Weekend Getaway: Mission Point on Mackinac Island

Happy fall friends! We’re so lucky to live in a place that has such an amazing fall season, and exploring Michigan to see the colors change is a must for locals. I’ve had a few of you reach out asking about where to go on a fall weekend getaway in Michigan and here’s my top pick: Mission Point. I really enjoy visiting Mackinac Island during the summer months, but I’m going to be honest visiting during the fall is truly my favorite. As the season winds down Mackinac Island has a relaxing vibe, the streets are less busy and you can really enjoy your time exploring the island.

I’m really excited to partner with Mission Point to share some of my favorite aspects about staying at their resort when coming to Mackinac Island. Whether you choose to travel with a significant other, your family or take a girls getaway Mission Point is a perfect choice.

Driving to Mackinaw City from Grand Rapids takes roughly 3.5 hours which really isn’t terrible considering you’ll see some amazing fall colors on your drive. Once you arrive in Mackinaw City get ready for a quick ferry ride to Mackinac Island. We took Sheplers and loved the ease of how quickly our bags made it with us to the island. Once we arrived it was just a quick walk to Mission Point along the picturesque Main St. and Lake Shore Dr.

Accommodations:

Mission Point has rooms & suites in their Main Lodge and also the Straits Lodge. They recently completed a large renovation of the Main Lodge rooms this year and will soon be starting a renovation to the Straits Lodge. We stayed in a Junior Suite King in the Main Lodge and loved the separate living area to relax at the end of the day. The room was exceptionally clean, the bed was very comfortable and the space was great for two people. You should also know that Mission Point is dog friendly (next time I’m bringing Wrigley) in their Straits Lodge!

Where to Eat:

You can truly find amazing places to eat or grab a drink at Mission Point. Here are some of my favorite spots:

Round Island Bar & Grill:

Round Island Bar & Grill is a great choice for breakfast, happy hour or a laid back dinner. For breakfast they offer a buffet that has something for everyone including made to order omelets, pastries, oatmeal, cereal, and more! We loved having this option to come right downstairs from our room to enjoy a cup of coffee and omelet while watching the sunrise over the lake and front lawn. If the weather in the morning or the evening is nice take a seat on the outdoor patio for a great view.

After biking around the island or walking through the fort I would highly recommend stopping at Round Island Bar & Grill to enjoy a drink for happy hour. We loved how easy it was to sit near the bar and look out over the lake and watch the horse carriages.

For dinner you can find burgers, sandwiches and more! With this fall season it was nice they had many TVs on for us to enjoy watching a football game with our dinner. We really liked the Smoked Lake Superior Whitefish Dip as an appetizer and the Seared Herb-Crusted Wild-Caught Lake Superior Whitefish for our entree.

Chianti:

If you’re looking for a nice place to enjoy some incredible food look no further than Chianti. Here you can find house-made Italian pastas, fresh fish and some amazing cocktails using fresh items from their cocktail garden like mint, thyme and rosemary. If the weather is nice I would really recommend sitting on the front porch for an amazing view of the water. I absolutely loved the Grilled Bay of Fundy Salmon with roasted artichokes and wild rice paired with their Mission Point Chardonnay for dinner during our stay. We also ordered the filet minion which was perfectly cooked served with mashed potatoes. This really is a great place for couples or families to dine and enjoy some live music from the piano.

Reserve:

If you want to grab a drink after dinner head to Reserve for a glass of champagne and try a cheese board. Reserve offers a wide variety of different wines in a cozy atmosphere. You can also check out the artisan cheeses and dried or cured meats to customize a charcuterie board.

Boxwood Coffee Shop & Cafe:

If you need something quick and easy Boxwood Coffee Shop & Cafe is the place to go. We loved being able to find bottled water and grab-and-go items for a bike ride or picnic. PS the chocolate chip cookies are to die for and they make their croissants from scratch!

Things to Do:

Go for a bike ride:

Biking the 8.2 miles around Mackinac Island is a must when you’re visiting. We really loved that Mission Point offered bicycle rentals right on their property so we didn’t have to walk into town to rent them. They offer single speed, multi-speed and bikes for kids so you’ll find something for everyone. They recently added some Detroit Bikes to rent and I really enjoyed biking the island on this bike!

Have a picnic in the Adirondack chairs:

The Adirondack chairs on the front lawn are an iconic piece of Mission Point (fun fact: my sister and brother-in-law were engaged here). This is the perfect spot to enjoy watching the sunrise or a picnic lunch together. If you’re in town check out Doud’s Market (it’s been open since 1884) for some picnic items or head to Boxwood Coffee Shop & Cafe at Mission Point Resort to pick up some delicious treats.

Visit Lakeside Spa & Salon:

If you really want to relax on your fall weekend getaway book a massage at Lakeside Spa & Salon. Trust me the atmosphere here at the spa is so relaxing and tranquil. I really enjoyed the customized aveda massage and felt so great the rest of the weekend! If you’re visiting with a significant other or doing a girls weekend this would be a great thing to try!

Try the 18-hole putting course:

You can’t go to Mission Point without playing the 18-hole putting course. This course is great for families and something fun to do all together. I tend to get a little competitive when I play and even though I lost it was such a fun activity to do on a crisp fall afternoon.

Play croquet on the lawn:

On a sunny morning we loved playing croquet on the lawn. Taking in the sights of the water and enjoying some time outside is what it’s all about during the fall in Michigan. You can also find tennis courts and bocce ball to enjoy outdoors.

Take a history tour:

If you’re into history like I am check out the history tour at Mission Point offered on Thursdays at 10 AM. There is so much history on Mackinac Island and Mission Point and this is a great way to learn more about the property. Did you know the theater was the setting for “Somewhere in Time” starring Christopher Reeve?

Things I Love:

How family friendly the resort is – We loved seeing so many families staying at Mission Point during our stay and we totally understand why families come here. The accommodations are spacious and there is something for everyone to enjoy with the activities and restaurants that are offered at the resort.

Endless things to do during the fall season – From biking to playing golf to the spa you can find something fun to experience during the fall season at Mission Point. This is the perfect way to enjoy a Michigan fall weekend with a mixture of things to do outside and things to keep you occupied indoors if it’s cold.

How friendly everyone is – Making your stay feel comfortable and welcome is what it’s all about when you go on vacation. From the moment you check-in, go to breakfast in the morning or grab a drink at night we couldn’t stop commenting how friendly and helpful everyone was. This totally makes your stay that much better.

Are you interested in booking a stay at Mission Point? Check out their Fall Foliage, Food and Wine package that would be great for a fall getaway! If you’re a Michigan (go blue!) or Michigan State fan don’t miss the Michigan vs. Michigan State Tailgate Weekend at Mission Point. If you love breakfast as much as I do check out the ‘Sunrise Side’ Bed and Breakfast package.

Disclosure: This post is sponsored by Mission Point but all opinions here are my own. Thank you for supporting the sponsors who allow me to continue to create content on The GR Guide.