Twenty-four travelers joined others from Texas and from around the country to enjoy Mackinac Island, the Grand Hotel, and Niagara Falls.
The tour began in Dearborn, Michigan, where everyone settled in for an 8-day tour to some very special places.
The first event was a visit to the Ford Rouge Center in Dearborn. This facility is a 600-acre site that is Ford Motor Company’s largest single industrial complex. Only one type of vehicle is built at the Rouge—the Ford F-150. The visitors were treated to a video giving the history of the company, then there was a more technical video using lights and lasers that went through the steps of building a truck. The tour of the plant itself was very interesting. Every second an employee is busy accomplishing a task. Whatever part/tool is needed is at their fingertips. A complete truck rolls out of this plant every 53 seconds Monday through Friday.
The plant tour was followed by a visit to the Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation. This museum houses over 250 cars, trucks, and other motorized vehicles in its collection. In the museum you will see the presidential limousine of John F. Kennedy, Abraham Lincoln’s chair, Ford’s Theatre, the Wright Brothers’ bicycle shop, Rosa Parks bus and many other historical exhibits.
The next visit was to the Detroit Institute of Arts Museum. With over 65,000 pieces of art housed here, the DIA is in the top six museums in the nation. Collections at the DIA include African, Asian, European, Contemporary, Indigenous Americas and many more.
To round out the first full day of touring, a welcome dinner was provided at the Ford Garage restaurant. As one would imagine, there are artifacts, pictures, and whimsical items in the décor all dealing with the Ford auto industry.
After breakfast the next day, the road north was followed to Mackinaw City. A little fall color was beginning to show itself. Lunch was followed by loading onto a ferry for the ride to Mackinac Island. The Mackinac Strait connects Lake Michigan with Lake Huron.
A two-night stay at the Grand Hotel allowed the travelers to step into a special time. The bold colors are thanks to designer Dorothy Draper. Red geraniums are everywhere—in the carpet, on the stuffed chairs, and many, many live flowers. The colors of red and green are all throughout the main lobby and the Main Dining Hall.
Eating a meal in the Main Dining Hall is special whether enjoying the very full buffet at breakfast or a delicious dinner. Visitors are required to follow a strict dress code as they are served a 5-course meal in the Main Dining Hall. The hotel has a rotating menu from which travelers make their selections.
While on the island, the travelers enjoyed a horse-drawn carriage tour past many of the Victorian homes on the island. Horse-drawn carriages were used to transport visitors from the hotel to town and back to the hotel. Horse-drawn everything is used on the island because motor-driven vehicles are banned except for a few emergency vehicles. Well, bicycles are also available for transportation. Another special treat on the island were the 17 fudge shops downtown.
When the time came to leave the island, everyone loaded onto another ferry. This time they were transported to the Upper Peninsula so the group could experience riding over the Mighty Mac—a suspension bridge joining the two peninsulas that make up Michigan.
One night was spent in Frankenmuth as the group traveled from Mackinac Island to Niagara, Canada. Frankenmuth is a German city offering food, shops, and Bronner’s Christmas Wonderland.
The time had come to travel into Canada. On its way to Niagara Falls, the bus traveled over a bridge that had Lake Ontario on the left and Lake Erie on the right. That made 4 of the 5 Great Lakes experienced on this tour.
Once the group reached Niagara Falls, the first activity was a “Journey Behind the Falls.” This required that everyone descend 125 feet and explore 130-year-old tunnels carved through bedrock to actually view the falls from behind.
Time was spent at the Table Rock Visitor Center. This visit allowed travelers to get many views of Niagara Falls. They could see the U.S. falls and the horseshoe falls. Often times rainbows were visible at different places along the falls. The center also offered many souvenir items to take home with many memories.
The last full day of touring included all of these experiences: Niagara Adventure Theater, viewing the Whirlpool Aero Car, White Water Walk, the Floral Clock, a visit to the town of Niagara-on-the-Lake. A wonderful day followed by a special farewell dinner at the Skylon Tower.
The day everyone flew home began with a busy morning. After breakfast and crossing the border into New York, USA, the group went to ride the Maid of the Mist. The boat goes along in front of both the U.S. and Canadian Niagara Falls. Was there a mist in the air? Definitely.
Fortunately, everyone was furnished ponchos to keep everyone almost dry.
One last adventure was to Goat Island where observation decks at various levels allowed visitors have last views of the falls.
Then, on to lunch and the airport in Buffalo, New York. Was such a fun and exciting tour.
Those participating as Let’s Travel members were: Alden and Sharon Garber, Melanie Holloway, Carolyn Hancock from Mexia; Sally Wilkerson from Thornton; Rose White from Groesbeck; Glenda Phillips from Red Oak; Leslie Avery, Steve and Sharon Wilson, Rodney and Edye Gillen-Hall, Maurice and Amanda Burleson, Jerri McBay from Fairfield; Charles and Sheree Wood from Buffalo; Diana Bradley from Waco; Tom and Diane Jones from Streetman; Frank McClellan from Cunningham, Kansas; Connie McClellan from Pretty Prairie, Kansas; Dan and Terry Krehbeil from Garden Grove, California.
Let’s Travel has a busy schedule for 2025. There will be a tour in July that begins in Seattle and travels down the coast to San Francisco.
Then, in September we will be in Sedona, Arizona. Here we will stay in the same hotel 5 nights and experience short train rides two of those days. Early December offers two Christmas Market tours. One is to Montreal and Quebec, Canada. The other is a European tour to France, Germany, and Switzerland. Slide show meetings are scheduled for all of these trips in November. Contact Jerri McBay at 903-388-2243 for more information. Everyone is welcome to participate in these tours.
