North America

Day 1 : Welcome to Michigan

Your marvelous Michigan tour begins at 5:30 PM at the Grand Traverse Resort & Spa. A transfer is included from the Cherry Capital Airport to the Grand Traverse Resort & Spa in Traverse City. During your two nights at this great resort, named among the top 50 domestic destinations by Condé Nast Traveler, you'll be in the midst of a charming town with a lively arts scene and lots of wineries. Please join us this evening and meet your fellow travelers at our welcome cocktail reception and dinner.

Day 2 : Wine, music and dunes

You might be surprised to learn on your Michigan tour that the state's western coast is a land of vineyards and sandy beaches as well as really impressive sand dunes and music, which fills the air at the Music House Museum, displaying rare antique musical instruments and music-making machines from between 1870 and 1930. You'll see some of the spectacular Lake Michigan shoreline as you travel along the Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive and through the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore; ranging in colour from the palest champagne to vibrant sienna, the constantly shifting dunes can be as high as 400 feet.This afternoon's private wine tasting at Black Star Farms reveals the high quality of Michigan's vines and wines, which you'll explore further during a private winery dinner for Tauck guests only.

Day 3 : The Straits of Mackinac and more

Wind your way along the shoreline of beautiful Grand Traverse Bay as your Michigan tour continues toward the historic Straits of Mackinac. This strip of water connecting Lake Michigan and Lake Huron saw both booming commerce and some pretty spirited conflicts during the active fur-trading era. Stop in quaint Petoskey en route to Fort Michilimackinac, an 18th-century French - and later, British - trading post and fort on the southern shore of the strategically important straits. Today, the fort recreates life here in colonial times. This afternoon, a ferry carries you onward to Mackinac Island, where no cars are allowed, so you'll ride a horse-drawn carriage to your accommodation at the world-famous Grand Hotel, among the most celebrated hotels in America. This stately hotel's front porch, reputed to be the longest of its kind when it was built in 1887, is still a very popular gathering place for guests and local residents alike.

Day 4 : Magical Mackinac Island

This tiny treasure remains much as it was when the first Europeans settled the island centuries ago. Folks get around here by foot, by bicycle or by horse because motorized vehicles are not permitted on the island. Although the year-round human population is only about 600 residents, the horse population can be as high as 500 during the summer months. A sightseeing tour by horse-drawn carriage reveals all that is magical about Mackinac Island and is sure to be a highlight of your Michigan tour. You'll see Fort Mackinac, built by the British to guard the Straits of Mackinac during the American Revolution, as well as downtown Mackinac Island with many historic homes and grand Victorian cottages. The remainder of the day is yours to explore the island as you please; you're bound to discover things that capture your interest.

Day 5 : An architectural gem in Midland

Leaving peaceful Mackinac Island behind via ferry to the mainland, your Michigan tour continues on to Midland, where you'll explore the home and studio of noted 20th-century architect Alden B. Dow, son of the founder of the Dow Chemical Company, who was a student of Frank Lloyd Wright. Dow's innovative use of geometric planes, angles and landscaping elements to integrate his home into its natural surroundings has earned the home the designation as a National Historic Landmark. Overnight in historic Bay City on the Saginaw River.

Day 6 : A tall ship adventure and a bit of Bavaria

French missionary priest Father Jacques Marquette was the first European to visit Saginaw Bay in the early 1600s, and the bay has a long history of travel by sailing ship. You'll do just that today on your Michigan tour as you board a tall ship for a private sail in the bay and up the Saginaw River on your own voyage of discovery. Later, you'll think that you've landed in Bavaria when you visit the little village of Frankenmuth, founded by German pioneers in the 1840s, for lunch and some free time to poke around. Continue on to Dearborn, a city instrumental in America's automobile culture, for a two-night stay on the Ford Motor Company grounds.

Day 7 : The Henry Ford and a test drive

A visit to The Henry Ford is a fascinating, must-do experience on any Michigan tour. Historic trains, automobiles, airplanes and more help illustrate the American experience of progress and innovation between 1800 and 1950 - along with living history exhibits including Greenfield Village; Dymaxion House, created by R. Buckminster Fuller; and the homes and workplaces of ground-breaking innovators such as Thomas Edison, the Wright Brothers and Harvey Firestone. In true Tauck Style, when you take a spin in a Model T, you won't have to pay for the gas. The afternoon is free for your own further exploration and discovery. Please join us at our farewell cocktail reception and dinner this evening, and enjoy the opportunity to share your memories of your Michigan tour with those who shared the adventure with you.

Day 8 : Homeward bound

Tauck's comprehensive Michigan tour ends in Detroit. Fly home anytime. A transfer from The Dearborn Inn, A Marriott Hotel to the Detroit Airport is included. This may be your last day of your tour, however, your adventure doesn't have to end here. Perhaps you may want to extend your stay and head over to New York City for a few days shopping and sightseeing.

Call the USA travel specialists at Bon Voyage to discuss your perfect Michigan's Lakes and Mackinac Island tour.