Mackinac Island

Paul, the guy who owns and operates the St. Ignace FBO, is simply amazing.

Absolutely! 2 years ago when we were there, the wives were out shopping
while another pilot and I preflighted our planes. We knew we'd need fuel
and it was getting late, so he flew ahead to St. Ignace to "hold them open"
until I got there with all the girls. The guy was great about it AND the
fuel was cheaper than at home! Can't beat his hospitality and fuel prices!!

Jim

"Jay Honeck" wrote

Quite a refreshing change after dealing with the crooks down in Lansing,
MI --

Ahh, I can almost smell Lansing from here. Lansing, and U of M; they
deserve each other. ;-)
--
Jim (solid Buckeye alum) in NC

Steven P. McNicoll wrote:
"Jay Honeck" wrote...

I don't think I'd bother with the ferry, though, unless you're into boats.
It's a mere nine minute flight, chock to chock, from St. Ignace to
Mackinac Island!

I have a wife, four kids, and a '46 Champ. I take the ferry.

"ferry" flights... Great way to build time...

Morgans wrote:


Ahh, I can almost smell Lansing from here. Lansing, and U of M; they
deserve each other. ;-)

Michigan State is in Lansing. U of M is in Ann Arbor. Go Blue!

Jon Kraus wrote:
The wife and I are contemplating a trip up to Mackinac Island, Michigan
the last weekend in August. Have any of you been there (flown or
otherwise)? If so any recommendations for lodging , eats, etc...

I looks like it will be a really neat flight up there and it is kinda
like stepping back in time.

I lived in Michigan for 18 years and never made it out of the Lower
Peninsula. Thanks!!

Jon Kraus
PP-ASEL-IA
'79 Mooney 201
4443H @ TYQ

I've flown in there a half dozen times or more but not in at least 10
yrs. I've spent the night various times, including the Grand Hotel. I
enjoyed the B&Bs the most (there must be a web site for these). My
memory is that in July and Aug the island is very busy and reservations
would make sense. After Labor Day it was relatively quiet. If you have a
half decent set of legs, you can walk nearly everywhere, or rent a
horse, though they are true stable beasts if you know what I mean.
Interesting place, including the history, but I have to admit that,
after the first two trips, I only went there because it was a fun
flight. I got fed up with the touristy part after awhile, but the
fudge is good.

I have a wife, four kids, and a '46 Champ. I take the ferry.

Holy cats, Steven -- you need a Cherokee Six!

;-)
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"

Interesting place, including the history, but I have to admit that, after
the first two trips, I only went there because it was a fun flight. I
got fed up with the touristy part after awhile, but the fudge is good.

There is a fudge shop every 200 yards or so, the entire length of the town.
How in the WORLD they can all survive, making that much fudge, in some of
the most expensive real estate in the Midwest, only being open six months a
year, is a complete mystery to me.

The flight really IS the attraction for me, too, I must admit -- but eating
lunch at the Grand Hotel is really an experience worth having. There just
aren't very many places like it left in the world...
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"

Jay Honeck wrote:


How in the WORLD they can all survive, making that much fudge, in some of
the most expensive real estate in the Midwest, only being open six months a
year, is a complete mystery to me.


Yes, but it attests to the HUGE number of tourists that pass through
there during the summer, some staying awhile but many, many coming over
for the day on the boats. It's the very reason that the place becomes
unappealing after awhile IMHO. But I agree that it's one of a kind.

Can I land my Seaplane in the harbor?

"Nobody goes to Mackinac Island anymore, it's too crowded!"