Wondrous West Bluff Cottages: A Mackinac Island Self Guided Tour

1.0 (one review) 45 min – one hour Free cancellation Private tour

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one review

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Wondrous West Bluff Cottages: A Mackinac Island Self Guided Tour — Photos: the activity supplier, via Viator

Wondrous West Bluff Cottages: A Mackinac Island Self Guided Tour, photo 2 — Photos: the activity supplier, via Viator

About this activity

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.

Private and Luxury Private Sightseeing Tours Audio Guides Architecture Tours Cultural Tours Historical Tours Walking Tours Short term availability

At a glance

Duration: 45 min – one hour
Confirmation: Instant confirmation
Ticket: Mobile or paper ticket accepted
Group: Your group only
People per booking: 1–15
Audio guide: English
Written guide: English
Operated by: VoiceMap Audio Tours

Ages: Adults (6–99 years)

What is included

Included

Included: Directions to the starting point so that when you're in the right place, the tour will start
Included: Lifetime access to this tour in English before your booking date and after it
Included: Offline access to audio, maps, and geodata
Included: App for Android and iOS
Included: Flexibility to explore at your own pace with a self-guided GPS tour

Not included

Not included: Smartphone and headphones
Not included: Personal expenses for admission fees not included during the tour
Not included: Food and drink
Not included: Transportation

Itinerary

Stop 1

Passing by

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.

Meeting point and pickup

Everyone meets at the meeting point.

Meeting point

This tour starts at the Grand Hotel, Grand Avenue. Before arrival, please install the mobile app and use the code provided on your confirmation ticket. Detailed starting point instructions are available after downloading.

End point

The tour ends at 8247 W Bluff Rd.

Using your ticket

VOICEMAP CODE

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Please check your email at the address you provided when you made this booking. You've been sent an eight character code you'll need to redeem your tour.

This code can be used by every member of your party. If you've booked for three people, for example, three people can download this tour using the same code.

DOWNLOAD INSTRUCTIONS

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Once you've received your code, please follow these steps:

Install the VoiceMap Audio Tours mobile app

Create an account

Select Tour Codes from the menu, then select Enter Codes

Enter your code then select Download Now

PLEASE NOTE

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You can download the tour at any time, before or after your booking date. It's best to download before you set off for the starting point.

This tour follows a set route and includes turn-by-turn directions. It works best if you start it in the right place and follow the directions from one location to the next.

When the download completes, you'll see a screen with a photo of the starting point and directions to it. The red start button will become active when you are at the starting point.

Remember to bring your own headphones, unless you have booked a driving tour.

SUPPORT

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For technical support and other queries, please email [email protected]