Daily Itinerary
Magnificent Michigan and Mackinac Island
August 4 - 10, 2024
Sunday, August 4
Depart Bush Airport for Detroit, Michigan
Monday, August 5
Today we will visit the Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation, the largest indoor/outdoor museum in the United States. The museum is a collection of artifacts and exhibits showcasing the people and ideas who changed the world. We will see a parade of historic automobiles including the 1865 Roper, the first American-made car, to Henry Ford’s first gasoline-powered vehicle, mid-century muscle cars as well as JFK’s presidential limousine and Rosa Parks’ bus. Included on the museum’s 250 acre complex is Greenfield Village, a collection of historic buildings such as the Wright Brothers cycle shop and Thomas Edison’s laboratory. A tour of the Ford Rouge Factory is included in our visit where we will experience the assembly of the Ford F-150 pickup truck. Late afternoon, depart for Frankenmuth, Michigan, known for its Bavarian-style architecture, and world famous chicken dinners. Overnight Frankenmuth, MI – Fairfield Inn (B) (D)
Tuesday, August 6
After breakfast, we will visit Bronner’s Christmas Wonderland, the largest Christmas store in the world. Located on the edge of the Wonderland is the Silent Night Memorial Chapel, a 56-foot-tall landmark replica of the original chapel in Oberndorf/Salzburg, Austria, which marks the site where “Silent Night” was first sung on Christmas Eve in 1818.Early afternoon, we will board a high speed ferry for our crossing to Mackinac Island, a charming resort-like retreat, full of history and natural wonders. The island is three-miles-long by two-miles-wide and transportation on the island is limited to carriage, bike, horse, or foot. Enjoy the remainder of the day exploring the Island and having dinner on your own at one of the many restaurants. Overnight Mackinac Island – Bicycle Street Inn (B) (L)
Wednesday, August 7
After breakfast (on your own), we will enjoy a narrated horse drawn carriage tour that will take us by the many historic churches and island homes (“summer cottages”), Arch Rock and Fort Mackinac’s Avenue of Flags. We will stop at the elegant Grand Hotel where we will enjoy the infamous Grand Buffet lunch with garden fresh salads, savory cheeses, slow-roasted meats, seafood, and fresh baked pastries. After lunch, enjoy the rocking chairs on the hotel’s 660 foot porch and see marvelous views of the Straits of Mackinac. This afternoon is free to rent a bicycle and enjoy the 8.2 mile trek around the island or visit Fort Mackinac which was built during the American Revolution and has served as a stronghold for both the British and American armies. Dinner on your own tonight. Overnight Mackinac Island – Bicycle Street Inn (L)
Thursday, August 8
This morning, we will depart the Island and cross over the Straits of Mackinac via the Mackinac Bridge, one of the largest suspension bridges in the world. The bridge opened in 1957 and connects Michigan’s Upper and Lower peninsulas. We will visit Castle Farms, a model working dairy farm built in 1918 by the acting president of Sears, Roebuck & Co. This beautiful French Renaissance castle offers a guided walking tour of the soaring towers, stone buildings, and sweeping gardens inspired by European design. Vintage museum quality collections of castles, toys, and WWI artifacts are displayed throughout the buildings. We will also enjoy visiting the 1918 Cellars Wine Tasting Room which features 11 locally produced wines. After lunch, we will visit the charming waterfront town of Charlevoix and enjoy a guided tour of architect Earl Young’s “mushroom houses”. These famously custom-built houses were designed to fit the natural landscapes and look amazingly like something out of a fairytale. Overnight Traverse City – Bayshore Resort (L)
Friday, August 9
Today we will enjoy a guided tour of the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, a large complex of shifting sand dunes, extending 7 miles along the northeastern shore of Lake Michigan. We will drive along the Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive, a scenic route featuring stunning panoramas of the dunes, Lake Michigan and Glen Lake. There will be opportunities for short walks along the drive to see the incredible blue waters of Lake Michigan known as the Unsalted Coast Line. Lunch will be at the Cherry Republic House, where you can enjoy one of the many inventive cherry-inspired lunch options, freshly baked pie, homemade cherry ice cream, and momentous shareable desserts — all cherry, of course! After lunch enjoy the Great Hall to shop some of the 200+ cherry products and sample to your heart’s content. We will end the day with a thrilling 40-minute ride in a sand dune buggy over the beautiful Silver Lake Sand Dunes. We will ascend to the summit to see a breathtaking panoramic view of the dune area and then drive along Lake Michigan and past the sparkling Silver Lake. Overnight Grand Rapids – Embassy Suites (B) (L)
Saturday, August 10
After breakfast, we will visit the Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park, a 158-acre botanical garden, art museum and outdoor sculpture park. These stunning gardens feature exotic plants, desert and Victorian gardens, wetlands, meadows and over 200 captivating sculptures by famous artists. Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park is ranked among the top 45 most-visited art museums worldwide and is the perfect blend of art and nature. After lunch, we will drive to Detroit for our return flight to Houston. (B)
