News — Shop Local

It's hard to imagine what life was like dating back to 1884. 138 years ago, brothers Patrick and James Doud, decided to open Doud's Bros grocery store. At the time, the location was on top of the now Starline Dock. In 1938, the Doud Bros. building caught on fire during the night. They had to relocate which is where Doud's Market now currently stands. Patrick Doud decided to branch off on his own and begin building houses on Mackinac Island. He built several beautiful homes that are still present today. A few to name are: the governor's summer residence, Market...

Mackinac Island is truly a community like no other, especially during the winter. Living on Mackinac Island comes with a unique set of challenges, especially when the lake freezes over and the boat stops running.  One way Mackinac Island comes together during the winter is in the hauling of groceries across the ice bridge. Locals know to expect a slight delay during the winter in the timing of deliveries and if the weather is especially bad, they know groceries may not arrive (which is a rare occurrence). Andrew Doud personally hauls groceries across the ice bridge with his team each...

Are you wanting to come to Mackinac for the winter season? But don’t know what to do while on Mackinac Island?  Once we have snow on the ground, it’s a great time to hit the trails with your cross country skis or snowshoes. If you don’t have either of those, you can still just hike - you just have to be aware of how deep the snow is on the trails! It’s so much fun to experience your favorite Mackinac trail while on the snow - it’s a completely different experience!  There are snowmobiles and horses still on the island,...

We love October days on Mackinac! The weather is cooler, but it has been so sunny throughout the month of September. If we were to plan a perfect day on Mackinac, this is what we would do: Wake up from our stay at the Above Mackinac Condos, right above Doud’s Market and Good Day Cafe.  Head to Watercolor Cafe for wonderful breakfast and fantastic views! Watercolor Cafe is right on the water and a lovely little cottage turned into a cafe and art studio. It’s a spot you don’t want to miss while on the island! After breakfast, head to...

M-185 is the only interstate in the ENTIRE country to ban automobiles. When cars were first invented, they came to the island. But in 1898, they were banded to protect the way of life on Mackinac Island.  Bikes play such an incredibly important role on Mackinac Island, as the main way of transportation for most people. Have you adventured much on Mackinac? M-185 is an iconic spot to bike when visiting the island, but next time you’re here for more than a day, we recommend trying some of the trails that are a little off the beaten path! Here are...