Elegant East Bluff: A Self-Guided Mackinac Island Tour

one hour – 1 h 30 min Free cancellation Private tour

Elegant East Bluff: A Self-Guided Mackinac Island Tour, photo 2 — Photos: the activity supplier, via Viator

About this activity

Mackinac Island’s East Bluff is home to some of the island’s most elegant summer cottages, where prominent families have retreated for over a century.

On this self-guided audio tour, you’ll hear how the area earned its reputation as “the quiet bluff” as you stroll past a collection of private Victorian and Edwardian homes.

Starting outside the Michigan Governor’s summer residence, this leisurely walk covers just over a mile through scenic roads. You’ll pass charming cottages. Each home tells a different story about island life. Among them is the summer retreat for the groundbreaking Hamilton sisters – one taught America about Greek mythology, and the other became Harvard’s first female faculty member.

As you make your way to Cedar Hill cottage, where the tour ends, you’ll enjoy views of Fort Mackinac. You’ll learn why the fort’s commanding position had one critical vulnerability and how British forces exploited it during their nighttime invasion in 1812.

Historical Tours Walking Tours Short term availability Weather Dependent - Low Agent Low Quality Product

At a glance

Duration: one hour – 1 h 30 min
Confirmation: Instant confirmation
Ticket: Mobile or paper ticket accepted
Group: Your group only
People per booking: 1–15
Audio guide: English
Operated by: VoiceMap Audio Tours

Ages: Adults (6–99 years)

What is included

Included

Included: VoiceMap Application
Included: Offline access to audio, maps, and geodata
Included: Lifetime access to Mexico City Streets: La Roma tour

Not included

Not included: Smartphone
Not included: Transportation
Not included: Food/Drink
Not included: Tickets or entrance fees to any museums or other attractions en route

Itinerary

Mackinac Island

Passing by

Mackinac Island’s East Bluff is home to some of the island’s most elegant summer cottages, where prominent families have retreated for over a century. On this self-guided audio tour, you’ll hear how the area earned its reputation as “the quiet bluff” as you stroll past a collection of private Victorian and Edwardian homes.
Stop 2

Passing by

Starting outside the Michigan Governor’s summer residence, this leisurely walk covers just over a mile through scenic roads, where horses, bikes and carriages provide transportation. You’ll pass charming cottages with names like Restmore, Baby Grand, and Belle Vue. Each home tells a different story about island life.
Fort Mackinac

Passing by

As you make your way to Cedar Hill cottage, where the tour ends, you’ll enjoy views of Fort Mackinac, the British-built fortress that controlled Great Lakes’ fur trading and witnessed dramatic battles during the War of 1812. You’ll learn why the fort’s commanding position had one critical vulnerability and how British forces exploited it during their nighttime invasion in 1812.
Stop 4

Passing by

Take in the Scouts Barracks where future President Gerald Ford once served as a Boy Scout

Meeting point and pickup

Everyone meets at the meeting point.

Meeting point

This self-guided audio tour starts in front of Michigan Governor's Summer Residence. 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 near Lover’s Leap

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 the tour 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]