Mackinac Island

Rustad Tours has planned a storybook fantasy adventure to Mackinac Island in Lake Huron. Beautiful vistas, quaint shops, fine dining, and the clip-clop of horses create its laid-back vibe and charm! Tonight, our hotel accommodations are in Menominee, Michigan. (L)

During our morning travels, enjoy stunning views of Lake Huron, the bluest of all the great lakes. Voyageurs, traders, and missionaries used to paddle their way through these waters during the 1600s. Now, Lake Huron has become a vital shipping route. Located on the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, we arrive in Palms Brook State Park and Kitch-iti-kipi, Michigan’s largest natural freshwater spring. You’ll ride a raft to the middle of the crystal-clear pool viewing fish amid the bubbling emerald-green springs which maintain a constant 45 degrees. We’ll stop for an included meal before crossing the “Strait of Mackinac” by way of the “Big MAC, Mackinac Bridge.” In Mackinaw City, we board Shepler’s Ferry which will transport us to Mackinac Island. A horse-drawn carriage will meet us at Shepler’s Ferry dock for a carriage tour of Mackinac Island. We’ll take in highlights around town, travel through the State Park, and make stops at Arch Rock and Fort Mackinac. You’ll love your stay at the Lakeview Hotel brimming with Victorian charm, 19th-century architecture, and modern amenities. Just pull up a rocking chair on their charming front porch and watch the storybook world of Mackinac Island go by! This evening is yours to explore the island or shop and dine in the quaint downtown district. Be sure to check out the popular and delicious local fudge and become a “Fudgie!” (B) (L)

Enjoy the morning to shop, relax, or even rent a bike to explore the island on your own. A highlight of our time on Mackinac Island is to have lunch at the Grand Hotel. By late morning, a horse-drawn carriage will meet us at our hotel to take us to the magnificent Grand Hotel for their Lunch Buffet at their spectacular 50-foot buffet. Throughout the history of the Grand Hotel, dining has been the highlight of every guest experience. After lunch, we take a short stroll back to the ferry dock to return to the mainland. Our coach will be waiting to bring us to our accommodations in Marquette, MI. (B) (L)

Traveling west through the lush green forests of Michigan and Wisconsin, we stop for an included lunch in Superior, WI. As we arrive in Duluth, we enjoy stunning views from the Blatnik Bridge with a “Through Arch” design crossing over the St. Louis River, a tributary of Lake Superior. Driving around Duluth, you can see why it got the nickname, “San Francisco of the Midwest,” alluding to San Francisco’s similar Water-to-Hilltop topography. You can’t visit Duluth without exploring its most visible, popular, and famous parks. Leif Erickson Park & Rose Garden is situated along the shores of Lake Superior. Its magnificent Rose Garden offers a beautiful floral arrangement of over 2,000 rose bushes with 100 different varieties of roses arranged throughout the elegant English Rose Garden setting. A statue of the Norwegian Viking Explorer marks the entrance to the park. Leif Erickson is credited with being the first European to land on the shores of North America and “discover” it more than 1,000 years ago. Later this afternoon we’ll take a self-guided tour of the historic Glensheen Mansion, Minnesota’s most visited historic home. This is a 39-room mansion that sits on 12 acres of waterfront property on Lake Superior and was built by Chester Congdon in the early 1900s. The Glensheen Mansion is well known as an architectural and decorative arts masterpiece. The impressive grounds include formal and terraced gardens with an English-style landscape. A bonus to our day will be staying at Canal Park Lodge, offering great shopping and dining venues. You’re in a great spot to experience the ship traffic entering or leaving by way of the Aerial Lift Bridge! (B) (L)

We’ve enjoyed a hearty breakfast, our luggage is stowed and we’re all on board, but it’s not time for us to leave Duluth yet. Rustad Tours has several wonderful sites to share with you this morning! Our first stop takes you to the Enger Tower and Gardens Park located at the top of the stony bluffs, providing you with magnificent panoramic views of the Twin Ports of Duluth and Superior. The 80-foot Enger Tower was dedicated in 1939 by Crown Prince Olav and Crown Princess Margaret of Norway. The land was left to the city by Bert Enger, a prominent businessman and philanthropist of Duluth. Our next stop takes you down to the water level on a harbor cruise aboard the Vista Fleet. Some of the sights include iconic landmarks such as the Aerial Lift Bridge, Historic Canal Park, the Blatnik and Bong Bridges and Midwest Terminal, and CN Taconite Docks. The cruise will be fully narrated with a blend of interesting and entertaining facts. The grand finale of our time in Duluth treats you to the historic Pickwick Restaurant & Pub, a local landmark since 1914, located on the scenic waterfront in the Canal Park District. Its Old-World atmosphere features European-style woodwork and furnishings. They have won numerous awards throughout the years. Rustad Tours hopes that this tour has provided you with many cherished memories. We arrive back in Kerkhoven by late afternoon. Grab a cookie and a cup of coffee for your drive home! (B) (L)