With most of the Mackinaw City shops, restaurants, and ferry action on the Lake Huron side of I-75, the Lake Michigan side of town often gets overlooked by visitors because the busy highway leading to the Mackinac Bridge divides the town in two.
So, take some time to head west. There are some neat spots on the less-traveled Emmet County side of I-75 that I recommend you check out while visiting, especially if you’ve spent time in crowded Mackinaw City before, which is in Cheboygan County.
Visit Colonial Michilimackinac. “It’s a one-of-a-kind experience that transports you back to the 1770s,” says Dominick Miller, chief of marketing for the Mackinac State Historic Parks. “As we gear up for the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution, you’ll find that your American Revolution begins here. When you walk through the site you’ll encounter voyageurs, civilian merchants, Native Americans, British soldiers, and others. World-class exhibits exploring the archaeological process, slavery at the Straits, the French experience at Mackinac, soldier life, and civilian life await you in each of the 13 reconstructed buildings.”
What’s New: There’s a completely renovated Visitor’s Center under the Mackinac Bridge, a redesigned museum store, and a new patio. Miller recommends planning two hours to interact with the exhibits, engaging activities, and events scheduled throughout the day. Everyone will love the frequent cannon and musket demonstrations. mackinacparks.com
Sneak away to the Heritage Village and Park. Mackinaw Area Historic Society Heritage Village volunteer Karla Wolfe says that at the park, “you can get away from the busy retail center of town and relax, enjoy nature, and learn about area history from the time period 1880-1918.” You can tour the village, play on the swings, toss horseshoes, visit the gardens, hike through the adjoining May Woods (10 trails spanning more than 3.5 miles) to view the vernal pools, or check out the shorter nature and art trails. Leashed pets are welcome on the grounds. “Bring a picnic lunch or your paints or musical instrument, and spend a couple hours,” Wolfe adds.
The 143-acre village includes a quarter-mile drivable circle with historic interpretive signs at a variety of authentic old structures; a nature center; a large, covered area with picnic tables and checkers games; and more. The annual Mackinaw Area Historic Festival, with old-time baseball games, returns July 26.
Wolfe says the society is working on a recreated railroad depot and expanding the nature center to include a separate building that will focus on regional birds, in conjunction with the nearby With Feathers bird rehabilitation center and the Mackinac Straits Area Raptor Watch. mackinawhistory.org
Ride the scenic North Western State Trail. It’s one of my favorite bike routes, and starts below an I-75 overpass. The trail heads 32 miles, mostly on a flat, crushed limestone rail-to-trail route, into Petoskey. The first 10 miles or so are fairly wooded and secluded. The ride (or hike) can be divided into shorter, out-and-back, traffic-free rides for the entire family. trailscouncil.org
Stargaze at Headlands International Dark Sky Park. While you can visit 24/7, this place starts rocking later in the afternoon, when the popular gift shop and event center opens (seasonal hours). I’ve enjoyed meeting new friends there when the large, sloped outdoor amphitheater, overlooking a western Lake Michigan bay, begins to fill up as the sun sets and star lovers settle in with lawn chairs, blankets, and snacks for some heavenly views — especially when the Milky Way (just stunning!) is visible in the summer and when meteor showers occur.
The park has 5 miles of trails through its 600 acres of old growth forests, plus 2 miles of undeveloped coastline, and you can take a nice walk along the lakefront for dark-sky viewing. Seasonal programs run mid-May through mid-October. Few astronomer types show up in colder months.
While Headlands doesn’t offer overnight camping, the nearby Wilderness State Park does, and its Big Stone Bay lakefront campsites include wonderful views of the dark sky and Northern Lights. Wilderness, among my favorite state parks, has 26 miles of Lake Michigan shoreline and is an awesome place to set up base camp (reserve early!) for a northern Michigan getaway. midarkskypark.org; michigan.gov/wilderness
Climb the McGulpin Point Lighthouse. If you’re a lighthouse lover like me, you’ll appreciate a visit to this historic site, which dates back to 1869. From mid-May through mid-October, you can climb the short light tower; browse the gift shop; explore the grounds, which feature numerous historical markers; and hike a discovery trail leading to the shoreline for some full-length photos of the Mackinac Bridge. On our visit, my watercolor artist wife and I spent time lounging in our camp chairs, enjoying a picnic lunch while she painted the rocky beach and bridge scene as we relaxed to the Pure Michigan sounds of the surf.
Emmet County purchased the lighthouse in 2008 from private owners who used it as their home. It was renovated to its historic condition dating back to about 1906, when it was decommissioned. An attached apartment is available to reserve for a Mackinaw City stay. mcgulpinpoint.org
