Mackinac Island & the Great Lakes
Mackinac Island & the Great Lakes
Mackinac Island & the Great Lakes
8 Days
Visiting: Arrive In Detroit Michigan, Detroit, Frankenmuth, Mackinac Island, Mackinaw City, Charlevoix-Petoskey, Petoskey, Traverse City, Grand Rapids, Chicago, Illinois, North America
Tour operator:
Tour code:
NM-2024
Guide Type:
Fully Guided
Trip Styles:
Interests:
Activities:
Tour Overview
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 to explore where past innovations have fueled the imagination of today’s innovations. 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
Day 1: Arrive In Detroit Michigan
Location: Arrive In Detroit Michigan
At 6 pm, meet your fellow travel companions for a welcome drink. Your Tour Director will prepare you for your upcoming journey.
ARRIVE IN DETROIT 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.DETROIT.jpg
Day 2: Detroit,Frankenmuth
Location: Detroit, Frankenmuth
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
DETROIT–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!FRANKENMUTH.jpg
Day 3: Frankenmuth,Mackinac Island
Location: Frankenmuth, Mackinac Island
Meals Included: Breakfast
FRANKENMUTH–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. MACKINAC-ISLAND-HOUSE-AND-CARRIAGE.jpg
Day 4: Mackinac Island
Location: Mackinac Island
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch
MACKINAC 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.MACKINAC-ISLAND-FORT-MACKINAC.jpg
Day 5: Mackinac Island,Mackinaw City,Charlevoix-Petoskey
Location: Mackinac Island, Mackinaw City, Charlevoix-Petoskey
Meals Included: Breakfast
MACKINAC 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. MACKINAW-CITY-MACKINAC-POINT-LIGHTHOUSE.jpg
Day 6: Petoskey,Traverse City,Grand Rapids
Location: Petoskey, Traverse City, Grand Rapids
Meals Included: Breakfast
PETOSKEY–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.GRAND-RAPIDS
Day 7: Grand Rapids,Chicago,Illinois
Location: Grand Rapids, Chicago, Illinois
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
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!
GRAND 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 FAVORITEACCOMMODATION 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 8: Chicago
Location: Chicago
Meals Included: Breakfast
Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning. Want to explore more of Chicago? Extra nights are available for purchase.
CHICAGO Safe travels until we meet again! Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning. Want to explore more of Chicago? Extra nights are available for purchase. (B)
Small Group
Globus offers Small-Group Discoveries on select North America dates. A Small-Group Discovery is limited to an average of just 24 guests per departure. There’s always room to roam with extra space between you and other travelers—while still getting up close and personal to the experiences you’ve been dreaming of. Small-Group Discoveries include all the features of a traditional Globus escorted tour, complete with expert Tour Director, Driver, and Local Guides who ensure that your health and safety is our top priority. A Small-Group Discovery trip is the perfectly sized tour—without the crowds.
Meals
Breakfast daily, 1 lunch, 2 dinners
Accommodation
Detroit:Detroit Marriott at the Renaissance CenterFrankenmuth:Bavarian Inn Lodge Mackinac Island:Island House HotelPetoskey:Stafford's Perry HotelGrand Rapids:Amway Grand Plaza HotelChicago:Palmer House Hilton Chicago
Notes
Guests should be prepared for easy but sustained walking throughout the tour, including ¼-½ mile over uneven ground during select days of sightseeing. Guests with mobility concerns may experience uneven surfaces specifically for ferry loading and unloading, and limited access to passenger amenities on board certain vessels.
Check out our Q&As
-
How long has the tour company been trading?
For over 90 years.
-
Will the accommodation included meet local health and safety regulations?
Yes
-
What policies are in place for Covid-19?
Please contact us for latest Covid-19 policies
-
What documents will I receive before I travel?
Travel documents, including any air tickets, itineraries, and other information, are available approximately two to three weeks prior to departure provided full payment has been received.
-
What Ethical Travel credentials does the tour company have?
The Globus Lighthouse Project - an illuminating initiative where we can all come together to tread lightly and give generously for the globe's greater good. Globus, along with sister companies Avalon Waterways and Cosmos, invite our travellers and partners to help us in supporting causes that provide for a more sustainable planet and a brighter tomorrow.
Reviews of this operator
1 Select your preferred date
Sunday - Sunday
Jun 01, 2025 - Jun 08, 2025Sunday - Sunday
Jun 08, 2025 - Jun 15, 2025Sunday - Sunday
Jun 22, 2025 - Jun 29, 2025Sunday - Sunday
Jul 06, 2025 - Jul 13, 2025Sunday - Sunday
Jul 27, 2025 - Aug 03, 2025Sunday - Sunday
Aug 03, 2025 - Aug 10, 2025Sunday - Sunday
Aug 17, 2025 - Aug 24, 2025Sunday - Sunday
Aug 31, 2025 - Sep 07, 2025Sunday - Sunday
Sep 07, 2025 - Sep 14, 2025Sunday - Sunday
Sep 14, 2025 - Sep 21, 2025Book with Confidence
-
Low Deposit
Barrhead Travel requires a minimum deposit of 200 GBP per person or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 98 days before departure.
-
Cancellation Policy
We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of barrhead travel charges.
Up to 98 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of deposit.
At 97 days before tour starts: Forfeit 50% of booking price.
At 74 days before tour starts: Forfeit 75% of booking price.
At 28 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of booking price.
-
Terms and Conditions
Why book with Barrhead?
Fully Protected
All our holidays are fully financially protected.
Your flight & hotel package is fully ATOL protected.
Range
Our bespoke holidays are tailor-made to suit your personal requirements.
We can book flights, rail journeys, accommodation, cruises, attraction tickets and much more.
Industry leading discounts, we won't be beaten on price.
Expert Knowledge
We know because we go – our Touring & Adventure specialists have travelled to over 55 countries.
Reliable & unbiased advice from our trusted travel experts.
Trusted Agent
Multi award-winning agency with almost 50 years experience.
Rated 4.9/5 on Trustpilot – the highest-rated high-street travel agent.
We look after you every step of the way.