One of my favorite facts is that due to the highway on the island still being managed by MDOT, they have to place all the construction signage at intervals meant for cars. Also Amazon has a delivery horse.
Do they sell motor fuel on the island ? There isn't actually a ban on internal combustion engines ? (Snowmobiles ok) Just motorized wheels ? What about E bikes, etc ? Gas riding lawn mowers and weed wackers are ok ? As long as nothing moves on, "the road " ?
I think i found the loophole. Snowmobiles are fast, versatile, powerful modern machines. They can also be ridden year round. (They don't need snow) They can even be ridden across water. Each state has their own very thick DMV manuals on what constitutes a vehicle. (Plus, the federal government has overriding requirements of their own). I just see a unique marketing ploy that is used to set this tourist destination apart from others for the profit of likely a small group of investors.
Ive been to mackinac island and it is so cool. The buildings still have the frontier asthetic and, with all the horses walking around with carraiges in tow, it feels like traveling back in time to the 1800s and early 1900s (that is if you dont include the modern tourists walking around everywhere lol). It is absolutely underated when it comes to U.S. historical sites. Fun fact: Only emergency vehicles are allowed all over the island, whereas golf carts can only run on the golf course properties. The only reason snowmobiles are allowed is because of the loophole that this motorized vehicle technically doesnt touch the ground of mackinac, as it is suspended above it by being on a layer of snow. Goofy reasoning, but considering its seasonal, it helps out a lot.
@@Mephmtit was the first battle of the war of 1812 and the British invaded at night, catching the fort by surprise and capturing it without a single shot
Hi! As someone who has worked on the island as a Boy Scout they do have a few other cars that a lot of people don’t know about. There is one box truck on the island which is likely owned by the airport and the parks service has at least 2 trucks as well as a large (tractor sized) lawn mower!
I haven't been to Mackinac since I was kid, but I do remember the lack of cars. It is quite remarkable (as a North American) to be somewhere where there are no cars. (In addition to the fudge, the smoked fish is also amazing!)
Speaking of horses, we took the family to Mackinac Island twice, and when our kids were little we used to playfully let them stomp in puddles after a rain storm. While on the main street in Mackinac Island, we had to tell them not to stomp in the puddles in the gutter, because that was not rainwater. It was also an object lesson knowing why old cartoons had a guy going down the street with a broom and a garbage can.
How it works in the winter: the ice is thick enough to drive on - both snowmobile and car. There is a brief time when there is too much ice for the ferry and not enough to drive on that the island is pretty isolated from the mainland, but in the depts of winter the ice gets thick and it's easy enough to traverse.
The old winter world war II trick. Everyone forgets that at least before the world started to get a bit warmer most of the winter, the ice on lakes is thick enough to support multi-ton motor vehicles
@@klaykid117 The Great Lakes don't freeze over in winter. Never have beyond the lakeshores. They're way too big. The area between the island and the mainland there is an exception due to how thin the lake is in that stretch of water between the island and the coast combined with the coastal ice flows clogging the passage up.
Highly recommend looking up "Jack Barnwell" who is one of, if not the, largest landscaper on the island. He discusses the challenges associated with building and maintaining the beautiful properties on the island!
It's a fun place to visit! My wife and I really just enjoyed the time there. Lots of cool side trips like the haunted house, butterfly house, the fudge stores, and the Grand Hotel (we were able to get in without paying). Also, the fort is amazing. Wish we had time to get to the other side of the island. It's a lot bigger than it looks! You just have to watch out for the "road apples", what we called the horse manure, and the "cider" which is the old #1.
I didn't know it was mispronounced. Even the rednecks in my neck of the woods pronounce it correctly. I get how people MIGHT, but, I've never heard it. And I've talked about it more times than I would have imagined.
In his defense, Sam is a fluent French speaker who probably clocked "Mackinac" immediately and assumed everywhere here would be pronounced as a French word. There's two smaller towns called St. Ignace in French-speaking parts of Canada that pronounce it the way he did.
KMCD is a nice little airport. It has a 3500 foot runway and three instrument approaches. Top off before you go as they don't have fuel. Interesting comment in the A/FD: "Pitot covers recommended while parked; check tubes before departure due to mud daubers."
I go there one or twice a year and once ran into someone online who lived there year-round until they started college. It's honestly really cool to see all the pictures on the island in the video and know exactly where they are
Getting around in the winter can also be by cross-country skiing. I even asked about it once and was told that it does take place. You can always do skijoring behind a snowmobile or a year-round horse if you tire easily...
Correct me if I'm wrong, but wasn't ALL of the US car-free at one stage? It'd be nice to go back to that. I'm sick of traffic. I want trams and trains, with bicycles in-between.
Two corrections: 1. It’s pronounced “Saint Igg-Niss”. Don’t ask me why, lots of places in Michigan are pronounced different from what you’d expect. If someone claims to be from Michigan and you think he’s lying ask him how to pronounce Lake Orion. 2. There’s one other car. It’s an old rusted junker in the dump.
More precisely, the Fire Island community of Cherry Grove is completely car free, and the community of Pines has no individually owned cars, but there are some municipal pickup trucks etc in Pines. But definitely nothing that anyone would consider a car or truck is allowed in Cherry Grove. I’m confident there are other communities with similar situations, Sam’s just making a click-bait video title
Man you must read my mind! Just the other day I was reading about Mackinac Island, and of course I was looking for a video like this. And well.. here we are.
Coming from a former michigan resident, I'm pretty sure I heard that deliveries in the winter are done by snowmobile after the ice gets thick enough to drive safely across the lake but don't quote me on that
Interesting about the use of snowmobiles in the winter. I've known of the car ban for a long time, but had presumed it applied to all internal combustion powered personal conveyances. So the sum total is peace, quiet, and clean air in the summer, and in the winter... Kind of the opposite. I'd have thought it would be horses and horse-drawn sleighs.
French + Native American leads to a lot of strange names in the Great lakes. Having grown up in Michigan I often forget about how weird so many of our names are
6:30 I loaded the Mack Island truck at UPS Rudyard for a bit a while back. When the ice freezes, they just fly everything over. Its more expensive but the island gets subsidies because both the Republicans and Democrats hold big conventions on the island, according to the boss there. Luckily in the winter, most shipments are pretty low. Just a couple dozen boxes on the floor of one of the St. Ignace trucks. Also, I did once load an entire sim racing rig for Mackinac Island, which I found quite ironic.
In the winter, if the lake freezes over sufficiently, they survey it for safety, and then mark what they call the ice bridge with Christmas trees. Then, people can safely walk, bicycle, or snowmobile to the mainland.
As someone with the surname Carless, this was a strange video to watch. It's not often I hear my surname in other contexts, and "the blissful serenity of carlessness" is definitely the best one yet.
As someone that's involved with the Grand Hotel's merch clothing, I wondered what the deal is. Then I found out about the rooms. Turns out the whole island is really intriguing
I was there last summer and washed a guy haul an entire trailer full of Anheuser Bush products… I was so tempted to just reach onto his trailer and grab a case of beer.
As someone who has been watching this channel since 2017, this video was already made on the channel back in February 2019. It’s actually kinda funny how they’ve made 450 videos and there only NOW recycling ideas
Please consider doing a video about peach tree city Georgia where they have multi use paths in the whole city that is often used by golf carts in addition to bicycles
Im from Michigan. When we show each other where we live we use our hand. We hold it 4 fingers together with a thumb out and point on our hand where we live in Michigan
I find it ironic that they would allow snowmobiles given how much noisier they are than modern day cars when the whole point of the ban was to elimate any self-propelled vehicles that would allegedly scare the horses.
Now the real question: Is a Go-Kart a car? Does it matter if it's electric or gas? What about electric scooter? What about Colin Furze's motorized toilet? These are the questions that we must ask the mayor!
I feel like snow mobiles are a big cheat, it's like a dogless dog sled, or a horseless carriage! loud and what not, it's like you're telling me they allow motorcycles or 4 wheelers...
Wow Syed really gave up on trying to help Amy and called a different helper.Fair enough. In addition. I would appriacte a more detailed answer about the frosen lake matter if one comes. Thank you.
One of my favorite facts is that due to the highway on the island still being managed by MDOT, they have to place all the construction signage at intervals meant for cars. Also Amazon has a delivery horse.
Do they sell motor fuel on the island ? There isn't actually a ban on internal combustion engines ? (Snowmobiles ok) Just motorized wheels ? What about E bikes, etc ? Gas riding lawn mowers and weed wackers are ok ? As long as nothing moves on,
"the road " ?
The Amazon delivery horse was one of the funniest things I’ve ever seen
@michaelmccarthy4615 the ban is on cars and motorcycles of any kind of propulsion
I think i found the loophole. Snowmobiles are fast, versatile, powerful modern machines. They can also be ridden year round. (They don't need snow) They can even be ridden across water. Each state has their own very thick DMV manuals on what constitutes a vehicle. (Plus, the federal government has overriding requirements of their own).
I just see a unique marketing ploy that is used to set this tourist destination apart from others for the profit of likely a small group of investors.
@@michaelmccarthy4615 There is a gas pump (the only one I believe) that is behind the fort in the trash storage area
Ive been to mackinac island and it is so cool. The buildings still have the frontier asthetic and, with all the horses walking around with carraiges in tow, it feels like traveling back in time to the 1800s and early 1900s (that is if you dont include the modern tourists walking around everywhere lol). It is absolutely underated when it comes to U.S. historical sites.
Fun fact: Only emergency vehicles are allowed all over the island, whereas golf carts can only run on the golf course properties. The only reason snowmobiles are allowed is because of the loophole that this motorized vehicle technically doesnt touch the ground of mackinac, as it is suspended above it by being on a layer of snow. Goofy reasoning, but considering its seasonal, it helps out a lot.
That’s not the frontier aesthetic it’s colonial style housing. Trust me I was ACTUALLY just there
@mazza3571 I would argue its a mix of both.
Also fun fact: The British invaded the island in the war of 1812 and won! Yep, the USA has been invaded before.
@@Mephmtit was the first battle of the war of 1812 and the British invaded at night, catching the fort by surprise and capturing it without a single shot
I went to Mackinac Island a few years ago, was annoying leaving because of all the people leaving at any given time
3:02 so you're telling me that somewhere in America, there's a town whose local government has a poop knife budget?
State issued poop knife
yes. and in fact their mayor is one of the longest continuously serving mayors in america
Actually they have a new mayor, the old one just retired this year.
Didn't you do a video on this island before?
"The highway where cars are banned"?
That he did
Yes he did
Logistics tho
Everyone loves a reboot.
ruclips.net/video/tof52FXyZds/видео.html
This one. It was only 4 years ago as well
Hi! As someone who has worked on the island as a Boy Scout they do have a few other cars that a lot of people don’t know about. There is one box truck on the island which is likely owned by the airport and the parks service has at least 2 trucks as well as a large (tractor sized) lawn mower!
yes I was also a scout on the island. My uncle was surveyor and got to drive a truck on the island during their off-season
Yall are so lucky to be put there in scouts I’ve always wanted to
Getting out an OG automobile just to ban it a century later is absolutely hilarious
3:15 why bot use bike ?
Bicycles 🚲
Fun fact: This is the second video Sam has made about this topic and town on HAI.
I haven't been to Mackinac since I was kid, but I do remember the lack of cars. It is quite remarkable (as a North American) to be somewhere where there are no cars.
(In addition to the fudge, the smoked fish is also amazing!)
Lots of islands in Germany are completely car free too. Helgoland is quite interesting, because cycling is also banned there.
No, I think Legoland has cars
@@skylark.kraken Lego cars? :D
In Greece as well. But government/utility vehicles are allowed.
How the hell are you supposed to get around in Heligoland without even a bicycle?
@@ferretyluv It's so small, you can walk everywhere or use a non-electric scooter, as these aren't considered bikes under German law.
Speaking of horses, we took the family to Mackinac Island twice, and when our kids were little we used to playfully let them stomp in puddles after a rain storm. While on the main street in Mackinac Island, we had to tell them not to stomp in the puddles in the gutter, because that was not rainwater. It was also an object lesson knowing why old cartoons had a guy going down the street with a broom and a garbage can.
Those puddles are not ones you want to splash in
How it works in the winter: the ice is thick enough to drive on - both snowmobile and car. There is a brief time when there is too much ice for the ferry and not enough to drive on that the island is pretty isolated from the mainland, but in the depts of winter the ice gets thick and it's easy enough to traverse.
Put wheels on the snowmobiles and drive them year round. It's doable.
The old winter world war II trick. Everyone forgets that at least before the world started to get a bit warmer most of the winter, the ice on lakes is thick enough to support multi-ton motor vehicles
@@klaykid117 The Great Lakes don't freeze over in winter. Never have beyond the lakeshores. They're way too big. The area between the island and the mainland there is an exception due to how thin the lake is in that stretch of water between the island and the coast combined with the coastal ice flows clogging the passage up.
Highly recommend looking up "Jack Barnwell" who is one of, if not the, largest landscaper on the island. He discusses the challenges associated with building and maintaining the beautiful properties on the island!
the guy from wendover and the guy from HAI posting on the same day 😮 0:10
It's a fun place to visit! My wife and I really just enjoyed the time there. Lots of cool side trips like the haunted house, butterfly house, the fudge stores, and the Grand Hotel (we were able to get in without paying). Also, the fort is amazing. Wish we had time to get to the other side of the island. It's a lot bigger than it looks!
You just have to watch out for the "road apples", what we called the horse manure, and the "cider" which is the old #1.
As a native michigander I appreciate you pronouncing Mackinac properly.
Edit: not St. Ignace though :(
I didn't know it was mispronounced. Even the rednecks in my neck of the woods pronounce it correctly.
I get how people MIGHT, but, I've never heard it. And I've talked about it more times than I would have imagined.
Once you get north of Big Rapids, you can forgive "foreigners" for not pronouncing 90% of the places up there correctly.
I clicked on this just to see if he pronounced it right.
that St. Ignace hurt oof
In his defense, Sam is a fluent French speaker who probably clocked "Mackinac" immediately and assumed everywhere here would be pronounced as a French word. There's two smaller towns called St. Ignace in French-speaking parts of Canada that pronounce it the way he did.
KMCD is a nice little airport. It has a 3500 foot runway and three instrument approaches. Top off before you go as they don't have fuel. Interesting comment in the A/FD: "Pitot covers recommended while parked; check tubes before departure due to mud daubers."
I go there one or twice a year and once ran into someone online who lived there year-round until they started college. It's honestly really cool to see all the pictures on the island in the video and know exactly where they are
Getting around in the winter can also be by cross-country skiing. I even asked about it once and was told that it does take place. You can always do skijoring behind a snowmobile or a year-round horse if you tire easily...
Correct me if I'm wrong, but wasn't ALL of the US car-free at one stage?
It'd be nice to go back to that. I'm sick of traffic. I want trams and trains, with bicycles in-between.
I mean, technically the US existed for about 100 years before cards existed.
Two corrections:
1. It’s pronounced “Saint Igg-Niss”. Don’t ask me why, lots of places in Michigan are pronounced different from what you’d expect. If someone claims to be from Michigan and you think he’s lying ask him how to pronounce Lake Orion.
2. There’s one other car. It’s an old rusted junker in the dump.
I love Macanac island. Very thankful to have been there before.
"back to illinois" so accurate lmao
Fire island off long island, NY is also almost completely car-free
More precisely, the Fire Island community of Cherry Grove is completely car free, and the community of Pines has no individually owned cars, but there are some municipal pickup trucks etc in Pines. But definitely nothing that anyone would consider a car or truck is allowed in Cherry Grove. I’m confident there are other communities with similar situations, Sam’s just making a click-bait video title
This is on my travel bucket list.
I went to this island last summer and it is extremely nice. Definitely visit if you have the chance.
Man you must read my mind! Just the other day I was reading about Mackinac Island, and of course I was looking for a video like this. And well.. here we are.
Two videos in two days? Christmas came early 😂
Coming from a former michigan resident, I'm pretty sure I heard that deliveries in the winter are done by snowmobile after the ice gets thick enough to drive safely across the lake but don't quote me on that
Interesting about the use of snowmobiles in the winter. I've known of the car ban for a long time, but had presumed it applied to all internal combustion powered personal conveyances.
So the sum total is peace, quiet, and clean air in the summer, and in the winter... Kind of the opposite. I'd have thought it would be horses and horse-drawn sleighs.
St. Ignace, in the tradition of Michigan place names that are spelled funny, is pronounced like Saint Ig-niss
Please do a video about why the last c in Mackinac is silent and sounds like a "w"😂
French + Native American leads to a lot of strange names in the Great lakes. Having grown up in Michigan I often forget about how weird so many of our names are
6:30 I loaded the Mack Island truck at UPS Rudyard for a bit a while back. When the ice freezes, they just fly everything over. Its more expensive but the island gets subsidies because both the Republicans and Democrats hold big conventions on the island, according to the boss there. Luckily in the winter, most shipments are pretty low. Just a couple dozen boxes on the floor of one of the St. Ignace trucks.
Also, I did once load an entire sim racing rig for Mackinac Island, which I found quite ironic.
Not the only one! Bald Head Island in NC is another carless town in the USA.
I’ve been there a few times…huge portions of it smell like fudge, not horses…it’s pretty incredible.
In the winter, if the lake freezes over sufficiently, they survey it for safety, and then mark what they call the ice bridge with Christmas trees. Then, people can safely walk, bicycle, or snowmobile to the mainland.
As someone with the surname Carless, this was a strange video to watch. It's not often I hear my surname in other contexts, and "the blissful serenity of carlessness" is definitely the best one yet.
As someone that's involved with the Grand Hotel's merch clothing, I wondered what the deal is. Then I found out about the rooms. Turns out the whole island is really intriguing
I've been there a couple of times. The fudge is so worth the cost of getting there.
I was there last summer and washed a guy haul an entire trailer full of Anheuser Bush products… I was so tempted to just reach onto his trailer and grab a case of beer.
Pronounces Mackinac correctly, St Ignace incorrectly. 😂
Sam clocking in to do HAI after switching from Wendover personality 1 to personality 2
I literally laughed out loud when he tried to pronounce St. Ignace lol
The snowmobiles are disappointing
As someone who has been watching this channel since 2017, this video was already made on the channel back in February 2019. It’s actually kinda funny how they’ve made 450 videos and there only NOW recycling ideas
Anytime Sam does a video about my state it’s a good day!
such a cool island you did 7 videos on it, if i remember correctly
we need more of this
You think I wouldn’t recognize the GTA V map in the thumbnail 🤦♂️🤦♂️🤦♂️
Wait what I’m confused now
@@equertydon’t worry. That guy is the confused one.
It not it just looks like it so op decided to make a funny. @@equerty
HAI, RLL, and wendover released a video all on the same day!!!
I loved the aggressively non-smooth sponsor transition.
Please consider doing a video about peach tree city Georgia where they have multi use paths in the whole city that is often used by golf carts in addition to bicycles
I learned about Mackinac Island from Dirty Jobs. Mike Rowe went there to be a street sweeper.
Im from Michigan. When we show each other where we live we use our hand. We hold it 4 fingers together with a thumb out and point on our hand where we live in Michigan
do logistics of epstein island next please
since snowmobiles are allowed, technically its the island where cars are banned but tanks are common.
3:02 They literally have a poop knife?? 🤣
1:15 classic "Americans will use anything but the metric system" moment
The car free pedestrian zone of Fez, Morocco is also super nice!
0:17 new village slogan unlocked
There's also Avalon CA that's mainly golf carts
Fire Island, a barrier island of Long Island in New York, is also car-free.
Dude you DID this one!
It's like Venice but without the floods.
It feels like snowmobiles should also be banned in the spirit of the law.
Original Yooper here, awesome video!
It's hard to do a more Michigan thing than visiting Mackinac Island.
How could Sam ever forget about Supai, AZ?
I find it ironic that they would allow snowmobiles given how much noisier they are than modern day cars when the whole point of the ban was to elimate any self-propelled vehicles that would allegedly scare the horses.
0:45
Well, it says right there. They still have emergency service vehicles.
I'm from the U.P. and am ashamed that I've never visited this island yet!
Now the real question: Is a Go-Kart a car? Does it matter if it's electric or gas? What about electric scooter? What about Colin Furze's motorized toilet? These are the questions that we must ask the mayor!
Hello sequel of "The Highway Where Cars Are Banned"
I feel like snow mobiles are a big cheat, it's like a dogless dog sled, or a horseless carriage! loud and what not, it's like you're telling me they allow motorcycles or 4 wheelers...
My tough exactly, and it's not like these are electric snowmobiles either
Switzerland is just goated with saas fee and zermatt lol
Heck yeah, Michigan feature!
Wow Syed really gave up on trying to help Amy and called a different helper.Fair enough.
In addition. I would appriacte a more detailed answer about the frosen lake matter if one comes. Thank you.
I love Mackinac Island!
6:46 The letter for the profile pic changes. So Amy must've reached out to at least 2 service reps when you said "a", as in one.
6:35, that was close... it's Saint "Igg-Niss"
As a Michigander, I am compelled to tell you it's pronounced "IG niss"
The fudge shouldn't be doubted, type 1 diabetic and I'd buy a shop out if I was dying as a last wish!
1:42 Moscow, Russia
Sadovoye Ring near Park Kultury metro station
I know the answer on how they get packages over there in the winter
They comically slide them across the frozen water
how about USA's only Brick-Free village
That's much of the US West. We have massive cities built almost exclusively out of concrete and lumber
Well this is the earliest I've ever been, great video :)
I know it's not really relevant to the topic, but glossing over the Mackinac island fudge is still a shame. It's _really_ good fudge.
Whoa, this is insane! Keep it up!
I worked there for two summers for the Police Department... Good times!
I don't think anyone from Mackinac is going to a Costco in Traverse. It's like 80 miles away.
👁️👄👁️I've never heard someone talk about Rudyard in a RUclips video.
Also st. Ignace is usually pronounced: "sud-ayg-ness". Or "sayd-eengness"
The thumbnail looks like the GTA V map 😭😭
I love Somewhere in Time.
Hi Sam!
I wish I could live in a place without cars.
the narrator on that wendover productions video from today sounds an awful lot like sam from HAI
You forgot about the Christmas Tree highway!!!
Mackinac Island has a small airport... I'm pretty sure it has fire trucks
I was hoping to hear of a bustling peach industry.
Camping is banned, too.
Great vid. Background music was a little loud!!