VaaaCaaa!!! Whistle meets Mackinaw Island

We are on vacation!!! Spending time in northern Michigan. Hooper was born and raised in Lower Michigan. Can you believe Whistle, in 27+ years of marriage he has never been to this area!!

Getting a tour from a three horse team named, The Cavalry ~ Sarge, Doc, and Major!!

Fudge is a super big thing on the island as well as in Mackinaw City. There are 17 fudge shops on the island alone.
The beginning stage of fudge.

Fudge is formed on a marble table. It takes a couple of weeks of training before they allow one to work alone without supervision.

Final formed fudge. Each person forms their log a little bit different. Some are taller or wider, which makes a difference on the final stage, cutting the slices.

The fudge is cut into slices averaging approximately a half a pound each.

There are no motorized vehicles allowed on the island. Horses and bicycles are the main mode of transportation.

All deliveries are made with horse drawn wagons. When the horses need to go, they need to go. Therefore, you must at all times be mindful of your step. Not all puddles are created by rain.Caption this photo!
They typically us the same

horses as a team, harnessed in the same postition everyday. They start to form a bond. On their days off, they will even be known to stand in their stall next to each other.

A typical view down main street on the island.

: Climbing the hill up to the Grand Hotel. This iconic hotel was opened in 1887.

: The famous front porch of the Grand Hotel.

: The front porch is 600 feet and offers a beautiful view of Lake Huron.

: A view down the 600 foot balcony.

: Hoopers sis and mom enjoying the relaxing view.

: A view of the Mackinaw Bridge from the balcony.

: They paint the ceiling of the awnings a sky blue to trick the birds and bugs into thinking it is the sky to discourage nest building.

: The hotel was built by starting at two opposite ends and working toward the middle. If you look closly you can see they didn’t do so well in coming together.A

: A closer look at just how off they were in their construction. You can also notice it walking down the stairs that are in the center of the hotel.

: Lower level of the Grand Hotel. This is inside directly below the Grand Balcony. Lined with shops and salons.

: The view from the Cupola Bar, which is on the 4th floor of the hotel.

: Another view from the fourth floor.

: The path leading to the west of the hotel.

: The grounds of the hotel are quite expansive. They have Bocce ball, croquet, tennis courts, a swimming pool. They also have an 18 hole golf course. However it is split up that requires a 25 minute carriage ride to get from the front nine to the back nine.