Trader's House
Mackinaw City, Michigan, is one of the two gateways to Mackinac Island (the very expensive, yet worthwhile, summer getaway in the Straits of Mackinac).
The other gateway is St. Ignace, but I always preterred Mackinaw City. It's on my side of the Mackinac Bridge and feels more like an extension of the island. Everything is fudge shops, souvenir ships, and the slightly tacky. It's wonderful. And it's also the much cheaper alternative to staying on the island.
As far as tourist sites in the actual village of Mackinaw City (yes, it's a village, not a city), the most known (and worthwhile, in my opinion) is Fort Michilimackinac.
This fort is where the British originally set up shop and it wasn't so much a military outpost as it was a fortified trading post. When they decided to relocate to the island (building Fort Mackinac), they razed this fort completely.
As such, what you have here is a recreation which does its best to be as historically accurate as possible. They've been excavating since 1959. This fort is different than the fort of my first visit (in the 1970s). My biggest memory is the stockade that was on the ground. That's no longer there. I also don't recall so many buildings.
In its current presentation, I think it's a fine historical site. If I compare it to Fort Mackinac, I think this one is much more engaging (with folks in period costumes talking about life there and what have you) than Fort Mackinac. It's also a dollar cheaper and has a fine museum/gift shop.
Immediately next to the fort is the Mackinac Bridge -- though this is NOT a tourist site. It's just great photo ops. You can stand under the bridge (directly behind the visitor center).
From there, it's a short walk down the beach to Old Mackinac Lighthouse which, I think, charges $6 admission or something along those lines. I've been in before, and once is enough. It's worth the $6...just not worth repeatedly paying that. The views of the bridge from inside the lighthouse are nice, but the views of the bridge immediately in front are equally pleasant.
Other than that, there's not much in town except for shopping for souvenirs, getting sugar highs from fudge, or eating pasties. The (Hunt's) Mackinac Pastie (& Cookie) Company on Jamet Street, immediately west of I-75, is fabulous. They have limited hours, though.
If you cone up to the area to go to the island, spending a day and night in Mackinaw City is a good choice if you can spare the time.
Trader's House
Mackinaw City, Michigan, is one of the two gateways to Mackinac Island (the very expensive, yet worthwhile, summer getaway in the Straits of Mackinac).
The other gateway is St. Ignace, but I always preterred Mackinaw City. It's on my side of the Mackinac Bridge and feels more like an extension of the island. Everything is fudge shops, souvenir ships, and the slightly tacky. It's wonderful. And it's also the much cheaper alternative to staying on the island.
As far as tourist sites in the actual village of Mackinaw City (yes, it's a village, not a city), the most known (and worthwhile, in my opinion) is Fort Michilimackinac.
This fort is where the British originally set up shop and it wasn't so much a military outpost as it was a fortified trading post. When they decided to relocate to the island (building Fort Mackinac), they razed this fort completely.
As such, what you have here is a recreation which does its best to be as historically accurate as possible. They've been excavating since 1959. This fort is different than the fort of my first visit (in the 1970s). My biggest memory is the stockade that was on the ground. That's no longer there. I also don't recall so many buildings.
In its current presentation, I think it's a fine historical site. If I compare it to Fort Mackinac, I think this one is much more engaging (with folks in period costumes talking about life there and what have you) than Fort Mackinac. It's also a dollar cheaper and has a fine museum/gift shop.
Immediately next to the fort is the Mackinac Bridge -- though this is NOT a tourist site. It's just great photo ops. You can stand under the bridge (directly behind the visitor center).
From there, it's a short walk down the beach to Old Mackinac Lighthouse which, I think, charges $6 admission or something along those lines. I've been in before, and once is enough. It's worth the $6...just not worth repeatedly paying that. The views of the bridge from inside the lighthouse are nice, but the views of the bridge immediately in front are equally pleasant.
Other than that, there's not much in town except for shopping for souvenirs, getting sugar highs from fudge, or eating pasties. The (Hunt's) Mackinac Pastie (& Cookie) Company on Jamet Street, immediately west of I-75, is fabulous. They have limited hours, though.
If you cone up to the area to go to the island, spending a day and night in Mackinaw City is a good choice if you can spare the time.