Transportation Lesson #5: Drive-It Yourself Carriage Tour (Mackinac Island, Michigan)

Selfie View, Photo by Krenda

If you enjoy horses, Mackinac Island feels like a dream location.  You step back in time, including transportation.  No cars allowed.  Everyone walks, bikes, or gets transportation via horse.  In the winter, residents can use snowmobiles.  However, as a tourist, you will likely visit in the Spring, Summer, or Fall, and enjoy the clip-clop sound in surround sound.

Back View

In planning our third trip to Mackinac Island, I wanted to find a unique experience.  Most people likely take the Mackinac Island Carriage Tours sightseeing tour that covers a lot of ground (Surrey Hills Museum, Arch Rock, Fort Mackinac, and Grand Hotel) in approximately 2 hours and $34 fee per person.  You might take a horse taxi to your hotel.  I wondered whether we could ride a horse or drive a carriage.  You can do both on Mackinac Island.

Side View - Driver

Four generations of the Gough family have operated such service.  It began with Taylor Gough who rented drive-yourself horse and buggies.  In 1953, Taylor's sons Jack and Burton established Jack's Livery Stable.  The family expanded the business to include Cindy's Riding Stable too.  Both Jack's and Cindy's rent horses ($50 per hour) for passengers up to 250 pounds.  Jack's rents carriages ($80/hour 2 passengers, $100/hour 4 passengers, and $120/hour for 6 passengers.  You'll figure out the time you need by looking at the maps with estimated timing.  We chose a path to go through woods and past the Grand Hotel.

Island Traffic

You don't need experience to drive the carriage.  They give you instructions.  Here's your opportunity to use the terms "Giddy up" and "Whoa".  You do need one designated driver.  Also, you should think about the age of your passengers.  One of the rules states "parents are asked to hold on to their small children to keep them from falling out of the buggy."  With teenagers, we didn't need to worry.

Reservations taken one day in advance.  You can also see whether available on the same day.  If you don't want to drive the carriage, but you want a private tour, both Mackinac Island Carriage Tours and Gough Carriages offer for $160/hour for up to 4 guests.

If we had more time, horse riding lessons or carriage driving lessons would also provide a memorable learning experience.  Check out the Mackinac Horsemen's Association lessons, including intro to riding (2 hours $110), private lessons ($55/hour), and semi-private 2 person ($45/hour each).  I learned about their programs through the tv show Best of America by Horseback.  They had a special two part episode featuring Mackinac Island.  Giddy up to Mackinac Island and appreciate the horses.