Outdoor Family Adventures on Mackinac Island - 2

Fudge Heaven

Shopping on Mackinac Island is heavy on the fudge, with a few boutiques, souvenir shops and galleries offering local art and scrimshaw.  

The sweet aroma of freshly-made fudge entices children and adults alike; more than a dozen downtown shops offer the hand-crafted confection, made on huge marble slabs with flavors ranging from traditional chocolate to rum nut. Sampling is almost like a sport. My family popped into the iconic Murdick’s Fudge Shop—the island’s original fudge vendor—for a tasting, and that’s where we ran into trouble: We couldn’t choose a favorite. After what seemed like an hour of debate, I went for regular fudge (ever the traditionalist), while my daughter picked double chocolate and my son chose chocolate mint.

Once a flavor decision is made, the fudge is cut into one-pound blocks wrapped in wax paper and boxed up securely for travel—along with a plastic knife in case of fudge emergencies.

• This is why a good portion of people come to Mackinac Island. Famous fudge.
• dailyinvention

Island Stays

Accommodations on Mackinac include more than 40 bed and breakfasts and a number of historic hotels and inns, which are particularly suited to families. The Island House Hotel—Mackinac Island’s first summer hotel—offers spacious premium rooms and a number of two-bedroom suites, ideal for families. The grande dame of them all, however, is the Grand Hotel, built in 1887.

With a sweeping porch that overlooks the Straits of Mackinac, a great lawn for games, meandering garden paths, varied children’s programs and a huge swimming pool, the Grand is a family paradise. No two of the hotel’s 385 rooms are exactly alike, but all feature furnishings and décor reminiscent of Grandma’s cottage. Doubles are roomy enough for a family of four; request a room with a balcony because it adds a bit of airiness, and it is a perfect spot for mom and dad to have some quiet time at the end of the day.

Accommodation pricing at the Grand is per adult, and includes breakfast and a five-course dinner nightly; doubles start at $225 per night, $119 for 18-year-olds, $55 for ages 12 to 17, and free for kids 11 and under. After 6 p.m., a coat and tie are required for gentlemen over the age of 12, and ladies of all ages are expected to wear their best attire. Following dinner, the house orchestra performs standards in the hotel ballroom; while children are welcome on the dance floor, they risk being overrun by the enthusiastic senior rug cutters.

• The Grand Hotel, built in 1887.
• Josh Hallett

Those not staying at the Grand are welcome to visit, but to preserve the stately atmosphere of the hotel, a fee is charged—$15 for adults (12 and older), $7.50 for children ages 5-11 (ages 4 and under are free)—which allows access to the hotel, shops and gardens, and is redeemable at the Grand’s lunch buffet. Call 800-33GRAND for more information, or go to www.grandhotel.com.

Getting There

From May through November, ferry service is available. High-speed ferries run from either St. Ignace on the Upper Peninsula, or from Mackinaw City, which has its own share of fudge shops, cafés and historic attractions for those who wish to stay on the main land.

Only a few dozen families live on Mackinac Island year-round. The only way to and from the island in the winter is via air charter. Just a handful of accommodations are open during the winter, as are only a few stores for provisions. But Mackinac’s pristine winter playground—full of snowshoeing and cross-country skiing trails—is all the enticement an adventurous family needs.