Mackinac Island Recreation

40th Annual Mackinac Island Eight Mile Run and Walk - September 11, 2010
[ September 11, 2010; 9:30 am; ] Saturday, September 11, 2010 Start Time: 8 Mile Run & Walk - 9:30 AM Join us for the 40th running of this exciting, summer-ending event. You will experience Mackinac Island in one of the oldest and most scenic races in Michigan. The Island is a unique destination that can only be reached by ferry. Step back [...]

Mackinac Island Great Turtle Trail Run - October 23, 2010
[ October 23, 2010; 11:30 am; ] This year marks the 15th running of one of the most scenic trail events in the state. Join over 1,500 participants to run and walk the inside trails of Mackinac Island during the last open weekend of the season. Come enjoy special race features - commemorative medals, a high performance long sleeve embroidered race shirt, [...]

2010 Mackinac Island Stone Skipping Tournament - Photos and Video
Guinness Book Record holder Russ “Rock Bottom” Byars won the 2010 Mackinac Island Stone Skipping Tournament with a throw of 30 skips. Second place went to Todd “Mussels” Callewaert with 26 skips & rounding out 3rd was Glenn “Hard Luck” Loy with a 22 skips.   (Click on photos for slideshow view.)     (Note: Video is the third round [...]

Mackinac Island Stone Skipping Tournament - July 4, 2010
[ July 4, 2010; 10:00 am; ]   Guinness Book Record holder Russ "Rock Bottom" Byars won the 2010 Mackinac Island Stone Skipping Tournament with a throw of 30 skips. Second place went to Todd "Mussels" Callewaert with 26 skips & rounding out 3rd was Glenn "Hard Luck" Loy with a 22 skips. (Note: Video is the third round throw and is not [...]

Zoo-de-Mackinac - May 21 - 23, 2010
[ May 21, 2010 to May 23, 2010. ] The Zoo-de-Mack is a weekend of huge parties with great bands, one of the most scenic bicycle rides in the country, a lot of sunshine, views of the mighty Mackinac Bridge, and one magical island. THIS IS NOT A RACE!!! The Zoo-de-Mack is a gathering of outdoor enthusiasts (2,500+ last year) who want to enjoy [...]

Mackinaw Memorial Bridge Race - Mackinaw City - May 29, 2010
[ May 29, 2010; 6:00 am; ] RUN THE MIGHTY MAC 7th Annual Mackinaw Memorial Bridge Race - Saturday May 29, 2010 STARTING TIME 6:00 a.m. official race begins with staggered starts (based on transportation time). CHECK-IN Check-in and packet pick-up is at Mackinaw City Recreation Center (race headquarters) located at 507 W. Central Avenue in Mackinaw City on Friday evening from 6:00pm-9:00pm [...]

THE 53rd ANNUAL MACKINAC BRIDGE WALK - September 6, 2010
[ September 6, 2010; 7:00 am; ] The Mackinac Bridge Authority, the St. Ignace Chamber of Commerce and the Greater Mackinaw Area Chamber of Commerce would like to make your BRIDGE WALK as pleasant as possible and offer the following information: Bridge walk starts at 7:00 a.m. The walk begins at 7:00 a.m. You may START walking anytime after the Governor's party starts the [...]

Chicago Yacht Club - Race to Mackinac - July 23 - 27, 2010
[ July 23, 2010 to July 27, 2010. ] Monday 1:15pm EDT Update: Racers will be crossing the finish line all afternoon and into the evening. You can follow twitter updates at: http://twitter.com/RacetoMackinac And Facebook Updates at: http://ow.ly/2gJqa Good luck to all and safe sailing! 11:19pm EDT Update: Windquest reported in as finished @ 11:19pm EDT http://ow.ly/2gnQS 10:57pm EDT Update: Mackinac Bridge call in for Windquest 10:57 EDT http://ow.ly/2gnGF 10:43pm [...]

Mackinac Island Festival of the Horse - July 21 - 24, 2010
[ July 21, 2010 to July 24, 2010. ] Join us for Mackinac Island, Michigan's Second Annual Mackinac Island Festival of the Horse on July 21-24, 2010! Events include stable tours of the historic Victorian era barns on the prestigious West Bluff, the Antique Carriage Show, the Breeds of Mackinac presentation, lectures on the role of the horse in Mackinac's [...]

Mackinac Island - Where The Butterflies Dance
by Michael Wetzel (Editors Note: In 1992, Michael Wetzel interviewed Doug Beardsley, founder of the Original Butterfly House, and wrote this article which he used it for his Masters thesis. It wonderfully captures the spirit of the Butterfly House. Reprinted with permission of the author.) As I linger among the multiple pastels of historic homes and guesthouses, [...]

Bayview Yacht Club Port Huron - Mackinac Race - July 17 - 19, 2010
[ July 17, 2010 to July 19, 2010. ] Update - July 18, 6:14pm - Beau Geste crosses finish line and arrives on Mackinac Island... Congrats to all the crew!... http://ow.ly/2d9fr The Pure Michigan Bayview Mackinac Race will begin on Saturday, July 17 – recognized as one of the most challenging freshwater boat races in the world. Join the excitement of the Port Huron to [...]

Sugar Loaf
The dramatic breccia mass rises 75 feet above the ground and is the largest of Mackinac Island’s many limestone stacks.  Centuries ago a huge lake that geologist call Lake Algonquin covered all but the center of Mackinac Island.  Sugar Loaf was then a small, eroding island cut off from the surrounding land area.  When the water [...]

Arch Rock
Rising 146 feet above the water, Arch Rock is a natural curiosity which spans fifty feet as its widest point.  It was formed over thousands of years by wind and water eroding soft rock below, leaving only the hard breccia rock which forms the arch. East side of island near the shoreline, Located by taking Lake [...]

The Jewel - 18 Scenic, Playable Holes of Golf
The Jewel is comprised of the Grand nine, across the street from the hotel; and the Woods nine, set in the interior of Mackinac Island. The Jewel features unparalleled scenic beauty, lush landscaping and meticulously manicured tees, fairways and greens. The Grand nine was built in 1901 and redesigned in 1987. The Woods [...]

Spring Daffodils along the Vita Course at Grand Hotel
Spring is taking hold of Mackinac Island… Take a virtual, youtube stroll along the Vita Course Trail at Grand Hotel and enjoy the daffodils in bloom… What follows May daffodils on the island? Lilacs in bloom in June… it won’t be long now. . Visit Grand Hotel Website >>>>

The Summer Crew starts arriving on the Island
Here’s a video from April 2008 of the annual task of transporting the horses over to the island and getting them ready for the summer… (youtube video courtesy of PNRnews)

Fort Mackinac
On a southern bluff overlooking the majestic Straits of Mackinac is the stately stone palisade of Fort Mackinac. Constructed by the British during the American Revolution, Fort Mackinac served as an imposing sentinel in the Straits of Mackinac for 115 years. Inside the fort walls are 14 original buildings filled with interactive displays and period furnishings. Hear [...]

MACKINAC ISLAND EXPERIENCE PACKAGE
Mackinac Island Carriage Tour Company Mackinac Island Enjoy a day on Mackinac Island and experience a historical treasure. Arriving by ferry boat, you’ll embark on a horse-drawn island tour with Mackinac Island Carriage Tours, visit the Wings of Mackinac Butterfly Conservatory, step back in time at historic Fort Mackinac and tour the Grand Hotel. The Mackinac Experience [...]