No place celebrates America’s independence quite like the communities in the Straits of Mackinac. Bring your family and enjoy a full day of activities in Mackinaw City, including: 1-3pm — Family Games on the Marina Lawn 9pm-Dusk — Straits Area Concert Band Concert at Conking Heritage Park Dusk — The Largest & Most Spectacular Fireworks […]

By Jhai Smith and Dianna Stampfler Pressed pennies are definitely one of the most affordable souvenirs to “purchase” when visiting the Straits of Mackinac. Also known as “elongated coins,” they are quite a collector’s item for people traveling here from around the state and across the globe. “An elongated coin (or pressed penny) is one that has been […]

With the passage of Public Act 218 signed by Governor Albert Sleeper on May 12, 1919, the Michigan State Park Commission was officially organized…making this year the unit’s 100th Anniversary! Yet, there were two parks under state control prior to that act…according to the Michigan Department of Natural Resources website (www.michigan.gov/dnr). The first was Interlochen […]

Photo Credit: https://www.crazycrow.com/site/event/fort-michilimackinac-reenactment-pageant/  No place celebrates Memorial Weekend and the start of the Pure Michigan summer season quite like the Straits of Mackinac. For nearly 60 years, this community has hosted America’s longest-running, free Memorial Day historical program in the United States. The Memorial Pageant Weekend has been running consecutively since 1962 (although the first, small-scale […]

Each year, a handful of special parades are held in which the participants travel across the 5-mile Mackinac Bridge. These events are fun not only for the participants, but for visitors in downtown Mackinaw City as well. Please add these dates to your summer travel calendar: Friday, April 26                  4th Annual Jeep the Mac Last […]

Spring is a beautiful time of year in the Mackinaw City area, as the winter melts away and nature comes out of its deep slumber. Plenty of seasonal activities are planned to celebrate the arrival of spring and all its beauty—from the flora to fauna to astronomy to aviary. Savoring Michigan’s sweet treat…maple syrup Did […]

Michigan has more lighthouse than any other state (at nearly 120) and the Straits of Mackinac is home to more than a dozen of these historic navigational aids. Standing majestically against the backdrop of the Great Lakes, these lights remain a testament to the state’s early maritime history. Throughout the Mackinaw City region, six of […]

Mackinaw City businesses and hotels are celebrating the start of spring with vacation specials and events during the 3rd Annual Mackinac Meltdown, April 1-15 including: April 1-16 — Spring Break Splash at Pirate Cove Waterpark Things are heating up inside…with $5 fun, April 1-16 at the Pirate’s Adventure waterpark inside the Crown Choice Inn & […]

By Chas Thompson – Professional Ice Fisher & Brewer Crisp winter mornings bring on a tradition tracing back to the first bearded men seeking the tranquility and solitude of fishing. Walking across the frozen inland lakes in the sheer quiet and peace of winter to cut a hole and pursue some fresh fish for their […]

For more than a quarter century, Mackinaw City has rolled out the white carpet for a weekend of seasonal fun and excitement fit for the entire family. The 26th Annual Mackinaw City Winter Festival is scheduled for January 18-19, 2019. Most of activities are free with a 2019 Winter Fest Button. Buttons can be purchased […]