The excitement of a stay at Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island, Michigan, begins with the view from the ferry. Lumbering across the Mackinac Straits, Grand slowly comes into view : Perched high on a hill, the disorganized white structure shines like a beacon. As fast as guests step off the ferry, the magic of the island drapes gently over their shoulders.
A getaway here is a step back in time. The Grand was built in 1887, and its charms have been embellished and burnished over time. This first class resort has supplied respite and comfort for 5 U.S. Presidents, all types of industrialists and plenty of show biz characters.
Grand Hotel is not really the place to plunk down the bag and race to The Pearl, the 18-hole golf course. Actually there is no reason to ever race once youre on the island. Transportation is of three types : horse-drawn carriage, cycle and foot. Waking to the sound of Mackinac Island rush hour is a superb way to begin the day : the clip-clop and snorts of horses, the jangle of harnesses, the whirring of cycle wheels and gears.
The front nine of The Pearl is the first and boasts more than a century in service to play golf. Walking off the ninth green, a horse-drawn carriage awaits, and the ride thru the woods to the second nine may be more notable than any golf shot. The back side, added in 1994, is more open, but both sides offer views deserving of vacation footage.
One out of many packages offered is Tea for Two, a charming take on golfing. As well as unlimited golfing, tea is served in the afternoon. Thats as well as the wealth of other facilities, for example dinner ( men and women dress at 6:30 p.m. Each night ), the worlds longest front porch ( lined with rockers ) and a passport to an earlier, more gracious time.
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