Overnight
accommodations for this event can be made at the Grand Hotel
(1-800-33-GRAND), which is offering a special "Early Opening" price
of $180.00 a night per room (tax not included). A continental
breakfast is included in your room rate. Lodging at the Grand will
be in the Millennium Wing (east end) of the hotel, and most rooms
are furnished with two double beds (and can accommodate up to four
people). If you book a room at the Grand, you must mention that you
are part of the "Michigan Geocaching Organization" group to get the
above listed rate. There will also be a baggage handling charge of
$7.50 per person, in addition to a 2% Mackinac
Island assessment fee. There is NO FORM needed to book
your reservation. If you are told this, it is incorrect, and tell
whomever you are speaking with to go check with management. Please
be aware that your credit card is charged at the time that you make
your reservations. NOTE: There is NO DRESS CODE at the Grand at
this time of the year - so don't worry about having to dress up!
We strongly encourage attendees to stay at the Grand Hotel. The
hotel was been generous to us for the past six years, and they've
done a wonderful job providing us with a group room and refreshments
for everyone. However, for those who prefer to lodge elsewhere on
the island, some recommendations are listed below:
1) Pontiac
Lodge, which is located downtown - Room are simple, but clean. Please be
aware that all the rooms are on the 2nd floor with no elevator, so those
who have difficulty with stairs would be advised not to utilize this
establishment. The Pontiac Lodge is located downtown, approximately
half a mile away from the Grand. Reservations can be made by calling
1-906-847-3364.
2) Bogan
Lane Inn,
which is located near the east end of town. This is a small
Bed-and-Breakfast, which offers a quaint atmosphere. Please note that
all of the rooms at the
Bogan Lane
Inn share a bathroom.
The Bogan
Lane
Inn is about 3/4 of a
mile from the Grand. Reservations can be made by calling
1-906-847-3439.
3) Market Street Inn, which is a small Bed-and-Breakfast located
downtown. It has 9 rooms of varying sizes. You can contact the Kristen
at the Inn at 1-888-899-3811 for room rates and availability.
At this point in time, we know for sure that Arnold Line will be running
ferries to the island. Shepler's may be running their ferries as well,
but it is uncertain at this time. Discount coupons can be printed off
of their websites -
www.arnoldline.com or
www.shelpersferry.com . The
Arnold line ferry will ONLY be departing from St.
Ignace. You will need to cross the
Mackinac Bridge
to get to the Arnold Dock. The bridge crossing now costs $4.00 each
way. There are a limited number of ferries running at this time of the
year, so please plan carefully.
The "Village Inn" restaurant, which is at the west end of town, will be
open for both lunch and dinner. A few other places will also be open.
Expect to spend around $10.00 -$15.00 per person for lunch, and about
$15.00 -$25.00 per person for dinner (depending on what you order). You
may also pick up munchies at Doud's Market, at the east end of town.
I highly recommend bringing your own bike, if at all possible. The
ferries charge $8.00 per bike to bring them over on the ferry. There is
a "parking lot" for bikes right across from the Grand, so your bikes can
be parked there in the evening.
The Grand will be providing us with a group room (Heritage Hall) for our
gathering ALL THREE DAYS of the weekend. The group room is on the lower
level of the hotel and can be reached by entering the east end of the
building. We will have a sign up identifying our group. We will have
coffee and tea available each morning, and will have ice tea and
lemonade available each afternoon. There will also be cake and other
munchies available on Saturday for our attendees. Our raffle drawing
will be held back at the group room at the Grand at 7:00 pm on Saturday
evening. We've got some great prizes to give out, but you must be
present to win. Raffle tickets will be given out that evening when you
return to the hotel. We will also be selling tickets for another raffle
drawing (for larger prizes), and those tickets may be purchased at the
event. Proceeds will be used to help offset the costs of hosting the
event.
Most island stores are closed at this time of year, but a few will be
open.
Fort
Mackinac will not be open. Last year, a
few of the fudge shops WERE open, so I expect that they will be again
this year.
If you have any questions about the event, or the island itself, please
feel free to e-mail me at
madelyn@tmrl.net. Looking forward to seeing you all on the island
at the end of April!