Room with a View - Bay View Bed & Breakfast

Bay View Bed & Breakfast · P.O. Box 448 · Mackinac Island, MI 49757 · 906.847.3295

Feature article from Traverse, Northern Michigan's Magazine, April 2002 "Room with a View"

Browse Main Street for the perfect picnic offerings—the Yoders recommend sandwiches from the French Outpost (906-847- 3772), a bottle of wine from Doud’s Mercantile (906-847-3551) and fudge from Murdicks (906-847-3551). Rent a bicycle with a basket and head around the island via the shoreline trail. Par your bike whenever the road diverges from the beach, and wander to the rocky shoreline for a secluded picnic spot.
For a late-afternoon energy boost, sample the dessert tray at the Fort’s tea room. The harbor view is magni€cent, and the biking’s all downhill from there.
Take a dip in the Esther Williams swimming pool at the Grand Hotel.The hotel’s amenities—like afternoon high tea, live orchestra music, use of the pool—are open to non-guests for a fee.
Sail under the bridge on a catamaran. The Mackinac Breeze charter service (906-847-8669) offers daytime and moonlight cruises for $25 adult and $15 children 12 and under.
Rent your own private carriage, teaming up with another couple to split the cost. Drive yourself if you’re feeling horse-savvy; better yet, get a private tour from a driver wellversed in island history.

Design your own progressive dinner so you don’t limit your options to one or two restaurants, Doug suggests.
Start with appetizers and a glass of wine at the Iroquois Hotel on Main Street after an afternoon of shopping.
Take a horse-drawn taxi on a 15-to-20 minute ride through the island’s less-traveled paths to the Woods (906-847-3331). Call ahead and ask for a table by one of the two massive stone €replaces. The décor is reminiscent of an alpine lodge; the soaring ceilings are sure to impress.
Dessert’s at the Jockey Club (906-847-3331) — Doug and Lydia always order the Grand Pecan Ball, a generous scoop of vanilla ice cream rolled in fudge sauce and toasted pecans.
Dance the night away at the Grand Hotel — a full orchestra’s on hand for ballroom dance aficionados (note: the resort’s dress code is in effect here, so jacket and tie for men and appropriate eveningwear for women). If you’re in a quieter or more casual mood, head to the piano bar for soft jazz in a cozy setting and unforgettable views of the Mackinac Bridge and beyond.
Take your shoes off and run home through the Grand’s golf course if you dare. But be forewarned. “I tell people. ‘Be careful who you bring,’” says Doug. “The island is so romantic, you may end up married to them.”