Somewhere in Time - Mackinac Island

I got ready for today's activities by watching the movie, "Somewhere in Time" starring Christopher Reeve and Jane Seymour last night. I paid special attention to all of the scenes that were either filmed at the Grand Hotel, or a set built to look like it. That was most of them! I'd seen the movie, but with that disease I have (Can't Remember Stuff), I'd forgotten most of it. Jim elected for the bedroom tv and a football game.

So, I was ready this morning when we headed over to Mackinac Island on the Star Line Ferry, a turbo-jet ferry that really moves! The trip over took less than 20 minutes, and I didn't even get seasick.

This is a picture of another ferry from the same company as the one we rode:

We had some nice views of lighthouses and the Grand Hotel from the boat.

Once we landed, we walked around a little bit to get our bearings, then found our way to the ticket office to buy our tour tickets. No cars on the island, so you either ride bicycles (I don't think so), or horses, (Jim doesn't think so) walk (nope, not all over that island), or take a horse drawn taxi or tour. We opted for the tour, which took a couple of hours. It was great fun and we got to see a lot of historic sites, as well as experience the state park.

The view of the village as we approached in the ferry:

Typical light pole, with flowers:

It's already been along day!

Very typical traffic on main street:

We were sitting the front seat of the carriage, so got a lot of this view!

They have carriages drawn by two horses, and these - drawn by 3 horses.

There are beautiful gardens almost everywhere you look:

We got dropped off at the Grand Hotel at the end of our tour, and spent most of the rest of our time on the island there. It cost us each $10 to go in, which I think is a trap, but we paid it because I wanted to see it, and I wanted to eat lunch there. We got there too late for the luncheon buffet, which is probably just as well. We ate at the Carleton Tea Room and had delicious food anyway.

This is the lower level hallway with shops on the right:

Off the hallway pictured above is this gallery:

Here's the tea shop where we ate. Table are located along the hallway, some are by the windows.

After lunch we walked all over the place, taking pictures, and enjoying watching the rich folks hang out. The hotel has some interesting features, including the longest front porch (600 ft.) in the world. The ceiling of the porch is painted a light blue to discourage birds from nesting under it.

This is a wall dedicated to the movie, "Somewhere in Time":

Here's the terrace room, there's a harpist playing music:

The front porch:
Stopped to get a picture on our way out:

We walked back downtown, stopped at a shop where I bought a gift, and by then we were ready to hop the ferry back to Mackinaw City.

Another Grand Adventure!