The Two RV Gypsies: Full-Time RVers
in Mackinaw City and on Mackinac Island
June 18, 2013

Mackinac Island is an island and resort area, about 8 miles in circumference and 3.8 square miles in land area, in the U.S. state of Michigan. It is located in Lake Huron, at the eastern end of the Straits of Mackinac, between the state's Upper and Lower Peninsulas. It has 3,776 square miles. It is Michigan's first State Park.

Below: The view while waiting for the Mackinac Island Ferry to arrive and take passengers to Mackinac Island

Below: The ferry coming in to take the two RV Gypsies and other passengers to Mackinac Island

And away they go...... towards Mackinac Island

Below: Close up of the museum and jetty shown in the above panorama. The USCG Cutter Mackinaw WAGB 83 was specifically built to keep the Great Lakes shipping lanes open under the harshest winter conditions during WWII. The Mackinaw made it possible for iron ore and copper from the Upper Peninsula of Michigan to be transported to the wartime factories in the lower Great Lakes.

After the war, the Mackinaw was regarded as the foremost icebreaker in the world. For 62 years it performed ice breaking feats keeping important shipping lanes in the Great Lakes open to commercial traffic, and earning the reputation "We move ships when no one else can!"

Below: A jet boat with a big rooster tail speeding past the slow moving ferry that the two RV Gypsies were on.

Below: Karen Duquette took pictures of the waves splashing against the side of the ferry - (filmed through a window).

Below: The Round Island Light, also known as the Old Round Island Point Lighthouse, a lighthouse located on the west shore of Round Island in the shipping lanes of the Straits of Mackinac, which connect Lake Michigan and Lake Huron. Height 56 feet. It opened and was first lit in 1985. It is made of brick and concrete. Round Island is an uninhabited island of only 378 acres of mostly wilderness.

Below: A buoy

Below: The two RV Gypsies got their first view of Mackinac Island.

Below: Lots and lots of Bicycles and lilac trees everywhere (Karen Duquette loves the smell of lilacs on the trees).

The Horse is King on Mackinac Island

Motorized vehicles have been prohibited on the island since 1898, with the exception of snowmobiles during winter, emergency vehicles, and service vehicles. Travel on the island is either by foot, bicycle, or horse-drawn carriage. Roller skates and roller blades are also allowed, except in the downtown area. Bicycles, roller skates/roller blades, carriages, and saddle horses are available for rent. An 8-mile road follows the island's perimeter. Numerous roads, trails and paths cover the interior of the island. The road encircling the island and closely hugging the shoreline is M-185, the United States' only state highway without motorized vehicles.

Below: The two RV Gypsies took a horse-drawn carriage tour of Mackinac Island. Note of interest: Fudge shops were everywhere in downtown Mackinac.

Below: The Grand Hotel is a historic hotel and coastal resort constructed in the late 19th century. The facility advertises itself as having the world's largest porch, 660 feet in length, and it overlooks a vast Tea Garden and resort-scale swimming pool. The Grand Hotel is well known for a number of notable visitors, including five U.S. Presidents. The hotel has drawn some criticism for charging a $10 fee for non-guests to enter the building and enjoy the view from the famous porch.

Below: Over 100 years old, the Michigan Governor’s Summer Residence has functioned as a summer home for nine Michigan Governors and their families dating to 1943. Visitors can enjoy a rare look inside the 1902 cottage on a free tour overlooking Mackinac Island’s harbor. There is no admission and tours run from 9:30am to 11:30am. The two RV Gypsies got here too late to take the tour. No food, drink or cameras allowed.

Below: The horse-drawn carriage tour let everyone off at the Surrey Hills Museum (free admission) to see historical carriages and of course, browse gift shops. Lee Duquette made a new friend in the gift shop.

Below: After browsing the Surrey Hills Museum, the two RV Gypsies changed to a bigger carriage with three horses to finish the tour.

Below: Skull Cave is a small and shallow cave carved during the Algonquin post-glacial period by the waters of Lake Algonquin, a swollen meltwater ancestor of today's Lake Huron. Skull Cave is primarily of interest for its historical associations. It is believed to have been used as an inhumation site by Native Americans of the Straits of Mackinac area in the 18th century.

While in active use as a site for human remains, the cave was also used as a refuge in 1763 by fur trader Alexander Henry, a survivor of the capture of Fort Michilimackinac by Native Americans allied with Chief Pontiac.

Below: The Arch Rock is a geologic formation, a natural limestone arch formed during the Nipissing post-glacial period, a period of high Lake Huron levels following the end of the Wisconsin glaciation. To this day Arch Rock stands on the Lake Huron shoreline 146 feet above the water.

Limestone breccia is not an ideal material for natural bridges, and this type of formation is quite rare in the North American Great Lakes region. The Native Americans saw Arch Rock as a place of numinous power, and told many stories and legends about it.

Euro-Americans did not share many of the taboos of their Native predecessors, and treated Arch Rock as a curiosity to be admired. Its presence was a major element in the decisions to create Mackinac National Park in 1875 and its successor, Mackinac Island State Park in 1895. Arch Rock has been a part of the State Park ever since. Today Arch Rock is a focus of Mackinac Island tourism, and is seen by many visitors to the Island. Several trails and paved roads, including the aptly named Arch Rock Road and Arch Rock Bicycle Trail, lead to the formation.

Below: Looking down from beside the Arch Rock

Below: Lee Duquette and the horse-drawn carriage

Below: A large Golden Head Monument

Below: A white Lilac tree

Below: The island served a strategic position amidst the commerce of the Great Lakes fur trade. This led to the establishment of Fort Mackinac by the British during the American Revolutionary War. It was the scene of two strategic battles during the War of 1812. An extra fee of $11 is charged to go inside the fort.

Below: A house for VIP guests (NOT the two RV Gypsies).

Below: At the end of the horse-drawn carriage tour, everyone had to walk down a steep hill to get back into town.

Below: View from the bottom of the steep hill

Below: Missionary Bark Chapel

Below: The two RV Gypsies stopped to photograph the sign for leaving Mackinac Island State Park. On the other side of the sign, they photographed the Welcome to Mackinac Island State Park. The two RV Gypsies toured from the other end of the island so they did not see this sign until the end of their tour.

Below: The two RV Gypsies had lunch and a nice view.

Two horses that pull the Grand Hotel Coach.

Below: Back in Mackinaw City, the two RV Gypsies noticed a bear and cub on top of a souvenir store.

You may visit these three (3) sites in any order you choose.
The page you are on is grayed out and cannot be chosen.
There are also multiple other viewing options below.

Michilmackinac State Park, Mackinac Bridge
and Old Mackinac Lighthouse

Mackinac Island (this page)

McGulpin Point Lighthouse

AFTER you have seen all three (3) sections above, please continue on to
The Tunnel of Trees and more

OR Continue Navigation in the order of your choice via the alphabetical or category buttons below OR Click here to see travels by the year (not the best way)