What is the proper way to pronounce the word “Mackinac”?

 

The French Pronounced it “aw” but spelled it “ac”. The British heard it pronounced “aw” so they spelled it that way. Whichever way it is spelled, it is always pronounced “aw”.

Lasagna, 45 minute drive north & a quick 20-minute power nap after finishing marathon #33 – and I’m boarding an early afternoon ferry to Michigan’s Mackinaw Island.  Berthed downtown on Main Street, bought a carriage tour ticket & hopped aboard within 5 minutes of arriving on the island.  BAM – awesome timing (next tour not for 2 hours).

Traffic on Mackinac Island is limited to bicycles & horse-drawn carriages – automobiles prohibited…pretty cool, huh?

Targeted a visit to Mackinaw & its Grand Hotel because of a sappy 80’s movie starring Jane Seymour & Christopher Reeve, “Somewhere in Time”.  Re-watched the movie last week online before marathoning in Michigan.

Don’t think the love story itself drew me in – it was the ability to go back in time & live another era.  What would life have been like if I were placed in the early to mid- 1800’s in the American West?  Hmm.

Mackinaw’s Carriage Tour hit all island highlights.  Started downtown, rode past residences built in the 1910s & ‘20s, the Governor’s ‘Summer Residence’, and – the Grand Hotel.

Built in 1887, the Grand Hotel still looks much like it did a century ago.  There are newer hotels with modern facilities on the island – but give me history & creaky wood planks any day.  Nothing rivals the Grand Hotel’s long wrap-around wood porch, overlooking the Straits of Mackinac (Lake Huron).  Spectacular.

Tour resumed at the island’s working stable (Surrey Hills) where we switched carriages & travelled thru Mackinac Island State Park, stopping briefly at Arch Rock (rest break for the horses).

Tour concluded at Fort Mackinac, built by British troops during the Revolutionary War.  I hopped off at Fort Mackinac & walked the trip remainder, down historic Market Street, past “Somewhere in Time” gift shop & multiple fudge stores.

Beautiful day.

 

Ferried returned, hotelled the night across from Old Mackinac Point Lighthouse.

Early 230am start for the trip home – 4 hour ride to Grand Rapids, 8am Denver flight.

“Come back to me” – Elise McKenna, ‘Somewhere in Time’

I’ll come back to Mackinaw & the Grand Hotel.

 

“Somewhere in Time”

 

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *