Esther Williams Pool

The Esther Williams Pool is the Grand Hotel's signature pool. It is a 75-foot long pool that is surrounded by a colonnade. The pool is named after Esther Williams, a Hollywood actress who was known for her swimming movies. The Esther Williams Pool was featured in the 1947 movie "This Time for Keeps," which starred Williams and Jimmy Durante. The movie helped to revitalize the Grand Hotel, which was struggling financially at the time.

The pool itself is big and beautiful, kept at a constant 83 degrees, offers food and bar servers and even has a waterslide for the kids, big and little. Not to mention the wonderful view of the lake.

There is also an adult pool just above the Esther Williams (much smaller) maintained at 92 degrees and also offering food and bar service.

The Front Porch

Billed as the longest front porch in the world at just under 700’ and lined with rocking chairs, there is no better place to sit, relax and enjoy the view of the lake. Of course, you can also enjoy the beverage of your choice served by the always professional and friendly staff.

Tip: In the afternoon there we be a professional photographer to take your group's picture. They will be available for purchase the next morning at the photographer’s desk. They are not inexpensive but when else will you get a chance for a professional photo in your best attire (more about this later) in such a beautiful setting?

High Tea

The Grand Hotel offers high tea in the lobby every day from 3:30pm to 5pm. High tea is a traditional English meal that consists of finger sandwiches, scones, pastries and tea. The Grand Hotel's high tea is served in the hotel's Grand Lobby, which is in a beautiful and elegant setting.

This is a wonderful opportunity for the future and current debutantes to join the ladies in their lives for a time-tested tradition of tea, treats and live music.

Live Music and Dancing

The Grand Hotel offers live music and dancing in the Grand Lobby from 9:00 PM to 2:00 AM most nights. The music is typically a mix of jazz, blues and classic rock. Dancing is also permitted in the Grand Lobby.

Activities

There are many things to do during your stay, a few examples are:

• Enjoy the Esther Williams swimming pool and deck.

• Rent bicycles to tour the island.

• Play the championship golf course.

• Enjoy a carriage run tour (they even have some you can drive yourself.)

• Listen to various live music performances throughout the day/evening

On the grounds you will find:

• Two oversized chess sets

• Bocci ball

• Croquet

• Beautiful gardens to stroll thru and photograph

• In the lower hallway a pictorial history of the hotel and stories about the many famous people who have stayed in the hotel including four presidents.

The Grand is famous for fine dining but also has several other options.

Fine Dining

The Grand Dining Room: The Grand Hotel's signature dining room, offering a prix-fixe menu. This is also where breakfast is served, a choice of buffet, off the menu or both.

The Woods Restaurant: A Bavarian-style restaurant, located a short, scenic horse-drawn carriage ride into the wooded interior of Mackinac Island. Open for dinner only, and reservations are recommended.

Casual Dining

The Terrace Dining Room: A more casual dining room, offering a buffet breakfast and lunch. Open for dinner, but the menu is more limited than the Grand Dining Room.

The Coffee Shop: A casual spot, offering coffee, pastries and light fare. Open all day long.

The Poolside Grill: A casual poolside grill, offering burgers, hot dogs, and other American fare. Open seasonally from 11:00 AM to 10:00 PM. (Try the chips and dips option for light, fresh snack.)

The Snack Bar: A small snack bar, located near the pool, serving up ice cream, sandwiches, and other snacks. Open seasonally from 11:00 AM to 10:00 PM.

There is also a room service menu available.

High Tea

The Grand Hotel offers high tea in the lobby every day from 3:30pm to 5pm. High tea is a traditional English meal that consists of finger sandwiches, scones, pastries and tea. The Grand Hotel's high tea is served in the hotel's Grand Lobby, which is in a beautiful and elegant setting.

This is a wonderful opportunity for the future and current debutantes to join the ladies in their lives for a time-tested tradition of tea, treats and live music.