Embark on a journey around Lake Michigan to discover its giant sand dunes, historic lighthouses, quaint villages of Door County and the crown jewel of Mackinac Island, the Grand Hotel.
Day 1 Arrive in Chicago
Arrive Chicago today and transfer to your downtown hotel. Meet your Tour Manager in the lobby at 6:00 p.m. for dining suggestions.
Day 2 Chicago City Tour and Wisconsin Fish Boil
Chicago is America’s third largest city and boasts a friendly, Midwest atmosphere. Begin the day with a panoramic tour of downtown Chicago with a local guide. See Millennium Park featuring the “Bean,” Michigan Avenue and views of Lake Michigan. Then, depart the big city for Wisconsin’s charming Door County. Tonight, your Tour Manager hosts a Door County specialty, an authentic Fish Boil dinner that is as much fun to watch as it is to eat. Meals: B, D
Day 3 Exploring Door County
Today is filled with the charm of Door County. A local guide takes you to the quaint villages of Egg Harbor, Fish Creek and Sister Bay. Enjoy lunch at Al Johnson’s Swedish Restaurant, a unique Door County experience featuring tasty food and goats who live on the grass roof. Other highlights include a visit to a winery, a farm market and scenic Peninsula State Park with its Eagle Bluff Lighthouse. Meals: B, L
Day 4 Seul Choix Point Lighthouse and Mackinac Island
Depart Door County this morning and make your way around Lake Michigan. In the Upper Peninsula stop at historic Seul Choix Point Lighthouse, regarded as one of the most haunted lighthouses on the lake. Continue to St. Ignace where the ferry to Mackinac Island awaits. Upon arrival, a horse-drawn carriage (no cars are allowed on the island) brings you to the crown jewel of Mackinac Island, The Grand Hotel, the world’s largest summer hotel, built in 1897, and your home for the next two nights. Meals: B, D
Day 5 Explore Mackinac Island and Private Lecture
A visit to Mackinac Island is a like a trip back in time. From its bluff cottages to its quaint horse-drawn carriages, this peaceful resort island offers a glimpse into life during a simpler and more genteel era. You will have the entire day at leisure on Mackinac Island. Browse the many shops, visit historic Fort Mackinac or rent bikes and peddle along the coast of Lake Huron. “The Grand” is a venerable island institution and the perfect place to enjoy a stroll in the beautifully landscaped gardens or enjoy afternoon tea. Don’t forget to sample the world-famous Mackinac Island fudge! During the days enjoy a private lecture with a local historian to learn the history of the island. Meals: B, D
Day 6 Michigan’s Tunnel of Trees and Charlevoix’s Mushroom Houses
After leaving Mackinac Island, take a drive along Michigan’s scenic Tunnel of Trees. Ranked among the most scenic road in the nation, the Tunnel of Trees is so named because the many hardwoods and evergreens form a ceiling over the road with their interwoven crowns. In the quaint town of Charlevoix, see the architectural collection of self-taught builder Earl Young known as the Mushroom Houses. Each house is designed to blend in with its surrounding landscape and features wavy eaves, exposed rafter tails, cedar-shake roofs and low, flat roofs. Meals: B, D
Day 7 Sleeping Bear Dunes National Seashore and Frederick Meijer Gardens
Begin the day exploring Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore that was named for an Indian legend. These expansive golden dunes stretch for more than 35 miles along the twinkling blue waters of Lake Michigan. Traveling south, come to the beautiful Frederick Meijer Gardens and Sculpture Park, where world renowned sculpture and horticultural landscapes come together to provide an educational experience. Tonight, gather for a farewell dinner hosted by your Tour Manager. Meals: B, D
Day 8 Journey Home
Your journey ends with a transfer to the airport in Chicago for flights out after 2:00 p.m. Meal: B