Although we were in the heart of the island, Main Street Inn and Suites provided a much needed respite from our chaotic lives. It offered a quiet retreat with friendly staff and turn down service that included fudge from the shop on below.

After a great night’s sleep, we explored our options for the day and decided that biking would be a bit too ambitious this year (being 8 months pregnant) – so we figured the next best way to discover Mackinac was through the fudge shops. Luckily, we were visiting the island during their annual fudge festival. So, we planned our “Great Mackinac Fudge Review” over breakfast at the Chuckwagon. A fantastic restaurant full of locals and some of the best tasting pancakes in Michigan (we also found this gem using Yelp).

While sipping our morning coffee we narrowed our scope to the following shops: Ryba’s Fudge Shop, Murdicks Fudge , Joann’s Fudge  and May’s Candy Shop. To fairly evaluate our favorite, we purchased plain chocolate and also a speciality flavor recommended by each shop. Before I get into the results, let me say that each shop had their own approach to making this candy and that they were all amazing!

 

our great mackinac fudge review:

Joann’s Fudge: Our favorite for their smooth, rich texture. Every bite was sweet (not too sweet and had a velvety finish) and their peanut butter fudge will be the only motivation we need to be back next year!

Ryba’s Fudge Shop: This fudge has a rich, velvety texture but didn’t taste quite a sweet as some of the others. Maybe my favorite thing was their branding – this place loves the color pink.

Murdicks Fudge: This fudge reminded me of a recipe my mom made growing up, Texas sheet cake. It had a vanilla flavor to the chocolate that provided a pleasant finish. Since 1887 they have provided vacationers candy and they definitely have the recipe down to an art form.

May’s Candy Shop: A sugary texture, May’s fudge was delicious with a slightly bittersweet chocolate flavor. We preferred the smoother finish for the plain chocolate but loved their maple nut fudge.

After a sufficient sugar high, we boarded the ferry to start our trip home. We have always wanted to visit some of the lighthouses along the great lakes, so we started to make this drive one to remember. To be continued…