of the island makes it all worthwhile.;) Plus the trip back and forth in the big Arnold hi-speed ferries is half the fun! Wheeeeee

Hi
That first shot is neat, with the cloud banner behind the statue.

I've been to Mackinac Island quite a lot, as the family vacation home is just down the coast at Cheboygan. When I was a kid, the DNR maintained dock space for people who took their own boats over and just wanted to visit during the day. My grandpa frequently took us over to get candy (Rocky Road & other chocolates, not the fudge) and ride bikes...and as an excuse to drive the boat around. Note there are a lot of unpaved roads into the hilly interior for those of you who are into that.

Although I'm not real big on "touristy" destinations, Mackinac Island is a lot of fun even at the peak of the summer crowds. There's just something about the essence of the place that sets it apart. Fort Mackinac is definitely worth a visit, as is biking around the 7-mile perimeter road.

For a really great counterpoint to the summer crowds, try a visit there in late October. The streets are almost deserted, and those who remain out there are in an extraordinarily relaxed and friendly state of mind; they've got a lot more time to talk with you and connect you with the local culture up there. One of my most memorable experiences was a nighttime carriage ride from town up to the Woods resaurant. They give you thick wool blankets, and the sounds you hear are just horse's hooves, creaking leather tack, and the rustling of autumn leaves. You are transported to a completely different time.

Been there by boat from Cheboygan, never got out of the boat but the marina sure was cool. I think we were in Norma & Charlie's boat.

BEAUTIFUL PICTURES TODAY. LOVE IT

One of the best rides my wife and I ever took was on our own tandem on Mackinac Island. We hiked the bike up the hill near the fort, peddled for a mile or so, and then rode down hill with no peddling all the way to the British landing site. We hit 35 miles an hour! Wow, what a ride.

I worked there during the summers of '49 and 50 as a dishwasher at the Wandrie restaurant...it sure helped get me through Michigan Tech. But not only that, it was like heaven once the tourists caught the last boat off the island. Then it became really lost in time with nothing but the clop, clop of the horses and the mingling with the other college students in town or on the beaches.

Horseshoes and fudge. They have a nice airstrip maintained by the DNR Parks division.

FYI: You can go to www,omni.com, click on newspapers and then on Michigan, that will give you Papers in the UP.
Houghton, Iron Mountain, Escanaba & Marquette.

I sailed on the S.S.NORTH AMERICAN all summer of '59. We stopped at Mackinac Island twice a week. Rode the bikes around the island many times. It's 9 miles around past the power plant. Mimi and I went on a bus trip to the island about 3 years ago. It was the 1st time for her, she loved it.

I will be going to Mackinac Island for the first time on September 8th. It's a 25th anniversary present from my husband. We will be going on a bus tour that starts in CT and ends in MI. It will be for 7 nights and 8 days. After seeing the movie "Somewhere In Time," I absolutely fell in love with the Grand Hotel. I'm so excited about this upcominng trip. I highly recommend seeing the movie. What a beautiful love story.