Mackinac Island's ban on motor vehicles has created a unique style of participatory recreation, accessible to year-round residents and visitors alike. A wide variety of footpaths and saddle-horse trails snake through the interior of Mackinac Island. Several of these trails have been in use for at least 150 years. Most Islanders get from place to place by bicycle or horse-drawn carriage, and welcome visitors who do the same thing.
Thousands of tourists bring their own bikes to Mackinac Island each year. All three ferryboat lines welcome bikes, although they charge a supplemental fare for them. M-185, known locally as Main Street, is the 8-mile, relatively flat paved trail around the Island and a favorite destination. Bicycles can also be rented by the hour, and prices start about $5 an hour for a single speed bike with a basket.
The largest horse and buggy livery in the world is Mackinac Island Carriage Tours who provides a horse-drawn ride along a set route through the interior of the Island.
The Grand Hotel provides guests with horse-drawn carriage service from the ferry docks to the hotel via their horse-drawn omnibus for a fee.
Regular horse-drawn taxis are available 24/7 to take visitors to hotels, restaurants and homes for a fee. The Island is broken into several zones and taxi fare starts around $5 per person each way. Taxis will not wait so its important to be ready for pick up.
Visitors can also rent saddle horses or Drive Your Own Buggies by the hour via Cindy's Riding Stable and Jack's Livery Stable. Private tours with a driver are also available from Gough's Livery and Mackinac Island Carriage Tours.
Mackinac Island Carriage Tour Company offers great tour packages an excellent way to see the island hitting the major things to see including Fort Mackinac, Wings of Mackinac, Arch Rock and also offers a last stop at the Grand Hotel.
For an interesting view of the islands history, ghost stories, and legends, take a easy paced walking tour with Haunts of Mackinac and their Haunted History Tours. Haunts of Mackinac Tours are an entertaining and informative way to spend your evening on Mackinac Island.
Three 9-hole golf courses have been carved out of the interior of the island. On Grand Hotel property is the Grand Nine and up Island is the second nine hole course called the Woods. Horse drawn carriages move golfers between the two courses and there are golf carts available while on each course. Wawashkamo is a Scottish Links course and one of the oldest golf courses in the country. Created in the late 1800s , this is the closest to Scotland any one could hope for.
The Mackinaw Breezeis a charter sailboat that docks during summer months and is docked at the Bay View Bed & Breakfast. The Breeze offers 1 1/2 and private cruises from the island's harbor in the Straits of Mackinac.
All three ferry boat lines also offer private charter services.
Fishing is great in the straits region and there are several charter fishing companies.
