First, let's get the linguistics straight. "Mackinac" and "Mackinaw" are pronounced the same... "MACK-uh-nah" or "MACK-uh-naw", depending on your regional speech. The "c" is silent (a silent "c"!?!). Yet a tourist's experiences on Mackinaw City and on Mackinac Island have very little in common. The island is a bustling historic living throwback to the 19th century, and the city is a laid-back (albeit crowded) family-friendly variety center. They compliment each other very well... two diverse communities occupying the same dot on the map.

The name "Mackinaw CITY" is a misnomer since the town's permanent population is less than 1000. In spite of it's small population, the town center is filled with family activities, especially at the fairly-recently built Mackinaw Crossings. Everything leans toward the expensive side in the city and on the island. The city has plenty of hotels and motels in all price and quality ranges, most of which are located in the eastern part of Mackinaw City, along Lake Huron with a view of Mackinac Island.

The scenic shoreline provides beautiful views of the Mackinac Bridge as well as the distant Mackinac Island across the straits, Grand Hotel and all. The Straits of Mackinac is bustling with pleasure boats, fishing boats, ferries, and sailboats. Occasionally a gigantic freighter lumbers through.

Northern Michigan and the Upper Peninsula actually boasts two signature regional dishes... pasties and whitefish. Cunningham's Family Restaurant serves them both up well. Located on the main drag in downtown Mackinaw City, Cunningham's has a wide selection of sandwiches and rural favorites like meat loaf, fried chicken, liver & onions and pork chops. The fried fresh Great Lakes whitefish is very good. The fish has a light texture and flavor. The best way to  describe a pasty (rhymes with "nasty") is a pot pie without the pot. It consists of beef (or chicken), and vegetables (including rutabaga) baked within a folded flaky pie crust. The pasty is served smothered in gravy if you desire. The tables are close together at Cunningham's and the restaurant has an old-fashioned look and attitude.

Mackinaw Crossings is a fairly recent addition to Mackinaw City and appears to have breathed new life into this small town that had always been the red-headed stepchild of the "glamorous" Mackinac Island. The pastel colored Victorian architecture, fountains, gazebos and well-maintained landscaping sets Mackinaw Crossings apart from the rest of the village. It boasts over 45 quirky shops with unusual specialties such as medieval and Renaissance items, lighthouses, Christmas items, nautical gifts, Canadian items and Michigan photography.  Everything at Mackinaw Crossings is pricy, but it's clean and easy on the eyes. Plenty of parking is available, but the crowds might necessitate a bit of a hike to and from your car. It's the perfect family activity for a rainy day. Clearly the vision behind Mackinaw Crossings was to create an attraction for families and children... and they hit the bullseye.