There is a great program that several businesses on Mackinac Island participate in called the 906 Rewards Club. This is a program that gives you “spend like cash” rewards when you visit the participating merchants.. You will earn 10% spend like cash rewards for every dollar spent on dining and shopping and 5% spend like cash rewards for every dollar spent on lodging. You even get a $5 bonus when you sign up! You can earn rewards and use the rewards at many amazing merchants that include The Island House Hotel, Pine Cottages Bed & Breakfast, the Island House Bikes, Ryba’s Fudge Shops, Starbucks, 1852 Grill Room, Ice House BBQ & Bar, Mary’s Bistro Draught House, Seabiscuit Cafe and the Pancake House.
We had the opportunity to visit a few of the members of the 906 Rewards Club.
1852 GRILL ROOM
The 1852 Grill Room is a spectacular restaurant located inside the Island House Hotel. The beautiful bright decor and floor-to-ceiling windows give this restaurant its elegant feel. You can dine inside this stunning restaurant or outside on the terrace patio. The views over the marina and water are breathtaking!
The 1852 Grill Room is known for its sophisticated casual dining with an upscale menu. The dinner options are first class! This is the perfect restaurant for a special occasion, a romantic night out or just an excellent meal with a breathtaking view.
The restaurant is open for breakfast and dinner. We enjoyed the amazing breakfast buffet, which boasted French toast, eggs, bacon, sausage, potatoes, biscuits and gravy. There was also a beautiful “European style” spread of pastries, fresh fruit, yogurt, toast, meat, cheeses and smoked salmon
Everything about this experience was first class. The food was delicious and the service impeccable.
MARY’S BISTRO DRAUGHT HOUSE
We had an amazing meal at Mary’s Bistro Draught House. Mary’s is a great place to go and enjoy a craft beer and a delicious meal. They have 50 craft beers on tap! It is a bit overwhelming, but our waitress, Haley, was very knowledgable and helped us choose the perfect porter.
The food menu has a great variety, we had the wood fired pizza, chicken pot pie, chicken strips and the tenderloin medallions, everything was delicious!
Mary’s is open for lunch and diner and features live music in the evenings.
PANCAKE HOUSE
We were ready for a quick snack so thought we would try the Pancake House. What a cute restaurant! The decor is bright and fun and the food is amazing. They offer breakfast all day and have such a variety of foods to choose from. The pancakes were tempting but we went with the waffle. It was delicious! The waffle itself is light and fluffy with loads of strawberries, whipped cream and we had a scoop of ice cream as well. As it was near lunch, we also tried the chicken strip basket. They were so good. The menu has so many choices from omelettes, pancakes, eggs and waffles to sandwiches, baskets, salads and burgers. Everything we saw being served looked amazing. Next time we visit Mackinac Island this will definitely return to the Pancake House!
ISLAND HOUSE BIKES
Renting bikes from Island House Bikes is a must do on Mackinac Island. They are located just out front of the Island House Hotel. The guys that worked there were so helpful and fun! There are many trails to take and beautiful paved road, Hwy M-185, that goes around the entire 8 miles of the island. M-85 is the only highway in the United States that is totally car free. It is a great way to explore and visit all of the sights. The first night we took out bikes and road around town and explored the west side of the island. The next morning, we thought we would switch it up and took out tricycles. You can not believe how much fun it is to ride a tricycle around! We went out to Arch Rock and around town again. Even those that are not bike enthusiasts should consider renting a bike for an hour just to see some of the amazing sights around. It was definitely a highlight of our stay.
RYBA’S FUDGE
And of course we had to grab some of the famous Mackinac Island fudge from Ryba’s. The best fudge I have ever had!
There are so many choices and the fudge is made fresh, we were fascinated by watching it get made! The fudge is mixed in copper kettles and then dumped onto an Italian marble slab. Then, the fudge expert maker uses a paddle to work the fudge and mold it into slabs. (They are experts and have to complete a two year apprenticeship before they are allowed to make the fudge on their own!) After the fudge cools, it is sliced and ready to go! All of the fudge is made by hand, and it is so smooth and creamy. Ryba’s has their own family recipe that is decades old, and you can taste the care and attention that each batch of fudge gets!
But Ryba’s is more than just fudge! There is an assortment of other products as well. The peanut brittle and caramel corn definitely caught my eye! Salt water taffy and many chocolate covered treats are also available. I just had to try the chocolate covered strawberries, and let me tell you, they were delicious!!
We also indulged in some Guernsey Farms Dairy ice cream. Oh my gosh, it was so good! It was so creamy and the flavor was amazing. We had waffle cones with Mackinac Island Fudge ice cream and thoroughly enjoyed every bit of it.
The history of Ryba’s is fascinating. It was started in Detroit in 1936 by Henry Ryba and grew into a family business when Victor Callewaert married Henry’s daughter, Rena. Henry and Victor opened their first shop on Mackinac Island in 1960 and now have three shops on Main Street.
STARBUCKS
If you need a quick cup of coffee, there is a Starbucks located on Main Street. We popped in and got a latte to go along with our fudge. It is always comforting to know you can get your favorite Starbucks, even on Mackinac Island!
We can not wait to go back to Mackinac Island and visit some of the other amazing establishments that are a part of the 906 Rewards Club!
SEABISCUIT CAFE
Seabiscuit Cafe is an amazingly cozy pub with a unique and casual menu. Located in an old bank building with wood floors and exposed brick, the horse decor is inspired by the champion thoroughbred and Seabiscuit has become one of the most popular eateries on the island.
ICE HOUSE BBQ
Located next to the Island House Hotel is a fantastic home-style smoked barbecue restaurant called the Ice House. You can sit on the deck under the tent or in the garden under an umbrella. The menu has all of the favorite bbq including pork, chicken and ribs. You can also grab a burger, salad and sandwich. What a relaxing way to enjoy a good meal!
PINE COTTAGE BED & BREAKFAST
Pine Cottage B&B is a beautiful Victorian house just off of Main Street. It has a beautiful wrap around porch and an old world feel. There is antique furniture, steam radiators and clawfoot tubs. If you are looking for a cozy at home feel, you should check out Pine Cottage.
If you are planning on visiting Mackinac Island, be sure to register for the 906 rewards Club. Where else can you earn rewards by eating fudge!
