The island that time forgot!

 

 

Time was when we hailed technology as driven by mankind. Today, it is more apt to quip that technology drives humankind. An Apple used to be a delectable fruit, Windows were the looking glass to the world outside, Bose was a great Indian leader and if there was a Jaguar in your driveway, you’d have to take drastic corrective action as would the neighborhood! Gone are those days, you say? Then hop away to Mackinac Island. As if preserved in a time capsule, transportation is limited to buggies, bicycle or by foot. The Victorian aura shines even today, thanks to the 500 permanent residents steadfastly holding fort against modernisation.

The pitter-patter of horse hooves on sleepy little streets is the first thing to strike you as you step off the dock into the laidback Victorian village and the buggies, far from being an antiquated pest, are a fantastic way to get around. The leisurely leanings of the townspeople are more in place with the 1800s than 2006... But who’s complaining? The natural beauty of this place, and especially its State Park’s, is such that National Geographic honoured it as one of the top 10 state parks in all of America. In fact, a trip to Mackinac Island minus a visit to the State Park is like going golfing minus the clubs.

For most, the only greens that matter are the wads of notes, but for the residents of this old-world destination, the greenery is the essence that brings visitors back time and time again.

There can be no better way to take it all in than (surprise, surprise) a carriage ride, rolling across the island and the 2250 acres worth of trail. For those with a more adventurous bent, there’s always Fort Mackinac (part of the American Revolution), complete with cannon salutes roaring aloud. That a place could stay within a cocoon of its own making for this long is amazing. Guess it’s a testament to the fact that the tides of time can be held back, if only the heart and mind are willing…