One of the most princely of accommodations in the world can be found perched on a hill overlooking Michigan’s Straits of Mackinac. The Grand Hotel is a place of luxury, still operating the same way it did in the 1800s. With as much charm as the horse and carriages that drop guests off at its red-carpeted entryway, touring the Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island is a can’t-miss activity on a trip here.
About the Grand Hotel
The Grand Hotel has brought guests to an otherworldly place since 1887 with its old-America decor and charm. A family-owned operation for three generations now, this National Historic Landmark still maintains its original architecture while incorporating modern amenities and hospitality.
In the mid 1800s, Mackinac Island became a popular summer getaway for pompous travelers but accommodations were limited. Multiple railroad companies and steamship organizations, who saw an influx of tourism to the island, created the Mackinac Island Hotel Company and purchased land to build the Grand Hotel.
Within 94 days, the construction of the Grand Hotel was completed using locally-grown White Pine and has been an enticing place for elitists and locals alike ever since.
Staying at the Grand Hotel
If you were lucky enough to stay at the Grand Hotel when it was built in 1887, you would’ve only payed around $3 a night. Nowadays, average prices will cost you around $400 a night per person. On holidays and event weekends, expect to pay upwards of $800-$1000 per person a night.
Click here to look into booking accommodations at the Grand Hotel
While staying at the Grand Hotel you’ll experience traditions that have sustained since the grand opening over 130 years ago. Sip on your afternoon tea in the Parlor and dance away to the Grand Hotel Orchestra in the ball room. Meals are treated as events with lavish place settings in a grandiose environment. You’ll undoubtedly love swinging away in a rocking chair staring out at teal blue waters of the Straits of Mackinac.
Read More: Inside Mackinac Island – What You Can’t Miss on a Visit
Dress Code
It’s important to note that if you’re staying at the Grand Hotel there is a strict dress code. Casual wear is appropriate for during the day but no crop tops, cut-offs or sweatpants are permitted. In the evenings, proper formal wear is required. Women must wear pant suits or dresses and men in a suit and tie. No jeans or shorts are permitted after 6:30 p.m.
If the dress code alone doesn’t scream opulent then maybe the Grand Hotel’s long list of distinguished guests does. Notable people who have stayed at the Grand Hotel include multiple presidents like J.F.K. and the Clintons. Television personalities like Barbara Walters, entertainers like Madonna and even writers like Mark Twain have stayed here.
Accessibility as a Non-Hotel Guest
If you’re like me and can’t afford to splurge on a hotel room for a night, you can tour the inside of the Grand Hotel for an admission price of $10. I purchased my ticket as an add-on to my ferry and carriage tour but by walking to the east entrance near the ice cream parlor you can purchase tickets at the podium inside.
Read More: Exploring Mackinac Island by Horse & Carriage
Non-hotel guests are permitted to experience the best of the Grand Hotel in a number of ways. Enjoy breakfast, lunch and dinner for an additional cost in the Grand Hotel dining room. Shop through the first level for souvenirs in the stores that sell clothing, jewelry, toys, unique gifts and more.
For an extra charge, admission to the golf course and swimming pool is accessible for non-hotel guests. You’re also able to experience all of the bars on site, recreational courts in the gardens and the rocking chairs on the front porch.
Touring the Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island
Entering on the ground level by Sadie’s Ice Cream Parlor, a ridiculously unique interior catches my attention. The first thing I stumble upon is Margaret’s Garden, the flower and garden stand. Directly across from this area is an Aveda salon and other shops to stroll through.
An introduction of the Grand Hotel’s elaborate decor begins immediately after passing the flower shop. Vibrant red stairs bleed into the mirrored black and white tiles met by funky-patterned furniture. I may have felt like I just transported myself into an Alice and Wonderland movie.
As I slowly stroll through the hallways taking in the opulence of this place, we pass by walls papered with clouds and more unique furnishings. I just couldn’t get enough of the velvet couches!
At the end of the hallway we meet the lobby area but we loop around to the right and back down the parallel hallway to check out more shops. A massive “G” embedded into the carpet characterizes the entrance to the bright red stair case leading upwards.
The Upstairs
The Audubon Wine Bar is the first place we see at the top of the stairwell. Quirky yet classy iconic decor continues on.
Afternoon Tea for $56 anyone?
The Parlor
As we make our way around the front desk area and into the Parlor, I can’t help but envision relaxing in this area 100 years ago. Like something you see taken directly from the Great Gatsby novel, wallpaper in every tone and pattern plaster the interior walls accented with velvety loungers. Antiques from the original era of the Grand Hotel sit throughout the Parlor room.
In today’s modern world, the decor of the Grand Hotel would appear quirky and odd. Here, it screams quaint and charming, like a 19th century Colonial America opulence.
The Exterior of the Grand Hotel
Exiting out the Parlor doors to the front of the Grand Hotel is the main characteristic that makes this place a stand-out.
The Porch
At 660 feet long, the covered porch of the Grand Hotel is the longest in the world and a feature of this place that couldn’t be replicated.
Lined with American flags that flutter in the breeze from the Straits of Mackinac, the Grand Hotel’s porch has multiple white rocking chairs placed around. Sit here for a while and watch as the horse and carriages stroll by, read a book, enjoy a cocktail from the Geranium Bar and gaze off into the water and at the longest bridge in the Western Hemisphere.
Walk down the red carpeted stairwell to the front of the Grand Hotel to really soak in this record-breaking front porch. To the west, the views continue on to the Straits of Mackinac.
The Entrance
To the east, horse-drawn carriages bringing passengers to the Grand Hotel begin trotting their way to the entrance.
And if this doesn’t make you feel like you’ve teleported back to the 1800s, I don’t know what would!
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