If you’ve never been to the hub of the Upper Peninsula, St. Ignace, then now is the perfect time to plan a trip. The area boasts plenty of activities from history buffs to bird lovers, scuba divers to sunset lovers, sledheads to campers, outdoorsmen to families looking for fun – all will find new events and adventures to embark upon. Here are 10 reasons why you need to visit St. Ignace, Michigan this year.
Visiting Mackinac Island is like taking a trip back in time. To get there you’ll need to hop on a ferry. Luckily, St. Ignace offers two ferry services running to and from the island daily. Mackinac Island is quaint town full of amazing experiences like world-famous fudge, historic landmarks, and ways to relax. Naturally, with such limited real-estate, many choose to stay in St. Ignace instead of on the island. The frequent, scenic ferries make traveling a breeze, and its reasonable accommodations are a fantastic way to visit the island without breaking the bank.
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Campers love St. Ignace and its five fantastic campground options. Choose from beachfront camping, Native American grounds, and secluded spots to sites with everything the modern camper needs. You’ll discover tons of amenities like free Wi-Fi, a heated pool, a mini golf course, laundromat, and even cable hook-ups at some sites. St. Ignace has you covered no matter what style of camper you may be.
Many of you have likely crossed the 26,273-foot-long bridge with the waters of two great lakes churning below plenty of times. Crossing the bridge is a remarkable experience! There are many special events throughout the year that can provide you with a unique way to scoot across. Consider making the voyage on your Antique Snowmobile, rolling across on your vintage tractor, or traveling with a caravan of Jeeps or Porches. During special events you can travel on your own UTV, ATV, S x S, 3-Wheeler and/or Off-Road Motorcycle! Watch the Event Calendar for these special events happening throughout the year.
St. Ignace is located at the point between two Great Lakes called the Straits of Mackinac. This means that there is ample opportunity to enjoy the water. There are beautiful swimming spots, sandy beaches, world-class fishing for bass and salmon, boating opportunities, kayaking, and even parasailing. Visitors to the area can also explore shipwrecks by scuba-diving and snorkeling. After a day on the water, relax at the end of a long day with nightly Music by the Bay. On the weekends enjoy outdoor Movies By The Bay and the Saturday Night Fireworks by the water.
The summer is filled with a variety of events in St. Ignace. Make plans to attend annual events like the Highlander Festival and the Straits Brew Bash. If you’re a car enthusiast, you can’t miss the Annual Car Show Weekend in late June. You can see hundreds of all makes and models of cars and trucks. You might even win a cash prize for your special car!
As a designated Trail Town, St. Ignace offers four-season trail adventures for a variety of outdoor enthusiasts. If you are an Off-Road Junkie the trails are awesome. If bikes are your passion, St. Ignace offers both on and off-road options. If hiking or walking is more your speed, choices are available in town and on designated well-marked trails.
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This year, you’ll have plenty of chances to celebrate indigenous culture and experience life in St. Ignace as it was over 350 years ago. At the free Native American Festival in July, you can see the expressive dances, smell sacred medicines, and taste traditional food of the Anishinaabe people. Similarly, the Rendezvous at the Straits Powwow in late August features traditional dancing and hand-made arts & crafts. The Fort De Buade Museum and Museum Of Ojibwa Culture & Gift Shop offer great learning opportunities as well!
Fall colors will be here before you know it! You absolutely must drive the color tour routes along the Great Lakes. They are simply stunning. We’ve created 3 extraordinary routes categorized by color for your next adventure: the Violet Tour, the Gold Tour, and the Crimson tour. Discover hues from bright golds to wine-dark reds. Also, as the Straits of Mackinac are a major migration point, we also recommend bird-watching while you’re here.
There are so many reasons why St. Ignace is a great place to embrace the beauty of winter. You can cross-country ski across snow-covered dunes with views of Lake Michigan, snowshoe to the Eben Ice Caves, or go sledding without the climb. You can check out the “Ice Bridge” to Mackinac Island or follow trails to the frozen waterfalls of Tahquamenon Falls State Park on your own or a rented snowmobile. You can even go golfing on the ice of Lake Huron in March.
Take a hike along the picturesque St. Ignace to Trout Lake Trail, grab a delicious burger from the old-fashioned drive-in, Cyde’s, and explore Mystery Spot. St. Ignace is full of hidden gems. If you love animals, be sure to explore Oswald’s Bear Ranch to pet a bear cub, GarLyn Zoo Wildlife Park to visit exotic animals, and Deer Ranch to feed the deer!
This year is the perfect time to get out of the house and plan your next St. Ignace getaway. To help you plan, order our free visitor guide for more information on your trip or use our new Visit Widget Planner.
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