Visit St. Ignace, Your Home Port

Mackinac Island sees over a million travelers each season from Michigan and beyond! There is plenty to choose from on the island, from Mission Point Resort to Ryba’s Fudge Shoppe – but you don’t have to hop on a ferry to have a great time.

The city of St. Ignace, Michigan is located on the land of the Anishinaabe Ojibwe people, overlooking the Moran Bay of Lake Huron and historic Mackinac Island.

There are many things to do in St. Ignace, including events, dining and recreational activities. Before you visit, you might want to check out this city event calendar. Some great events include the Music by the Bay Summer Series, the St. Ignace Fish Feast and the Native American Festival. In August, beer enthusiasts can attend the fourth annual Straits Brew Bash

Plus, the St. Ignace community Bayside Farmers Market runs every Thursday, 4:00 – 7:00 pm from July to October. There you’ll find vendors of produce, crafts, and meat, including a wide variety of produce, maple syrup, handmade quilts, fresh baked breads, and much more. Right across the street is the Bentley’s B-M-L Diner, a historic soda fountain, ice cream parlor and restaurant that’s a favorite of all the locals. 

Mackinac Straits Fish Co., 109 W. Elliot St.
St. Ignace, MI 49781

While in town, the Mackinac Straits Fish Company is a must visit. They provide fresh, high quality fish, harvested from the cold, clear waters of the Upper Great Lakes. All of their fish is processed at their local family owned business. Products available include fresh fish, depending on the catch along with frozen fish, smoked whitefish spread, smoked lake trout pate, whitefish sausage and a variety of smoked fish options. Inside you’ll find items from other Michigan producers like maple syrup, cheese spreads and honey. 

Additionally, there are plenty of recreational activities for all seasons, including a variety of area state parks to visit. You can visit the St. Visitors Bureau Website which showcases a long list of options to find places to stay from campgrounds to bed and breakfasts. St. Ignace is the perfect place to set up camp as you explore Eastern Upper Peninsula’s beauty and flavor, located only 30 miles from the Les Cheneaux Islands and less than an hour and half from Tahquamenon Falls state park and brewery

St. Ignace is more than just  a place to get on the ferry to the Island, it’s a flavorful town with a busy summer line up ahead. It is also a community rich in history and tradition, which you can learn more about by visiting the Museum of Ojibwe Culture, located downtown on State Street. Use this article to help plan your next stay in the area, or if you already are planning to head north, maybe add on an extra few days to immerse yourself in St. Ignace, your home port.

Alex Palzewicz is the UP Local Food Coordinator and Technical Assistance Coordinator for TLD. Contact her at [email protected].