RV Squid: St Ignace/Mackinac Island

After leaving Sault St. Marie, we headed about an hour south to St. Ignace. We stayed at the St. Ignace KOA . While there are far more options on the "mitten" side of the Mackinac Bridge, most were already booked or far pricier. So, we stayed in the Upper Peninsula side.

As far as a town goes, I liked Sault St. Marie better than St. Ignace. I think it was due to the shopping and the proximity of the Soo Locks. However, St. Ignace had more of the Great Lakes feel to it with the Mackinac Bridge views and various islands, including Mackinac Island, where autos are not allowed.

We took a day trip to Mackinac Island via ferry. The price to haul the bikes on the ferry was far less than the rental of bikes on the island. With no autos, one can easily imagine it in its early 1900's heydays.

The Main Street area of Mackinac Island is rather busy. We were quite glad we were not there on a weekend. Bikes and horse-drawn carriages are everywhere, intermingled with pedestrians. Watch your step, and the smell of horse pooky on a hot day can be a bit much.

Once you're away from the Main Street where all the ferries arrive, it's not too bad. In fact, it can be quite relaxing. We rode our bikes around much of the eight mile perimeter. There was a section closed for repairs. Apparently there had been a rock slide earlier in the year. It figures, even on an island, we manage to hit roadwork!

We had been encouraged to stay the night on the island. However, when Harold checked on the price of a one night stay at the Grand Hotel, it was $950.00. Yeah, that's not happening. We didn't investigate further. Just to walk across the hotel grounds, it's $10 per person. While it would have been kind of fun to walk across the world's longest front porch, 660 ft, we decided just to take a photo.

We both agreed that we were glad to have gotten a taste of the island, but neither of us feel that we have to return.