Mackinac Island Exploring with Camping

This event is open to everyone! If you have never heard of Mackinac Island, it is known as the Crown Jewel of the Great Lakes, it is right between Michigan’s two peninsulas. Because Mackinac Island is surrounded by water with no bridge to the mainland, we will be arriving by ferry. Motor vehicles are prohibited on the island, so the taxis are horsepower. Bicycles are a popular mode of transportation around town and a great way to experience the miles of trails through Mackinac Island State Park, which makes up more than 80% of the island. Because the island measures less than 4 miles it is very walkable. You can walk all the way around the island in a couple hours.

The island has a huge variety of different things to do. There is a variety of restaurants, shops, museums, horseback riding, rent and drive your own horse carriage, a butterfly house to explore, haunted theater, guided haunts, kayak tours, “Forge a Memory Shop” where you can make your own knife or arrowhead necklace, rent a bike for getting around the island, and lots more. Anyone see the movie “Somewhere in Time” with Christopher Reeve and Jane Seymour? Remember The Grand Hotel in the movie, it’s there on the island. You can do a self guided tour of the hotel, and also eat there.

Campsites
We will be camping at Straits State Park sites, 5, 6, 12 and 14 in the lower section by the beach lake access. We will have a great view of the Mackina Bridge. There are 4 buildings with showers and bathrooms you can use. The park is half a mile from the ferries that travel to and from the island. We will ferry over Saturday morning and spend the day at the island and then ferry back in the evening.

Carpooling would be a fun option if anybody wants to plan that with others attending.

Friday
Arrive when your time allows at the Straits State Park have dinner either in town - St. Ignace or fix your own at our campsite once you have your tent set up. I plan to be there by 3 PM.

Saturday
Have breakfast and then we will ferry over to the island with Arnold Transit Company Mackinac Island Ferry. The ferry tickets are open time so you can head over to the island whenever you would like. There’s also no return time so you can stay as long as you like. There is a $10.00 parking fee at the ferry parking lot. You will pay this on your own as some people may want to carpool over to the ferry dock. 

Sunday
Have breakfast, pack up and head back to Wisconsin, or if you like on your own time, explore the city of St. Ignace home to lots of gift shops, restaurants, or bring your fishing pole, and do some fishing by the bridge.

Fees
Your $60 Meetup fee covers $23 in camping cost, $2 in Meetup fees and $35 for round-trip ferry tickets. The fee does not cover personal equipment, food, or any extra activities you want to do when you arrive at the island. Please look into the activities you are interested in so you have an idea of cost or if reservations are needed. You will need a Michigan Recreation Passport to enter the state park, you can get this online. The daily pass is $11, a annual one is $40. You can also get it when you arrive. Remember it may take a couple weeks to receive the pass in the mail. Please send your fee by Venmo @Sherri-Lockwood or you can send it through Zelle at 414-759-6317. Payment is due within 48 hours of signing up. Refunds will be honored if notified by May 1.

Weather
This is a spring trip weather could be anything please come prepared for various temperatures. Check the weather forecast for the island before you start packing to ensure you’re prepared.