See separate section for lodgings west of Mackinac Bridge. A complete listing of lodgings and house rentals is at www.stignace.com We have arranged lodgings from the bridge into town and then north. St. Ignace proper has some 40 motels, nearly all deployed on the 4 miles of Bus. Loop I-75/State St. that curves along the Lake Huron shore between exit 344B and exit 348. That number doesn't include the many mostly small motels, some quite inexpensive, along U.S. 2 west of the Mackinac Bridge. Many of them date from the years just after the bridge was finished in 1957.
AURORA BOREALIS MOTOR INN
(906) 643-7488
Perched on the hill where the I-75 business loop curves and descends to enter downtown St. Ignace, the Aurora Borealis offers modern, large, clean rooms in a convenient location. A good restaurant, Northern Lights, is right next door. For walkers, it's a pleasant walk into town or, even shorter, to Veterans Memorial Park on Lake Huron.
Aurora Borealis caters to older people who appreciate quiet and don't want costly extras like swimming pools. The L-shaped building has 56 rooms on two floors. 10 have lake views without premium rates. They get rented first.
There's a 20% discount to people ages 50 and up—for instance, for one queen $60 on regular summer weekends, $40 in spring and fall. Or 2 queens $64 in in summer, $44 otherwise. Summer rates for younger guests would be $75 and $80.) All rooms have phones, cable TV, and air-conditioning.
635 West U.S. 2. Open from early May thru Oct. $5/extra person. Some rooms wheelchair-accessible. No discount for children. No pets.
MORAN BAY MOTEL
(906) 643-9790; (866) 672-6229
Perched on the hillside on the way into town, this well maintained single-story motel is unusual because of the grand view of the St. Ignace harbor and Mackinac Island from its big front deck and picture windows. All of the 9 pleasantly decorated rooms are air-conditioned, with cable TV. No phones in rooms. Normal summer weekend rates for 2 are $52 for one queen, $56 for two. Ask about spring, fall rates. The cross street allows for nice walks into neighborhoods up on the bluff.
500 West U.S. 2 at Keightly. Open from April 15 to Nov. 1. Handicap access: call. No extra charge for children. No pets.
COLONIAL HOUSE INN Bed & Breakfast and Motel
(906) 643-6900; Colonial-House-Inn.com
This Classic Revival house in the heart of downtown is familiar to generations of summer visitors. Its oldest part dates to 1830. Its front part with the portico is from the 1870s. The wrap-around veranda and renovated second-floor balcony for guests look out onto the harbor and Mackinac Island. The air-conditioned inn has 7 guest rooms with private baths and cable TV. The inn is furnished with Victorian-era antiques. It's designed as a romantic couples getaway, complete with a full sit-down breakfast served in the dining room from 8 to 9:30 a.m.
Previous owner Elizabeth Brown (a retired Central Michigan U. music professor) and her husband Phil Baldwin made steady improvements, creating gorgeous gardens by the side porches beneath the big chestnut tree, and renovating the parlor, breakfast room, and every guest room while preserving the inn's historic character.
This past winter they sold the inn to Chris Green from metro Detroit. She had helped manage a 3,000-acre ranch with dozens of guests. Here she's thrilled to have such a fine view of all the ferries heading off for Mackinac Island. Chris is turning the side coffee house space into another informal common area for larger groups and family reunions.
All guest rooms have cable TV and, except for 2 antique rooms, queen beds. Summer rates for 2: mostly $119-$155 weekends, $$89-135 weekdays. Winter rates: mostly $59- $89. Shoulder seasons: $89-$135. The inn and the adjacent motel have wireless internet throughout.
Next door is the much simpler 7-room motel circa 1960. It's open only in summer and fall. Rooms have air-conditioning and cable TV. Breakfast not included. 2008 motel rates: $59-79 weekdays; $69-$89 weekends. It also has a queen suite.
It's best to call ahead to reserve midsummer weekends for either inn or motel. No smoking in either building. April, 2008
90 N. State opposite the main Arnold Dock. Open year-round. No handicap access for inn. Two ground-floor motel rooms have easier wheelchair access. Not well suited to children. No pets.
BOARDWALK INN
(906) 643-7500; boardwalkinn.com
Today this 1928 downtown hotel is a smoke-free 12-room bed and breakfast. It's across from the boardwalk, as the name implies. Owner-managers Jim and Kayla Krug have made it a personal place. It has large common areas: the ground-floor lobby and the 2nd-floor Fireside Room, where a deluxe continental breakfast (bagels, cereal, oatmeal, English muffins) is served, and where games can be played. Guest rooms have been enlarged, except for one less expensive room that's the original size. 2-room suites have 2 baths and 2 queens. All rooms are air-conditioned with cable TV. They are freshly decorated with light walls, generally romantic motifs, and antique furniture. A shared phone is in the Fireside Room. Indoor storage for bicycles.
The website depicts each room with each season's rates for it. Summer 2008 rates for most rooms are $74 and $84; 2-room 2-bath suites are $130. Most spring and fall rates are $57 and $67. Four rooms (2-night minimum, by reservation only) are kept open all winter for snowmobilers and others. No smoking. April, 2008
316 N. State. Open year-round, by reservation in winter. On snowmobile trail in back. Family friendly: $5/extra adult. Handicap access: no.
DRIFTWOOD MOTEL
(906) 643-7744; (906) 643-7299; driftwoodonline.com
This 27-room, single-story motel has a most convenient location. It's directly across from the Shepler and Star Line docks, half a block to the Ojibwa Museum, Marquette Park, Kiwanis beach and picnic area, and the downtown boardwalk. And the motel complex includes a very good full-service restaurant and a sports bar. The Driftwood could prove ideal if you're looking for a good rate for an air-conditioned room with handy extras: phone, fridges, and in-room coffee. Rates, firm for 3 years, are currently: 2 people, 1 queen: in season $55, otherwise $39. 2 people, 2 beds: $63 and $43. No on-site internet. On snowmobile trail. Half no-smoking. April, 2008
590 N. State. Open year-round. Wheelchair access: ground floor, wide doors, but not ADA accessible. Narrow restroom doors. Family friendly: under 5 free, $4/extra person. Dogs OK in all rooms with approval. $5 pet charge.
BUDGET HOST INN & SUITES
(906) 643-9666; (800) 872-7057; stignacebudgethost.com
Excellent central location. Walk to the boardwalk, Mission Park, Star and Shepler ferries. The popular Driftwood Restaurant and Sports Bar is next door. Many extras: good-size indoor pool with hot tub and game room, free hot breakfast bar, free wi-fi internet, and more). 58 rooms on 2 floors, all with in-room coffee. Most rooms have harbor and island views across busy State St. Some have private balconies. Indoor hallways. Suites (2 and 3 rooms) have mini-fridges and microwaves. Some have whirlpools. Outdoor play area. Lobby computer.
See web site for packages. Rates change with season, events, weekend. Dsicount coupons on web site, Michigan Welcome Center. Rates for 2 for rooms with one queen and 2 queens: in August, $88 and $96 weekdays; $98 and $106 weekends. In Nov. and Dec. $63 and $72 any day. In snowmobile season, about $63 and $72 midweek, $86 and $95 weekends. Breakfast bar offers scrambled eggs, sausage, sausage and biscuit gravy, juice, toast and cereals. Mostly non-smoking. April, 2008
700 N. State/Bus. I-75. next to Driftwood. Open year-round. Children 11 & under free. Wheelchair access: a few rooms. Pets welcome in all rooms.
BEST WESTERN HARBOUR POINTE LAKEFRONT
(906) 643-9882; (800) 642-3318
This big four-building complex (150 rooms in all) enjoys St. Ignace's best combination of amenities, decor, plus an 11-acre site with attractively landscaped grounds, and a long waterfront with a Mackinac Island view. It really is, as promoted, a "resort atmosphere." At the north edge of downtown, it's an easy walk to the Ojibwa Museum, the boardwalk, Star and Shepler docks, and the Driftwood restaurant and sports bar. A large, sunny indoor pool and hot tub are In the front office building. A free continental-plus breakfast is set out in a large breakfast area. Free hot drinks and vending items available any time.
The breakfast room has a water view, as does the sun deck by the heated outdoor pool with whirlpool and wading pool. A video game room is in a separate building with the guest laundry. The playground is near here. The back three buildings form a grassy court with some trees, volleyball, horseshoes, and a BBQ and bonfire area. (The nightly bonfire with marshmallow roast is an all-age hit.) The 800' beach, like most in the area, is gravelly, fine for walkin but not swimming. Still, many kids do wade in the water herel. Rooms face away from road noise. All have refrigerators. Most rooms in the Huron Building and virtually all in the posh Ontario Building have excellent water views and balconies. Many room types. Rates vary accordingly. Lakeview rooms, 2 beds in summer: $110-$165. "Partial lakeview rooms," 2 beds in summer: $89-$150. Off-season rates: $30 t0 $50 less. Ask about whirlpool rooms.
797 N. State. Closed Nov. into mid April. Handicap accessible. Family friendly. Rates based on 1-4 people/room. No pets.
