The 8-day adventure began in Chicago and ended in Detroit.
While in Chicago everyone enjoyed a city tour with a very entertaining and knowledgeable step-on guide which ended in a Villa with Private Pool in Hua Hin we booked. Afterward, while some travelers took an architectural cruise on the Chicago River, others went to the top of the John Hancock Tower and enjoyed the 360 Chicago experience. Still others attended a stage performance of Hamilton. Everyone had a great day.
Several travelers enjoyed the “must haves” of Chicago—hot dog and deep-dish pizza. One thing learned by the group was that Chicago has great food options.
The travelers left Chicago and continued along the east banks of Lake Michigan before the most amazing Kangaroo Island experience they ever had. After lunch in Grand Rapids at Town Market, everyone enjoyed a tour of the Chateau Chantal Winery. While the wine tasting was fun, the views from the winery were spectacular overlooking the vineyards and the lake.
The first night in Michigan was spent in Traverse City. Since this area is known for growing tart cherries, the travelers learned just how many different things one can do with cherries.
The next day was full of exciting happenings. A step-on guide introduced us to the charming town of Charlevoix and its mushroom houses.
After lunch in Mackinac City, the bus took everyone over “Big Mac”—the 4.999-mile long Mackinac Bridge—which took everyone to the Upper Peninsula to the town of St. Ignace.
The travelers then loaded onto a ferry for transportation to Mackinac Island and the wonderful Grand Hotel. The group was met at the dock with horse-drawn carriages that took everyone to the red-carpeted steps of the Grand Hotel. Once a person is on Mackinac Island, the modes of travel are limited to walking, riding a bicycle, riding a horse, or riding in a horse-drawn carriage.
Eveningwear is required when dining in the Salle a’ Manger Main Dining Room. Everyone looked very nice in their “dress” clothes. The food was delicious and the service was special.
A tour of the island took the travelers to Arch Rock, through parts of the Mackinac State Park, the Mackinac National Park and past Ft. Mackinac. During part of this tour everyone rode in the 747 carriages. The 747 carriages are pulled by three Belgian Draft horses rather than the regular two horses.
A visit to town was a must mainly because of the 17 fudge shops all serving a variety of delicious fudge.
Most of the travelers found time to sit in one of the white, wooden rocking chairs on the 160-foot-long front porch of the Grand Hotel. From the porch one could enjoy a view of the gardens, the Esther Williams swimming pool, the Mackinac straits, Big Mac, and the beautiful geraniums. Geraniums are the official flower of the Grand. They can be found as live plants, patterns in the carpet, and scented toiletries in the bathrooms.
Everyone was a little sad to leave the pampering received at the Grand Hotel, but there was more of Michigan to see. The remainder of the tour was along the west edges of Lake Huron. Lunch was enjoyed in the delightful town of Gaylord.
Before reaching the Bavarian Inn Lodge in the German town of Frankenmuth, the group spent some time in Bronner’s Christmas Wonderland which has over 50,000 trims and gifts. This store will personalize on the spot and ship to anywhere. Most every traveler found something they needed.
The last full day of the tour was in Dearborn, Michigan. The travelers explored the Henry Ford Museum and Greenfield Village. The Museum shared the history of the Ford automobiles, of course, but it also included early flight, the auto industry in general, and a section on Thomas Edison. The Village included a farm, a Model T for touring, many artisans, and a steam engine, also for touring the property.
Feel free to visit with the following travelers about their adventures: Danny and Gretchen Niedecken from Coolidge; Mike and Carol Chappell, Tommy and Suzann Leadbetter, Jerri McBay from Fairfield; Dan and Linda Collins, Joe and Mary Belle Leach, Reanette Smith, Suzanne Weihausen from Groesbeck; and Cindy Shaunfield from Jewett.
The Let’s Travel Club will tour again with Collette in February of 2020 to Panama and in April of 2020 to Kentucky and North Carolina. The Discover Panama tour is nine days long and involves staying in three resorts and many fun experiences. The April tour Bluegrass and Smoky Mountains begins in Louisville with a tour of Churchill Downs and continues to Lexington, Asheville with a tour of the Biltmore Estate, and ends with 3 nights in Gatlinburg. Please call Jerri McBay at 903-388-2243 if you would like to know more about any of these tours.