I was so excited to go to Mackinac Island and it had been on my list for quite some time. After visiting however, I have mixed emotions. There are parts of it that I absolutely loved—the ferry ride over to the island, the 8 mile bike ride around the island, the horse drawn carriages, no motorized vehicles, the fact that there are no fast food chains, and, of course, the fudge. What I didn’t like was the almost jip-strip feel of the main street shops and restaurants. And, while I do understand the need for the local economy to sell souvenirs, I think they need to freshen up the merchandise and maybe feature more choices from local artists. Maybe a few more restaurant options as well as the lines were long and choices few. Maybe this is because the season is rather short and I get that but it’s also a major tourist destination. Once off the strip though, the tree lined streets of white picket fences surrounding gingerbread cottage homes were more in line with what I was expecting.  Don’t get me wrong, we had a great time but I’m not sure I’d go back after having been once.