Best Dog Friendly Vacations Michigan – Visiting Mackinac Island with your dog is the perfect summer vacation. With Victorian charm, rich history, beautiful beaches and miles of trails, you’ll enjoy pure Michigan magic!
Crossing the Straits of Mackinac and taking the ferry to Mackinac Island is like taking a trip back in time.
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Although the journey takes about 20 minutes, the boat takes another hour. Bicycles roll down the streets, people walk or ride bicycles, and the natural beauty that has attracted visitors to this place since ancient times has remained untouched.
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If you’ve heard of Mackinac Island, it’s likely that cars are prohibited. When “carts without horses” were delivered here in 1898, the loud noise scared the horses and threatened the peace and tranquility of the islanders. So the city council quickly decided to ban the car – a simple task, but a decision that changed history. And it makes Mackinac a wonderful place to explore with your dogs!
The fact that you don’t have a car doesn’t mean that you won’t have problems getting around the island. The ferry dock is just steps away from the main street, where shops, restaurants and souvenir shops can keep you busy during the day. And many of Mackinac’s most famous sites are within walking distance: Fort Mackinac, the Grand Hotel, East and West Bluffs cottages, and the Arch Rock Visitor Center are within a mile.
For those who want to see more of the island, consider a horse-drawn taxi or sightseeing tour. (Pets that are well behaved and on a leash are welcome on board as long as there is no horse noise).
Or choose a ride-yourself or ride-yourself horse ride for an even more authentic (and possibly exciting) experience!
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If you’re not too fancy, there are plenty of bike rentals where you can hire two or three wheels, as well as baby and pet trailers.
The two ferries serving Mackinac Island will be happy to see and welcome your family members for free. The tour lasts between 15 and 20 minutes, and the price for adults is $32 one way. Day trippers can park their cars for free in Mackinaw City or St. Louis in selected ports. Ignace A cruises offer plenty of parking options for guests staying on the island.
Ty and Buster were so excited to go on our trip that we were first in line for the ferry!
Buses take you directly to the city center, a few minutes’ walk from the main street. From there you can check out the shops, stop by the Visitor Center for tips and information, sign up for a shuttle, rent a bike, or walk to Fort Mackinac, the Grand Hotel, the cabins on the East and West Bluffs, or Arch Rock.
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Leashed pets are welcome to explore Mackinac Island with you! Keep your eyes peeled for dog stickers in the windows of many stores and restaurants. And if you don’t see a sticker, ask if your dog is allowed before entering.
Pets are also welcome at Fort Mackinac, parks and all roads and trails in Mackinac Island State Park, which covers more than 80% of the island.
For bike rentals, pet trailers are usually available at many bike resorts on the island. Horse-drawn taxi service and carriage rides are also pet-friendly! Small pets that sit at your feet are free of charge, and a child fee is charged for larger ones.
Your dog is also welcome to join you on a kayak or paddle tour around the island, provided you bring your dog.
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Mackinac Island Pet Policy. Pets must be on a leash at all times. Owners must clean up and properly dispose of pet waste
Perhaps the hardest part of visiting Mackinac Island with your dogs is deciding what to do first! Here are some tips to help you get started:
For history buffs, Fort Mackinac may be the place to start. Moved to the mainland island between 1779 and 1781, the translators are happy to trace the history of the fort and the island, from its beginnings as a French fur trading post, to its transition to commercial fishing and finally as a summer resort.
The cannon on the wall is often “fired on station” as part of the shows, so if your dog is sensitive to loud noises, be sure to ask about the sleeping schedule.
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Under the wall is a large green area that once served as a military garden. Today, the park is named after Father Jacques Marquette, who in 1671 brought a group of Huron Indians to the island, who were being chased by Iroquois warriors from southern Ontario.
It became apparent that the land in Mackinac was too sparse to support Huron agriculture, so a settlement was settled in what is now St. But the statue of Father Marquette is still there. After graduating from Marquette University in Milwaukee, which is also named after that Jesuit priest, I discovered a very interesting historical nugget!
In 1875, the United States Congress established Mackinac National Park – America’s second national park after Yellowstone. Twenty years later, when the soldiers were removed from Fort Mackinac for good, the fort and national park were transferred to the state of Michigan.
Now the state park covers more than 80 percent of the island, and dates back to the 19th century. It protects the 19th century landscape as well as beautiful views of limestone formations, caves and Lakes Huron and Michigan.
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There are many trails and miles throughout the park, and if you or your pet are looking to get away from the crowds, this is a great place to start. Many people stay in town after they get off the boat, so hitting the trails allows you to leave them behind.
Buster loves nothing more than a long walk and Ty is happy to ride in his stroller for hours, so we decided to follow Hwy 185 for a 13.2 mile drive along the coast of the island. After a short walk along the coastal path at the Mission Point Resort – one of the island’s pet-friendly hotels – we began our tour of the island.
With occasional stops to take photos and enjoy the view, we spent about four hours around Mackinac. It’s a nice, gradual ride and of course no car traffic!
The landscapes, crystal blue sea and rocky beaches are a wonderful reward for your efforts. And bicycles are not visible on this road, so their routes may not have the same view.
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Our advice if you are planning looping – by bike or on foot – is to travel to the island
Driver. The visitor guide recommends walking counter-clockwise, so that’s what almost everyone does… including us! If you go clockwise (get off the ferry and turn left onto the main street), your side of the road is less full of oncoming cyclists.
As you leisurely stroll along the lake and beach, don’t forget to look up to see the famous Arch Rock!
British Landing, on the opposite side of the island, is a good place to grab a bite. And maybe frolic in the pool, if you feel like it!
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As the evening progresses, it becomes easier to walk and cycle on the road. By the time we got back to town, things had calmed down a bit.
We plan to have a bite to eat at the beautiful Windermere Doghouse and enjoy the view from Windermere Point. But we serve serious dishes, so we chose a more robust menu.
Ice House BBQ and Bistro on the Greens offer pet-friendly patio seating. But the brightly colored umbrellas at the Iroquois Hotel’s Carriage House restaurant caught our attention. We discovered that although they may not allow pets in their rooms, they are more than happy to have a drink or a meal on your beautiful veranda!
It was the perfect place to end the day before returning to the ship and home.
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Unfortunately, the famous Grand Hotel does not allow pets. Built in 1887 to accommodate summer visitors to the island, dogs visiting Mackinac Island are also not allowed.
But don’t worry! There are three incredible accommodations on the island where pets are allowed.
Mission Point Resort, which has a beautiful garden and a dog-friendly terrace at its restaurant, allows two pets per room at Straits Lodge for an additional $100 deep cleaning.
Park Place Suites offers three residential units in the heart of downtown, so be sure to book early! Each house has a kitchen and a fenced garden. They charge an additional fee of $30 per night.
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And the Sunset Condo offers even more stunning views of Lake Huron and the Mackinac Bridge. Their eight species sleep between 2 and 12 people, and fees are based on the size of your pet. For animals under 40 kg,
