2021 & 2022 Globus Guided Tours - Globus® Vacation Packages

Mackinac Island & the Great Lakes (NM)

8 Day Tour from Detroit to Chicago

2026 Tour Details View 2025 Tour Details »

Experience life in the fast and slow lanes as you venture to where the automobile was born and also visit 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 inventions 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, coastal resort of Petoskey, and faster-paced cities of Grand Rapids and Chicago.

Small-Group Discovery Dates Available

Select Globus 2021 North America tours are limited to an average of just 24 guests per tour. 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 North America 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 Europe vacation is the perfectly sized tour—without the crowds.

We’ve packed everything you need for the perfect tour—from hand-selected hotels and dining to the friendly expertise of Globus Tour Directors and Local Guides, to seamless transportation between destinations and VIP access to the world’s most iconic sites! Touring by private, first-class, air-conditioned motorcoach with free Wi-Fi. Enhance your free time with your GlobusGO mobile app!

Mackinac Island & the Great Lakes map

 Photo Highlights

 Meals

 Meals & Itinerary

Breakfast daily, 2 Lunches, 1 Dinners


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 or wet surfaces specifically for ferry loading and unloading, and limited access to passenger amenities on board certain vessels.

 Itinerary

Day 1 ARRIVE IN DETROIT, MICHIGAN

Welcome to Michigan! At 6 pm, meet your fellow travel companions for a welcome drink. Your Tour Director will prepare you for your upcoming journey.

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Day 2 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 Frankenmuth, founded by German immigrants in 1845. This evening, enjoy an authentic Globus Local FavoriteGlobus Local Favorite Bavarian dinner to experience German cuisine and a wine tasting.

LOCAL FAVORITE
LOCAL TASTES Be greeted with a hearty “Willkommen!” in Frankenmuth’s Little Bavaria. You’ll be treated to a tasting of authentic German wine, cheese, and crackers, followed by a traditional family-style dinner. Indulge in German cuisine, including rippchen, sauerbraten, bratwurst, special Frankenmuth chicken, and homemade breads and preserves. Guten Appetit!


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Breakfast Breakfast
DinnerDinner

Day 3 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.

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 historic charm, where bicycles and horse-drawn carriages are the only means of transportation.


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Breakfast Breakfast

Day 4 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.

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.


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Breakfast Breakfast
LunchLunch

Day 5 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 Globus Local FavoriteGlobus Local Favorite Legs Inn for incredible views of Lake Michigan. Learn about the inn’s fascinating history and sample traditional Polish specialties. Drive the Tunnel of Trees scenic route to Charlevoix, where a sightseeing tour with a Local Guide introduces you to the city’s Victorian summer resorts and “Mushroom Houses.” Continue to your historic hotel in Petoskey, perched high on a bluff overlooking Lake Michigan.

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 authentic Polish cuisine such as kielbasa, whitefish, pierogi, and berry szarlotka (crumble cake) while taking in the artisan carvings and unique décor.


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Breakfast Breakfast

Day 6 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 in the historic downtown with waterfront views and award-winning dining for lunch on your own before continuing to Grand Rapids. Visit the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library and Museum and this evening, explore the nightlife and dining options in Michigan’s second largest city, Grand Rapids.

TOUR HIGHLIGHT
LEGENDARY LIVES Explore the Gerald R. Ford Museum, 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 after the White House, emphasizing the responsibilities of democratic citizenship and service to country. Discover stories about 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 President Ford and his remarkable wife, First Lady Betty Ford, through artifacts from museums all over the country.

GRAND-RAPIDS

Breakfast Breakfast

Day 7 GRAND RAPIDS–CHICAGO, ILLINOIS

Windy City Sights & Confections Travel through Indiana to Chicago for a sightseeing tour of the “Windy City.” Join your Tour Director and travel companions for a farewell lunch. Enjoy an overnight stay at the Globus Local FavoriteGlobus Local Favorite historic Palmer House Hilton.

LOCAL FAVORITE
ACCOMMODATION SPOTLIGHT Experience the historic and elegant Palmer House Hilton in Chicago, Illinois. With an interesting history 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!


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Breakfast Breakfast
LunchLunch

Day 8 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.

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Breakfast Breakfast

 Tour Director

With GLOBUS, there’s no better way to get to know your destination than through the eyes of a Tour Director. We’d like you to meet one of our Tour Directors, who average over a decade of experience and are representative of the type of expert that will be with you on your vacation.

SUSANNAH JONES

Escorting tours for more than 20 years

Travel, food, music, and laughter bring people together. There is nothing like seeing faces with bright smiles when they taste a local delicacy, hear live regional music, and make lifelong friends while traveling together. I was raised in the South, lived in Germany, and taught Middle School all before beginning my second career as a Tour Director. I love the joy of making unforgettable experiences for guests from East to West. There are the majestic sights of national parks in Yosemite, the surreal landscape of Yellowstone, the haunting beauty of our Wetlands, and the bluish-green hues of the Shenandoah Valley. Tasting Peanut soup, beignets, and Fry Bread lets you taste local culture. Traveling will change you for the better!

Tour Director - SUSANNAH JONES

 Accommodations

Detroit
Frankenmuth
Mackinac Island
Petoskey
Grand Rapids
Chicago

Detroit

The Henry, Autograph Collection
The Henry, Autograph Collection

The Henry, Autograph Collection

First-Class

The Henry, Autograph Collection 300 Town Center Drive, Dearborn, MI United States

300 Town Center Drive
Dearborn, United States

Free Wifi

Free Wifi

The Henry, an Autograph Collection, features impeccable amenities and design influenced by art, showcasing the best of Michigan. Situated in close proximity to Fairlane Town Center and The Henry Ford Museum. Exquisite chandeliers, vivid color accents, and a well-chosen collection of contemporary art are features in the lobby, rooms, and event areas. Enjoy the hotel's indoor pool and onsite restaurant.

Hotel Amenities

  • Fitness Room
  • Restaurant On-Site
  • Concierge desk
  • Hot Tub
  • Elevator
  • ATM
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Business Center
  • Free WiFi
  • Pool
  • Spa Services
  • Laundry Available
  • Luggage Storage
  • Gift Shop
  • Currency Exchange

Room Amenities

  • Cable/Satellite
  • Mini-bar
  • Iron/Ironing Board
  • Television
  • Internet Access
  • In-Room Safe
  • Air Conditioning
  • Coffee Maker
  • Phone
  • Desk
  • Hair Dryer
  • Room Service
  • Complimentary Toiletries


The “Starting at” or listed price is based on the lowest price available to book. Price is per person based on twin occupancy and any applicable port charges, non-commissionable taxes and fees and intra-vacation flight are included in the price shown. Any included overnight stay in Canada, applicable GST/HST is also included in the price shown. International airfare, however, is not included. If price is crossed out, the new price shown includes a limited time promotional offer(s). Please review current promotions or deals for additional information.