The joy of a stay at Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island, Michigan, begins with the view from the ferry. Lumbering across the Mackinac Straits, Grand slowly comes into view: Perched high on a hill, the sprawling white structure shines like a beacon. As soon as guests step off the ferry, the magic of the island drapes lightly over their shoulders.
A getaway here is a step back in time. The Grand was built in 1887, and its charms have been embellished and burnished over the years. This premier resort has provided respite and comfort for five U.S. presidents, all manner of industrialists and plenty of show biz personalities.
Grand Hotel is hardly the place to plunk down the baggage and race to The Pearl, the 18-hole golf course. In fact, there is no reason to ever race once you’re on the island. Transportation is of three types: horse-drawn carriage, bicycle and foot. Waking to the sound of Mackinac Island rush hour is a wonderful way to start the day: the clip-clop and snorts of horses, the jangle of harnesses, the whirring of bicycle wheels and gears.
The front nine of The Pearl is the original and boasts more than a century in service to golf. Walking off the ninth green, a horse-drawn carriage awaits, and the ride through the woods to the second nine may be more memorable than any golf shot. The back side, added in 1994, is more open, but both sides offer views worthy of vacation pictures.
One of many packages offered is Tea for Two, a romantic take on golf. In addition to unlimited golf, tea is served in the afternoon. That’s in addition to the wealth of other amenities, such as dinner (men and women dress at 6:30 p.m. each evening), the world’s longest front porch (lined with rockers) and a passport to an earlier, more gracious time.