Tour Description

This picturesque tour is designed to leave the stress behind! Unwind and decompress by visiting a time of days gone by. This quaint lifestyle can be experienced as we leave our watches behind to contemplate the old world beauty of Mackinac Island and the proud German heritage so well maintained in Frankenmuth, MI. This trip is timed perfectly in August to maximize the beautiful weather found in northern Michigan. Plus, get a quick jump-start on your Christmas fever with a drop in visit to the famous Bonners’ Christmas Wonderland. Need a breath of fresh air? This is the tour for you!

Day 1:

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Lodging: Drury Inn & Suites

It’s okay to leave your reservations behind, because Making Memories Tour Company has taken care of everything. You will enjoy this necessary day of travel as you get to know your travel companions on the way to Champaign, IL where we will rest for the evening.

Day 2:

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Lodging: Hampton Inn & Suites

Meals: Breakfast

After the most important meal of the day, breakfast, we head into Michigan today; we stop to take in the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum. President Ford is the only US President not elected by ballot for his terms as vice-president or president. He remains a memorable President in our nation’s history, and we will see firsthand some reasons why. Enter in the full-scale replica of the oval office, furnished as it was while President Ford served. Tour the Watergate Gallery, engage in the interactive Cabinet Room which helped to make decisions and survey a portion of the Berlin Wall. Our home for the evening is Grand Rapids, MI.

Day 3:

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Lodging: Lakeview Hotel

Meals: Breakfast and Lunch

With wide-eyed wonder, we arrive at the Mackinac City Dock where Shepler’s Ferry will escort us to Mackinac Island. We then will be welcomed for a grand lunch at the historic Grand Hotel. After lunch we will have our own tour guide to show us the highlights of Mackinac Island in our own horse drawn wagon. After the wonderful meal the rest of the afternoon is yours to explore all the sites and sounds of this beautiful island.

Day 4:

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Lodging: Fairfield Inn

Meals: Breakfast

Catch your breakfast first, and plan to catch your breath later as we come to enjoy the Old Mackinac Point Lighthouse. Standing proud since 1889, the Old Mackinac Point Lighthouse has been guiding ships to safety along the Straits of Mackinac for more than a century. Today is your day to become acquainted with this lovely maritime museum. The setting is simply beautiful and breathtaking! As we make the beautiful drive across to Bay City, MI, we will see several historic, beautiful lighthouses.

Day 5:

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Lodging: Drury Inn & Suites

Meals: Breakfast and Lunch

All attention on deck! Following breakfast, we immediately tour the Saginaw Valley Naval Ship Museum, home to the retired Naval Destroyer USS Edson DD-946. This museum documents the history of the US Navy and the maritime history of Bay City, MI. This is surely to be a museum of involvement, exploration and admiration for the work of our armed forces. Our day keeps sailing along as we pause to enjoy Mariner’s Cove Marina on the way to our delightful lunch with Karen at Charity Island Lighthouse. You see, Robert and Karen are the only full-time residents on the 300-acre Charity Island. Purchasing the Island in 1992, they then sold the majority of the island to the Federal Fish and Wildlife Service to ensure the natural resources remain protected. An added bonus is the preservation of many Native American artifacts. After arriving on the mainland, we travel to Frankenmuth for our two-night stay exploring Michigan’s Little Bavaria.

Day 6:

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Lodging: Drury Inn & Suites

Meals: Breakfast and Dinner

Wake up with an exciting day planned just for you. Let’s tour the City of Frankenmuth. Together we will discover why this is called Little Bavaria displaying authentic Bavarian architecture and taking pride in preserving the German heritage. You’ll have the afternoon to explore on your own the many sites Frankenmuth has to offer. It’s up to you to be Making Memories today! For dinner, you can anticipate a hearty and rustic Bavarian meal or choose something more mainstream American for our evening meal together at the Bavarian Inn. After a wonderful dinner you will be delighted to visit the world famous Bonners’ Christmas Wonderland where everything is Christmas!

Day 7:

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Lodging: Drury Inn & Suites

Meals: Breakfast

Guten Tag! Saying good-bye to Frankenmuth, we settle in for a worry-free ride toward home. The staff of Making Memories works diligently to keep your travel days free from boredom. Our last night comes to close in Springfield, IL for our evening stay.

Day 8:

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Meals: Breakfast

Hard to believe it is our final day together as we finish our mid-west cross country travel. Thank you for traveling with Making Memories and allowing us to be a part of your memories. Until next time, Guten Tag!