WHY THIS RESORT IS AN ABSOLUTELY PERFECT MICHIGAN GETAWAY
Have you ever heard of a place in Michigan called Mackinac Island…? If not, you are in for a real treat! Mackinac Island is a small island that is located within Lake Huron, between the upper and lower peninsula of Michigan. It’s a place where no cars are allowed… a place where you’ll see horses around every turn… and a place where fudge is considered a staple food group. To sum it up… it’s a place filled with all the magical feels.
While Mackinac Island is adorned with so many magical places, there is one place in particular that holds a special spot in my heart… Mission Point Resort. While I’ve been to Mackinac Island multiple times, and explored so much it has to offer… I have never ventured up there during the fall time. So, that’s exactly what I did! Dan (my husband), our 2 pups (Charlie and Henry), and myself decided to spend a crisp and cool October weekend on the island, and stay at Mission Point Resort. And here’s how our weekend went…
GETTING TO THE ISLAND
Let’s start off with the basics, okay? How in the heck do you get to Mackinac Island?! Most people take a short ferry ride over! Yes… you can take your own boat or plane over, but that’s not the norm. Now, there are 2 places to catch a ferry over to Mackinac Island: Mackinaw City and St. Ignace. Mackinaw City is the more common choice, simply because it’s the city that’s in the lower peninsula. When you get to Mackinaw City, there will be a handful of ferry companies to choose from. I choose Shepler’s Ferry EVERY SINGLE TIME I venture over to the island! Why? Because it’s the best!! Hehehe… but honestly, I have grown up utilizing Shepler’s Ferry, and I’ve always been so satisfied with their service, that I would never want to use any other type of ferry! Just a few facts about Shepler’s…
Round trip tickets for adults are $27.00 each.
You can take your dog with you over to the island free of charge!
You may bring your own bike over for an additional fee.
You can buy your tickets in advance or at the gate. No reservations are required.
The ferry schedule is located on Shepler’s website, and it is recommend to arrive 1 hour before you’d like to sail away.
There is complimentary day car parking, and a small fee for overnight parking.
Now, you’re on the island… how do you get around?! There are 3 main ways… walking, biking, or by horses! Let’s talk a little bit about each mode of transportation…
Walking: An obvious choice… haha! When in doubt, you can pretty much walk everywhere! The perimeter of the island is only 8 miles… so, it’s really not that large of an island. And the majority of all the shops, restaurants, and hotels are centrally located downtown.
Biking: My favorite way to get around!! Whether it’s by tandem or a single bike, you truly can’t visit Mackinac Island without riding a bike!! If you don’t bring your own bike, there are plenty of rental places throughout downtown. If you stay at Mission Point Resort, you can rent your bike directly from them!! And their bikes are SO NICE. And if you didn’t know… there’s a beautiful bike path around the whole island!
Horses: There’s nothing like hearing the “clip clop” of horse hooves down Main Street of Mackinac Island! There’s honestly never a time where you don’t see a horse. And you can do more than just look at them!! You can ride them yourself, or go on carriage rides. I’ve done both… and each method is equally fun!! Horses are also utilized in carrying guest luggage to the various hotels. So, if you were wondering how you would get all your luggage to Mission Point Resort… the horses will take care of it for you! All you have to do is drop it off at the ferry, and the next time you’ll see it is in your hotel room!
So, now you’re all up to speed on how to get to the island, and how to get around the island. Let’s move on to talking about the beauty that is Mission Point Resort!
ALL ABOUT MISSION POINT RESORT
Mission Point Resort is one for the books… from the notable red roofs, to the white lawn chairs spread out on the green grass… it’s a resort where magical memories are made. As Mission Point states, it’s a place where “genuine hospitality and simple comfort reign supreme”. It’s located pristinely right along the waterfront of Lake Huron. And might I mention… this is the sunrise side of the island. So, mornings at Mission Point are spectacular and the most beautiful. Staying here is like staying inside a fairytale book…
But there’s much more to Mission Point than just the stunning looks. When one stays at Mission Point Resort, they’re going to experience a complete and comprehensive resort experience. It’s the perfect getaway for couples, for families, and even for the furry friends in your life! Some highlights of lodging at this resort…
Five restaurants
38,000 square feet of event space
Outdoor swimming pool and hot tubs
Full service Lakeside Spa & Salon
Health club
The Boutique at The Marketplace
18-hole putting course
Complimentary Kids Club (daily from 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM)
Bike rentals
Arcade
Croquet and bocce ball lawn
Tennis court
Flower pressing
Movie theater
Now, let’s take a look at the various hotel rooms within the resort. At Mission Point, there are 2 different lodges… the Main Lodge and Straits Lodge. The Main Lodge is where you’ll go to check in. It contains the lobby (which is gorgeous) and all the things like the front desk, and concierge. Within the Main Lodge, you’ll also find 4 different restaurants, and the Mission Point Marketplace. Straits Lodge is where all the dog-friendly rooms are! And it’s actually really nice because it’s a pinch closer to the downtown area on the island. Within Straits Lodge, you’ll also find a small grab-and-go cafe.
What brought my little family to this resort? It’s the only resort on the island that welcomes dogs to lodge with you!! And come on… it’s always more fun to take your pups with you on your vacation! Some things to note if you’re planning to bring your dogs with you to Mission Point…
All dog-friendly rooms are located in the Straits Lodge. It’s just a few minutes to walk to the Main Lodge.
Guests pay a fee (non-refundable) of $100 for deep cleaning.
Only well-mannered dogs welcome!! Mission Point reserves the right to require immediate removal of any pet that displays dangerous or unacceptable behavior, including, but not limited to, biting, barking, or excessive noise.
There is a limit of 2 pets per guest room.
If you’d like to view the entire pet policy, click here!
So, what type of room did we all stay in? AN AWESOME ONE. Hehehe! We stayed in a hot tub junior suite, and it was beyond lovely! Here are some major perks of staying in one of these suites…
A king size bed
A separate sitting room, with a sleeper sofa
A private patio
A full size canopied hot tub
A refrigerator
Two separate sink areas
Two separate closest
When we visited in the fall time, the hot tub was our favorite aspect of this suite! It was utterly delightful to just relax in the warm water, while the cool breeze swirled around us. BONUS. While we were in the hot tub, the dogs were just roaming around on the enclosed porch. Seriously so nice for everyone involved! And speaking of dogs roaming around… when we had to take the boys out to the bathroom, we just went out the front door, and the dog potty area was right there. So convenient!
WHAT TO DO AT THE RESORT
One of the best aspects of staying at Mission Point Resort… there is so much to do within the resort!! I just love places like this… not only is it a great place to lay your head at night… but it’s genuinely a fun resort to stay at! Here are some of the festive activities you can engage in while staying at Mission Point…
Bike rentals: Like I’ve mentioned before… you really can’t visit the island without doing some biking! And if you didn’t bring your own bike, Mission Point has got you covered! They supply their own bike rentals for the island. They offer single speed, multi-speed, and tandem bike rentals by the hour or by the day. Rentals are on a first come-first served basis, and can be picked up across from the resort salon and spa.
Horseback riding: Feel like a true local of the island by hopping on a horse over at the Mackinac Community Equestrian Center. Here you can experience horseback riding lessons for individuals and groups… of all skill levels. And if you’ll be on the island for a while… there’s even horse camps to participate in!
Property tours: Choose to explore Mission Point via a garden or history tour! The garden tours are led by the resort’s resident horticulturist, and goes throughout the entire property. On these tours you will learn about the resort’s unique climate and green gardening practices. The history tours are led by the resort historian, and are composed of walking through the resort and learning of its upbringing. Want to learn more about the resort’s history? Head on over to the beautiful movie theater on property and watch, “Somewhere in Time”, starring Christopher Reeve.
Kayaking: Head onto the Great Lakes with your very own kayak! Mission Point partners with Great Turtle Kayak Tours to provide an enjoying aquatic experience. You can kayak at sunrise, see Arch Rock from the water… and so much more! Guess what? You could even do on-the-water yoga!
Golfing: Whether you’re headed off to the Greens of Mackinac or the Wawashkamo Golf Club… there’s a golfing opportunity for everyone! The Greens of Mackinac is a fun and festive putting experience with 18 real bent grass greens. Looking for something a little different? Then transport yourself back to 1898 to putt at the historic Wawashkamo Golf Club. This golf club is located about 30 minutes away from the resort, via carriage ride.
Croquet and bocce ball: Enjoy Mission Point’s beautiful green lawn with either croquet or bocce ball! All games are complimentary and work on a first come first serve basis. Not interested in croquet or bocce ball? There are tennis courts too!
Looking to spend a little time relaxing? Lucky for you… there’s a spa located within the resort!! Lakeside Spa is a true gem, and its found right at your fingertips! Another reason to spend your time at Mission Point Resort… it’s the only resort on the island that boasts a full-service health and wellness center! Some of the main features... a full salon, multiple spa treatment rooms (including a couples treatment room), men's and women's saunas and steam rooms, a spa shop, and a fitness center.
I had the pleasure of booking a spa appointment here, and chose to indulge myself in their signature spa treatment… the Lilac Facial and Body Treatment. This treatment features an express facial, massage with lilac essential oil, a hydrating foot mask, and hot towel service. It was so delightful and something you can only find at Mission Point Resort! Decide what you want by looking at their spa menu!
And don’t forget… there’s also so much to do outside of the hotel!! Mackinac Island is truly such an amazing place to vacation!! I could write a completely different blog on all the things to do on the island… but for right now, I’ll just focus on one of my favorite things to do… EAT FUDGE.
Mission Point Resort is so close to the island’s downtown area… which makes it perfect for some grand fudge tasting! While we were on the island, we decided to head on over to Ryba’s Fudge Shop. Ryba’s began all the way back in 1936, but didn’t move up to the island until 1960. And I’m so glad they decided to move up to the island!! With a plethora of creamy, rich flavors to choose from… there’s no going wrong! My favorite flavor? Turtle! We grabbed a few different flavors and took them back to our hotel room… it was the perfect idea for a snack!
WHERE TO EAT AT THE RESORT
If you think you’ll go hungry while staying at Mission Point Resort… think again!! There are 4 different wonderful places to grab food on Mission Point property: Chianti, Round Island Bar & Grill, Bistro on the Greens, and Boxwood Coffeeshop & Cafe.
Chianti: Chianti is the newest addition to Mission Point Resort. Enjoy an artfully crafted 5 course culinary experience that was thoughtfully created specifically for Mission Point. There are 3 dish selections to choose from per course. Reservations are required and can be made through the concierge by calling 906-847-3007.
Round Island Bar & Grill: Dine at the main hub on Mission Point property. Round Island is in the main building of the resort, and features breakfast, lunch and dinner. When the season permits, enjoy the beautiful outdoor seating! You can make reservations for this restaurant here.
Bistro on the Greens: Indulge in some delightful food, all while indulging in some delightful views! A popular spot in the summer time… you will cherish every moment here… complete with thirst quenching cocktails, insatiable food, and glimmering fire pits.
Boxwood Coffeeshop & Cafe: Looking for a quicker food option? Then head here! From hand crafted lattes, to delectable sandwiches, to mouth-watering pastries… you’ll absolutely find something here to munch on!
Want to hear something extra special? You can have a lovely dinner designed for you and your pups! While dogs cannot eat in the actual restaurants, the staff of Mission Point can put together a private table for you in the extended lobby area of the resort. That way, you can have some peace, quiet, and privacy during dinner. You will be able to order off of the Bistro on the Greens menu. The staff will even bring your furry dinner guests some refreshing water.
Oh man… I sure do miss the island! it’s one of my favorite places to visit ever!! And I truly hope you can make it here one day yourself!! I’m counting down the days until I can be at Mission Point Resort again! Looking to venture up here yourself? Make sure to check out the current promotions and packages Mission Point is offering!
Thank you so much to Mission Point Resort for providing the lodging, food, and bicycles for this amazing weekend. Although I did work with Mission Point Resort, all thoughts and opinions are my own, and true to myself.
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