Will Mackinac Island Be Named Best Summer Travel Destination for a Fourth Consecutive Year?
When it comes to Reader’s Choice Polls at 10best.com, one Michigan destination comes up more frequently than others. Mackinac Island has been a finalist in recent years for Best Wedding Destination, Best State Park, Best Fall Color, Best Small Town, Best Historic Small Town, Best Romantic Destination, and Best Summer Travel Destination. The Best Summer Destination contest continues to be a point of pride for Mackinac Island, as it has been the first place finisher in 2025, 2024, and 2023. This year we once again see this beloved vacation destination nominated against places like Kauai (Hawaii), New York City, San Diego, Philadelphia, Tybee Island (Georgia), and more. There’s many reasons why this island sees a flood of visitors each summer (and in recent years, frequent cruise ships) and today we will highlight a few of them and share how you can vote for Mackinac Island as it pursues a four-peat.
The most obvious reason to love Mackinac Island is the lack of motor vehicles. Instead of cars, the traffic on this island comes from people walking, bicycling, or riding in horse-drawn carriages. This has a tendency to slow things down and allow for relaxation while enjoying the shops of downtown, the beautiful landscape, or rich history. We enjoy renting bicycles and touring the island when we visit.
Speaking of history, Mackinac Island is home to some of the oldest buildings in the state. You can tour Fort Mackinac (which dates back to the late 1700s), the Biddle House, the American Fur Company Store & Dr. Beaumont Museum, the former Indian Dormitory (now the Richard & Jane Manoogian Art Museum), Grand Hotel (1880s), and Fort Holmes. Other historic sites around the island include Skull Cave, British Landing, Mission Church, Cemeteries, Wawashkamo Golf Club, and the Michigan Governor’s Summer Residence.
As far as natural beauty goes, the most famous Mackinac Island landmark is Arch Rock. Other formations worth checking out include Sugar Loaf, Devil’s Kitchen, Robinson’s Folly, Cave of the Woods, Crack in the Island, and Friendship’s Altar.
The Original Mackinac Island Butterfly House & Insect World is also a finalist in the search for Best Butterfly Garden, with 10best saying: “Michigan’s first butterfly house is a tropical paradise complete with soothing classical music and a gentle waterfall. Hundreds of exotic species flutter through lush gardens on this car-free island, accessible only by ferry. Visit the Insect World section for intimate encounters with an array of fascinating creatures including beetles, walking sticks, cockroaches, arachnids, and reptiles.”
You can vote for Mackinac Island once per day now through May 11th. As of this writing, it was holding strong in first place with a great chance to win for a fourth straight year.