8 days Mackinac Island featuring The Grand Hotel
This classic Midwestern tour features Illinois and Michigan. Savor two incredible nights amid the luxury of the Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island. Enjoy a horse and buggy tour of Mackinac Island. Explore the wonderful city of Chicago with a local guide. Spend a night in the Bavarian-influenced town of Frankenmuth. In Dearborn, experience the inspirational Henry Ford Museum and view historic homes at Greenfield Village including the famous American workshops of Thomas Edison, Henry Ford and Robert Frost. Visit a Traverse City winery for a vineyard tour and wine tasting and see quaint Charlevoix’s unique stone “mushroom houses.”
| Day | Location | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chicago, Illinois - Tour Begins | Get ready for a journey through the coastal regions of the Midwest. The tranquil beauty of Mackinac Island and the Great Lakes region comes alive amid old-fashioned traditions. Courtyard Marriott Chicago |
| 2 | Chicago | Begin your day with a locally guided tour of Chicago’s remarkable and impressive architecture. This dynamic city goes by many names including "Second City" and “The Windy City." No matter what you call it, you are sure to love it! Highlights of your tour include famous Michigan Avenue, the “Magnificent Mile,” the Wrigley Building, the Loop, the Lakefront, and a walking tour through Millennium Park. The remainder of your day is at leisure. Perhaps you’ll visit one of Chicago’s many museums, relax during a scenic boat ride across the Chicago River, or visit the Chicago Cultural Center which hosts the largest Tiffany dome in the world. Or, you might visit the Art Institute of Chicago and see the most complete collection of Impressionist art outside of Paris. Perhaps you’ll ride to the top of the Sears Tower for remarkable views of the city. This evening, join your fellow travelers for a welcome dinner. Breakfast & Dinner Courtyard By Marriott Chicago |
| 3 | Chicago - Traverse City, Michigan | Today we head north to the shores of Lake Michigan’s Grand Traverse Bay. Here we find Traverse City, the cherry capital of the United States. It may come as a surprise to you that the state’s western coast boasts the perfect climate for cultivating grapes and is considered the land of vineyards. This evening, join your fellow travelers for a private vineyard tour and wine tasting at a winery on Leelanau Peninsula. Breakfast Park Place Hotel |
| 4 | Traverse City - Charlevoix - Mackinac Island | Today we’ll travel north, making a stop in the historic city of Charlevoix which is surrounded by four bodies of water, including Lake Michigan. A local guide will provide some interesting history and you’ll view the fairy-tale mushroom houses built by the famous architect Earl Young. Then, enjoy a scenic drive before boarding the ferry that will take you back to a simpler time on Mackinac Island. Upon arrival, listen for how the neighs and clip-clops of horses replace the roar of engines. Your home for the next two nights is the glorious Victorian-era resort, the Grand Hotel.* Both your hotel and the island itself are National Historic Landmarks. The island is a natural gem with over eighty percent of its land preserved by Mackinac State Park, a wooded paradise accented with limestone formations and ringed by Lake Huron. After dinner at your hotel, the evening is yours to enjoy. Perhaps you’ll take a leisurely stroll through the quaint village or relax on the Grand Hotel’s famous porch. Breakfast Grand Hotel |
| 5 | Mackinac Island | Climb aboard your horse-drawn carriage for an island tour that includes stops at the Surrey Hills Carriage Museum and Arch Rock. Following your tour, savor some time to enjoy all of Mackinac Island’s quiet pleasures. Enjoy brilliant views while sitting on the front porch of the Grand Hotel or take a walk downtown to visit the shops and buy some fudge, a favorite item on the island. Later, choose from a menu of tasty delicacies when you dine at the elegant Salle à Manger. Chamber music and demitasse precede dancing to the refined sounds of the Grand Hotel’s orchestra. If you crave a secluded hideaway, retreat to the charming cupola. Breakfast & Dinner. Grand Hotel. |
| 6 | Mackinac Island - Frankenmuth | This morning, enjoy some leisure time at the Grand Hotel before departing for the quaint town of Frankenmuth. Upon arrival, visit the largest Christmas store in the world – Bronner’s. This evening, enjoy free time to explore the town’s unique German shops, restaurants and lovely buildings. Breakfast & Dinner. Bavarian Inn Lodge |
| 7 | Frankenmuth - Dearborn - Southfield | This morning we’ll travel south to Dearborn, home town of Henry Ford and the Ford Motor Company. Visit the Henry Ford Museum and Greenfield Village for an experience in living history! Learn how the automobile forever changed American life and society as you explore the Henry Ford Museum. At Greenfield Village, take in the historic homes and see the workshops where famous American icons like the Wright Brothers, Thomas Edison, Henry Ford and Robert Frost were once inspired. Enjoy a farewell dinner this evening, toasting the end of your wonderful journey. Breakfast & Dinner. Westin Southfield |
| 8 | Southfield - Tour Ends | Your tour ends today, leaving you with a bounty of happy memories from your visit to America’s heartland. Breakfast |