Monday, September 14, 2009

Mackinac Island Cottages



One week ago today, we visited this gorgeous spot.
It's taken me a while to get the photos loaded and edited to share with you.
Remember that you can click on any photo to enlarge.
I have more from the island to show you, but today we'll concentrate on some of the architecture of these beautiful homes on this historic island.
Pictured above is

the harbor at Mackinac Island, MI
this island is in Lake Huron and is on
the register of National Historic Landmarks.
More than 80% of the island is a State Park.

The portico of the Governor's mansion, owned by the state, here for the use of the sitting governor. It's a big, beautiful home on a very nice lot with a view of Lake Huron and the Mackinac Bridge.


A nice little perk for the governor to entertain friends and family and perhaps use for business occasionally.


The back view of the grounds of the Governor's mansion.


Enjoy wandering through town, and let's look at some of the homes and gardens along the way...




A Mackinac Island "garage"...there is a ban on almost all motor vehicles (except for emergency vehicles and such) and the island is just under 4 square miles. Therefore, bikes and horses and carriages are the main modes of transportation here, only adding to the charm (but the romanticism of the horses and carriages quickly fades when you catch a whiff of the odor of the horse manure on main street mixed with the smell of fresh fudge: it can be quite nauseating at times until the clean-up man comes by!).



I wanted you to see some of the beauty and charm and detail of these cottages on the island, there are only a few pictured here...I could have taken hundreds of pictures but had to watch where I was walking, or be trampled or run down by a biker!



What a color combination! I love it!


Have you seen the movie "Somewhere in Time"? It's an old classic romantic time travel movie, (1980) and stars Christopher Reeve and Jane Seymour. Part of the movie was filmed here on the island, and the movie story line takes place on the island in the old Grand Hotel. If you're able to get it from Netflix, you'd enjoy it, I think.

I remember going to see "Somewhere in Time" with my husband before we got married...it wasn't exclusively a "chick flick" because he even enjoyed it! We honeymooned nearby after the wedding and visited the island.



Most of the cottages with this view also have beachfront access that lies across the road from their homes with this incredible view or one very much like it.





Oooh...la la!







On up the rocky hill...overlooking the water, the cottages just keep going!







A little hot dog stand sits near the water...



A zoom shot of the granddaddy of them all: The Grand Hotel!

17 comments:

KathyB. said...

The color combos of the homes are great, and I might get back to this post for some inspiration. I would love to visit this place and it would be hard not to take way too many pictures. Might be worth it to be governor just for the privilege of being able to live in that fantastic home when desired!

Twisted Fencepost said...

What a beautiful place!
I will have to add it to my visit list. I love the old cottage type houses. And that buggy on the porch, too.
Thanks for sharing it.

Suzanne said...

I love that movie. It beautifully features the island as the backdrop for a wonderful, sad love story.

Christina said...

I want to live there! Seeing an island with no motor vehicles makes me yearn for living simply. :)

Thistle Cove Farm said...

This is one place I've always wanted to visit, many thanks for the tour!

Donna said...

Thank you for the lovely tour!

Unknown said...

Just beautiful! My Mom has beenthere many times...she grew up in Manistique MI...I have never been there...it's on the list. Thanks for all the beauty on this Monday morning.

Sister Number Five said...

I just bought that movie at my neighbor's garage sale! I didn't know it was filmed there. My daughter & I will have to make time to watch it one of these says soon, maybe with you! I'm really looking forward to it now. Your beatuiful pictures give me grand ideas for my new house!

English Cottage in Georgia said...

Ohhh, another place on the "Must Visit" list. Loved the movie, Someplace in Time not just because of the storyline, but also the scenery. Thank you so much for sharing this quaint town and your visit.

~Lavender Dreamer~ said...

Amazing photos! You need to have them printed into a photo book!

Mary said...

Oh, beautiful for spacious skies... this is America the beautiful. American's have learned to take joy in creating. Somehow, I don't think the people who have worked so hard to live in these beautiful homes sit on their butts, waiting for the government to hand them happiness. They believed in the PURSUIT of happiness and then worked hard to create it! When I see a home that someone has worked to make beautiful, I'm thankful; and I silently salute them for their hard work.

Parisienne Farmgirl said...

OH MY GOSH!
These photos are so wonderful - I am such a color junky. Would you believe I lived in Michigan 16 years and NEVER went there?
I love Somewhere in Time, and the music, I love to play that song on the piano...might have to go dig out the sheet music this evening.
My uncle was the interior designer for the G's mansion when I was growing up.

Vicki's Bit-o-earth said...

What a beautiful place! Thank you for sharing. We loved that movie too. I used to have it on VHS (shows the age...lol) I need to get it on DVD.

The Pleasures of Homemaking said...

Wow, what gorgeous gorgeous houses! It's so neat to see so many people walking and biking! I remember that movie!

Manuela

Judy @ daily yarns said...

We've stayed a few days in Mackinac City but didn't get to go to the island...Now I wish we had. Great pictures.

Renata said...

I have just read a novel set on Mackinac Island & I didn't actually know it was a real place!!
WOW it is so beautiful! I love the pictures!

Mackinac Island said...

Thanks for visiting us! Your pictures are so pretty. Please visit again.
Mary