If you love horses, beautiful fall foliage and the smell of fudge, you absolutely have to visit Mackinac Island in Michigan.
This beautiful midwestern destination was just named the Best Place to Visit for Fall by USA Today, after landing second place last year and third place in 2023.
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Mackinac Island is known for its beautiful views of nature and fall foliage, making it the perfect place to visit as the air starts to chill and the leaves begin to turn into stunning hues of varying shades.
Mackinac Island sits on Lake Huron and is accessible by ferry from St. Eustace.
Mackinac Island takes top spot in travel ranking
“Fall on Mackinac Island is a remarkable experience from the tranquil atmosphere to the brilliant fall colors, and we are incredibly honored to receive this recognition,” Tim Hygh, executive director of the Mackinac Island Tourism Bureau, said in a statement.
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One of the things that makes Mackinac Island so magical is its car-free nature: the island has been banned to motorized vehicles since 1898.
Visitors can look forward to playing golf, exploring the island by bike or horse-drawn carriage ride as well as peeking into one of its many cozy cafés and shops.
And this isn’t the first reward the island has received. It was also recently named the Best Summer Travel Destination for the third year in a row by USA Today.
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This story was originally reported by TravelHost on Sep 22, 2025, where it first appeared in the News section. Add TravelHost as a Preferred Source by clicking here.