The gateway to the Upper Peninsula, St. Ignace is the first stop for travelers crossing the Mackinac Bridge. From there, it's just a ferry ride to Mackinac Island, a place that has been stopped in time featuring a former British fort and the beautiful Grand Hotel. Mackinac Island is also the home of the Governor's Mansion, a summer residence for the state's top official. St. Ignace offers tourists a large variety of Upper Peninsula "specialties," such as pasties, smoked fish and fudge, as well as beautiful views of the Straits of Mackinac, which connect the mighty Lake Michigan and Lake Huron.