MACKINAC ISLAND, MI - If you’ve got school-aged children at home, the weeks after school starts each fall traditionally don’t hold much hope for sneaking away for a mid-week vacation, even though warm temperatures and sunshine are still in ample supply.
But this year, as more parents are working remotely and more students have the option for online school, there’s a new type of family vacation emerging. Mackinac Island’s Tourism Bureau, its big resorts and its state park staff are rolling out a buffet of travel options, work and school spaces and enough fun activities to make learning seem like playtime.
“With so many schools holding virtual classes this fall, now is a great time to sneak away to Mackinac Island for some real-life learning the entire family can enjoy,” tourism bureau staff said.
Here are some highlights for the remote school/work options available on the island right now:
A gorgeous, blue-sky day at Mackinac Island's Grand Hotel. The iconic front porch overlooks the Straits of Mackinac. Photo courtesy of Grand Hotel.
GRAND HOTEL: Beginning Sept. 8, this iconic island resort’s new Back to School package is available for September and October stays. Children 17 and younger stay for free, and special pricing is available for multi-night stays. This includes a new large space set aside for students who need a good spot to concentrate on their work, while still social distancing.
“Sunday through Thursday from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., meeting space will be set up for students to study and continue their virtual classes from the hotel. Take advantage of a socially-distanced space with wi-fi accessibility. Boxed lunches will also be available for purchase,” according to the hotel.
“When the school day is done, families can dine and play together surrounded by the beauty of Mackinac Island.”
Multi-night stay details include: Stay three nights and get the fourth night free. Stay two nights and get the third night half off. Stay one night and get the second night 25% off. The Back to School package also includes:
- Full breakfast and dinner daily
- Boxed lunches available for purchase
- 50% off golf for adults, free golf for ages 17 and under
- No charge for children 17 and under in the same room with parents
- Meeting space availability from 8:30 am – 3:30 pm
- Free admission to the Richard and Jane Manoogian Mackinac Art Museum
- Special discount on ferry boat tickets
- No tipping within Grand Hotel
For more details, pricing and reservation information, check here.
RELATED: 6 differences you’ll notice if you’re staying at Mackinac Island’s Grand Hotel this year
Located on the sunrise side of Mackinac Island, Mission Point Resort sprawls along the Straits of Mackinac and offers an expansive 18 acres to explore.
MISSION POINT: When it comes to working and getting schoolwork done remotely, Mission Point was an early leader on the island in renovating its existing spaces, setting them up as inviting spots to plug in your laptop and get a few hours of work done before spending the rest of your day enjoying the outdoors.
With 18 acres on the island’s sunrise side, the resort’s spread-out restaurants with to-go options, and its spacious Great Lawn dotted with its signature Adirondack chairs make it easy to social distance, while still indulging in mini-golf, bike rides and strolls along the waterfront, its owners have said. Its huge Conference Center has been set up to allow for individual remote work and school spaces - some with a view of the Straits of Mackinac. The spaces are sanitized between each use and guests can reserve a spot in the conference center for free by calling or stopping by the resort’s concierge desk.
Mission Point’s new Mackinac Family Experience package offers special accommodation pricing for children, and an itinerary list packed full of fun, educational things to see and do. Need ideas for outdoor math, history, art or physical education lessons? They’ve got these waiting for you. For details on the Family Experience package, see the website here.
“We have a lot of resources that folks can take advantage of for their remote-to-resort learning experiences this fall, particularly the newly-renovated Conference Center that can serve as a remote classroom,” Public Relations and Marketing Manager Sarah Ombry said.
Mission Point's newly revamped Conference Center offers large and small rooms for remote work and school, some with a waterfront view.
RELATED: Mackinac Island’s Mission Point debuts first-ever Day Trip vacation package
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MACKINAC STATE HISTORIC PARKS: With two forts to visit and an amazing amount of history shoehorned into a small island, there’s no shortage of learning opportunities connected to the island’s state park system. This year, it’s celebrating its 125th anniversary with special events, and traditional favorites. To see how to you can incorporate the state park’s attractions into your stay, check its website and events listing here.
MACKINAC ISLAND TOURISM BUREAU: For the most up-to-date hotel specials, events and fall tourism perks, check the tourism bureau’s website. Need some educational “field trip” options that will get your kids exploring the island? The island’s tourism office has these suggestions:
- You can visit British Landing near the northern tip of Mackinac Island to see where the redcoats arrived during their invasion in the War of 1812, when they wrested control away from the Americans. You can also venture up into the island’s interior to see the battleground where the Americans tried unsuccessfully to win back control just a couple years later. Both Fort Holmes, which sits atop the island’s highest point, and Fort Mackinac are testaments to the struggle for power in the Upper Great Lakes during the early years of the United States.
- Not only does Fort Mackinac feature the oldest building in all of Michigan, but it also gives visitors a glimpse of life as a soldier in the late 1800s. The 240-year-old Fort Mackinac has been totally restored and hosts daily demonstrations including real cannon blasts that are popular among kids and adults alike.
- Take a walk through Historic Downtown Mackinac and tour the McGulpin House to see what life was like in the 1820s when Mackinac Island was an important fur-trading hub. Or visit the Biddle House, which is being remodeled and scheduled to open later in 2020 as home of the new Mackinac Island Native American Museum, peek inside historic Mission Church or stroll through the island’s neighborhoods and admire the beautiful examples of 19th-century Victorian architecture.
- Speaking of history, Mackinac Island is full of geologic wonders that offer hands-on lessons in natural history. The iconic Arch Rock is a popular attraction, but there are many more to see including Sugar Loaf and Skull Cave, to name just a couple. You can try to wiggle your way through the Crack-in-the-Island or snuggle up inside Eagle Point Cave, too. The limestone features were shaped and carved by rising and falling water levels over hundreds and thousands of years.
- In late September through October, Mackinac Island State Park becomes a gorgeous laboratory for fall colors with an entire forest of trees on display. The island’s butterfly conservatories and botanical trail are two more places where you can learn about and appreciate the natural world. And you can get a physics lesson all around Mackinac Island by skipping stones and learning how and why they seem to walk on water.
Want more information about fun things to see and do on Mackinac Island? Check our recent stories here for ideas.
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Mackinac Island resorts offer remote school, work options for fall vacations - MLive.com
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