Tour Description

This tour takes you through charming small towns, scenic waterfronts and storied landmarks of the Midwest. Starting in Chicago, you’ll journey north to Mackinac Island, where horse-drawn carriages and historic hotels capture a bygone era. Along the way, roll up your sleeves for pretzel rolling in Frankenmuth, cruise across Lake Huron, and explore the legacy of Henry Ford in Detroit.

Priced From:

$ 7242pp ^*

From: 2026-05-30

To: 2026-10-03

Start Location: Chicago, United States Of America

End Location: Detroit (MI), United States Of America

Trip Type: Regional Explorer

Tour Advisors

Tiffany McCrea-Lennon

Managing Director

Russell Mein

Travel Specialist

Caitlin Lennon

Travel Coordinator

Michelle Baldwin

Travel Specialist

Gaylyn Murdoch

Administration Manager

Holly Skene

Travel Co-ordinator

Kim Thomas

Broker

Itinerary

Welcome to Chicago

Day 1

Duration: 1

Accommodation: Ambassador Gold Coast

Touch down in Chicago and settle into the city before meeting your Travel Director and fellow travellers over dinner. It’s a chance to get to know each other and toast to the adventure to come.

Discover Chicago’s Icons

Day 2

Duration: 1

Accommodation: Ambassador Gold Coast

Begin the day with an orientation tour of Chicago alongside your Travel Director, taking in landmarks such as Cloud Gate, the Magnificent Mile and Navy Pier. The afternoon is yours to explore or join an Optional Experience to 360 Chicago for panoramic city and lake views from the 94th floor of the John Hancock Center. In the early evening, you could take to the water on an Optional Chicago River cruise to see the skyline from a new perspective and hear the stories behind some of its most famous architectural landmarks.

Swapping Illinois for Michigan

Day 3

Duration: 1

Accommodation: Embassy Suites Downtown

Travel to Farmhaus Cider Co., where you’ll meet John and Megan Behrens for a Be My Guest experience. Sip exclusive small-batch ciders in the Cidergarten and enjoy a three-course Tuscan-style meal, learning how this fifth-generation farm became an award-winning cider house. Arrive in Grand Rapids, known for its thriving craft beer scene, riverfront trails and vibrant downtown. You’ll have the evening to explore as you choose. Visit one of the city’s breweries, take a stroll along the Grand River or unwind at your hotel before the journey continues.

To Mackinac Island via Charlevoix

Day 4

Duration: 1

Accommodation: The Grand, Mackinac Island

Leave Grand Rapids behind and travel north to Charlevoix, a lakeside town with impressive harbour views. Take time to explore before continuing to Mackinaw City. From here, you’ll take the ferry across the Straits of Mackinac to car-free Mackinac Island. Settle into island life with a horse-drawn carriage ride to the Grand Hotel, your Stays with Stories accommodation for tonight, famous for its sweeping porch, lakefront setting and more than a century of hospitality.

Welcome to Mackinac Island

Day 5

Duration: 1

Accommodation: The Grand, Mackinac Island

Set off around the island on a private horse-drawn carriage tour, a tradition dating back over a century. Stop to take in the views from Arch Rock, visit Fort Mackinac and pass landmarks that tell the island’s story. This afternoon enjoy lunch at the hotel, enjoying the elegant surroundings. Spend the rest of the day exploring the island as you like. Wander the shops, cycle along the shoreline or simply relax at the Grand Hotel.

Mackinac Island to Frankenmuth

Day 6

Duration: 1

Accommodation: Drury Inn and Suites Frankenmuth

Take the ferry back to Mackinaw City and continue south to Frankenmuth, known as "Little Bavaria”. With its Bavarian-style buildings, this town offers a taste of Germany in the heart of Michigan. Dive into Culture with pretzel rolling at the Bavarian Inn, learning the technique before enjoying the results of your work. The rest of the day is yours, perhaps stroll through the boutique-lined streets, stop by a German bakery or relax with a stein before settling in for the night.

Head into the City in Detroit

Day 7

Duration: 1

Accommodation: The Westin Southfield

Your day begins at the Tuskegee Airmen National Museum, a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience, where a docent-led tour explores the legacy of the first African American military aviators and their role in World War II. See aircraft they once flew and learn how their impact continues through youth training programs and scholarships. Next, get to know Detroit on an orientation tour, passing landmarks that reflect its industrial history, cultural influence and ongoing revitalisation. In the afternoon you have the option to step inside the Guardian Building, a striking Art Deco skyscraper, for an exclusive tour. Gain access to hidden bank vaults, admire the intricate design and hear stories of its significance in the city's financial past.

Innovation and History in Motor City

Day 8

Duration: 1

Accommodation: The Westin Southfield

Spend the day exploring the Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation, where exhibits celebrate the ideas and inventions that shaped modern life. See the bus where Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat, sparking the Montgomery Bus Boycott. Step inside a presidential limousine and learn about breakthroughs in automobiles, aviation and industry. In the evening, join your Travel Director and fellow travellers for a final dinner, sharing highlights from your journey and toasting to the memories you’ve made along the way.

Farewell Detroit

Day 9

Duration: 1

After exploring Mackinac Island, the Great Lakes, and the rich history of the Midwest, it’s time to say goodbye to your Travel Director and fellow travellers before heading to the airport for your onward travels.

Dates & prices

Start Date: 2026-05-30

End Date: 2026-06-07

twin

Child Price: 7447

Adult Price: 8275

twinShare

Child Price:

Adult Price: 8275

triple

Child Price: 6868

Adult Price: 7696

single

Child Price:

Adult Price: 10295

Start Date: 2026-06-13

End Date: 2026-06-21

twin

Child Price: 8167

Adult Price: 9075

twinShare

Child Price:

Adult Price: 9075

triple

Child Price: 7395

Adult Price: 8303

single

Child Price:

Adult Price: 11677

Start Date: 2026-06-27

End Date: 2026-07-05

twin

Child Price: 8145

Adult Price: 9050

twinShare

Child Price:

Adult Price: 9050

triple

Child Price: 7376

Adult Price: 8281

single

Child Price:

Adult Price: 11640

Start Date: 2026-07-04

End Date: 2026-07-12

twin

Child Price: 8595

Adult Price: 9550

twinShare

Child Price:

Adult Price: 9550

triple

Child Price: 7711

Adult Price: 8666

single

Child Price:

Adult Price: 12485

Start Date: 2026-08-08

End Date: 2026-08-16

twin

Child Price: 8325

Adult Price: 9250

twinShare

Child Price:

Adult Price: 9250

triple

Child Price: 7509

Adult Price: 8434

single

Child Price:

Adult Price: 11983

Start Date: 2026-08-22

End Date: 2026-08-30

twin

Child Price: 7735

Adult Price: 8595

twinShare

Child Price:

Adult Price: 8595

triple

Child Price: 7077

Adult Price: 7937

single

Child Price:

Adult Price: 10853

Start Date: 2026-09-05

End Date: 2026-09-13

twin

Child Price: 7645

Adult Price: 8495

twinShare

Child Price:

Adult Price: 8495

triple

Child Price: 7012

Adult Price: 7862

single

Child Price:

Adult Price: 10679

Start Date: 2026-09-19

End Date: 2026-09-27

twin

Child Price: 7447

Adult Price: 8275

twinShare

Child Price:

Adult Price: 8275

triple

Child Price: 6868

Adult Price: 7696

single

Child Price:

Adult Price: 10297

Start Date: 2026-10-03

End Date: 2026-10-11

twin

Child Price: 6975

Adult Price: 7750

twinShare

Child Price:

Adult Price: 7750

triple

Child Price: 6467

Adult Price: 7242

single

Child Price:

Adult Price: 9557

Scenic Great Lakes with Mackinac Island

Tour Advisors

Itinerary

Dates & prices