Easy to get to. Free parking. We went to the harbor and lighthouse both nights we stayed in town to…read morewatch the sunset. This was a cute town to stay at .. several bars and restaurants. Perfect stop to look for the famous petasky stone. There is a rock beach very close to the lighthouse. They were finding small petasky stones.

If you're coming from the lower peninsula of Michigan, you're probably crossing the Mackinac…read morebridge. Right as you return to terra firma and pay the toll, there's a right turn you can make into the Welcome Center. There's a spacious parking lot, with a dog run and two trails. The two trails flank the dog run, with the North Country trail running north and one from Straits State Park on the other side. The visitor center itself has bathrooms with multiple stalls, a water fountain, and a lobby jam-packed with maps, pamphlets, displays, and more. There's a worker at the desk who also can dispense advice on what to do, where to eat, and more. It is a very welcoming welcome center, with bright natural lighting and climate control. It's worth a stop by to stretch your legs and take a look!

Easy and quick walkable shopping area. Lots of shirt and souvenir shops…read more Walk around to find the huge metal part wings as well as the gigantic transformer for a photo opp. It was a beautiful day to walk around. I am sure you will find something at the crossings.

Mackinaw Crossings…read more Great shopping center. Lots of interesting shops. Don't forget to see... Mack-A-Tron A very large statue that looks similar to Bumblebee from the Transformers franchise. Made from car parts. Huge. Very big and tall. Looks to be about 30' more or less. Well taken care of but a little dusty. Mostly clean. Lots of photo takers. NOT official Bumblebee, but close. your kids will love it. Highly Recommended

Stopped here on a whim to checkout lighthouses during our mini getaway. This beach did not…read moredisappoint! It was so calm and peaceful. Beautiful water. Hardly any people. The people who did visit didn't stay for long so we had the whole beach to ourselves. We had camping chairs in the car so we just put them in the water and sat right in the water and enjoyed the view. They have a gift shop and the only restrooms I noticed were portajohns. We built some rock towers but put the rocks back when we were done because some of the rocks had snail eggs on them.

Gorgeous park at the tip of the Mitten's pinkie finger. I got there shortly before a spectacular…read moresunset where the sky was all lit up with pinks and oranges and purples. I took a short walk where my friends who had camped there the previous night as well showed my the historic lighthouse and some message in a bottle painted sign that was very reminiscent of Steve "ESPO" Powers. I set up my trusty old dome tent and camped on the same site as my friends and nobody said peep about doubling up like that. I left out around 10:30 or so and didn't hit any trails as I had packed some snacks for late but no breakfast. Not much in the way of restaurants or groceries around here so I hit the road. Can't speak to the trails or day use part of the park but the campground and adjacent beach was beautiful.

Such a fun downtown area up here…read more There's so many wonderful clothing, boutiques, dining, coffee shops, Cherry Republics around the corner from each other, tacos, and gift shops too. Parking is free after 6pm. Use Park Mobile app to pay for parking. Much of the street parking is usually full and the back alley spots tend to be assigned. There are many public parking lots all over.

There is no yelp account on too many businesses in this area. The people and the process deserve…read morerecognition. The EJ Post Office is incredibly efficient. A few of the small town terminals I've dealt with have huge issues. Makes no sense because they are soooo small, everything should run smooth. Not only is the flow seamless, the ladies are super sweet and even my carrier bends over backwards to deliver packages and the such. You really only need Street parking out front. There is overflow in the back, not too much and you could probably get away with parking in the hardware across the road or the cafe next door. I don't think it'll ever get so busy you'll need to. They have PO Box section and package pick-up. If the load is big enough you can drive around back to the well and your boxes will be waiting! 12/23

They offer two different types of parking here, and they both cost money. The regular parking costs…read moreless, but you need to take a shuttle to the parking lot, which is off site. The premium parking costs more but it's near the dock. So you choose! We chose the regular parking, but we almost missed getting on the ferry because it took a while to get to the parking and back. Ferries leave every hour, usually, so we would have had to wait an hour. So, four stars because of the parking situation. It's kind of a bummer, but they got you by the cojones because where else are you going to park if you want to catch the ferry to Mackinac Island? The rest of the ferry experience was great. The people expertly tag and handle luggage, and the ride is smooth. You can sit on the deck and take in the view, but keep in mind that it's very windy and can get cold, even during the summer months. Or you can sit below deck where it's climate controlled. You can still get a great view below deck. The trip from the mainland to Mackinac Island (and vice versa) takes about 17 minutes, and they depart right on time. Don't be late, or you'll have to catch the next ferry.

I've only ever taken Shepler's ferry to and fro Mackinac Island from Mackinac City! It's typically…read morea really smooth experience and the porters/boat crew are always friendly and helpful. The ride itself is about ~15 minutes one-way unless you're taking one of the morning Mighty Mac where it travels under the Mackinac Bridge! That Mighty Mac journey is about 25 minutes. The FAQs are also really helpful and detailed so read that before going on and parking! FYI that Arnold Transportation (another company) holds the winter contract so Sheplers doesn't operate after Oct 31.

I came here for the first time a couple of weeks ago, and will be returning in September. This is…read morean absolutely beautiful dark sky park with spectacular views. The park offers various educational programs and experiences throughout the months, has a unique gift shop (the staff was great as well), and has several walking trails to enjoy. I love that you can learn on your walk by reading the various signs posted. It would be fun if they did an educational scavenger hunt on their educational trail, as that would be a fun way to learn. I look forward to visiting again in another month!

It's just a short drive from Mackinaw City and this place has been on our bucket list for a few…read moreyears. The place is nice but it is not exactly what we were expecting. The path is well marked with red lights (no white lights allowed). They do have bathrooms there too. It just felt a little underwhelming and over populated (and we went on a cold fall night). Some people were packing in wagons and had flashlights which was annoying since the white light ruins your eyes when they are adjusted to the dark.