World's Most Exclusive Hotels - The enormous Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island

17 November 2009

Hotel restaurants are becoming more and more common. Even a tiny Super 8 on Route 66 is bound to have a small diner inside where guests can enjoy a hot meal and a cold drink to save them the trouble of going elsewhere. It also helps to build a hotel's reputation and revenue, that's why we see so many high-quality restaurants in hotels these days.

Of course, most-if not all-overshadow the small diners at run-of-the-mill hotels. For instance, the Grand Hotel, located on Mackinac Island, Michigan, boasts a few restaurants that are fit for a king… or a president, as it were.

The Grand Hotel is considered to be America's “summer place.” Aesthetically, it's one of the most beautiful structures in the entire country, glistening white and expanding over the entire horizon with its gargantuan size.

To describe it, it looks like the White House mixed with a New England beach house, only stretched out to over 100-times the size. The hotel opened in 1887, and it has since undergone many upgrades, including a few fancy restaurants that make mouthwatering food a way of life.

The Great Lakes are considered to be the most underrated summer getaway destinations, by and large, but Lake Huron, the body of water the Grand Hotel is situated on, always keeps a steady flow of tourists. Other than boasting the world's largest porch, the Grand Hotel has also been a vacation destination for five United States Presidents, famous author Mark Twain, and even inventor Thomas Edison.

From the moment you arrive, you know that the hotel is all about luxury. Guests are ferried in on a state-of-the-art boat and then carried by horse-drawn carriage to the hotel from the docks. The trip in is a vacation all of its own.

Rates for the hotel are around $480 per night on the low end, but that does include a full breakfast and dinner at the Grand's Salle a Manger, the hotel's main dining room, but the tax is not included. Salle a Manger is also extremely formal.

Not only are gentlemen required to wear a coat, but also a tie and suitable shoes. Ladies are required to wear a formal dress or a pantsuit. However, no guests are disparaged due to the dress code. When you arrive for a stay at the Grand Hotel, you know for certain that you're entering into a classy establishment.

There's also a lunch buffet for around $30 ($45 for non-guests), and if you don't feel like dining at the main restaurant, you can also check out the Jockey Club, the Gate House, the Pool Grill, Grand Stand, and even a snack bar located on the golf course.

The interior of the main restaurant is rich and lavish. It keeps up with the basic theme: white, clean and pristine. Unlike a regular restaurant, however, the layout is more like an extravagant cafeteria with formal seating in the lounge area. It's true that staying here is expensive and accordingly, the experience is a one-of-a-kind vacation.

Tags: thomas edison, mackinac island, michigan, america's summer place, new england beach house, great lakes, lake huron, mark twain, salle a manger, jockey club, pool grill,
Posted In: Hotels,

Fill out the form on the right to join our CasinoMan newsletter and we'll drop you an email every 2 weeks with the latest blog posts. We'll also periodically send you other useful gambling articles we publish which will keep you completely informed of the latest offers. This newsletter goes out 1 time per month. Naturally, we respect your privacy.

Name: Email: Our newsletter is managed through Aweber's safe and secure service, so please expect a confirmation email from them for your subscription.

Please be the first to leave a comment below.

Name:
Email:
Comment:
CAPTCHA:
	Newsletter Updates - I would like to receive blog bulletins, casino news and exclusive bonuses from the CasinoMan Newsletter. (more info »)