Mackinaw City
Elegant East Bluff: A Self-Guided Mackinac Island Tour
Mackinac Island’s East Bluff is home to some of the island’s most elegant summer cottages, where prominent families have retreated for over a century.
On this self-guided audio tour, you’ll hear how the area earned its reputation as “the quiet bluff” as you stroll past a collection of private Victorian and Edwardian homes.
Starting outside the Michigan Governor’s summer residence, this leisurely walk covers just over a mile through scenic roads. You’ll pass charming cottages. Each home tells a different story about island life. Among them is the summer retreat for the groundbreaking Hamilton sisters – one taught America about Greek mythology, and the other became Harvard’s first female faculty member.
As you make your way to Cedar Hill cottage, where the tour ends, you’ll enjoy views of Fort Mackinac. You’ll learn why the fort’s commanding position had one critical vulnerability and how British forces exploited it during their nighttime invasion in 1812.
Itinerary
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Mackinac Islandu2019s East Bluff is home to some of the islandu2019s most elegant summer cottages, where prominent families have retreated for over a century. On this self-guided audio tour, youu2019ll hear how the area earned its reputation as u201cthe quiet bluffu201d as you stroll past a collection of private Victorian and Edwardian homes.
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Starting outside the Michigan Governoru2019s summer residence, this leisurely walk covers just over a mile through scenic roads, where horses, bikes and carriages provide transportation. Youu2019ll pass charming cottages with names like Restmore, Baby Grand, and Belle Vue. Each home tells a different story about island life.
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As you make your way to Cedar Hill cottage, where the tour ends, youu2019ll enjoy views of Fort Mackinac, the British-built fortress that controlled Great Lakesu2019 fur trading and witnessed dramatic battles during the War of 1812. Youu2019ll learn why the fortu2019s commanding position had one critical vulnerability and how British forces exploited it during their nighttime invasion in 1812.
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Take in the Scouts Barracks where future President Gerald Ford once served as a Boy Scout
What's included
- VoiceMap Application
- Offline access to audio, maps, and geodata
- Lifetime access to Mexico City Streets: La Roma tour
What's not included
- Smartphone
- Transportation
- Food/Drink
- Tickets or entrance fees to any museums or other attractions en route
Cancellation policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
- 100% refund 1+ days before departure
- 0% refund Within 1 days of departure
Good to know
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels