Tunnel of Trees

Day One

We begin our day with a border crossing at Sarnia, and travel through the heart of Michigan to the beautiful town of Petoskey, on the shores of Little Traverse Bay in Northern Michigan. We enjoy an included dinner at the beautiful Bay View Inn, with the grace and romance of a bygone era. Our hotel for the next three nights is the Perry Hotel, set in Petoskey's historic Gaslight District. This elegant hotel brings back the grace and romance of 19th century living but with 21st century features and convenience. Dinner is included this evening.

Day Two

After a buffet breakfast overlooking Little Traverse Bay, we travel the short distance to the town of Charlevoix. Known as "Charlevoix the Beautiful", this charming town is lovely in every way. A local guide will join us to show us the highlights, including the famous "Mushroom Houses", stone and timber creations of a master builder using unusual natural materials into unique structures. We will enjoy an included lunch today at The Weathervane in Charlevoix, designed by the same builder in the style of the Mushroom House. The curvaceous rooflines and imaginative stonework make this waterfront restaurant, located right at the Pine River in downtown Charlevoix an attraction unto itself. After free time for browsing along Charlevoix's main street, we return to Petoskey. Enjoy free time in the Gaslight District and enjoy dinner at one of Petoskey's many area restaurants. An optional trip to nearby Odawa Casino will be offered this evening. The Casino features numerous dining facilities and plenty of gaming fun.

Day Three

This morning we are joined by a local guide who will show us the best of Petoskey, including the amazing "Painted Ladies", Victorian homes in beautiful settings painted in all the colours of the rainbow. We will visit the flagship store of Kilwin's Chocolates, where we can see the process of chocolate making, and make some purchases in their huge store with a wide variety of delicious goodies. We then take a scenic drive to Mackinaw City, where we view "Mighty Mac", the impressive Mackinaw Island Bridge. After lunch in Mackinaw City, we travel some secondary roads through spectacular fall foliage to the town of Cross Village. From here we travel south on one of the most famous stretches of scenic highway in America. The Tunnel of Trees follows the shores of Lake Michigan around twists and turns through the most beautiful fall foliage imaginable. The views of the coast and shoreline are unparalleled. We'll catch views of the lake below the bluffs as we travel through a thicket of trees with a firework show of autumn colours. We spend some time in the pretty village of Harbor Springs, with free time for refreshments and browsing. This idyllic town is like walking into a postcard scene, with its shops, art galleries and eateries on its vibrant main street. We return to Petoskey and a special evening event. Dinner is included at the Perry Hotel followed by a special visitor. Ernest Hemingway was once a guest in this hotel, and his family had a summer cottage nearby. Ernest would visit every summer and went on to write a series of short stories based in Northern Michigan. His second novel, "The Torrents of Spring" was set in Petoskey. This evening, a special Hemingway historian will join us at the hotel to share stories and history of this famous author.

Day Four

After enjoying breakfast at the hotel, we travel a slightly different route today as we include one last special surprise on our way home. We cross the border at Sarnia and arrive home early evening.