Grand Hotel, Mackinac Island, MI

The Grand Hotel opened its doors in 1887, and today it's still thriving as one of the most historically significant hotels in the country.  The 390 guest room hotel is dubbed America's Summer Place, open May thru October.    

The main purpose for my recent trip to Mackinac Island was to gather information for a 2016 Michigan Tea Tour.  The plan is to conclude the tour at Mackinac Island with Afternoon Tea at the Grand Hotel.

~ First glimpses of the Grand Hotel coming up Cadotte Avenue ~

The 660 foot colonnaded front porch is the world's largest, overlooking the Tea Garden and Lake Huron.  Sadies' Ice Cream Parlor is at one end of the hotel.

~ The red-carpeted front porch steps. ~

~ The front porch from one end to the other...

which overlooks the Tea Garden below. ~

The hotel's trademark flower is the red geranium, and there are 2,500 in the 260 plant boxes on the porch, and 5,200 in hotel flower beds.

Beautiful interior of the hotel parlor decorated by Carleton Varney, President and owner of Dorothy Draper and Company of New York City.

Our room was #288, overlooking Lake Huron.  No two rooms in the Grand are alike. Five U.S. Presidents have stayed at the hotel - Clinton, Bush, Ford, Kennedy and Truman.

When we returned from dinner the drapes were drawn, the lamps next to the bed turned on, the bed covers turned down, and a piece of chocolate was on our pillow.  First class!

And on top of all that, Harney & Sons tea sachets were in the room!



Tomorrow's post will be Afternoon Tea and Dining at the Grand.