25 Fun Things to Do in Mackinaw City with Kids In 2025

There are so many incredible things to do in Mackinaw City with kids, which makes it one of the best Michigan vacation spots for families.

From visiting the beautiful Mackinac Island to watching lumberjacks to ziplining through the forest, Mackinaw City offers so many fun activities for the whole family to enjoy.

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Things to Do in Mackinaw City with Kids

Mackinaw City is one of the best family vacation spots in Michigan. This family-friendly city is a perfect place to visit. Below is a list of the 25 best things to do in Mackinaw City with kids.

1. Visit Mackinac Island

Visiting Mackinac Island is one of the best things to do in Mackinaw City with kids. Mackinac Island is famous for being a car-free island, that is full of bicycles and horse-drawn carriages.

The island has a charming town with quaint restaurants, boutique hotels, and fudge shops.

Mackinac Island makes for a perfect day trip from Mackinaw City and is a highlight of visiting there.

To get to Mackinac Island, simply hop on one of the passenger ferries. There are a couple of ferry companies with many crossings between Mackinac Island and Mackinaw City throughout the day.

2. Venture Across the Mackinac Bridge

The Mackinac Bridge is one of the most famous landmarks in all of Michigan.

The Mackinac Bridge is a 5-mile-long suspension bridge that connects Michigan’s Lower Peninsula to the Upper Peninsula. It also serves as a separation of Lake Michigan and Lake Huron.

The Mackinac Bridge first opened in 1957 and has been an important part of Michigan ever since.

Going across the Mackinac Bridge and entering Michigan’s Upper Peninsula is a great activity to do when visiting Mackinaw City. Once across the bridge, make a stopover in St. Ignace, which is one of the best small towns in Michigan, before heading back.

Going over the Mackinac Bridge costs a toll of about $2 per car, but it is a fun and worthwhile experience in Mackinaw City. There is also an annual Bridge Walk event that is held each year in the summertime.

3. Take a Horse-Drawn Carriage Ride

Since Mackinac Island has no cars, there are many horse-drawn carriages throughout the island. Taking a horse-drawn carriage ride is a fun family thing to do on Mackinac Island.

The carriage ride includes a narrated tour to learn more about the island as you pass by historic shops, landmarks, and other scenic spots.

There are a few different horse-carriage tours available, and on average admission costs around $36 per adult and $15 per child.

4. Bike Around Mackinac Island

Biking around the island is one of the best family things to do on Mackinac Island. As there are no cars on the island, it is a great place to bike with kids and is very safe.

It is about 8 miles to go around the entire island, so it is easy to bike around it within a few hours while stopping at some of the scenic spots along the way.

There are several bike rental places on Mackinac Island. Most have adult bikes, child bikes, and tandem bikes. For smaller children and toddlers, there are also tag-along bikes and bike carriages available. Rentals are typically either for the day or by the hour.

5. Explore Historic Fort Mackinac

Fort Mackinac is a historic fort located on Mackinac Island that was founded during the American Revolution.

Visiting the historic fort is one of the best family things to do on Mackinac Island, as there are many interesting exhibits, interpreters dressed in historic costumes, and live demonstrations and tours held throughout the day at the fort.

Fort Mackinac is open from June through September from 9:30 am to 7 pm, in September from 9:30 am to 5 pm, and in October from 11 am to 4 pm. Admission is $15.50 for adults and $9.25 for children ages 5-12.

6. Visit the Elegant Grand Hotel

The Grand Hotel is an iconic place on Mackinac Island, known for its beautiful architecture and long porch overlooking the lake. The Grand Hotel is a historic hotel and has been in operation since 1887. It is a great place to relax or get some nice pictures of Mackinac Island.

It is possible to visit the hotel without staying there by getting a day pass for $10. This will allow you to explore the hotel grounds, and sit in the famous front porch rocking chairs.

You can also go to afternoon tea in the parlor or partake in the Grand Luncheon experience.

7. See the Beautiful Arch Rock

Arch Rock is one of the most scenic spots on Mackinac Island. You can visit Arch Rock by taking a carriage ride, bike ride, or by walking. A walk to Arch Rock is a great family activity to enjoy nature, especially on a nice, summer day.

Known to be one of the best hiking trails near Mackinaw City, it’s an easy level walk to the famous arch and is about 2.2 miles round trip.

Once you get to the arch, there is a stairway that takes you to the lookout. The views here are fabulous, especially on a nice summer day.

8. Eat Some Delicious Fudge

Mackinaw City and Mackinac Island are famous for making the best fudge in Michigan!

There are several fudge shops in Mackinaw City, and many allow small tastings. Make sure to walk around downtown Mackinaw City and try some of the mouthwatering fudge. The fudge comes in all kinds of flavors, so there is sure to be something for everyone.

One of the most well-known fudge shops in Mackinaw City is Murdicks Fudge, which originally started making fudge in 1887. Today, Mackinac Fudge is one of the most popular sweet treats in Michigan, and one of the best places to eat in Mackinaw City.

9. Relax on a Mackinaw City Sunset Cruise

Taking a Mackinaw Island sunset cruise is the perfect evening activity with kids. Experience being out on the lake while enjoying one of Michigan’s incredible sunsets.

This sunset boat cruise will go past the famous Mackinaw Bridge, Colonial Michilimackinac, and the Old Mackinac Point Lighthouse. It is a fantastic way to experience Mackinaw from the water.

The sunset cruise lasts for 1 hour and tickets are $31 per person. This family-friendly cruise is a great way to end a fun-filled day in Mackinaw City.

10. Take a Mackinac Bridge History Cruise

This fun Mackinac Bridge boat tour is a great option for things to do in Mackinaw City with kids.

The boat cruise will take you around the incredible Mackinaw Bridge, telling stories about the history of the bridge. Learn about famous shipwrecks and see the historic Fort Michilimackinac and the Old Mackinac Point Light from the water. This boat cruise is made to be fun and educational for kids to learn more about Mackinaw Bridge.

The boat cruise lasts for 1 hour. Tickets start at $27 for adults and $14 for kids.

It is a great option for those traveling with kids that want to learn about the Mackinaw Bridge and also see the bridge while sailing around on the lake.

11. Visit the Old Mackinac Point Lighthouse

Old Mackinac Point Lighthouse is a deactivated lighthouse that is located in Fort Michilimackinac State Park. It was previously used to help guide ships through the Straits of Mackinac.

At the lighthouse, you can visit the Keeper’s Quarters, which is three rooms of exhibits on the history of the lighthouse. It is an interesting place to visit with kids for them to see what life was like in a lighthouse.

The lighthouse is open from June through September from 9:30 am to 5 pm. Adult admission is $9.75, and admission for children ages 5-12 is $7.

12. See a Lumberjack Show

See world-champion Lumberjacks compete at the Jack Pine Lumberjack show. This family-friendly activity is a fun way for kids to learn more about Lumber Jacks in Michigan.

Watch as the Lumberjacks face off in Chopping, Sawing, Axe Throwing, Log Rolling, and Speed Climbing competitions. This is a unique show that is sure to be fun for the whole family.

Lumberjack shows are held daily at 7:30 pm. Adult admission is $20, admission for children between the ages of 5-15 is $14, and children under 5 are free.

13. Explore Historic Mill Creek Discovery Park

Mill Creek is a historic site that was first established in 1790 as a sawmill. Today, you can visit the 3-acre park and see live historic demonstrations of the sawmill, hike on the nature trails, or do the forest adventure experience.

The forest adventure experience is a fun thing to do in Mackinaw City with kids, as it takes them through a forest canopy bridge and down the exciting eagle nest zip line.

The Historic Mill Creek Discovery Park is open June through September from 9 am to 6 pm.

Admission is $10.50 or $8 for kids between the ages of 5-12. The forest adventure experience is an additional $11 per person.

14. See Colonial Michilimackinac

Fort Michilimackinac is a historic fort that was first constructed by French settlers in 1715. It was used as a part of the fur trade and was an important fort until 1781 when a new fort was built on Mackinac Island and the old fort was mostly burned down. In the 1990’s the historic fort was reconstructed using archaeological evidence.

Today, you can visit Colonial Michilimackinac and see the reconstructed buildings. There are several great exhibits, people dressed in historic costumes, and several special programs and events throughout the summer. A highlight is seeing the cannon get fired at 9:30 am each morning.

Hours from June to September are from 9:30 am to 6 pm, and then in September to October it is open from 9:30 am to 5 pm. Adult admission is $14.75 and Child admission is $8.75.

15. Play Mini Golf at Animal Tracks

Mini golf is always a fun activity for the whole family, and a great activity to do in Mackinaw City with kids. Animal Tracks is located right in Mackinaw City and offers a fantastic mini golf course.

Enjoy some friendly golf competition while on your trip to Mackinaw City. Animal Tracks Adventure Mini Golf is open daily from 9 am to 11 pm.

16. Go On an Adventure at Mystery Town, USA

Mystery Town USA is one of the best things to do in Mackinaw City with kids. The experience includes going on an adventure through a themed Mystery Maze.

This kid-friendly activity is full of fun and surprises. There are several different themed mystery mazes, such as Pirates, Area 51, Unicorn Fest, and more.

Admission includes access to each of the different themes. Admission is $13.95, admission for children ages 5-12 is $9.99, and children under 5 are free.

17. Visit Gary R Williams Memorial Park for Scenic Views

Gary R Williams Memorial Park is located just north of Mackinaw City. This relaxing park is the perfect place to visit with kids to get scenic views of the Mackinac Bridge and Lake Huron. It is the perfect place to take some family photos while on your trip!

This is also a great place to watch a stunning sunset over the Mackinac Bridge. Sunsets in Michigan are incredible, especially over the lake. Then, once the sun has set you’ll have the chance to see the Mackinac Bridge all lit up.

18. Go for a Ride on the Mackinac Old Time Trolley

Another one of the best things to do in Mackinaw City with kids is to take the Mackinac Old Time Trolley Tour. This bright red old-fashioned trolley is a fun way to explore Mackinaw City with kids while learning some intriguing stories about the area.

Ride the Mackinaw trolley past important landmarks such as the Mackinac Bridge, Colonial Michilimackinac, Old Mackinac Point Lighthouse, & the Coast Guard Icebreaker Mackinaw. Tickets for the Mackinac Old Time Trolley Tour start at $19.95 per person.

The historical tour lasts for 1 hour, and is the perfect activity for the whole family!

19. Visit Icebreaker Mackinaw Maritime Museum

This is one of the best things to do in Mackinaw City with kids that are interested in boats. This museum consists of a large coast guard ship called the Icebreaker Mackinaw WAGB-83.

Known as the “The Largest Icebreaker on the Great Lakes” this massive ship was originally built to transport materials in the Great Lakes during World War Two. Now the ship is decommissioned and open for public tours.

The ship is open between 10 am to 5 pm. Adult admission is $14, children between the ages of 6-16 are $7, and under 6 years old is free admission.

20. Go to the Beach at Wawatam Park

Wawatam Park is a park in Mackinaw City that has beach access to Lake Huron.

A beach day is a perfect way to spend a nice summer day in Michigan. Go swimming in the waters of Lake Huron, fly a kite on the beach, or build some cool sandcastles.

Having a beach day is a great way to spend some quality time as a family when visiting Mackinaw City. The park is also free to access, making this one of the great free things to do in Mackinaw City.

21. Check Out the Mackinaw Bridge Museum

The Mackinaw Bridge Museum is a small museum in Mackinaw City, located above MaMa Mia’s Pizza Shop. The museum consists of an exhibit about the history of the famous Mackinac Bridge. It includes unique artifacts about the construction of the bridge, including tools used, a diving suit, photographs, and more.

The museum is family owned and operated and is free to visit. It is open Monday-Friday from 8 am-4 pm.

22. Have a Picnic at Maritime Park

Maritime Park is a scenic park located just north of Mackinaw City. This lovely small park has green space and beach access. It is the perfect place to head to for a family picnic on a warm summer day.

Having a picnic is a fun family-friendly thing to do with kids in Mackinaw City. Relax at the park while the kids play, and enjoy the beautiful views of Lake Huron, the Mackinaw Bridge, and Mackinac Island in the distance.

23. Stargaze at Headlands International Dark Sky Park

This park is designed for star-gazing and is an awesome place to take kids that are interested in space and the stars. Headlands International Dark Sky Park is a designated area with no lights from commercial buildings, which allows for incredible star-gazing opportunities.

Admire the starry Northern Michigan sky and be on the lookout for a shooting star! At certain times of the year, it has even been possible to see the Northern Lights here. Best of all, the park is free to enter and open year-round.

24. Watch Fireworks over Lake Huron

During the summertime, from Memorial Day to Labor Day there are weekly firework shows over Lake Huron. Watch in awe as the sky is lit up with colorful fireworks over the scenic Lake Huron.

Currently, the fireworks shows are on Sunday and Friday nights, but they can vary from year to year. The fireworks start at dusk, and the best place to view them is from Conkling Heritage Park.

The fireworks displays over Lake Huron and the Mackinac Bridge are incredible and it is a great family-friendly event in Mackinaw City.

25. Visit McGulpin Point Lighthouse

This historic lighthouse was first built in 1869, making it the oldest lighthouse on the Straits of Mackinac. The lighthouse was in operation until 1906 and was used as a navigational aid to help boats cross the Straits of Mackinac.

Today, you can visit the historic McGulpin Point lighthouse between mid-May through October. The lighthouse is open daily from 10 am to 5 pm. Admission is $3, but children 5 and under are free.

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Things to Do in Mackinaw City with Kids: FAQ

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Things to Do in Mackinaw City with Kids: Conclusion

There are so many great things to do in Mackinaw City with kids, which makes this a great family vacation destination. Seeing the Mackinac Bridge, trying delicious fudge, exploring the historic forts, and relaxing on Lake Huron’s shoreline are just a few of the many things to do in Mackinaw City. Mackinaw City is truly a must-visit city and is one of the best places to visit with kids in Michigan.

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