Whoa, Nellie! Horse-drawn taxis are a familiar sight on Mackinac Island. The island, sandwiched between mainland Michigan and its upper peninsula, is one of those rare places that gives visitors a glimpse into a simpler life. (Rosemary McClure/Los Angeles Times)
Mackinacs grande dame, the Grand Hotel, is home to the worlds longest porch 660 feet of rocking chairs, geraniums and charm. The 385 guest rooms are equally impressive, with no two decorated alike. (Rosemary McClure/Los Angeles Times)
Guests perch on the green, green grounds of the Island House Hotel, one of the first resorts on Mackinac. Victorian inns and homes with wide verandas, long wooden balconies and conical turrets add a 19th century aura. (Rosemary McClure / Los Angeles Times)
The Grand Hotel, a stately hillside hotel built in 1887, looms over Mackinac like royalty. If you visit after 6 p.m., proper attire is required. Not a guest? Prepare to pay for the privilege of looking around. (Rosemary McClure / Los Angeles Times)
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No cars on the island? No problem. Locals and guests have several options to the banned horseless carriage, among them hoofing it and an even cooler choice renting a horse from a riding stable. (Rosemary McClure / Los Angeles Times)
Another batch of fudge is prepared for consumption at a shop on the island. Step off the ferry from the mainland and you’ll notice the numerous fudge shops, along with their aroma. About 10,000 pounds of fudge are made daily each season. (Rosemary McClure / Los Angeles Times)
Cyclists take a break while rounding the island, an easy, 8-mile-long trip. Thats the Mackinac Bridge, which joins Michigans upper and lower peninsulas, in the background. Access to the island, however, is by ferry. (Rosemary McClure / Los Angeles Times)
Bicycles are a popular way to get around the island. (Rosemary McClure / Los Angeles Times)
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The shoreline is a good place to relax. In the summer, the waters around Michigans Mackinac Island become a playground for owners of yachts and other boats. (Rosemary McClure/Los Angeles Times)
Fans of Somewhere in Time, a romantic time-travel drama set in the early 1900s, stroll along the veranda at the Grand Hotel, where the movie was filmed. The 1980 film, starring Christopher Reeve and Jane Seymour, has avid fans, who regularly visit the hotel in period costume. Ive wanted to come here for 28 years, one fan said. (Rosemary McClure / Los Angeles Times)