Mackinac Island rated top summer travel destination in U.S.

May 16, 2018 at 6:44 pm

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People ride bikes through on Market Street on Mackinac Island.

Americans in search of a summer vacation destination appear to be lured by a lack of cars and an abundance of fudge.

Mackinac Island has been ranked the most popular summer destination in the country this year by Travel website TripAdvisor. The ranking is based on the greatest seasonal increase in hotel booking interest.

The 4-square-mile island beat out places like West Yellowstone, Montana; Ocean City, Maryland; and Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts for the top spot.

But a trip to Mackinac appears to be a little more expensive than a trip to some of the other destinations on TripAdvisor's top 10 list. A weeklong trip to Mackinac costs about $2,905 per person, TripAdvisor says. The average hotel nightly rate is $347 and the average domestic flight into Cherry Capital Airport is $476. Of course, Michiganders can defray a bit of the cost by opting to drive to (but not on) the island instead.

Trip Advisor describes the island as "a throwback to old-timey seaside leisure with the candy-colored facades of downtown shops." It also highlights the fudge (of course) and limestone bluffs of Mackinac Island State Park.

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