Mackinac Island & Traverse City, Michigan
Cherries, Sand Dunes & Lake Michigan
Ambassadair Trip #8048
NEW TRIP!
Cherries, Sand Dunes & Lake Michigan
July 19-23, 2020 | Sun / Thu – 5 Days
Grand Rapids | Traverse City | Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore | Mackinac Island
NEW TRIP!
Invigorate all your senses on this journey to Mackinac Island and Traverse City. See the beauty of the beaches, water, sculpture, and art; hear the sounds of music at a music museum; smell the gardens; and taste the sweet and tart cherries. Lovers of art and nature will find plenty to do including strolling through the botanical gardens in Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park, and taking in the wild and expansive views atop the bluffs in Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. You’ve heard about Michigan cherries, now you get to experience the goodness for yourself while touring a cherry farm and picking your own cherries, along with a visit to all things cherry at Cherry Republic. No trip to the northern part of Michigan would be complete without exploring the beautiful and timeless Mackinac Island while staying in the Grand Hotel. Your horse and carriage await for you to explore the town, shops, and restaurants. Or, rent a bike and tour the town, trails, and surrounding woodlands. Find your sense of relaxation with this fun-filled trip to northern Michigan.
HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE
PACKAGE INCLUDES
Itinerary
Sun, July 19: Depart Indianapolis and arrive in Grand Rapids, Michigan for a walk in the park. Not just any park, but the famed, 185-acre campus of the Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park. Enjoy lunch and time on your own to stroll through the indoor and outdoor gardens including 15,000 square feet of tropical flora, carnivorous plants, Victorian era flowers, and seasonal flowers. Meander through quiet walkways and meadows while enjoying the shade garden and relish the tranquility while perusing the 8-acres of the Japanese garden. Meet back up for a narrated tram tour through the exquisite sculpture garden showcasing art from sculptors of the late 19th century to the present. Continue on to Traverse City and check in to the waterfront Hotel Indigo featuring rooftop views of West Grand Traverse Bay. Enjoy a Welcome Dinner. (Meals: Lunch, Dinner)
Mon, July 20: This morning, take a tour at Rennie Orchards to learn about this family farm. Since 1938, the family has been giving people the chance to enjoy Michigan’s finest cherries. Grab a bucket and pick your own cherries to enjoy during your trip, or you can even have some shipped home. Next, travel through the rolling hills of Grand Traverse County to the Music House Museum where automated musical instruments and players are lovingly restored and displayed. Two instrument enthusiasts not only restored the instruments, but also the early 1900’s barn where a collection of music boxes, phonographs, radios, and jukeboxes ranging from the late 18th century to1950s are showcased. Another staple of northern Michigan would be wine! Make a visit to the Rove Estate Winery, whose tasting room sits at the highest point in the county providing breathtaking views and the perfect conditions for making award-winning wines. Spend the evening back in Traverse City at your leisure to relax by the waterfront, or stroll through the historic streets, shops, boutiques, and restaurants right outside your hotel. (B)
Tue, July 21: Today is the day for all things Michigan: cherries, fudge, dunes, and horse-drawn carriages. Depart Traverse City for Glen Arbor to experience Cherry Republic. Founded in 1989, they still operate today under their core values of “Life, Liberty, Beaches, Pie,” while offering over 200 items of all things cherry. Enjoy a bite to eat and even take some time to walk the flagstone paths through the gardens. Stretch your legs and grab some amazing photos along the Lake Michigan Overlook and scenic drive of Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore before heading to Mackinaw City. After your ferry ride to Mackinac Island, transfer by horse-drawn carriage to the fabulous Grand Hotel. Grand it is — since 1887, this famous hotel has been welcoming guests to come and take a stroll or relax on the world’s longest porch — 660 feet lined with geraniums and rocking chairs. This National Historic Landmark prides itself on continuing the air and charm of yesteryear within its individually designed guestrooms and public spaces, afternoon tea, and exquisite dinner and dancing. Tonight, dress up for dinner in the Main Dining Room (Salle à Manger) of the hotel. Afterward, enjoy live music and dancing. (B,D)
Wed, July 22: Enjoy a lovely breakfast in the Main Dining Room and start your day with a carriage tour of the island. Afterward, the day is at your leisure. Rent a bike; take a stroll along main street and see all the shops, restaurants, and pubs; visit Fort Mackinac; hike through the woodlands or do some birdwatching; explore Arch Rock; or surround yourself with the grace and beauty of butterflies and tropical gardens in the Original Mackinac Island Butterfly House. Or, stay at the Grand Hotel and enjoy high tea; swim in the 220 foot, heated pool; try your hand at tennis or pickleball; or enjoy the quintessential summer lawn games of bocce and croquet. Tonight, enjoy another delicious dinner at your leisure at the Grand Hotel. (B,D)
Thu, July 23: After breakfast at the hotel, make your way back to the mainland and continue on to Indianapolis. (B)
Hotels
Hotel Indigo, Traverse City, Michigan.
Located in Traverse City’s trendy waterfront Warehouse District, this new hotel is a short walk to Grand Traverse Bay and the beach. Highlights: in-room coffee maker • complimentary high-speed Internet and Wi-Fi access • two restaurants • bar/lounge • fitness center.
Grand Hotel, Mackinac Island, Michigan.
A classic American resort by anyone’s standards, the Grand Hotel has been named by the National Trust for Historic Preservation as “One of a Dozen Distinctive Destinations” and a National Historic Landmark. Watch the sunsets over the lake from the world’s longest porch (600 feet). Highlights: each room is uniquely decorated • in-room coffee maker and mini bar • five restaurants • five bars • tea room • spa • 18-hole golf course • Esther Williams Swimming Pool (heated, outdoor) • fitness center • four tennis courts • duck pin bowling alley • live music, including the Grand Hotel orchestra • horseback riding on bridle paths • family games, including bocce ball, croquet, putt-putt golf, and a giant outdoor chess board • bicycles for rent • no tipping policy (fees apply for some activities).
(Casual resort wear is appropriate during the day at the hotel, just avoid midriff tops, sweatpants, or cut-off shorts along with no sleeveless shirts for the men in all areas inside the hotel with the exception of the Cupola Bar. Because every night is special, after 6:30pm, a coat and tie are required for the gentlemen — no jeans or shorts, and for the ladies, dress slacks, dresses, or skirts and blouses are preferred.)
Pricing
* Subject to change due to fuel surcharge.
Ambassadair Trip #8048
Deposit Per Person: $200
Final Payment: 05/20/20
Cancellation Fee Per Person: Booking-61 Days: $100; 60-0 Days: No Refund
Trip Insurance: Optional Trip Insurance through Travel Insured. To purchase, call your Ambassadair Travel Counselor.
9011 North Meridian Street,
Suite 100
Indianapolis, IN 46260
Reservations:
(317) 581-1122
Toll-Free:
(800) 225-9919
Office Hours:
Monday-Friday
8:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. EDT
This site uses cookies. By continuing to browse the site, you are agreeing to our use of cookies.
OKLearn moreWe may request cookies to be set on your device. We use cookies to let us know when you visit our websites, how you interact with us, to enrich your user experience, and to customize your relationship with our website.
Click on the different category headings to find out more. You can also change some of your preferences. Note that blocking some types of cookies may impact your experience on our websites and the services we are able to offer.
These cookies are strictly necessary to provide you with services available through our website and to use some of its features.
Because these cookies are strictly necessary to deliver the website, refuseing them will have impact how our site functions. You always can block or delete cookies by changing your browser settings and force blocking all cookies on this website. But this will always prompt you to accept/refuse cookies when revisiting our site.
We fully respect if you want to refuse cookies but to avoid asking you again and again kindly allow us to store a cookie for that. You are free to opt out any time or opt in for other cookies to get a better experience. If you refuse cookies we will remove all set cookies in our domain.
We provide you with a list of stored cookies on your computer in our domain so you can check what we stored. Due to security reasons we are not able to show or modify cookies from other domains. You can check these in your browser security settings.
These cookies collect information that is used either in aggregate form to help us understand how our website is being used or how effective our marketing campaigns are, or to help us customize our website and application for you in order to enhance your experience.
If you do not want that we track your visist to our site you can disable tracking in your browser here:
We also use different external services like Google Webfonts, Google Maps, and external Video providers. Since these providers may collect personal data like your IP address we allow you to block them here. Please be aware that this might heavily reduce the functionality and appearance of our site. Changes will take effect once you reload the page.
Google Webfont Settings:
Google Map Settings:
Vimeo and Youtube video embeds: