Michigan Vacations With Dogs – Visiting Mackinac Island with your dog is the perfect summer vacation. With Victorian charm, rich history, beautiful beaches and miles of trails, you will all enjoy pure Michigan charm!
Taking a ferry across the Straits of Mackinac to Mackinac Island is like riding a time machine to travel back in time.
Michigan Vacations With Dogs
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Although the journey only takes about 20 minutes, this ship transports you to a different era. Horse-drawn carriages roam the streets, people walk or ride bicycles, and the natural beauty that has drawn visitors to this place since prehistoric times remains intact.
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If you’ve heard of Mackinac Island, it’s likely that cars are banned. When the first “horseless carriage” was sent here in 1898, the noisy carriage spooked the horses and threatened the peace and quiet of the islanders. So the village council quickly decided to ban cars – a simple but decisive action that changed history. And it makes Mackinac a great place to explore with your dog!
Not having a car does not mean that you will have difficulty getting around the island. The ferry dock is just steps away from the main street where the shops, restaurants and souvenir shops can keep you busy for days. Many of Mackinac’s most popular sites are within walking distance – Fort Mackinac, the Grand Hotel, the lodges at East and West Bluffs, and Arch Rock are all within a mile of the visitor center.
For those who want to see more of the island, consider taking a horse-drawn taxi or a guided carriage tour. (Well-behaved, leashed pets are allowed on board as long as the horse does not bark.)
Or opt for the Ride Itself or Ride Yourself train for a more authentic (and potentially more exciting) experience!
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If you’re less adventurous, there are many types of bikes you can rent, two-wheeled or three-wheeled, as well as trailers for children and pets.
Both ferry operators serving Mackinac Island will be happy to see your furry family members and welcome them for free. The journey takes between 15 and 20 minutes and the cost for adults is $32 one way. Day-trippers can park for free at designated ferry parking lots in Mackinaw City or St. Mary’s. Ignas. The ferry company also offers various parking options for guests staying overnight on the island.
Ty and Buster were so excited to start our trip that we were first in line to board the ferry!
The ferry takes you straight to the heart of the city, landing just a short walk from the high street. From there, you can visit the shops, stop by the visitor center for tips and information, sign up for a train tour, rent a bike, or walk to Fort Mackinac, the Grand Hotel or the lodges at East and West Bluffs, or Ark Rock.
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Leashed pets are welcome to explore most of Mackinac Island with you! Look for dog-friendly stickers in the windows of many stores and restaurants. If you do not see the sign, please ask if your dog is allowed before entering.
Pets are also welcome at Fort Mackinac, in the parks and on all roads and trails in Mackinac Island State Park, which covers more than 80% of the island.
For those renting bikes, pet trailers are usually available at many of the island’s bike centers. Even taxi and horse-drawn carriage services are pet-friendly! Small pets sitting on your lap can ride for free, while larger pets are charged.
Your dog is also welcome to join you on a kayak or paddleboard excursion from the island, as long as he wears his own life jacket.
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Mackinac Island Pet Policy Pets must be kept on a leash at all times. Owners must clean up and dispose of pet waste properly
Perhaps the hardest part of visiting Mackinac Island with your dog is deciding what to do first! We have some suggestions to help you get started:
For history buffs, Fort Mackinac might be the place to start. The fort was moved from the mainland to the island between 1779 and 1781 and the translators are happy to share the history of the fort and the island, from its beginnings as a French fur trading post, its transition to commercial hunting and finally as a summer retreat. holiday destination.
The cannons at the fort are routinely “fired over the harbor” as part of demonstrations, so if your dog is sensitive to loud noises, be sure to ask about the firing schedule.
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Below the fortress there is a large green space that functions as a garden for the soldiers. It is now a park named after Father Jacques Marquette, who brought a group of Huron Indians to the island in 1671 after Iroquois warriors drove them from southern Ontario.
Mackinac’s soil proved too thin to support Huron crops, and the settlement was moved near what is now St. Louis. Ignace a year later. But the statue of Father Marquette still stands there. Having graduated from Marquette University in Milwaukee, which is also named after this Jesuit priest, I found this part of the story very interesting!
In 1875, the US Congress created Mackinac National Park – America’s second national park after Yellowstone. Twenty years later, when troops were permanently removed from Fort Mackinac, the fort and national park were transferred to the state of Michigan.
This state park now covers more than 80 percent of the island, protecting its 19th-century atmosphere as well as unique limestone formations, caves, and the landscape of Lake Huron and Michigan.
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There are numerous trails and miles of trails criss-crossing the park, and if you or your pets prefer to avoid the crowds, this is a great place to start. Most people hang out in town after getting off the ferry, so the trail access allows you to drop them off.
Buster just loves to go for walks and Ty loves to ride in his stroller for hours, so we chose to follow Highway 185 for 8.2 miles around the island’s coastline. After a quick detour along the coastal path to enjoy the Mission Point Resort—one of the island’s pet-friendly hotels—we began our journey around the island.
Stopping to take pictures and enjoy the views along the way, we spent about four hours sailing around Mackinac. The road is nice and flat, and of course there is no car traffic!
The views, clear blue waters and rocky beaches are a great reward for your efforts. We didn’t see any vehicles on this road so the trail may not give you the same views.
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Our advice if you’re considering a trip – by bike or on foot – is to trek across the island
Direction. The visitor’s guide recommends traveling counter-clockwise, so almost everyone did that…including us! If you go clockwise (get off the ferry and turn left on the main street), your side of the road will be less busy because there are fewer motorcyclists riding nearby.
As you walk along the lake and shore, be sure to check out the famous Bow Rock!
British Landing, located almost at the other end of the island from the city, is a wonderful place to stop for a snack. And maybe a splash in the lake if you feel like it!
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As the afternoon progressed, pedestrian and bicycle traffic on the road began to decrease. When we got back to town things calmed down a bit.
We decided to grab a snack from the beautiful Windermere Dog Hut and enjoy the views from Windermere Point. But our appetite was huge, so we looked for something stronger on the menu.
Ice House BBQ and Bistro on the Greens offer pet-friendly patio seating. But the brightly colored umbrellas at the Iroquois Hotel’s Carriage House restaurant caught our eye. We found that although they cannot accept pets in their rooms, they are happy to invite them to join you on the beautiful balcony for a drink or a meal!
It was the perfect place to end our day before getting back on the ferry and heading home.
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Unfortunately, the famous Grand Hotel does not allow pets. The island was built in 1887 to accommodate the island’s prominent summer visitors, and even dogs are not allowed on land on Mackinac Island.
But don’t worry! There are three great pet-friendly accommodation options on the island to choose from.
Mission Point Resort, which has beautiful grounds and a dog-friendly terrace at its restaurant, accepts up to two pets per room at Straits Lodge with an additional cleaning fee of $100 per stay.
Park Place Suites offers only three suites in the heart of downtown, so be sure to book early! Each apartment has a kitchen and a fenced yard. They charge an additional pet fee of $30 per night.
Mackinac Island Pet Friendly Hotels
Sunset Condos offer added privacy and stunning views of Lake Huron and the Mackinac Bridge. Their eight units sleep between 2 and 12 people, and pet fees are based on the size of your pet. For pets under 40 pounds,
