Mackinac Island named best island in US by travel magazine

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Horse-drawn carriages on Main street at Mackinac Historic State Parks Park. (Photo by: Jeffrey Greenberg/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)

MACKINAC ISLAND, Mich. (FOX 2) - Travel + Leisure recently named Mackinac Island the best island in the continental United States.

The travel magazine asked its readers to rate islands based on activities, things to see, natural spaces, food, and more. The result - a list of 15 places to visit, topped by Mackinac Island.

More: Here's why Detroit is one of the best places in the world

A big chunk of the list of islands are in Florida, but Michigan's gem beat all of those out.

It's noted that most of the island is a state park that doesn't allow cars – only bikes and horse-drawn carriages.

Some Mackinac Island highlights the magazine boasted about included restaurants, fudge shops, and galleries downtown, and the Grand Hotel, which was No. 6 on the T +L list of best Midwest hotels.

Also, the magazine pointed out the several golf courses on the island, including one on a battlefield where the British captured the island from the Americans in the War of 1812. 

Best islands in continental US:

1. Mackinac Island, Mich.
2. Kiawah Island, S.C.
3. Nantucket, Mass.
4. San Juan Islands, Wash.
5. Golden Isles (Jekyll Island, Little St. Simons Island, Sea Island, St. Simons Island), Ga.
6. Outer Banks, N.C.
7. Mount Desert Island, Maine
8. Martha's Vineyard, Mass.
9. Hilton Head Island, S.C.
10. Amelia Island, Fla,
11. Florida Keys
12. Captiva Island, Fla.
13. Sanibel Island, Fla.
14. Block Island, R.I.
15. Longboat Key, Fla.