Mackinac Island featuring The Grand Hotel and the Tulip Festival

Day 8 Southfield - Tour Ends

Your tour ends today, leaving you with a bounty of happy memories from your visit to America’s heartland.

Day 1 Chicago, Illinois - Tour Begins

Get ready for a relaxing journey. The tranquil beauty of Mackinac Island and the Great Lakes region comes alive amid old-fashioned traditions.

Day 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.

Day 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. After dinner, enjoy a cup of coffee while listening to the refined sounds of the Grand Hotel's orchestra. If you crave a secluded hideaway, retreat to the charming Cupola Bar.

Day 6 Mackinac Island - Frankenmuth

This morning, enjoy some leisure time at the Grand Hotel before departing for the quaint town of Frankenmuth, or as the locals call it, "Little Bavaria," because of its Franconian-style architecture. Upon arrival, visit the largest Christmas store in the world – Bronner’s.

Day 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.

Day 3 Chicago - Holland, Michigan - Grand Rapids

Depart for Holland, Michigan. All year long, this quaint village evokes the essence of spring with its vibrant floral display. Today, get a taste of Holland’s annual Tulip Festival! Stop at the Veldheer Tulip Gardens* to view extraordinary flowers in bloom. Later, visit the Windmill Island Gardens and discover a palette of color that spreads across 36 acres of manicured gardens, dikes and canals. See the only authentic Dutch windmill operating in the United States. Later, arrive in the bustling city of Grand Rapids.

Day 4 Grand Rapids - Mackinac Island

Enjoy a scenic drive to Mackinaw City where you will board 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.