MI Best- Weekend Edition - August 27, 2023

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The Many Fall Colors of

each fall as the days shorten and the air cools, Mackinac Island is set ablaze in vibrant color. Bright shades of yellow, red and orange paint the bluffs and tint the streets. The scene is utterly gorgeous.

Yet, changing leaves are by no means the only source of beautiful fall color on Mackinac Island. In addition to maple trees bursting with color, fall brings maple fudge exploding with avor. And maple glazed salmon, too.

The season’s diverse palette extends to your mouth’s palate with colorful dishes at Mackinac Island’s many restaurants. Ditto for the imaginative cocktails and intriguing beers at the island’s pubs.

And have you seen the colorful splendor of a Mackinac Island sunset in fall?

There are all kinds of incredible fall colors on Mackinac Island. Come see for yourself!

When to Visit for Peak Fall Color

Because Mackinac Island is surrounded by water, it’s actually insulated a bit from the oncoming fall temperatures. Just as the cooler lake makes the island warm up more slowly in the spring, the water that has been warming all summer now keeps the island from cooling off so fast in the fall. As a result, fall colors on Mackinac Island tend to appear a little later than in many other places around northern Michigan. While every fall is different, the rst 10 days of October is the timeframe when fall colors tend to approach peak beauty.

LOOK INSIDE

Autumn on Mackinac Island –fall hikes, events, when and where to visit for maximum ‘leafing’

3 reasons fall is the perfect season on Mackinac Island

With Labor Day on the horizon, the sun is about to set on another glorious Mackinac Island summer. Yet, there’s still two months to enjoy on the No. 1 Best Island in the Continental U.S. In fact, in some ways, fall is the best time of year to visit!

For one, a lot of things on Mackinac Island are just as great in the fall as they are in the summer. You can still spend an afternoon at historic Fort Mackinac and relive what it was like to be here in the 1800s.

You can still explore the rugged and beautiful Mackinac Island State Park. You can still order up a horse-drawn carriage for a charming tour through a land without cars. And you can still enjoy free samples of world-famous Mackinac Island fudge and watch as the tasty treat gets made right in front of your eyes – and your nose!

While you can still experience all of what makes Mackinac Island so great, fall also brings a few perks that you can’t get in the summer:

1. Lodging discounts – While rooms can be hard to come by in the summer, many hotels, resorts and B&Bs o er lower rates in the fall. You can book a room in the same historic places to stay as you can during the summer, only you benefit from Value Season pricing.

2. Shopping deals – Speaking of deals, most of the shops on Mackinac Island close for the winter. As they wind down operations in the weeks leading up to Halloween, they markdown their remaining inventory. It’s a great opportunity to find fantastic deals on unique items, and maybe even get a jump on Christmas shopping.

3. Crisp air – Let’s face it: As much as we love summer, it feels so good this time of year to break out some jeans and a sweatshirt. On Mackinac Island, many days in October are still sunny and warm, yet the nights bring cool, crisp air that’s refreshing for your body and your soul. Plus, crowds on the island tend to be lighter in the fall, so there’s literally more room to breathe!

More ways to make last-minute fall memories on Mackinac Island

Often, the colors stick around through the Halloween Weekend that closes out the visitor season.

At the same time as the leaves change, many Mackinac Island hotels, resorts and B&Bs offer specials and discounted rates. Scan the QR code above, to see fall lodging deals and packages at places to stay ranging from downtown inns and historic B&Bs to resorts including Grand Hotel, Mission Point and Island House. Which kind of place suits your style?

Find a deal and book your stay for a colorful fall excursion!

In many popular summertime destinations, fall is an afterthought, a lackluster transition from the peak of summer activity to the hibernation of winter. Not on Mackinac Island. The USA’s

• Mackinac Island Eight Mile – The annual Run Mackinac race all the way around the island is set for Saturday, Sept.

9. Participants will start at Mission Point Resort and go counterclockwise around the island on M-185, before finishing back at the resort and earning a commemorative Eight Mile medal.

• Fall golf – Few sites are as pretty as standing on an elevated tee and looking down at a green fairway flanked by fall color with the rich, blue waters of the Straits of Mackinac on the horizon. There’s still time this year to play all the one-of-a-kind golf courses on Mackinac Island: The Jewel, Grand Hotel’s

Best Summer Travel Destination is also the perfect place to enjoy fall.

So, if there are still days on the calendar before the end of October, then there’s still time to make last-minute memories this year on Mackinac Island.

immaculate resort course, and The Gem miniature golf course; Wawashkamo, built 125 years ago on a historic battleground; and The Greens of Mackinac, an incredibly scenic and familyfriendly, natural-grass putting course at Mission Point Resort.

markdown their remaining inventory before winter and o er great end-of-season deals! Get your holiday shopping done early this year by checking things o your list on Mackinac Island.

• Shopping closeouts –Mackinac Island is home to a handful of unique shopping districts. Come fall, you can discover treasured items at discounted prices as the many charming boutiques, art galleries and shops

• Halloween Weekend – As much as fall color season is itself an event on Mackinac Island, it’s even bigger when combined with the island’s iconic Halloween Weekend. There’s trick-or-treating for kids downtown during the day, costume parties for adults in bars and restaurants at night and, if you’re ambitious, the annual Great Turtle Half Marathon, too. This year’s Halloween Weekend is Oct. 27-29, with the half marathon on Saturday, Oct. 28 (and a 5.7mile run/walk option, too).

fall color tour 6 awesome ways to take a

It’s just about that time of year for one of Michigan’s favorite pastimes: the fall color tour. Soon, leaves will begin to change from their summer greens into a kaleidoscope of red, orange and yellow.

The amazing display presents

an awesome opportunity to get behind the wheel of your car, hit the open road and… …wait a minute, Mackinac Island is car free! No problem, color tours on Mackinac Island are a unique experience.

Here are six extraordinary ways to immerse yourself in the beauty of fall (car not included):

1 On a bicycle – Pedal 8.2 miles all the way around the outer edge of Mackinac Island, with blazing leaves on one side and dazzling blue water on the other. It takes about an hour or so at a leisurely pace to circle the island on M-185, the only state highway in the country without any automobiles. You can rent a bike from a vendor in town or bring your own on the ferry.

3 In a horse-drawn carriage – Take a narrated tour or rent your own horse and buggy and experience the Mackinac Island version of a fall color tour on wheels – driven by authentic horsepower! Public trips leave from downtown throughout the day and no reservations are needed. You can also book a private tour by the hour with Mackinac Island Carriage Tours or Gough Carriages or rent a drive-ityourself carriage from Jack’s Livery Stable.

4 On horseback – Saddle up and saunter your way to Fort Holmes, the highest point on Mackinac Island. It’s 320 feet above lake level, offering an amazing panoramic view of fall colors and the surrounding waters. Both Jack’s and Cindy’s Riding Stable offer guided and unguided trail riding.

6 From the sky – From up in the clouds on an aerial color tour, you can see 30 miles in any direction and take in all of Mackinac Island’s beautiful hardwood forest as well as the iconic buildings and landmarks. Airplane tours are available through Fresh Air Aviation and Delta Fox, with helicopter sightseeing through My Flight Tours.

2 On foot – You can walk the loop around Mackinac Island or hike straight through the middle of it. There are more than 70 miles of trails, including the epic Tranquil Bluff Trail that courses through the forest on the edge of the cliffs high above Lake Huron.

5 In a kayak – Get out on the water for a paddling perspective of fall color, not to mention cool views of the island’s limestone formations such as Arch Rock high above and the underwater rock maze below. Great Turtle Kayak Tours offers a variety of trips daily.

5 hikes fall The of

you may know about the ferries that shuttle Mackinac Island visitors to and from the mainland.

You’ve probably heard of world-famous Mackinac Island fudge, Grand Hotel’s worldrecord porch and historic Fort Mackinac.

But have you hiked Tranquil Bluff Trail?

Not many Mackinac Island visitors have. It’s one of many unique hikes that go off the beaten path.

There are more than 70 miles of hiking trails running through Mackinac Island State Park.

Here are five of the best trails to hike this fall:

AROUND THE LOOP – It’s 8.2 miles around the outer edge of Mackinac Island on M-185, the only state highway in the country without cars. It takes about an hour or so to bike around the island, and you can hoof it in two to three hours.

to experience on Mackinac Island

The road is mostly flat, so not too challenging for novice hikers. And if you need a break halfway around, you can grab a snack from Cannonball Oasis at British Landing.

THROUGH THE WOODS TO CROGHAN WATER –

From British Landing there’s a nature trail that runs about a half-mile inland. The trail offers a good lesson in natural history as you pass by a steep bluff formed by receding glacial waters and see “Friendship Altar,” a limestone rock formation sticking out of the earth. Through the forest you’ll also come to the quiet beauty of Croghan Water wetlands.

HIGH ABOVE LAKE HURON – Once you’ve visited the iconic Arch Rock almost 150 feet above Lake Michigan, head north along the east side of the island on the Tranquil Bluff Trail. The island’s longest and most challenging trail is a bit

rugged at points and gets close to the cliff’s edge. The reward for enduring the steep climbs are amazing views of the lake far below.

ACROSS THE INTERIOR – Bicycles travel some of the trails around the island, such as Leslie Avenue and Scott’s Cave Road, but those also are scenic walking paths. And many paths through the heart of the forest are just for hikers. You’ll find a bevy of wildflowers and a heavy dose of solitude on these trails, and some cool spots like Crack in the Island and Cave of the Woods near the airport. Near the village on the west side of the island, the Coffee, Allouez, Indian Pipe and Trillium trails all are moderately difficult and beautifully scenic.

UP TO THE SUMMIT – Okay, there’s no mountain on Mackinac Island. But the view from Fort Holmes, the highest point on the island, is pretty incredible. It’s a great place for a picnic. It’s also not far from Point Lookout where you can get an amazing view of Sugar Loaf, a giant tower of limestone rising out of the island. On the way there or the way back – via Henry Trail or the Watch Your Step Trail – you can visit the infamous Skull Cave that got its name from the heaps of bones once piled in it.

SP ON SORED Mackinac Island Tourism Bureau

Autumn leaves don’t fall, they fly. They take their time and wander on this their only chance to soar.

DELIA OWENS, WHERE THE CRAWDADS SING

I can smell autumn dancing in the breeze. The sweet chill of pumpkin, and crisp sunburnt leaves.

ANN DRAKE

gorgeous fall colors

Where to find on Mackinac Island

TO HELP YOU MAKE THE MOST OF YOUR VISIT, MARTIN HAS SOME SUGGESTIONS FOR BEST FALL COLOR SPOTS ON MACKINAC ISLAND:

• The oldest part of Mackinac Island is the highest part, which was the first bit of land to appear as glaciers receded during the last Ice Age. As a result, the soil has been developing there for the longest, making it ideal for hardwood trees including beech and maple. From Fort Holmes and Point Lookout, you can see the beautiful mix of colorful deciduous trees and evergreens below.

• The forest that occupies much of Mackinac Island State Park o ers many miles of trails that take you right through stunning fall color. Martin recommends Tranquil Blu Trail, which winds along the cli ops on the east side of the island overlooking Lake Huron. On the other side of Mackinac Island, west of Wawashkamo Golf Club, Partridge

Every leaf speaks bliss to me, fluttering from the autumn tree. EMILY BRONTE

Trail is fantastic for a fall color tour by horseback.

• A horse-drawn carriage tour is another great way of getting up into the interior of the island for some fabulous fall color. Even just walking or riding a bike down

The funny thing about fall color on Mackinac Island is that it’s not always apparent as you approach the dock on the ferry from the mainland. That’s because the outer edge of the island has lots of evergreen trees. But up in the interior of Mackinac Island you’ll nd an incredible display as the hardwoods at higher elevations do their thing every fall. Up there, Fort Holmes and Point Lookout are two of the prime viewpoints for seeing fall colors.

“Those are my two favorite spots, up there

British Landing Road past the cemeteries and toward Cannonball Oasis makes for a pretty fall color tour, too.

• Leslie Road on the east side of Mackinac Island is a fantastic option for a fall color tour by

The other fall colors of Mackinac Island

World-famous fudge – Mackinac Island is home to more than a dozen fudge shops that together make 10,000 pounds of the tasty treat each day. The decadent dessert comes in chocolate brown, of course. You can also nd it in a wide variety of other colors: Vanilla fudge is white, cherry fudge has a hint of red, butter pecan features a creamy hue, there’s a shade of orange in pumpkin fudge and cranberry fudge is pink. That’s just a small sampling of the many colors of fudge to taste on Mackinac Island!

Delicious dinners – You can’t dine on fudge all day. Well, actually, you could, but then you wouldn’t be leaving room for dinner at any of Mackinac Island’s one-of-a-kind restaurants. And then you’d be missing out on appetizers such as the duck pot stickers on red cabbage slaw with an orange gastrique at the Carriage House at Hotel Iroquois, for example. And entrees such as the White sh Beurre Blanc at the Pink Pony. Each Mackinac Island restaurant has a variety of tasty and colorful plates on the menu.

Spectacular sunsets – It’s amazing how many different shades of color emerge during a Mackinac Island sunset. You’ll see pinks and reds, oranges and yellows, purples and blues. And no two sunsets are ever quite the same! Anywhere on the island with a view to the west offers a glorious view of sunset. Some of the most popular places to admire the strokes of Mother Nature’s paintbrush include the boardwalk west of downtown and the Cupola Bar atop Grand Hotel. Another great option is on board a Sip ‘n Sail Cruise, which takes you under the mighty Mackinac Bridge as the sun slips beneath the waters on the horizon. Have a drink (or two) – Who’s up for a pub crawl? There are so many places on Mackinac Island to grab a drink, and so many of them are within a short walk of each other. Start your night at Mary’s Bistro Draught House, which has 50 beers on tap – each with its own unique color. How about a Bellaire Brown from Short’s Brewing, a Blackout Stout from Great Lakes Brewing, a Calabaza Blanca from Jolly Pumpkin Artisan Ales or a Cannonball Gold from Arcadia Ales? You can even get a Pabst Blue Ribbon!

looking down, because you can really see everything,” said Trish Martin, a lifelong Mackinac Island resident who owns Bogan Lane Inn. Martin has enjoyed a front-row seat to the striking fall colors of Mackinac Island for decades and knows where to go for the best sights. While the timing differs slightly from one year to the next, each and every autumn is a pleasure to behold. So why not come up and see the color show yourself this fall?

bicycle. It’s a paved path enveloped in trees. And, nearby, you can explore Soldier’s Garden, an opening in the woods where you can whirl around and appreciate the surrounding colors.

• SATURDAY, SEPT. 9

Mackinac Island Eight Mile Run

• SATURDAY, SEPT. 23

Forest King guided hike through Mackinac Island State Park

• FRIDAY, SEPT. 29

Arch Rock by Moonlight guided hike

• SATURDAY, OCT. 7

Final Sip ‘n Sail Sunset Cruise of the season

• SUNDAY, OCT. 8

Last day of the season for Benjamin Blacksmith Shop, Richard & Jane Manoogian Mackinac Art Museum and Biddle House Native American History Museum

• SUNDAY, OCT. 22

Last day of the season for Fort Mackinac

• OCT. 27-29

Mackinac Island Halloween Weekend

OCT. 28

Great Turtle Trail Run