Mackinaw or Mackinac? They Both Spell History, PE and Fun

There may be some confusion around the words Mackinac and Mackinaw - both places in Michigan.  They both mean the same, but one refers to the city and the other the island.  According to the official Mackinac Bridge site, the French pronounced it "aw", but they spelled it to end with an "ac".  When the British heard the "aw" pronunciation, they spelled it as it sounded.  The original meaning for Mackinac is great turtle, as the island was thought to be shaped like a turtle.

Last weekend, we had the privilege of showing the island to our three children.  It was amazing!  The kids were very excited, and now old enough to appreciate the island.

The day started with a ferry boat ride to the island, and we had to capture some pictures of the B&B where we stayed!

 When my husband and I got married, we spent part of our honeymoon on Mackinac Island.  For those unfamiliar with the island, it is a magical place where no cars are allowed, and there is a Grand luxurious hotel.  We did not stay at the Grand Hotel on our honeymoon.  We, instead, enjoyed a bed & breakfast called the Bay View Inn, right on the beach.  It was amazing.  When the last ferry boat of the day, filled with daily tourists, would leave; all we would hear is the clip clop of horse hooves on the streets.  What a delightful sound!

We took a carriage ride through the hilly portion of the island, and rode our bikes around the 8.3 mile edge by the seashore.

The kids kept up well, with the youngest in a bike trailer.  We ate at the same hotel where we ate on our honeymoon.

Words cannot describe how magical this place is.  And, among all of the magic, there is tons of history to be learned.  A British battle, the construction of the Grand Hotel which took around 90 days, with 600 workers (not all truly carpenters, but those who answered an ad for a high-paying job - so, some of the this Grand Hotel is actually crooked in structure).  There is a fort on top of the island, and the nation's second national park (following Yellowstone).

And, of course, Mackinac would not be the same without some of their famous fudge.