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Mackinaw City
Wondrous West Bluff Cottages: A Mackinac Island Self Guided Tour
- Duration45 min
- Max Travelers15 people
- Free CancellationUp to 24 hrs
- CategoryAgent Low Quality Product, Architecture Tours
Overview
Mackinac Island’s West Bluff is one of the Midwest’s finest collections of Victorian architecture, built by industrialists escaping the heat and grime of post-Civil War cities. On this self-guided walking tour, you’ll trace the stories behind eleven of these grand cottages, from the lumber barons and meat-packers who built them to the governors and immigrants who shaped their legacy.
The tour starts at the Walter C. Newberry Cottage, the first home past the Grand Hotel. You’ll walk along the bluff, passing Queen Anne turrets, wraparound verandas, and shingle-style facades, while hearing how wealthy families competed for leases on this National Park land starting at just $25 a year. Along the way, you’ll discover how business partnerships, family dynasties, and architectural rivalries played out side by side on this single stretch of shoreline.
Gallery
What's included
Directions to the starting point so that when you're in the right place, the tour will start
Lifetime access to this tour in English before your booking date and after it
Offline access to audio, maps, and geodata
App for Android and iOS
Flexibility to explore at your own pace with a self-guided GPS tour
What's Not included
Smartphone and headphones
Personal expenses for admission fees not included during the tour
Food and drink
Transportation
Itinerary
You'll pass by the Grand Hotel, built in 1887 by the railroad and steamship companies that first brought tourists to the island, before continuing on to the cottages of the West Bluff. Entry to the hotel and its grounds requires a separate admission fee for non-guests and is not included in this tour.
Good to know
Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
Service animals allowed
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
The total tour time includes walking the route and passing by the attractions
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.