Kids on Mackinac Island

Living on Mackinac Island with three young boys is always an adventure! During the summer, Andrew and I stay busy with work, but in our home, Sunday’s is a very special day of the week. On Sunday, we reserve the entire day just for the family. 

We start the morning with a big breakfast at home, then we venture outside to see what the day will hold! Usually we head downtown and visit some of our favorite spots on the island! Our boys love to go places! 

Stops usually include Great Turtle Toy Store to browse the latest toy selection, popping into Little Luxuries, The Artists Market and Canvas and Paddle just to check in, then we head to Doud’s Market, where the boys run around the store for a few minutes and grab a snack. With little boys, the mornings start early, so this is just all before lunch! If it is nice out, we will have lunch in Marquette Park, thanks to Doud’s Market. 

Since we have the entire Sunday to spend together as a family, we also have time for a bigger activity. The boys have their favorites that we do often: 

The Butterfly House: The Butterfly House on Mackinac Island has between 50-100 different varieties of butterflies! Louie and Tommy's favorite butterflies are the Monarchs.

Fort Mackinac: With live demonstrations and tours, this fort is every kid’s dream! All of the buildings on the Fort are set up with period settings, giving them each a unique theme and teaching important points about Michigan’s history. Not to mention, the fort has an amazing view of the island! 

After a fun day of exploring Mackinac Island and all of our favorites, we will head back home to grill out for dinner. The excitement isn’t over, however! After a tasty dinner, we visit Windermere Hotel for a tasty treat. If it’s not quite bedtime, the boys will play on the playground at the school playground before we head home to end the evening. 

Living with children on Mackinac Island is definitely different than living anywhere else! Andrew and I love sharing our favorite place with our boys, knowing that it is their favorite place too. We can’t wait to see you and your family on Mackinac Island soon!