Day 1 : Fly to Chicago

Our tour begins with a flight to Chicago, Illinois. We have overnight accommodations near the O’Hare airport.

Day 2 : Lambeau Field & Fish Boil

We travel through scenic countryside to Green Bay and tour storied Lambeau Field, home to Wisconsin's pro football team! Experience the rich history of railroads in America at the National Railroad Museum through a series of fascinating displays and actual railroad cars including the Big Boy and Dwight D. Eisenhower’s command car. We continue to picturesque Door County and check in for our stay in Sturgeon Bay. For this evening’s Welcome Dinner we are guests at a fish boil, a scrumptious tradition from Door County’s Scandinavian settlers. The catch of the day is fresh Whitefish from Lake Michigan. We are invited to watch as it is prepared with potatoes and onions over an open fire! Enjoy delicious Door County cherry pie for dessert, a regional treat.

Day 3 : Door County

Enjoy a full day discovering Wisconsin’s Door County, the Cape Cod of the Midwest. Door County has more miles of shoreline, lighthouses, and state parks than any other county in the United States. Wave-battered cliffs, sun-kissed beaches, wooded retreats, quaint farms, and lush orchards await us. We travel into Peninsula State Park to tour the Eagle Bluff Lighthouse and view the beautiful woodland and scenic shoreline within the park. Enjoy time at leisure to explore the charming waterfront community of Fish Creek, and afterward, visit Door Peninsula Winery for a true taste of regional flavors. Located along Sturgeon Bay’s busy waterfront, the Door County Maritime Museum highlights the area’s intriguing maritime roots. We explore the unique exhibits and learn about the rich shipping and fishing industries of the area.

Day 4 : Mackinac Island

This morning we depart Sturgeon Bay and travel through Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. Our route passes through evergreen forests, hardwood forests, and along portions of Lake Michigan’s scenic shoreline. Soon we approach the Straits of Mackinac, the waterway connecting Lake Michigan and Lake Huron. Here, we drive across the Mackinac Bridge, one of the largest suspension bridges in the world. The bridge opened in 1957 and connects Michigan’s Upper and Lower peninsulas. At the southern end of the bridge is Mackinaw City, where we board a high-speed ferry for our crossing to Mackinac Island. This charming island is three miles long by two miles wide and transportation on the island is limited to carriage, bike, horse, or foot! Our accommodations for the next two nights are on Mackinac Island.

Day 5 : Tour by Carriage

We depart our hotel this morning in horse-drawn carriages for a tour of Mackinac Island. The island’s Victorian architecture recalls a time of days gone by. Our carriage tour ends at the elegant Grand Hotel for a sumptuous lunch! This succulent feast includes garden fresh salads, savory cheeses, slow roasted meats, seafood, and fresh baked pastries. After lunch there is time to unwind and enjoy the marvelous views of the Straits of Mackinac from the rocking chairs on our hotel's 660-foot porch. You may also browse several interesting areas of the hotel that are open to the public. The afternoon is free to relax, sightsee on your own, or visit historic sites. You may choose to visit Fort Mackinac where costumed guides, memorabilia, and original buildings recall military life during the War of 1812. Tonight, we enjoy our second evening on the island.

Day 6 : Charlevoix

After a delicious included breakfast, we board a ferry and return to the mainland. We travel south along the scenic Lake Michigan shoreline to the charming waterfront town of Charlevoix. Enjoy a guided tour of architect Earl Young’s “mushroom houses,” famously custom built to fit natural landscapes resulting in a fairytale appearance. Next, step back in time at the Music House Museum to explore a unique collection of rare antique musical instruments including nickelodeons, music boxes, and pipe organs. We arrive in Grand Rapids for a restful evening.

Day 7 : Chicago

Following breakfast we head south towards the Windy City. A relaxing drive brings us to Navy Pier in the heart of Chicago’s lakefront. There is time for lunch on the pier before a local guide joins us to view many of Chicago’s famous landmarks. After settling into our hotel, we enjoy a Holiday Vacations Farewell Dinner.

Day 8 : Fly Home

Fly home from Chicago, long remembering our adventures in the Upper Midwest.