ST Ignace, Mackinac Island (cont)

Several people told us how nice the buffet lunch at the Grand Hotel was and while  here we should try it. Tuesday turned out to be a beautiful day so back to the island we went.  This time we took Shepler's ferry as it runs almost every half hour vs. every hour for the others and sometimes it is 2 hours between returning ferries.  Theirs are smaller boats and much faster, twice as fast which is nice.

We started down the boardwalk on the south end of town where many of the large homes are along the lakefront.  There were a number that had some painting in progress and I expect that is an ongoing and expensive maintenance cost.

I'll hold the ladder, you go up and paint.

Many were very ornate with well manicured yards.

I especially liked the detail on this house with the wood siding, white trim and the green steps

Most had large porches.

Many had gorgeous flowers around the yard.

 Begonias ringed each tree.

I just couldn't capture the beauty of the flowers around this home.

We called this the purple and pink garden as the colors really popped.

As we got farther from town the number and size of the homes diminished so we turned around and walked to the hotel for lunch.

The Grand Hotel,

One of the hotel's carriages for guests.

After lunch at the Grand Hotel we spent some time on the porch which they claim is the longest porch in the U.S.

Great views of the lake from the porch.

Linda enjoying some time on the porch.

I spent some time there also.



Again, flowers everywhere.

Some of the homes south and above the Grand Hotel.

Grand Hotel grounds.

If you would like to see more about the Grand Hotel go to: http://www.grandhotel.com/the-hotel

It was a pricey lunch with the additional charge for the ferry but I doubt we will be back here so...... It was well worth it!