MACKINAC COUNTY
County Offices
100 South Marley
St. Ignace 906-643-7349
www.mackinaccounty.net
Chamber of Commerce
560 North State Street
St. Ignace 906-643-8717
www.saintignace.org
The most famous landmark in Mackinac County is the Mackinac Bridge on Interstate 75, a magnificent work of structural architecture that connects Michigan’s upper and lower peninsulas. The county seat of St. Ignace is situated at the northern end of the bridge, giving residents the advantage of a waterfront, rural lifestyle in close proximity to the amenities in nearby Sault Ste. Marie.
Services
State-of-the-art healthcare services are available close to home in Mackinac County at the Mackinac Straits Hospital & Health Center. Services range from 24-hour emergency care to specializations such as cardiology, oncology, renal dialysis, and pediatrics & women’s health. MSH provides a number of clinics that serve the region, including a primary care clinic, a walk-in clinic, the Moses Dialysis Clinic, the Mackinac Island Medical Center, the Naubinway Family Health Clinic, and Bois Blanc Medical Center. The health center is dedicated to serving comprehensive needs including referrals, on-site skilled nursing, and a 60-bed long-term care facility. For expanded healthcare options, major medical centers in close proximity are Cheboygan Memorial Hospital in Cheboygan and War Memorial Hospital in Sault Ste. Marie.
Quality educational opportunities are a high priority in Mackinac County, where students have the advantage of a strong core curriculum and a wide range of extracurricular activities. Sault Ste. Marie offers the closest institution of higher education, Lake Superior State University, just minutes from home. LSSU offers a private-college atmosphere in a smaller public university setting, distinguishing itself among the other public universities in Michigan as being the only one with a primary focus on undergraduate education. Many programs feature “hands on” learning opportunities like internships, co-ops, practica, student and faculty research teams, and senior projects that apply mastery skills. The university’s location is ideal for studying biology, fisheries, chemistry, geology, and recreation management. Small classes and individualized attention drive an intensive learning model on an attractive campus that blends grand historic architecture with modern buildings.
Lifestyle
Picturesque Mackinac County serves as a gateway to Michigan’s Upper Peninsula for those who travel across the magnificent Mackinac Bridge. The leading city is St. Ignace, which provides the county seat of government as well as commercial conveniences and services. The county is also home to several unique island communities: Mackinac Island, Bois Blanc Island, and the 36-island archipelago known as the Les Cheneaux Islands. Recreational opportunities are first-class and diverse, from underwater exploration to biking, hiking, rock climbing, skiing, and snowmobiling. The North Country National Scenic Trail traverses this area, second only to the Appalachian Trail for national popularity. The North Country Trail runs from New York to North Dakota, and approximately 35 miles of this panoramic path lies within the St. Ignace District for hikers, bikers, snowshoe enthusiasts, and cross-country skiers. The Upper Peninsula also offers vast tracts of Hiawatha National Forest, 77 miles of Great Lakes shoreline, three historic lighthouses, and more than 775 miles of rivers and streams. More than 160 of those miles feature designated canoe routes.
Some of the unique attractions in Mackinac County include the Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island, the Kewadin Shores Casino, Naubinway Antique Snowmobile Center, and the St. Ignace Boardwalk with its lush parks and renovated marina. Families and naturalists will want to visit the unique Garlyn Zoological Park, featuring native animals like black bear, wolves, bobcat, whitetail deer, cougar, river otter, raccoon, and skunk as well as exotic animals from around the world. The zoo perches on a 30-acre site at the top of Lake Michigan, surrounded by thousands of acres of state and federal forests. Just across the river from the nearby city of Sault Ste. Marie is the Canadian sister city of the same name, drawing Upper Peninsula residents to great jazz clubs, theater, shopping malls, and wonderful restaurants. Quiet communities, pristine natural areas, and world-class recreation are all waiting in panoramic Mackinac County.
Bois Blanc Island (Bois Blanc Township)
Township Offices
231-634-7275
www.bois-blanc.com/phpBB2/portal.php
Chamber of Commerce
231-627-7183
www.cheboygan.com
Bois Blanc Island offers a world of rustic adventure and an ideal place to retreat from the bustle of urban life. Those who call the island township home refer to their community as Boblo Island, available only by airplane or ferry. Bois Blanc is located in the Straits of Mackinac southeast of the more famous and highly developed resort destination of Mackinac Island. Camping, swimming, mountain biking, hiking, and snowmobiling are the most popular pastimes on the island, of which 80 percent is managed as state land. No state parks or campgrounds have been developed, so camp sites are primitive and campfire permits are available at the general store. Motorized vehicles are permitted in the township but roads are unpaved. Because of its undeveloped character and rich abundance of wildlife, the island is well known as a paradise for hunters and anglers. Sparsely populated and featuring five inland lakes, Bois Blanc mixes summer homes and hunting cabins with housing for permanent residents.
Curtis, Portage Township
Town Hall
906-586-9522
Chamber of Commerce
906-586-3700
www.curtischamber.com
The unincorporated community of Curtis anchors beautiful Portage Township in an area 65 miles west of the Mackinac Bridge. Nestled in the Manistique Lakes area, this unique waterfront village is surrounded by the largest lakes complex in the Upper Peninsula. Curtis draws throngs of visitors to a long list of annual events and colorful celebrations, including the Art on the Lake Celebration, Independence Day’s “Largest Little Town Parade,” Music in the Park, and Winter Carnival. The area’s recreational amenities are world-class, providing opportunities for swimming, fishing, boating, canoeing, golfing, and picnicking against a scenic backdrop. The winter months are ideal for snowmobiling and skiing. Restaurants, taverns, boutiques, antique shops, and services ensure a convenient lifestyle. One of the most famous attractions is the Seney Wildlife Refuge, offering a seven-mile drive through rich marshland filled with swans, geese, ducks, eagles, osprey, and an occasional moose. If you are looking for a small and unique hometown, discover the rustic charm and friendly people of Curtis.
Les Cheneaux Islands (Clark Township), Cedarville, Hessel
Town Hall
906 484-2672
www.clarktwp.org
Chamber of Commerce
906-484-3935
www.lescheneaux.net
Clark Township is made up of the Les Cheneaux Islands, a collection of 36 islands that provide channels and bays within the Straits of Mackinac. This area once served as an historic harbor for boaters and explorers. The historic villages of Cedarville and Hessel remain today as the hub communities within the township, offering marinas, gift and craft shops, galleries, outfitter services, and restaurants. Towering forests that feature trails and pathways are ideal for hiking, although the township features a 17-mile stretch of pristine shoreline for water sports. The northern section of Lake Huron, including Clark Township, has been called one of the “Last Great Places” in the northern hemisphere. The islands preserve a rich legacy in generational residents who are descendents of settlers from the 1800s, multi-generational seasonal residents, and new residents who first saw the islands as visitors and decided to relocate permanently.
Mackinac Island
City Offices
906-847-3702
Chamber of Commerce
877-847-0086
www.mackinacisland.org
Rated among the world’s top 10 island resort destinations, Mackinac Island claims a rich history of discovery and development. American and Great Lakes history on the island includes Native Americans, French voyageurs, missionaries, and the military. Mackinac Island National Park became Michigan’s first state park in 1895, drawing visitors to grand resorts, horse-drawn carriage tours, and the serenity of streets where personal motorized vehicles are prohibited. Lush parkland covers more than 80 percent of the island, with the remaining land devoted to private businesses including boat docks, shops, restaurants, resorts, hotels, and summer homes. The island is a shopper’s paradise, particularly along Main Street and Market Street. Four small malls add to the variety of goods and services on the island. The annual highlight is the Mackinac Island Lilac Festival, a 10-day extravaganza that draws throngs of visitors.
Naubinway, Engadine, Garfield Township
Town Hall
906-477-6481
Chamber of Commerce
906-477-6221
www.topofthelake.org
The closely related communities of Naubinway and Engadine provide amenities for tourists and comfortable hometowns for permanent residents of Garfield Township. These small villages are centrally located to offer access to the world-class recreational opportunities on the Upper Peninsula. Fishing, hunting, bird watching, berry & mushroom picking, off-roading, fall color tours, boating, swimming, hiking, biking, snowmobiling, ice-fishing, and cross-country skiing are all common leisure activities. The Hiawatha Sportsman’s Club in Naubinway invites the public to enjoy its golf course in this area at the “Top of the Lake.” Boaters will find a recently upgraded marina in one of the finest natural harbors on Lake Michigan and one of the largest commercial fishing ports on the Great Lakes. Residents and visitors have the chance to buy a fresh catch right on the dock or fish that is just a few hours old from local markets.
St. Ignace
City Offices
906-643-8545
www.cityofstignace.com
Chamber of Commerce
906-643-8717
www.saintignace.org
The county seat of government and leading community is St. Ignace, serving as a vital hometown and a recreational destination. Hundreds of miles of snowmobile trails form a seemingly endless network through forested land, while snowshoe and cross-country trails meander through timbered hills. Other highlights include a designated snow tubing hill, an indoor heated ice skating rink at Little Bear East Arena, paintball thrills, fine and casual dining, Kewadin Shores Casino & Hotel, and ferry boats to Mackinac Island. In the warmer months, residents can spend the day sunning, swimming, or hiking the winding trails of the beautiful sandy beach on the northern shores of Lake Michigan. The St. Ignace Marina, Boat Launch, and City Park are popular sites for those who enjoy exploring the waters of Michigan and Huron lakes as well as the many inland lakes. Golfers will appreciate the local golf and country club, while underwater explorers will find a scuba center and the Straits Underwater Dive Preserve.
