• 8 Days
  • From $3,699
  • Airfare Included

Lake Michigan Circle Tour

Tour Style:
Land
Activity Level:
Moderate
Highest Elevation:
624 feet
10 Meals:
7 Breakfasts, 1 Lunch, 2 Dinners

Discover Midwest charm and the breathtaking landscapes surrounding Lake Michigan in Wisconsin, Michigan, and Illinois, plus two nights on timeless Mackinac Island. Our vacation begins with a flight into Chicago and a comfortable drive to Green Bay for a guided tour of iconic Lambeau Field. Continuing north to Door County, the Cape Cod of the Midwest, enjoy a visit to Eagle Bluff Lighthouse in Peninsula State Park, leisure time in Fish Creek, and a classic fish boil dinner. Next, soak up scenic vistas throughout Michigan’s Upper Peninsula and board a ferry to experience old-world charm on Mackinac Island, including a horse-drawn carriage tour and lunch at the historic Grand Hotel. Back on the mainland, time near Traverse City is spent browsing rare antique instruments and venturing through the incredible scenery of Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. After completing our full circle, we return to Chicago and enjoy a guided city tour before celebrating our adventures with a Farewell Dinner.

Trip overview may vary by departure.

  • Day 1: Fly to Illinois
    Our tour begins with a flight to Chicago, then we settle into our accommodations near the O’Hare airport.
  • Day 2: Lambeau Field & Fish Boil
    Today, we travel through the Wisconsin countryside to Green Bay and tour storied Lambeau Field, home of the state’s professional football team. Our journey continues to picturesque Door County, where we check in for two nights in Sturgeon Bay. Later, we get to know fellow travelers and experience a tradition from Scandinavian Settlers at a fish boil Welcome Dinner. Enjoy gathering around the fire as we watch fresh whitefish from Lake Michigan prepared with potatoes and onions over open flames! For dessert, indulge in a classical regional treat, sweet cherry pie.

    Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner

  • Day 3: Door County
    Enjoy a full day exploring the Cape Cod of the Midwest, boasting more miles of shoreline, lighthouses, and state parks than any other county in the United States. Soak up sights of wave-battered cliffs, sun-kissed beaches, quaint farms, and lush orchards as we travel to our first stop, Peninsula State Park. We tour the historic Eagle Bluff Lighthouse with views of the park’s beautiful woodland and shoreline. Our afternoon includes time at leisure in the charming waterfront community of Fish Creek, followed by an opportunity to indulge in the regional vino flavors at Door Peninsula Winery. We then head south to Sturgeon Bay’s Door County Maritime Museum to browse unique exhibits that detail the area’s intriguing maritime roots.

    Meals Included: Breakfast

  • Day 4: Mackinac Island
    This morning, we depart Sturgeon Bay and travel through Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, featuring vistas of dense forests and Lake Michigan’s scenic shoreline. Upon reaching the Straits of Mackinac, the waterway connecting Lake Michigan and Lake Huron, we cross one of the largest suspension bridges in the world, Mackinac Bridge. Waiting for us on the other end is Mackinaw City’s high-speed ferry to Mackinac Island. This quaint, timeless island is three miles long by two miles wide and only allows transportation by carriage, bike, horse, or foot! Enjoy spending two evenings on the island.

    Meals Included: Breakfast

  • Day 5: Horse-Drawn Carriage Tour
    We depart our hotel this morning in horse-drawn carriages for a tour of Mackinac Island. Admire the Victorian architecture that displays a time of days gone by as we venture downtown, then take in the beauty of Mackinac Island State Park. Our tour ends at the elegant Grand Hotel, where a gourmet buffet lunch awaits us. Afterwards, there is time to browse the fascinating public areas of this historic hotel or unwind in rocking chairs on its 660-foot porch with marvelous views of the Straits of Mackinac. The rest of the day is at your leisure. You may choose to relax, sightsee on your own, or visit Fort Mackinac to see costumed guides and original buildings that recall military life during the War of 1812.

    Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch

  • Day 6: Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore
    We bid adieu to Mackinac Island and board a ferry back to the mainland. Enjoy more views of Lake Michigan’s beautiful shoreline as we drive south to the Music House Museum near Traverse City. Step back in time while browsing a unique collection of rare antique instruments including player pianos, music boxes, and pipe organs. Later, breathtaking landscapes surround us at Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. We wind down the gentle curves of Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive for unrivaled panoramas of the massive dune formations, lush forests, and glistening lakes with photo stops along the way. Tonight, we check in to our accommodations in Grand Rapids.

    Meals Included: Breakfast

  • Day 7: Chicago
    Our day begins with a southbound journey back towards the Windy City. We arrive at Navy Pier in the heart of Chicago’s lakefront with time at leisure for a scenic lunch on your own and souvenir shopping. A local guide then joins us aboard our motorcoach for a fascinating tour of Chicago’s most famous landmarks. Later this afternoon, we settle into our hotel before celebrating our Lake Michigan adventures and new friendships over a wonderful Farewell Dinner tonight.

    Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner

  • Day 8: Fly Home
    We return home, long remembering our incredible memories made in the Upper Midwest.

    Meals Included: Breakfast

What's Included

All Accommodations

  • 1 night at Sonesta Chicago O’Hare Airport Hotel
  • 2 nights at Stone Harbor Resort in Sturgeon Bay
  • 2 nights on Mackinac Island
  • 1 night at Embassy Suites Grand Rapids Downtown
  • 1 night at Sonesta Chicago O’Hare Airport Hotel (before returning home)

Attractions & Highlights

  • Lambeau Field guided tour
  • Door County Maritime Museum
  • Door Peninsula Winery
  • Fish Creek
  • Peninsula State Park feat. Eagle Bluff Lighthouse
  • Scenic ferry ride to Mackinac Island
  • Mackinac Bridge
  • Mackinac Island horse-drawn carriage tour & time at leisure
  • Music House Museum
  • Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore
  • Chicago guided city tour feat. Navy Pier

10 Excellent Meals

  • Traditional Door County fish boil Welcome Dinner
  • Grand Luncheon Buffet at the Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island
  • Farewell Dinner in Chicago

Learn more about what's included with the Holiday Advantage.