Michigan’s Mackinac Island had long been on my travel bucket list. As a New England native, I was drawn in by the historic charm of the car-free northern Michigan island, and I sensed the Victorian-era vibe there would have similarities to Martha’s Vineyard, Cape May, and other coastal Northeast destinations I love.
A past visit to Door County in Wisconsin had opened my eyes to the beauty of the Great Lakes region and made me want to see more of that area. So when I got the chance to visit The Inn at Stonecliffe on Mackinac Island, which has recently reopened after a two-year, $40-million, property-wide transformation, I was all in. And my time at Stonecliffe and on Mackinac Island was just as dreamy and relaxed as I’d imagined.
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Envisioning your own getaway to The Inn at Stonecliffe and Mackinac Island? Here’s everything you need to know before you book.
Getting there and getting around
It takes a little bit of a commitment to get to Mackinac Island, which is located in Lake Huron and only accessible by boat or private plane. So you’ll probably want to plan more than just a weekend visit to the much-loved Michigan vacation spot. The closest airport offering commercial service is Pellston Regional Airport, a small airport with daily Delta Connection flights to and from Detroit Metropolitan Airport. There’s also a small general aviation airport on Mackinac Island open for charter and private aircraft.
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If you fly in to Pellston Regional Airport, it’s about a 20-minute shuttle ride to Mackinaw City, which is where you’ll catch a ferry to Mackinac Island. It’s about a four-and-a-half-hour drive from Detroit to the ferry launch and about a two-hour drive from Traverse City, which has an airport serviced by several airlines.
A 16-minute ferry ride takes you over to Mackinac Island. Once you arrive on the island, you’ll take a horse-drawn carriage to The Inn at Stonecliffe, which is about two miles from downtown.
The Inn at Stonecliffe offers complimentary carriage rides for guests between the property and Mackinac Island’s downtown throughout the day. Carriages leave on the hour from each location and take around 45 minutes each way. (They can fill up, so get there early if you want to be somewhere at a specific time.) Guests can also go to the resort’s Bike Pavilion to rent bikes for pedaling around the island.
It’s impossible to be in a hurry when staying on Mackinac Island. The horses move at a leisurely pace, and if you’re on a bike you can only travel as fast as you can pedal. I loved how this fact immediately helped me get into vacation mode. Life moved at a slower pace, and I appreciated that relaxed feeling and escape from the everyday.
When to visit
Mackinac Island welcomes visitors during the spring, summer, and fall seasons. The Inn at Stonecliffe closes for the season this year on October 27 and will reopen to guests in late-April 2025.
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You’ll find plenty to enjoy no matter the time of year you visit. June brings the island’s annual Lilac Festival, while the Mackinac Island Fudge Festival makes August an especially sweet time to visit. Fireworks and a stone-skipping competition take place over the Fourth of July, and fall means pleasant temperatures and colorful foliage.
Where you’ll stay at The Inn at Stonecliffe
The Inn at Stonecliffe was originally built in 1904 as a lakeside estate for Chicago’s Cudahy family. That 120-year-old mansion is the centerpiece of the 15-acre resort and underwent a complete renovation during the two-year transformation.
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Plenty of the property’s rich history was preserved by restoring the moldings, original hard-wood floors, and stained-glass windows. But The Mansion was also brought into the 21st century with the addition of air-conditioning and fresh new furniture and decor that leans into Stonecliffe’s nautical-meets-outdoorsy style.
The Mansion’s 13 king rooms, two queen rooms, and one queen-queen room are done up in varying combinations of fabrics in shades of all-American blue and red, with new bathrooms outfitted with modern fixtures and fun wallpaper and tile. I stayed in the Snowberry king room, where I was completely charmed by the penny tile bathroom floor and floral drapes framing the view of the Mackinac Bridge over the Straits of Mackinac.
The neighboring Summer House has 32 guest rooms, including some with double queen beds plus one-bedroom and two-bedroom suites with kitchenettes. Some rooms have balconies, and all have the same kind of punchy preppy style as The Mansion rooms, with lots of stripes and florals in shades of blue.
Three new private cottages provide a lodging option ideal for families and groups. Sunny Honey Cottage, Hill Top Cottage, and Yacht Watch Cottage overlook the resort’s Straits Lawn and Lake Huron and feature three bedrooms, fully equipped kitchens (with the option for pre-arrival grocery delivery), and porches for taking in the views. The cozy Love Shack, a pre-renovation fixture at the resort, also remains a popular lodging option for couples who want a little more privacy.
Dining at The Inn at Stonecliffe
The resort has rolled out three new dining concepts that incorporate ingredients from the on-site orchard and garden as well as local products from Michigan and the Great Lakes region. The Straits occupies The Mansion’s main dining room and offers a fine-dining experience in a space with the same kind of historic-meets-modern charm as the guest rooms. The Michigan whitefish entrée was a winner when I dined there.
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For a more casual option, the new Backyard outdoor restaurant serves up wings, brisket, and pizzas cooked in the resort’s new wood-fired pizza oven. Horsey’s Pub inside The Mansion is the place to go for a clubby, throwback atmosphere and craft cocktails like the Guava Gale and Sunny Honey (my two favorites on the menu).
The General Store is one part gift shop, one part cafe. Head here for coffee, grab-and-go food items, and ice cream, as well as Stonecliffe sweatshirts and other merch and necessities.
Within walking distance of Stonecliffe is Woods Restaurant. The Bavarian-style building was originally built as a “recreation center” for the children of the family that owned The Mansion after the Cudahys, to keep them “away from the temptations of town.”
Now owned by the island’s Grand Hotel, Woods Restaurant specializes in German-style fare served in a hunting-lodge inspired space with dark wood and deep red walls that looks straight out of a fairy tale. I’d definitely recommend making a reservation here at some point during a stay at Stonecliffe.
Amenities and activities at The Inn at Stonecliffe
Stonecliffe has both a family-friendly and an adult pool so every guest can find their happy place. The new Wellness Center features fitness equipment, locker rooms (with some of the cutest thematic wallpaper I’ve ever seen), a sauna, and a massage room.
One of my favorite spots was the expansive Straits Lawn that sloped down toward the water. Adirondack chairs surround firepits for gathering while the sun sets, and lawn games are at the ready for a little friendly competition. Movie nights also take place here, complete with complimentary popcorn and picture-perfect sunset views.
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That’s just one of the activities available to guests and included in the resort fee. Families should be sure to sign up for the pizza-making class and kids craft sessions. For older guests, the painting classes and fudge and wine tasting are must-dos. There’s also bingo, live music on the patio, and morning exercise classes. (Check the daily schedule at the resort to sign up in advance for activities.)
Two other don’t-miss experiences? An evening stroll to Sunset Rock for sweeping twilight vistas of the Straits of Mackinac (which connect Lake Huron and Lake Michigan) and spending time in one of the hammocks on Stonecliffe’s peaceful front lawn.
Additional things to note
Make sure to admire the artwork hanging throughout The Mansion and Summer House. Paintings by local artists like Mary Hramiec Hoffman and Brenda Clark depict island sights in colorful, totally eye-pleasing style. Another favorite decor element of mine? The whimsical brass bespectacled animal heads hanging around The Mansion.
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The luxe Inn at Stonecliffe takes care of its guests well. But its impact goes far beyond that. Owned by the Pulte Family Charitable Foundation, The Inn at Stonecliffe operates under a “humanitarian hotel” model. It donates 100% of net profits to both island organizations and causes around the world.
What to do beyond The Inn at Stonecliffe
Because it’s removed from the busy downtown area of Mackinac Island, Stonecliffe has a quieter vibe that I totally enjoyed. But when you want a little more activity, it’s easy to get downtown by bike or carriage.
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Fudge is big business on Mackinac Island, and Murdick’s has been handcrafting the sweet treat using the family’s original recipe since 1887. Make sure to stop in to watch veteran fudge maker Carnel Samuels in action. Sipping a rum runner at the Pink Pony is also something of a Mackinac Island rite of passage.
You can take carriage or boat tours to learn about the history of the island and see sights like Arch Rock and Fort Mackinac. Or for a more private experience, Brown Eyed Girl Charters can take up to six passengers on customized excursions that can include sightseeing and swimming. Whatever you choose to do, just be sure to slow down and soak it all in.
