Highlights

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Itinerary

Day 1 – St. Ignace, MI

Arrive today in St. Ignace, MI.  Check into your hotel for a four-night stay.  Dinner is on your own this evening.

Day 2 – St. Ignace Touring – Museum of Ojibwa Culture – Traditional Native American Teachings -Boardwalk Tour – Father Marquette Mission Park – Deer Ranch – Evening at Kewadin Casino w/dinner

After breakfast at the hotel, visit the Museum of Ojibwa Culture.  Discover the stories of the Ojibwa and the settlers of the 17th and 18th centuries, including the history of St. Ignace.  Your group will also meet a member from the Sault Tribe that will detail the traditional ways of the Ojibwa people and how those teachings are still carried on today. Then enjoy an easy walking tour down to the boardwalk.

Next to the museum is the Father Marquette Mission Park which pays tribute to the life and work of Jacques Marquette, French priest and explorer. It is the burial site of Father Marquette and the site of his 1671 mission. Pere Jacques Marquette’s grave was discovered at this site in the spring of 1877. The grave is marked showing where the altar for the original mission was and features a statue of the Jesuit priest.

Enjoy lunch on own today along the waterfront with many options including indoor lakeside dining or outdoor deck seating.

The afternoon includes a visit to Deer Ranch, the oldest live whitetail exhibit in North America. See dozens of native Michigan Whitetail Deer and fawns including white deer all in a natural setting which you can photograph and feed while walking along a nature trail.

Enjoy an evening at the Kewadin Casino located on the shores of Lake Huron. The Casino offers a one-of-a- kind experience, combining exciting Vegas action with an authentic regional flair, owed to the personality of their community.   Explore over 700 slot machines, video poker, live blackjack tables, poker room, keno booth and so much more.  Dinner is included this evening at the Casino. (B,D)

Day 3 – Mackinac Island – Roundtrip Ferry – Horse Drawn Carriage Ride – Brunch at Grand Hotel – Old Fort Mackinac – Free Time

This morning, you board Shepler’s Ferry for a journey into the Victorian Age of America with a visit to Mackinac Island. Accessible only by boat, this summer resort has the feel of life in the 1890’s. There are no motorized vehicles on the island, horse drawn carriages will meet your ferry, and then with the clattering of hoofs on cobblestones, whisk you off on a narrated tour.

Included will be stops at several scenic points for photos and a visit to Old Fort Mackinac, a British Garrison (circa 1780) it sits on a southern bluff overlooking the majestic Straits of Mackinac. Inside the fort walls are 14 original buildings filled with interactive displays and period furnishings. Hear bugle music, rifle fire, and a cannon blast. Dance to a 19th-century tune. Drill with soldiers. Watch a court martial reenactment. Play Victorian children’s games and create a history that’s all your own.

Brunch is included today at the Grand Hotel, one of the finest hotels in the world, it is a truly lovely setting, and a memorable meal. Take a moment and enjoy a rocking chair view from the world’s longest porch. Following brunch, you have time to visit the shops and boutiques near the Ferry Docks. Gather souvenirs, including a box of famous Mackinac Island Fudge. At the end of your day on the Island, return via Ferry, to St. Ignace for the night. (B,L)

Day 4 – Full Day Tahquamenon Falls Riverboat & Train Tour – Dinner

Today, enjoy a full day historical wilderness tour of Tahquamenon Falls.  First ride the Toonerville Trolley, an authentic narrow-gauge train which takes passengers 5 1/2 miles through forest, the home of many types of wildlife and birds. Once the train arrives at the river, passengers board a spacious riverboat for a 21 mile a narrated river cruise. The boat docks 1/2 mile above the falls, for 1 hour and 15 minutes. During the cruise, the captain provides narration on points of interest including: logging history, Native American history, and Michigan’s plant and animal life.  Food, beverages, and restrooms are available on board.

Passengers then enjoy a nature hike (5/8 of a mile each way) to a private viewing area at the Upper Tahquamenon Falls. (This trail is not handicap accessible). The boat returns to the train and then the train back to Soo Junction.

Returning to St. Ignace this evening, dinner is included at a local restaurant. (B,D)

Day 5 – Depart

After breakfast at the hotel, depart for home. (B)

Tour Map