Mackinac Island and the Grand Hotel

Mackinac Island and the Grand Hotel

From the shores of Lake Michigan to the magnificence of the Grand Hotel, this tour traces a spectacular arc through the Great Lakes region. A guided sightseeing tour of Chicago kicks things off before heading north to Traverse City and the sweeping golden dunes of Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, stretching more than 35 miles along the sparkling waters of Lake Michigan.

The journey continues deeper into Michigan's Upper Peninsula with a narrated boat tour through the historic Soo Locks, a visit to the Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum to learn about the dangers of maritime life in the area, and dinner at the Tahquamenon Falls Brewery with a view of the Upper Falls, all the more stunning during autumn foliage season. Then comes the centerpiece of the trip: two nights at the legendary Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island, arriving by horse-drawn carriage on this car-free island where life moves at a slower, more graceful pace. A full free day lets you browse the shops, visit historic Fort Mackinac, pedal along the Lake Huron coastline, or simply settle in for afternoon tea and a slice of the island's world-famous fudge.

The final stretch heads to Dearborn for a behind-the-scenes look at the Ford River Rouge Factory, where F-150s roll off the line, followed by an afternoon at The Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation and a farewell dinner to close out this Great Lakes adventure.