The Spread:
More casual than Mackinac's Grand Hotel but equally impressive, Mission Point has acres of lawn and flowering gardens with views out over Lake Huron. Typical of island hotels, the resort is open from May to the end of October. There are 242 guest rooms, including 92 suites, with décor celebrating the "spirit of Northern Michigan," and all rooms recently underwent an extensive renovation. Mission Point has a full-service health club with a steam room, and it's just a short walk or bike ride to Mackinac's charmingly Victorian downtown—the easier to delight in all that deliciously famous fudge made in shops along the main streets.

It's an adventure just to get here; with

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no cars allowed, the only way to Mackinac is by ferry from Mackinaw City (15 minutes by high-speed ferry, around 40 minutes on the slower boats) or small airplane from select airports. Once here, you get around by foot, bike, or horse.

Why Families Love It:
Mission Point’s 3,000-square-foot indoor activity center houses the Kids Club for ages four to ten (open daily in summer from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m., weekends only other months; ages four and five attend half-day sessions only; $25 full days, $16 half-days). Mission Point also has activities for tots aged two to four and older 11- to 15-year-olds, and family activities including poolside Bingo. Evenings, Mac the Moose reads stories by the lobby fireplace, and he’ll visit guest rooms to tuck kids in ($15, which includes a Mac plush toy to take home).

There are bike and in-line skate rentals (take along the narrated island self-tour on cassette), and lawn bowling, croquet, and tennis. See a movie in the turn-of-the-century theater or relax by the pool or hot tub. A new executive 18-hole putting course is on the grounds, and championship golf is nearby. Paddlers can tour with Mackinac Island Kayaking: the two-hour introductory tour is good for novices; experienced paddlers can join a five-hour open-water trip from Mackinac to Round Island.

Special Events & Activities:
Halloween, celebrated the final weekend of the season, is big here. There are two races (half-marathon and five-mile walk/run). Guests vote on dozens of pumpkins carved by the staff, kids trick-or-treat in the hotel, and there's a pumpkin roll down a hill toward the lake.