Mackinac Island pictures are the quintessential American summer we are all seeking. Mackinac Island is located in Northern Michigan between the upper and lower peninsulas of Michigan. What gravitates people towards this magical island could be attributed to the smell of fudge. Others might say because no cars are allowed on the island or that everything is done by horse and carriage, on foot or on a bike. Which ever you decide, this storybook island is going to capture your heart.

Mackinac Island pictures are always stunning to see. You could not take a bad photo of this island if you tried because it is THAT beautiful.

Mackinac Island Pictures

One of the very first Mackinac Island pictures I take is on approach to the island. When taking the ferry from Mackinaw City, arriving to Mackinac Island is a coastline of stunning homes and boats. You can see through imagery just how incredible this small 8 mile circumference island is in Lake Huron.

I have never flown to Mackinac Island because the ferry is easier, but I would love to see an overview of the island. If I get the chance to do that I will update these Mackinac Island pictures because I would want to share that experience with you! Due to the airport on the island being so small, it is limited to very small aircraft.

As far as Mackinac Island pictures go, the best place to catch a sunrise above all is on the lawn of Mission Point Resort. Adorned with Adirondack chairs, you can’t help but be taken aback by how beautiful Lake Huron lights up in the morning sky. If you are lucky, you will find these incredible hues of purple and pink, so enjoy it while you can.

So I gave you the best sunrise, but now you must know where to see the best sunset! Mackinac Island pictures are what dreams are made of when it comes to these hues. A favorite spot to see the sunset is at the Grand Hotel on their front porch. The front porch of the Grand Hotel is actually over 600 feet long overlooking the Lake and grounds.

There are other amazing spots to see the sunset all around the west coast of the island. There is a walking and biking path for you to get as many Mackinac Island pictures as you wish.

Fun fact: Mackinac Island does not allow cars on the island (unless you are law enforcement) and I have only ever once seen a fire truck. The easiest way for people and goods to be transported without walking, is by horse and carriage. The taxi service on Mackinac Island is a horse drawn carriage, same with the carriage tour.

Mackinac Island pictures all include fudge at some point. One simply doesn’t visit Mackinac Island and NOT eat fudge. You can smell it from the ferry. Last I checked there were about 17 fudge shops on the island. You cannot miss it.

Walking or biking around the coastline leaves many opportunities to get epic Mackinac Island pictures. For example, this shot of Lake Huron during the sunset. Whether you choose to walk or bike the island, you can stop anywhere along the path and take photos.

One could argue that the best Mackinac Island pictures are taken right on the main drag. The second you get off the ferry you can see all the stunning homes and bed and breakfasts. These properties will be the real sell on convincing you that you need to live on the island, as a result, people end up returning year after year.

There are a lot of gorgeous finds on Mackinac Island, and directly off. For example, Round Island Passage Lighthouse and because the sun is setting, there are some beautiful hues! You could walk the Main Street because its mostly flat, from end to end and take 500 pictures easily.

If you are planning to visit Mackinac Island I recommend staying a night at the Grand Hotel because it is a masterpiece. No two rooms within the hotel are the same, the food is sensational and its a true luxury property. In the evening proper attire is required at the hotel and its a time old tradition that guests appreciate. If you are not a guest of the hotel you will not be able to get indoor photos because you are not staying there. However, you can pay a small fee to enter.

Sailing is popular on Mackinac Island because of the surrounding Great Lakes. Each year they have the races and for the rest of the year boaters come through until it gets cold. You would be hard pressed to find a Mackinac Island picture of the main street and no boats present unless it was winter and the water was frozen.

One of my favorite Mackinac Island pictures is from up in the island and sun beams are beating down through the trees. The island is yours to explore. Take a bike, walk or even the island tour. There is a lot to be seen and learned beyond the main street.

Mackinac Island Pictures: Fall

Just recently I experienced Mackinac Island for the first time in the fall. The weather is not very predictable and it was a bit cold, but my Mackinac Island pictures come out quite lovely. The leaves were changing, the island wasn’t as crowded and there was still plenty of daylight.

Mackinac Island Pictures: Locations and Events

There is always something happening on Mackinac Island because it is a seasonal destination. Therefore everyone flocks from late April to early November for their holiday. Book your trip to Mackinac Island in advance because it is a small island with limited lodging and often rooms are sold out. However, if you just want to visit for a day, you can take a ferry both ways very easily. Just purchase a round trip same day ticket and park at the ferry terminal.

If you are planning to visit Mackinac Island and want to get your own pictures, here are the best places and some of the top events of the summer season.

Locations for Mackinac Island Pictures:

• Sunrise at Mission Point Resort Lawn
• Sunset either on the deck of the Grand Hotel or on the walking path off the main street
• Arch Rock
• Boats along the front drag of the island
• Michigan Governor’s summer residence
• Butterfly House
• Fort Mackinac
• Sugar Loaf Point Lookout
• Doud’s – the countries oldest grocery store
• Kayakying around the island

Events for Mackinac Island Pictures:

• Mackinac Island Lilac Festival
• Taste of Mackinac
• Lilac Festival Grand Parade
• Mackinac Island Fireworks
• BELL’S BEER Bayview Mackinac Race
• Chicago Yacht Club Race to Mackinac
• Mackinac Island Fudge Festival 
• Mackinac Island Halloween Weekend
• Great Turtle Trail Run

If you are planning to take your own Mackinac Island Pictures, here is some gear I suggest!

• A Canon camera – I shoot with this camera because it is lightweight, affordable and takes high quality images.
• A memory card to store your photos
• A back-up for your photos – don’t forget to back them up everyday because I lost over 7,000+ photos once!

Read More:

• Fall Photos of Mackinac Island
• Things to do on Mackinac Island
• Lodging on Mackinac Island 
• 13 Restaurants on Mackinac Island To Check Out

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