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Globus Mackinac Island & the Great Lakes(NM)

8 Day Tour from Detroit to Chicago 
Experience life in the fast and slow lanes as you venture to where the automobile was born and where it’s been banned since 1898. This tour of Mackinac Island and the Great Lakes gets your engines revving with a visit to Detroit’s Henry Ford Museum and an overnight at the elegant Dearborn Inn, built by Ford on the lush former grounds of the Ford Motor Company. Switch gears as you board a ferry for Mackinac Island, the Jewel of the Great Lakes and one of the nation’s most popular summer resorts. With horse-drawn carriages and bicycles as the island’s only means of transportation, you’ll have no choice but to fuel up on lunch at the famous Grand Hotel, military history at the restored Fort Mackinac, and the decadent fudge the charming island is known for. Other sweet detours include the Bavarian town of Frankenmuth, the coastal resort of Petoskey, and the faster-paced cities of Grand Rapids and Chicago.

Itinerary (2024)

Day 1ARRIVE IN DETROIT/DEARBORN, MICHIGAN
 Welcome to the Michigan! At 6 pm, meet your fellow travel companions for a welcome drink. Your Tour Director will prepare you for your upcoming journey. Spend tonight at the historic Dearborn Inn. Built by Henry Ford in 1931, this luxury Inn is situated on 23 acres of landscaped countryside.
Day 2DEARBORN–FRANKENMUTH
 American Ingenuity Visit the Henry Ford Museum, the ultimate place to experience America’s past and present. See the world’s premier automotive exhibition, the JFK Presidential Limousine, an original camp bed used by George Washington, and the Rosa Parks Bus. Continue to the little Bavarian town of Frankenmuth, founded by German immigrants in 1845. This evening, enjoy an authentic [LF] Bavarian dinner to experience fine German cuisine and a wine tasting. (B,D)

LOCAL FAVORITE
LOCAL TASTES Be greeted with a hearty “Willkommen!” in Frankenmuth-Michigan’s Little Bavaria.” You’ll be treated to an authentic Bavarian dinner and wine tasting, including three German wines, cheese, crackers, and an authentic family-style dinner. Indulge in German cuisine, including Rippchen, Sauerbraten, Bratwurst, and homemade breads and preserves. Guten Appetit!
Day 3FRANKENMUTH–MACKINAC ISLAND
 Magical Mackinac Visit Bronner’s Christmas Wonderland, a one stop shop for everything Christmas. Leave the motorcoach behind and take a ferry to beautiful Mackinac Island. (B)

TOUR HIGHLIGHT
CULTURE & TRADITION Discover Mackinac Island with a horse-drawn carriage ride to your hotel. Since the Civil War, the island has been one of the nation’s most favored summer resorts. Enjoy this special place with its air of 19th-century gentility and where bicycles and horse-drawn carriages are the only means of transportation.
Day 4MACKINAC ISLAND
 Somewhere in Time This morning is at leisure. Rent a bicycle to explore on your own, visit Fort Mackinac, or sample some of the island’s famous fudge. Travel by horse and carriage for lunch at the elegant Grand Hotel. After lunch, enjoy a horse-drawn carriage tour of this celebrated island. See the Avenue of Flags, the Governor’s Mansion, and enjoy a stop at Arch Rock, one of the most photographed spots on the island. (B,L)

TOUR HIGHLIGHT
HERITAGE & TRADITION Horse-drawn carriages. Sitting in a rocking chair on the world’s longest porch with views of the Straits of Mackinac. The historic Grand Hotel served as a summer getaway for celebrities, such as Mark Twain, Jimmy Durante, Christopher Reeve, and five U.S. presidents since its opening in 1887. This stately retreat continues today in the style of a bygone era of old-world hospitality and charm.
Day 5MACKINAC ISLAND–MACKINAW CITY–CHARLEVOIX-PETOSKEY
 Great Lake Michigan Depart by ferry from Mackinac Island, returning to mainland Michigan. Visit Old Mackinac Point Lighthouse State Park, a guiding beacon for ships since 1889. Stop at the historic [LF] Legs Inn for incredible views of Lake Michigan. Learn about the inn’s fascinating history and sample some Polish and other Old World specialties. Visit Charlevoix where a sightseeing tour with a Local Guide introduces you to the city’s Victorian summer resorts and renowned “Mushroom Houses.” Continue to your historic hotel in Petoskey, perched high on a bluff overlooking Lake Michigan. (B)

LOCAL FAVORITE
LOCAL TASTES Visit Legs Inn - a captivating setting on Lake Michigan – tempting travel-lovers for generations. Founded by Stanley Smolak, a Polish immigrant who creatively worked on the inn using local timber and stone with local “Odawa” Ottawa Native American craftsmen. Sample Old World specialties while taking in the artisan carvings and woodworking décor above the Great Lake.
Day 6PETOSKEY–TRAVERSE CITY–GRAND RAPIDS
 American History & Heritage This morning, travel to Traverse City, located on the shores of Grand Traverse Bay of Lake Michigan. Enjoy free time for lunch on your own before continuing to Grand Rapids. Visit to the Gerald Ford Presidential Library and Museum. The museum lets you participate in history while learning about the lives of President and Mrs. Ford. (B)

TOUR HIGHLIGHT
LEGENDARY LIVES Explore the Gerald R. Ford Museum where a tribute to the 38th president of the United States offers fascinating exhibits highlighting Ford’s journey from his boyhood in Grand Rapids to life before, during, and after the White House, emphasizing the responsibilities of democratic citizenship and service to country. Discover revelations about Ford’s childhood, marriage, military service, and political life of Grand Rapids’ favorite son through exhibits that include a replica of the Oval Office and a multimedia re-creation of the 1944 typhoon that almost swept a young Jerry Ford off the deck of a U.S. aircraft carrier. Browse mementos and memorabilia highlighting the life and times of the president and First Lady Betty Ford through artifacts from museums all over the country.
Day 7GRAND RAPIDS–CHICAGO, ILLINOIS
 Windy City Sights & Confections Travel through Indiana to Chicago for a sightseeing tour of the “Windy City.” Enjoy an overnight at the [LF] historic Palmer House Hilton. Tonight, join your Tour Director and travel companions for a farewell dinner. During dinner, learn how one of America’s favorite desserts was created here - then enjoy a taste for yourself! (B,D)

LOCAL FAVORITE
ACCOMMODATION SPOTLIGHT Enjoy an overnight stay at the historic and elegant Palmer House Hilton. With an interesting story ranging from the love story that built the hotel, a friendship with Claude Monet that influenced the decor, the invention of a sweet confection, and the long list of celebrity guests like Charles Dickens, Oscar Wilde, Frank Sinatra, Louis Armstrong, and more. This is a stay to remember!
Day 8CHICAGO
 Safe travels until we meet again! Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning. (B)

Included Globus Meals

Breakfast daily, 1 lunch, 2 dinners

Globus Pricing Details

Gratuities for Tour Director and driver are available for pre-purchase.

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Globus Tour Dates


Guaranteed Departure  indicates Guaranteed Departure
*Tour Land StartGlobus RetailRequest Quote
Guaranteed Departure 06/23/2024 $3,929.00
Guaranteed Departure 08/18/2024 $3,539.00
Guaranteed Departure 09/01/2024 $3,929.00
Guaranteed Departure 09/15/2024 $3,449.00
06/01/2025 $3,799.00
06/08/2025 $3,799.00
06/22/2025 $4,329.00
07/06/2025 $3,899.00
07/27/2025 $4,329.00
08/03/2025 $3,899.00
08/17/2025 $3,899.00
08/31/2025 $4,329.00
09/07/2025 $3,799.00
09/14/2025 $4,329.00
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