Our Mackinac Island weekend started with a little Michigan weather. We got caught in the rain on our ferry ride over, but somehow that only made the whole experience more memorable. The girls were bundled up, the wind was blowing, and everyone was laughing. Not exactly the picturesque arrival I had imagined, but definitely a reminder that sometimes the imperfect parts of a family trip end up being the stories you remember most.

A stay at the Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island is an experience all its own, and this time we somehow ended up in one of the most charming rooms I have ever stayed in: the Carleton Varney Suite. The two-bedroom suite was designed by Dorothy Draper & Company, inspired by the legendary designer Carleton Varney, and has all of the color, pattern, and personality you hope for when staying at the Grand.

One thing I never get tired of at the Grand Hotel is wandering the grounds. There are flowers everywhere you look, but our favorite discovery was the Secret Garden, tucked away within the hotel’s gardens. It really does feel hidden, which made finding it with the girls that much more fun. The Grand Hotel gardens feature more than 150 varieties of flowers throughout the season, and the Secret Garden is intentionally nestled away along the garden paths.

Food on Mackinac Island was equal parts special occasion and keeping-it-easy with the kids. We started each morning with the big breakfast at the Grand Hotel, which the girls loved, especially Charlie and her very fancy personal pot of hot cocoa. After one especially full day of sightseeing, swimming, and waterslides, we skipped a sit-down dinner and brought Mackinac Island Pizza Company back to the room for a family pizza party. Sometimes that is exactly what vacation calls for, and the mushroom pizza was a definite 10/10.

With little kids, I’ve learned not to underestimate the importance of leaving plenty of time for the pool. We spent a good chunk of our afternoons swimming, playing, and letting the girls burn off some energy between our other Mackinac Island adventures. It was the perfect reset in the middle of busy days. Sightseeing is wonderful, but sometimes the highlight of vacation when you’re traveling with kids is simply a waterslide, sunshine, and nowhere you need to be for the next few hours.

Some of our favorite things to do on Mackinac Island with kids ended up being the simplest. We picked up a sampler of six popular fudge flavors from Ryba’s, found a shady spot in the park below Fort Mackinac, and had our own family fudge tasting. Pro tip: there’s a playground tucked into the far corner of the park, which was perfect for running off some of that sugar afterward.

We also took a walk down memory lane to find where my grandparents once had a summer place on the water, just past the marina and near the Mackinac Island Yacht Club, where my grandfather was once commodore. It was so special getting to revisit a piece of my own family history with the girls.

And on our way off the island, we caved and tried the 3D Maze of Mirrors. I thought it would just be fun for the kids, but I ended up laughing just as hard as they did. It was such an unexpected little highlight and one of those spontaneous vacation memories we’ll definitely remember.

Biking around Mackinac Island is usually one of our traditions, but with a three-year-old in tow, bikes didn’t feel like the best idea this time around. Instead, we booked a private horse-drawn carriage tour of Mackinac Island, and it ended up being one of my favorite things we did.

Our tour took us beyond the main streets and into the residential neighborhoods and stable areas of the island. We learned so much about what everyday life on Mackinac looks like, how the horses and stables operate, and what happens beyond the places you typically see as a visitor. It was fascinating for the adults and entertaining enough to keep the girls happy, which is pretty much the perfect combination for a family excursion.

And, of course, Mackinac Island is one of my favorite places to get dressed for summer. Pretty dresses, comfortable layers, easy sandals, and pieces that can take you from breakfast at the Grand to exploring town to dinner without much thought are always what I reach for. The island has such a distinctive summer style: polished without being fussy, colorful without trying too hard, and made for long days spent outside. Basically, exactly how I want to dress all summer long.