Area Attractions

Art Gallery of Algoma

Located next to the scenic and historic
St. Mary’s River in Sault Ste. Marie, Canada, this 10,000-square-foot facility includes four exhibition spaces, the Ken Danby Education Studio, the Gallery Café and the AGA Gallery Shop.

Barns of Mackinac County

The photographs and information about barns of Mackinac County can be found the website was developed by Dick Dietrich, professor emeritus from Central Michigan University. Visit Barns of Mackinac County to learn more.

Castle Rock/Souvenir Barn

Open daily mid-May through mid-October. Stop and climb Castle Rock. Rises 200′ above the surrounding area. T-shirts, souvenirs. Exit #348 off I-75.

Deer Ranch

Live whitetail deer with fawns in natural setting. Deer Ranch is a unique gift shop featuring deerskin products. The areas largest selection of moccasins. Mail orders year-round.

Father Marquette
National Memorial

Overlooking the Straits of Mackinac, the Memorial and 15-station interpretive trail interpret the period of European contact with the Native American inhabitants of the Upper Great Lakes region. Located at 592 Boulevard Drive, the memorial is open Memorial Day through the end of November.  Click here for a site map.

Field Stone Structures of Mackinac County

Dick Dietrich, professor emeritus from Central Michigan University, has put together a compilation of photographs and information about the many field stone structures in our area. Visit Straits’ Stones: A Picture Album to learn more.

Fort de Buade Museum

Discover the U.P.’s best kept secret: Fort de Buade Museum. An extensive collection of unique artifacts and rich history built upon connecting cultures, families, and dreams – all at the place where the waters meet and people connect. Free admission, over 6,700 square feet of spectacular artifacts covering pre-contact French, English, and American periods. Historical military and Indian weapons collection.

Garlyn Zoological Park

Only 40 minutes west of St. Ignace and the Mackinac Bridge on US-2. See live Cougar, Black Bear, Wolves, River Otter, Ring Tailed Lemur, Alligator, Wallaby, Patagonian Cavy, Reindeer and more at GarLyn Zoo. Feed can be purchased to feed many of the animals. Natural park-like setting with cedar mulched trails. Gift shop. Kids love it! Fun for the whole family! Open 7 days from April 1st until September 30th, 10am until 6pm / 7 days in October and weekends in November, 10am until 5pm.

Glass Bottom Boat Shipwreck Tours

There’s plenty to see aboard the area’s scenic Glass Bottom Shipwreck Tour. This cruise offers a two-hour cruise that includes unique views above and below the water, including three shipwrecks.  Tours run from June through October. Call for departure times and reservations.

Gourd Barn

Stop by from mid-April through the Christmas holidays for a barn tour and an art lesson! Clarlyn Ledy’s studio is open on a “chance” basis or by appointment. When she’s home, the studio is OPEN. Katie, the family’s Golden Retriever, will meet your car as you pull in the drive. Also available (besides LOTS of gourd art) are sand-cast bird baths made from rhubarb leaves.

Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum

The Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum is located at Whitefish Point, Michigan, just an hour’s drive from St. Ignace. Upon arrival at Whitefish Point, visitors are introduced to a self-guided tour of the Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum building featuring displays, artifacts, models, and interpretive panels about Lake Superior Shipwrecks, including the bell of the famous Edmund Fitzgerald, appropriately displayed as a memorial to her lost crew of 29 men.  Visitors next attend the Video Theatre, to see a 20-minute presentation about the raising of the bell.  After that, visitors are treated to a professionally guided tour of the 1861 Lightkeepers Quarters as restored to the 1920’s era, when Capt. Robert Carlson was keeper at Whitefish Point.  A tour of the 1923 U.S. Coast Guard Surfboat House concludes the guided tour portion of your visit.

Haunted Theatre

Haunted Theatre is not a theater of movies, but a haunted house of three dimensional monsters. Within these halls you will encounter horrors of the past….Artist’s conceptions of monsters from Mackinac’s History.

Kewadin Shores Casino

Kewadin Shores Casino and Hotel is located on Mackinac Trail just north of St. Ignace. Tribal owned casino offering Vegas style gaming: Black Jack, Craps, Roulette, Money Wheel, Slot Machines, and more. Open 7 days a week, year around. Free shuttle service to and from local hotels and campgrounds.

Mackinac Bridge
& Bridge View Park

The setting – the Straits of Mackinac. This beautiful park consists of an observation building, picnic pavilions and lots of paved parking. Bridge View Park is located just west of the Mackinac Bridge Authority fare plaza.

Mackinac Island Carriage Tours

The “World’s Largest Horse & Buggy Livery.” 1-hour and 45 minute narrated, historic and scenic horse drawn tour. Mackinac Island Carriage Tours is located downtown area next to Visitor’s Bureau.

Mackinac State Historic Parks

Fort Mackinac and Mackinac Island State Park on Mackinac Island, and Colonial Michilimackinac, Old Mackinac Point Lighthouse, and Historic Mill Creek in Mackinaw City. Visit Mackinac State Historic Parks for more information.

Mackinaw Manor
Haunted Mansion

Mackinaw Manor Haunted Mansion is a fully automated haunted house, using the latest in animatronics, special effects and state of the art sound technology creating a frighteningly haunting experience for you and your friends.

Mackinac Parasailing

Parasailing is an exciting water sport for all ages. Come view the “Straits of Mackinac” from a new perspective. Our custom boat enables the parasailer to take off and land directly from the flight deck, making for a smooth, safe, and dry parasail flight.

Museum of Ojibwa Culture

City operated, the museum and park portray life over 300 years ago when Ojibwa, Huron and Odawa Indians and French lifestyles met here. National Historic Landmark.

Museum Ship Valley Camp/Tower of History

The 1917 Museum Ship Valley Camp features fascinating maritime exhibits through out its entire 550 feet. The 210′ Tower of History offers a 20 mile panoramic view.

Mystery Spot

Voted Michigan’s #1 unusual attraction. Enjoy guided tours through an area where gravity seems to have gone haywire! Also, mini-golf and maze in the woods. 5 miles west on US-2.  Visitors to the Mystery Spot also have the opportunity to ride a new ZIP LINE offering views of the Mackinac Bridge.

Original Mackinac Island Butterfly House

The Butterfly House is a tropical garden with over 850 butterflies in free flight. Behind St. Anne’s Church. Perfect family attraction, photographer’s paradise. Beautiful, breathtaking and educational. A must see on your Island visit.

Oswald’s Bear Ranch

See bears in three natural habitats at Oswald’s Bear Ranch. Cubs, 23 large bears. $10 per car. Open 10am-6pm. Memorial Day weekend-September 30.

Pictured Rocks Boat Cruises

Join us on a breathtaking, 2 1/2 to 3 hours Pictured Rocks Boat Cruise.   The crystal clear, blue-green waters of Lake Superior have created masterpieces of colors and rock formations found nowhere else in the world. Come join us for an experience you will never forget.

Soo Locks Boat Tours & Dinner Cruises

Soo Locks Boat Tours offers Lock Tours, Dinner Cruises and Lighthouse Cruises — narrated excursions that will actually take you through the locks, right alongside the freighters. Don’t miss this experience — great family fun!!

St. Ignace Lakefront Parks

New Chief Wawatam Park – Picnic area, splash pad, fishing pier.  Located on the Huron Boardwalk, on your way out to the Wawatam Lighthouse.

Kiwanis Beach Park – Picnic area, pavilions, swimming area, located on the Huron Boardwalk, just south of the Star Line Main Dock.

City Park – Dock #3: Picnic area, pavilion, playground, restrooms, viewing pier, boat launch. Located on the sound end of town, along South State Street.

American Legion Park: Picnic tables, pavilion (tables and grills), playground, beach area, and restrooms available.  Located south of the St. Ignace Marina.

Tahquamenon Falls
Riverboat Tours & Toonerville Trolley

Soo Junction Tour #1 – 6.5 hour train and boat tour to Tahquamenon Falls. Tour #2 – 2 hour, wilderness train ride. Call for rates and schedules.

Top of the Lake
Snowmobile Museum

Top of the Lake Snowmobile Museum is the latest addition to the small fishing village of Naubinway. The Museum is a spin-off of the Antique/Vintage Snowmobile Show held the third week in Feb. since 1993. The Museum has displays of race sleds, rear-engine and unique one-of-a-kind sleds, plus other memorabilia. You can also shop for a souvenir or books about snowmobiling history. If you come by car or groomed trail, go 2 blocks south of the blinking light off US 2 for a step back into the good old days of snowmobiling. Hours: Sept-May,  Thursday-Monday  12-5pm,  Memorial Day-Labor Day, Thursday-Monday   11-6pm.  906-477-6298, or call for after hours appointment 906-477-6192.

Wings of Mackinac

Our beautiful butterfly conservatory is located on historic Mackinac Island, Michigan. You will enjoy visiting our all-glass Conservatory with its beautiful lush plants surrounded by hundreds of butterflies, dancing around you to gentle instrumental music.