Mackinaw Island
Everyone in Michigan knows this island which is located between Lake Huron and Lake Michigan, which is also between upper and lower Michigan. It can only be reached by boat or plane. Most of the island is now a State Park and our shortest State Road (8 miles) runs around the island. There are no cars allowed. (There is a fire truck and ambulance.) Bikes, horses and in the winter, snowmobiles are used for navigation. Michigan provides our Governor with a summer house on the island. The island is known for Mackinaw fudge which is made and sold in many shops. Visitors to the island are known as fudgies by the locals which are called islanders. Most places close at the end of October and with that most of the people and horses go to the main land for the winter. Until the lakes freeze over, the boats run at least once a day for the people who live on the island permanently. There are several churches and a school. When the great lakes freeze over (They never did last winter.), snowmoblies are used to go to and from the island. Most years this can be done during the month of February.


Before I left Michigan I joined 240 other senior citizens who visited the island for four days. There were four such groups during the month of October. It is a special program by the Parks and Recreation. Association. It's the first time I went with them and it was great, even if the weather was cold.