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Fall is one of the best times of the year in Michigan. It is a time for trips to one or more of our state’s amazing apple orchards, pumpkin patches, or participating in a town’s fall or harvest festival. The weather is usually mild. And it’s a great time to go on fall color tours! (Here’s a great one for that!) One place in Michigan I’ve been yearning to visit during fall is Mackinac Island. So this fall, I took my family on a family friendly fall getaway to Mackinac Island.
There are many great reason’s to visit Mackinac Island during fall – less crowds, great weather for biking, and seeing the fall colors around the island all immediately come to mind.
In this article, I provide a little history about Mackinac Island and the hotel we stayed at, details into our stay at Harbour View Inn, our trip itinerary, and other suggestions of what to explore while on the island.
Be sure to also check out my other articles on Mackinac Island too!
~A Brief History of Mackinac Island~
Mackinac Island has a very rich, detailed history. In 1966, the entire island became listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
The first inhabitants of Mackinac Island were a group of American Indians confederated with the Ottawa tribe. Native American’s inhabited the island 900 years before Europeans reached the island in the 1630s. The French Jesuit priest Claude Dablon founded the islands first mission in 1670. Father Jacques Marquette took over from Dablon and moved the mission to St Ignace the next year. Shortly after that, the Straits of Mackinac turned into a popular French fur trading area.
After the French and Indian War ended in the 1760s, the British took control and built Fort Mackinac in 1780. Then it became acquired by the United States after the Revolutionary War. During the War of 1812, the British captured the Fort easily having taken the American forces by surprise. In 1814, the British built a second fort – Fort George at the highest point on the island. After the war ended in 1815, the Americans took back control of the island and changed the name of Fort George to Fort Holmes.
Following the Civil War, Mackinac Island gained a reputation as a major tourist destination for residents of many cities around the Great Lakes region. Back in 1875, Mackinac Island became the US’ second national park, but after the Federal government withdrew from the Fort in 1895, they turned both the fort and national park over to the State of Michigan. And that is how Mackinac Island became Michigan’s first state park.
Since the end of the 19th century, tourism boomed with hotels, restaurants, and souvenir shops opening up.
~Harbour View Inn~
Inn’s History
Harbour View Inn has such an inspiring story behind it. This was a huge draw for why I wanted to stay here for our family friendly fall getaway to Mackinac Island.
Its founder is Magdelaine La Framboise of mixed Odawa and French Canadian ancestry. She oversaw a bustling fur trading business back when women were not expected to work. She later started what is now Harbour View Inn after her son in law, Benjamin Pierce – brother of US President Franklin Pierce – built her a house around 1816. In the lobby near the front desk of Harbour View Inn is part of the wall of Madame La Framboise’s original house.
After she moved into her new ‘chateau’ in 1822, she sold her fur business and focused her energy on Native American affairs, philanthropy and the Catholic Church on Mackinac Island. When Mackinac Island’s original Catholic church deteriorated, she donated the land and funds to build Sainte Anne’s Catholic Church. After she passed away, Madame La Framboise, her daughter, and granddaughter were buried at the church.
During the 1830s-40s, Madame La Framboise hosted guests at her inn included French diplomat Alexis de Tocqueville who penned Democracy in America. Besides the wall in the lobby, there are historic photos of the Inn, old newspapers, and articles hanging on the walls inviting guests to appreciate this beautiful Inn’s history a little deeper.
Getting to Harbour View Inn
Once you arrive on the island by ferry, there are three options to get to Harbour View Inn – walk, bike, or rent a taxi. And of course, that taxi isn’t any ‘ordinary’ taxi. The taxi is a carriage pulled by horses.
Once you cross over to the island, your bags will be brought directly to Harbour View Inn by the hotels porter. If you arrive to the island earlier than check in like we did, your luggage will be waiting for you at the hotel. Likewise, when checking out, let the front desk know which ferry you’re traveling to the mainland on so your bags make it onto the same boat as you.
Our Room
We stayed in a deluxe suite with 2 queen beds in one of the hotels Carriage House buildings. When we walked in, my first impression of the room is that it’s spacious, charming, and colorful. Traveling with a toddler, it’s hard to find hotel rooms that are large enough to accommodate a pack n’ play
The suite is so large there are essentially three/four rooms – the entrance that contains the two queen bed, the bathroom area in the middle with the vanity separate from the bathtub and toilet, then the living room area. The living room has a couch, two chairs, a small table with chairs, TV, mini fridge, and sink area. The living room is large enough to comfortably fit a pack n’ play in it. While many hotel rooms on Mackinac Island do not offer air conditioning, the rooms in the Carriage House do.
I can’t emphasize enough how amazing the living room area is! It made bed and nap time so easy with our toddler son. And since the hotel is close to many of the island’s attractions, it’s easy to pause in the afternoon for that afternoon nap.
We also loved how comfortable the hotel beds were! Usually I don’t sleep well at hotels because I can’t get comfortable. But at Harbour View Inn, from the moment I rolled into bed, I relaxed and slept well.
Finally there is a shared balcony with access from the living room. The view from the balcony to the gardens below is beautiful. It’s a great spot to relax at early in the morning before everyone else in the family wakes up.
The Property
There are four buildings to stay in at Harbour View Inn. First is the chateau with rooms furnished in a French-Victorian style. The chateau contains queen or king rooms facing the harbor or garden. There are also rooms with whirlpool tubs available if you’re coming for a romantic getaway.
The second building is the Cottage. It’s a newer building – added in 2010, located to the west of the chateau. Rooms here include king size beds with or without balconies. There’s also a separate breakfast area at the Cottage.
Finally there are two Carriage House buildings. The Carriage House contains the suites and all rooms have private views facing the gardens. When entering the Carriage House, you’ll notice the walls painted with flowers, white picket fences with birds and bird houses – almost like a indoor mural!
Overview of Our Stay
Before we even checked in, we experienced fabulous customer service from Harbour View Inn. As we biked down Main Street to the hotel, my son kicked off his shoe and we didn’t notice. Unknowingly, one of the porters was following close behind us. He called out to us that our son dropped his shoe and biked over to give us his shoe. Then once we made it to the hotel, we recognized each other. He ended up being the gentleman to help bring our bags to our room.
After check in, our stay was phenomenal – I only have great things to say! Our room was fantastic. From the comfortable bed to having a mini fridge, all of these contributed to a carefree stay. During the afternoon, we spent a little time lounging in the garden area. There are rocking chairs in the gazebo and lounge chairs to relax in the sun. There is free coffee and water in the lobby. I recommend taking it to the front patio to relax on the wicker chairs and watch the carriages go by.
While staying at Harbour View Inn, there is free continental breakfast. Rather than it being an open buffet, let the attendants behind the counter in the breakfast room know which items you’d like. They’ll put everything in a paper bag for you to carry to your table. Food options vary and include cereal, muffins, yogurt, fruit, and hard boiled eggs. If you don’t wish to eat in the breakfast room or outdoor patio (fyi there are heat lamps!), take your breakfast back to your room.
Booking Info
Harbour View Inn’s season runs from late spring through late October. Book directly on Harbour View’s website. Only a one night deposit is required to hold the room. The full remaining amount is due upon check in. On Cyber Monday they run a special for the next calendar year so check back then to take advantage of a deal!
Another great place to find deals to stay at Harbour View Inn is on the Mackinac Island Tourism Bureau’s website, where current specials are posted.
~Things to Do on Mackinac Island Map~
~Family Friendly Fall Getaway to Mackinac Island~
Our Trip Itinerary – Family Friendly Fall Getaway to Mackinac Island
Day One – Arrival on the Island & the Western Side of the Island
Once we reached Mackinac Island, we met up with a close friend of mine who’s spent over 9 summers on the Island. Check out her website here!
First, we all went to Woods Restaurant to allow our sons to play at the free duck pin bowling alley. A bonus here is the free popcorn to snack on. We also grabbed a drink from the bar and caught up. Unfortunately there isn’t any lunch available in the fall. But that’s probably for the best as the boys could bowl their hearts out!
After Woods, we crossed the circle to the Inn at Stonecliffe. Behind Stonecliffe is a short trail that leads to Sunset Rock – a beautiful scenic overlook where you can view the Mackinac bridge and the sunset in the evening. During our walk to the overlook, we also noted a ton of apple trees behind Stonecliffe. Apparently Stonecliffe used to have an apple orchard but no longer is actively managing them.
Then we headed past the airport to Crack in the Island and Cave in the Woods. Both of these limestone geological attractions are close to each other. But both are far from the island’s most popular sights so chances are if you visit, they won’t be busy.
After all that exploring, we worked up an appetite so once we reached town, we ate dinner at Mighty Mac Hamburgers. This is Mackinac Island’s closest equivalent to fast food – it’s a burger & chicken joint that does counter service. After eating on the patio (with a great view of the docks!), we headed to Harbour View Inn to check in and call it a night.
Day Two – Highest Parts of the Island & Biking Around M-185
After a busy first day of our family friendly fall getaway to Mackinac Island, we woke up early to hit the ground running again. We started out by tackling the most strenuous activity first – pushing our bikes up Fort Hill. This hill is no joke – there’s even a little rest area halfway up. But the walk up offers beautiful views of Fort Mackinac and the Governor’s Mansion. After that, biking is much easier.
In the morning we stopped at Skull Cave, Pointe Overlook, Fort Holmes, and Sugar Loaf Rock. Of all three of these sights, Pointe Overlook is amazing to take in the fall colors from above, and Fort Holmes is fantastic if traveling with a toddler. Once we entered the fort with our son, he could run around and explore without worry. The fort is free to enter, not too busy, and free of any dangers for toddlers.
After sightseeing, we biked back to town for lunch using West Bluff Road. We’re so glad we did this – we saw some of the most beautiful cottages and biked right past the Grand Hotel!
For lunch we stopped at Millie’s on Main, where we pigged out on chicken wings (Tony & myself) and a peanut butter and jelly sandwich (son). Then we headed back to our hotel for our son to nap (let’s not lie – my husband also took a nap). While he napped, I went to town to grab a latte and have “me time” at Lucky Bean Coffee.
After the boys’ nap, we biked to British Landing on M-185 and back, stopping at Devil’s Kitchen and the Somewhere in Time trees. Dinner was at Pink Pony – a must visit restaurant – where we went all out ordering appetizers, entrees and fancy drinks. Everything was so worth it!
Day Three – Sainte Anne’s Church & Head Out
Once we ate breakfast, packed up, and checked out, we visited one final site before heading to the Star Line Dock – Sainte Anne’s Catholic Church. As mentioned above, Sainte Anne’s was built next to Harbour View Inn on land donated by its founder. Throughout her time on Mackinac Island, Madame La Fromboise was active within the Catholic Church. After she, her daughter and granddaughter passed away, all three are buried on the church’s grounds. After learning all about this history, I needed to stop into the church and walk around its grounds before we left.
Rock Formations & Other Geological Points of Interest
Crack in the Island
Cracks in Mackinac Island’s limestone surface are common but “The Crack in the Island” is the biggest one. It’s also fun to walk through as the crack is large enough to fit in, but deep enough so you can’t peep out. At the very top, the crack narrows to about a foot so to get a great perspective of it, I recommend you walk through it. This was a highlight of our trip!
Cave in the Woods
The Cave in the Woods is just around the corner from Crack in the Island. It, like most of Mackinac Island’s rock formations, is limestone. Over 10,000 years ago, it was formed by waves of ancient Lake Algonquin. This is another one of my son’s favorite sights on from our family friendly fall getaway to Mackinac Island. He enjoyed running into it and showing me and his dad how he can touch the top of the cave with his hand.
Skull Cave
Located in the interior of the island is Skull Cave. This cave is allegedly where English fur trader Alexander Henry hid during Pontiac’s Rebellion in 1763. It also was once the site of burial grounds.
Sugar Loaf Rock
Rising 75 feet high near the east side of the island is Sugar Loaf Rock. It’s composed of limestone and likely formed when ancient Lake Algonquin drained and left it behind. Like many of Mackinac’s geological formations, there is also a Native American legend behind it. According to the tribe from which Mackinac Island gets its name, Sugar Loaf Rock is where the Great Spirit lives.
Devils Kitchen
When biking around the perimeter road on Mackinac Island, Devils Kitchen is one of the first sites to see. It received its name from Native American folklore that alleged the cave was formed by evil spirits. The legend claims that the blackened interior of the cave came from the evil spirits cooking their victims.
Arch Rock
During the post-Glacial period over 7,500 years ago, Arch Rock was naturally formed. There are several legends surrounding its formation and power among Native Americans. However, Europeans have always seen it as a tourist attraction.
Scenic Overlooks
Sunset Rock
Located just behind the back lawn of the Inn at Stonecliffe, Sunset Rock is an ideal spot to watch the sunset. It is located high above the coastline which affords it some privacy. Even if you visit before sunset, the view looking towards the Mackinac Bridge is beautiful. You’re bound to see tropical looking blue waters from this perspective.
Pointe Overlook
Pointe Overlook is located a short distance from Fort Holmes and there’s stairs that lead down to Sugar Loaf Rock. This is a great spot to stop at to enjoy the fall colors from above as the lookout is east facing. From here you can also see a great view of Sugar Loaf Rock.
Fort Holmes
While Fort Holmes is also an historic site, it’s also 300 feet above the water – on the highest point on the island. From here, there are scenic views east, south and west of the island. It’s even possible to see all the way to the Mackinac bridge from here. This is another great spot to check out the fall colors from above.
Windermere Point
Windermere Point is a green space on the southwest side of the island. This is a great spot to stop at to look out towards the Round Island Lighthouse. It’s also possible to see the Mackinac Bridge from here.
Anne’s Tablet
If you didn’t carry a bike and only have a day on the island, consider hiking up to Anne’s Tablet. Located on a bluff overlooking the harbor, this ‘tablet’ pays homage to author Constance Woolson who wrote the 19th century novel “Anne” that takes place on Mackinac Island and put the island in the national spotlight. Plus the view from here is beautiful!
Historic Sites
Fort Holmes
Built by the British during the War of 1812, it was originally called Fort George. After the Treaty of Ghent, the Fort was turned over to the US and renamed Fort Holmes after Major Andrew Holmes who was killed during a battle to take the fort from the British. Recently the Fort was reconstructed to its original form. The fort is free to enter, kid friendly, and there are bathrooms.
Fort Mackinac
Fort Mackinac is one of these most popular attractions on the island. It is definitely a place every Michigander needs to visit at least once in their lifetime. If you’re interested in visiting during the fall, the hours are shorter and only the north entrance is open. However, you can still expect the same experience in the fall as you would during peak season.
British Landing
Located on the northwest side, there’s a good reason it’s called British Landing. It’s where the British landed when the battle for Fort Mackinac began during the War of 1812. This is a great spot to stop at along M-185. There are bathrooms, a nature center, picnic tables, and restaurant/ice cream shop (although this was closed when we visited). If you enjoy hiking, there is a trail to Friendship Alter from here.
Native American Cultural Trail
If you bike the parameter road (M-185), there are six stops that make up the Native American Cultural Trail. Each stop features an informational panel on Native American history on the island, culture, legends, and more. There is also bike parking at each stop to prevent congested on a popular roadway.
~~~
Have you ever visited Mackinac Island before? If so, what was your favorite thing about your stay?
Whether you’re a regular guest, interested in returning after a period of time, or never visited, I recommend a family friendly fall getaway to Mackinac Island for a thrilling, new experience.
from Michigan with Love,
Jackie
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