A quick ferry ride to this scenic Great Lakes island is a fascinating and fun trip back in time. Hop on a bicycle or a horse-drawn carriage to explore Mackinac’s auto-free escape, where fur traders gathered in the 1600s, colonial soldiers occupied a fort high on the bluffs in the 1700s, and wealthy visitors “summered” in the 1800s. Today, it’s a great 21st-century destination, with its well-preserved fort and mansions, hundreds of acres of forest and beach, and a Victorian downtown filled with great shopping and dining.