Circle Michigan Insert 2022

Air Zoo

Located just south of Interstate 94, the Air Zoo is a perfect group destination boasting more than 200,000 square feet of gallery space throughout two buildings. With more than 100 rare and unique aircra and spacecra , like the SR-71B Blackbird and XP-55 Ascender, as well as dozens of immersive exhibits, the Smithsonianaffiliated museum in Portage has something for everyone. Customize your docent-led tour of the museum and restoration center, explore hands-on STEM stations, catch a movie in the Quonset-style hut theater, test your skills in full-motion flight simulators, and enjoy indoor amuse ment park-style rides. Contact a group and events staff member and plan your group’s next visit. All activities are included with group admission, and bus parking is free and convenient. Lunch is available through the Kitty Hawk Café. Make sure to schedule time for a visit to the Fly Buy Gi Shop to commemorate your visit.

Alpena Area Convention & Visitors Bureau

Sanctuary—it is what sailors have always searched for when the weather takes a turn for the worse. And it’s something travelers are seeking to escape the hustle and bustle of daily life. Groups can find a relaxing retreat in the friendly Lake Huron port city of Alpena—a true Great Lakes sanctuary.

Alpena is a place where history and heritage collide with relaxed outdoor adventure. Your base camp for adventuring through northeast Michigan, Alpena is a modern city at nature’s doorstep. With a bustling downtown of boutique shops and unique restaurants, the greater Alpena area offers more than 1,000 miles of shoreline, 100-plus miles of groomed trails, a central proximity to seven Great Lakes lighthouses, multiple museums and art galleries, and a glass-bottom boat tour of the shipwrecks of Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary.

Bicycle Street Inn

Bicycle Street Inn & Suites and Waterfront Collection o

ers your group direct access to the waterfront and the Main Street of Mackinac Island, with plenty to explore nearby, including Grand Hotel, hiking, sailing, kayaking, museums, bike riding, carriage tours, and plenty of shopping.

Bicycle Street Inn offers 84 guest rooms and suites ranging up to 700 square feet. Accommodations include balcony rooms with direct waterfront and Main Street views, and balcony suites with panoramic views of the Straits of Mackinac, Main Street, and the interior island. The suites sleep up to six guests with premium bedding and a separate living room with sofa/sleeper. All rooms and suites offer air conditioning, walk-in glass showers, coffee makers, refrigerators, microwaves, and 42-50-inch flat-panel televisions. On the street level, the hotel features Winchester’s Whisky & Bourbon Room, serving cra food and drink in a fun Prohibition-era atmosphere offering an express breakfast, full lunch, dinner, and cocktails.

Breakers Resort

Breakers Resort & Beach Bar is located in St. Ignace, the gateway to Michigan’s gorgeous Upper Peninsula. The locally owned and operated resort offers the only beach front dining experience in St. Ignace. Wake up to sunrise views of Lake Huron and enjoy a complimentary breakfast before setting out on the ferry to Mackinac Island or out to one of the Upper Peninsula’s treasured sites. With an indoor pool and hot tub, unlimited parking, and a full-service bar and restaurant, Breakers Resort & Beach Bar will please every group. Coming soon in 2023 is an outdoor, wood-fired pizza oven and beach service!

Breakers Resort & Beach Bar amenities include access to Lake Huron beachfront, ample motorcoach parking, group dining options on-site, luggage handling, and access to Mackinac Island ferry services. The resort is within driving distance to Tahquamenon Falls State Park, Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, the Soo Locks, and Kitch-iti-Kipi (The Big Spring).

Brilliant Edventures

One-of-a-kind, affordable, customized, and private-

packages with 24/7 tour support provide you peace of mind as you relax and enjoy your “edven ture!” Let the Brilliant Edventures team be your “memory makers” for Michigan, as well as the entire United States and Canada. No matter your group type, size, or age, Brilliant Edventures can do it all!

Brilliant Edventures will assist in planning, coordi nating, and executing the perfect tour for your group, ensuring that all tour components, such as hotels, attractions, restaurants, transportation, and tour guides, exceed your expectations. The company provides customized tour itineraries for educators, group leaders, bank travel clubs, church groups, and tour operators needing wholesale services. Owner Elaine Moulder and her team are passionate about instilling their motto into all their tours—“Always be learning and exploring … we are all students of life!”

Bronner’s Christmas Wonderland

Celebrate the joy of Christmas 361 days a year at Bronner’s Christmas Wonderland, the world’s largest Christmas store, located just 86 miles northwest of Detroit in Frankenmuth. Guests of all ages enjoy Bronner’s fantasyland featuring shimmering lights, sparkling ornaments, and whimsical figures—a worldwide selection of over 50,000 trims and gi s! The size of 1.7 football fields, Bronner’s provides Christmas lovers with a delightful shopping experience. Approximately 100,000 twinkling lights illuminate Bronner’s half-mile-long Christmas Lane every evening. Bronner’s Silent Night Memorial Chapel, nestled on the southern tip of Bronner’s 27 acres, is a replica of the original chapel in Austria marking the site where “Silent Night” was first sung on Christmas Eve in 1818.

Admission is free to both the store and chapel. Light refreshments are available in-store at Season’s Eatings. Motorcoaches and RVs should enter off state Highway 83 and park in the designated west parking area.

Calhoun County Visitors Bureau/Battle Creek Welcome Center

Battle Creek makes a great stop between Chicago and Detroit, with plenty of food, green spaces, and history.

Learn how Battle Creek became known as the “Cereal City” at the “Cereal History” exhibit at the Battle Creek Welcome Center. Or take a walking tour of monuments dedicated to the Underground Railroad and Sojourner Truth. Clara’s on the River is a restaurant set in a historic train station that can host large groups.

Downtown Battle Creek has more than 15 murals, as well as a variety of architectural styles. While downtown, grab a drink from one of the Social District establish ments, like Handmap Brewing and Cafe Rica USA.

Animal lovers will enjoy Binder Park Zoo, which is open April–October. Critchlow Alligator Sanctuary provides a safe place for rescued reptiles and amphibians, and visitors can enjoy hands-on activities.

Castle Farms

Castle Farms was built in 1918 by the president of Sears & Roebuck as a working dairy farm, designed to resemble a French castle. Over the years, the castle became an artist mecca and concert venue before the current owner purchased it and began restoring the facility to its former glory. There are now 10 gardens on property, each boast ing many different flowers blooming all season long.

The blacksmith shop has been turned into the World War I Museum, featuring copies of ads found in the 1918 Sears & Roebuck catalog displayed alongside the actual items. Also on-site is Michigan’s largest outdoor model railroad, including more than 70 trains covering over 2,500 feet of track. There are also collections from castles all over the world, metalwork forged on-site by the second owner, concert memorabilia, a reflection pond, life-size chess sets, and, of course, a dragon!

Comfort Inn Ludington

Enjoy the comforts of home at the award-winning Comfort Inn Ludington. Recognized for its dedication to

the staff is always ready to help make

stay amazing. This family-friendly hotel knows what

takes to make the whole family happy, including the family dog. With a variety of spacious rooms, including kitchenettes, multiroom suites, and kids’ suites, there is sure to be a room perfect for the whole family.

Situated in a prime location, Comfort Inn Ludington is close to everything that Ludington has to offer. Experi ence the West Michigan Fairgrounds, kayak Pere Mar quette River, or catch a stunning sunset at Stearns Park Beach. Stroll through downtown Ludington for unique shopping and dining experiences and catch live music in the James Street Plaza.

Call today to make Comfort Inn Ludington a part of your next West Michigan adventure!

Cops & Doughnuts/ Clare City Bakery

There is a doughnut shop and bakery in Clare that has been in constant operation since 1896. This foundation business was within weeks of closing when the mem bers of the Clare City Police Department came to the rescue. All of them. That’s right, all nine members of the local police department banded together and saved the historic doughnut shop and bakery.

Dubbed “Cops & Doughnuts” since 2009, the busi ness boasts handmade confections of all types. Visit for a fresh doughnut and a steaming cup of Cops Coffee, with flavors like “Morning Shi ,” “Evening Shi ,” and “Off Duty Decaf.” While in the bakery, you’ll enjoy the police decor and friendly (and very safe) atmosphere. Check out this destination in Clare that everyone is talking about.

Cotton Creek Farms

Cotton Creek Farms is an alpaca farm located on 27 acres in Thompsonville, which is between Cadillac and Traverse City. The farm has a herd of 60-plus alpacas and a resident llama named Lucy who keeps watch over the herd. Cotton Creek Farms shares its alpacas with the community through interactive tours and its 1,200-square-foot farm store.

The alpacas are located right outside the store, so groups can shop and mingle with some amazing furry friends all at the same time. Alpaca feed is available for purchase (only $1/bag) in the store if you’d like to offer your new friends a tasty treat. The store sells hundreds of alpaca products, including alpaca yarn, rugs, clothing, and dryer balls, as well as fun gi s for all ages.

For scheduled tours, groups are welcomed into the paddock to meet and feed the alpacas up close. During tours, staff members share information about the amazing creatures and answer questions.

Country Dairy Inc.

During a visit to Country Dairy in New Era, groups receive a guided tour of a modern working dairy farm. Tours begin at the Visitor Center, aka the Moo School. There, groups learn about the history of Country Dairy, dairy farming, and the dairy industry. Visitors take a tour wagon to see the calves and then proceed to the barn to see how they are milked with a milking robot. At the close of the tour, sample Country Dairy’s famous Premium Chocolate Milk, or try something called “Moochies” (cheddar cheese curds). Groups are also invited to stay for a delicious meal at the Farm Store and Deli. And don’t miss the chance to try some of the best ice cream available in Michigan—Country Dairy’s Premium Farmstead Ice Cream!

Country Dairy is located halfway between Ludington and Muskegon and 2 miles east of Highway 31, just north of Highway 20. The dairy is open Monday-Saturday, 7 a.m.-8 p.m.

Detroit Metro Convention & Visitors Bureau

When you visit Detroit, you quickly learn there is way more than what meets the eye. Detroit offers so much to

do, Thrillist calls it one of “America’s Most Fun Cities.” In Detroit’s walkable downtown, alleyways are portals to nights of unbridled entertainment, and streets

lined with one-of-a-kind restaurants, unique retail establishments, and music playing from buildings that makes you dance your way to your first destination.

Around each corner, the city reveals itself in exciting and unexpected ways, with locals greeting you like family and recommending places to see before you leave. Detroit isn’t defined by its venues—it’s the people and culture of the city that makes it truly stand out.

Detroit Zoological Society/ Detroit Zoo

Everyone needs Vitamin Z! Part wonder, part amazement— get it only at the Detroit Zoo, open year-round!

The Detroit Zoo—one of Michigan’s largest paid family attractions—is situated on 125 acres of naturalistic habi tats, providing a home for more than 2,000 animals representing 232 species. Must-see habitats include the Polk Penguin Conservation Center, Devereaux Tiger Forest, Holtzman Wildlife Foundation Red Panda Forest, Arctic Ring of Life, Cotton Family Wolf Wilderness, National Amphibian Conservation Center, Australian Outback Adventure, and Great Apes of Harambee.

Each year, the zoo hosts hundreds of groups and events. Groups of 15 or more can take advantage of discounted general admission pricing. Whether you want a catered picnic for your employees, a memorable team-building experience, or an unforgettable field trip outing, the zoo’s sales associates are eager to help.

Discover Kalamazoo

Kalamazoo—it’s an intriguing name, with an equally inter esting vibe! It’s a region rich with creative culture, where a sense of adventure extends from the outdoors onto your plate. Whether you’re a nature enthusiast, a self-proclaimed foodie, or love the downtown scene, one might argue that any time is the best time to discover Kalamazoo. There isn’t just one thing that makes Kalamazoo unique, and whether this is your first visit or the place you call home, there’s always something exciting to discover.

World-class attractions, fabulous restaurants, eclectic shopping, Broadway-quality theater productions, charming wineries and microbreweries, and so much more in Kalamazoo appeal to all groups and interests. For the sports enthusiast, Kalamazoo offers a full sched ule of amateur, collegiate, and professional athletics—no matter the season. In case you’d rather play than watch, the Kalamazoo region offers no fewer than 10 four-star golf courses. We promise you won’t be searching for things to do in Kalamazoo.

Elk Viewing and Gourmet Dinner at under Bay Resort

Go over the river and through the woods behind massive Percheron dra horses for a guided ride into Thunder Bay Resort’s beautifully wooded Elk Preserve for a close-up look at majestic Rocky Mountain elk. At the Elk Antler Cabin, decorated in period antiques and trophy mounts, watch as a five-course gourmet dinner is prepared on 125-year-old wood cookstoves while sampling six differ ent wines. Dinner includes apple dumplings with shrimp cocktail, chicken noodle soup, Napa salad and buttery croissants, crown roast of pork, pan-roasted redskins with pan gravy, and white chocolate-mousse-covered pizzelles topped with mixed berry sauce. The experience has been named “Best of the Best” by American Bus Association’s Destinations magazine four years in row.

Experience Grand Rapids

Grand plans come to life when you go to Grand Rapids. Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park presents sculptures and other artworks in breathtaking natu ral settings. The Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum celebrates the life and times of America’s 38th president through multimedia re-enactments and tributes. The Grand Rapids Public Museum contains three floors of culture, science, and history exhibits, plus an immersive planetarium. The Downtown Market Grand Rapids is a foodie’s dream, with 20-plus restaurants, artisan food vendors, and a greenhouse all under one roof.

These and countless other attractions are organized into suggested itineraries including art, beer, food, gardens, and history. The Experience Grand Rapids staff will work with you to customize the perfect itinerary for your group. You and your group can dream grand and go to Grand Rapids!

Experience Jackson

Jackson County is located along the Interstate 94 corridor between Detroit and Chicago. Your group will love all there is to do in the area. The Bright Walls Murals feature over 50 full-scale murals from national and international artists. The county boasts over a dozen museums, which highlight a rich history in Jackson transportation, fine art, a virtual train ride experience, military artifacts, antique reed organs, and white-tailed deer!

Self-guided and app-guided tours lead you on the path of the Underground Railroad, and a downtown foodie scene with fine dining, smash burgers, themed breweries, and boutiques. Experience Jackson’s miles of natural and paved trails, alongside public access lakes for both fishing and refreshment. There’s also an abun dance of public golf courses! Don’t forget to order a giant ice cream portion at The Parlour, themed with ‘50s decor and featuring the 21-scoop “Dare To Be Great” sundae challenge. Finally, visit the iconic Cascades Falls, a human-made, illuminated waterfall at Cascades Park.

Explore Flint & Genesee

Looking for a unique experience for your group? It’s time

you to explore Flint and Genesee County.

Nestled in the heart of mid-Michigan, the Flint and Genesee County area is an accommodating locale for all travelers. Its rich history and diverse communities provide a little something for almost everyone. Enjoy the outdoors with miles of waterways and hiking trails; many are multiuse and paved to meet ADA accessibility standards. Stop by the Flint Institute of Arts’ Hot Shop to watch a glassblowing demonstration. Take time to catch a show at the historic Capitol Theatre. Check out the Flint Public Art Project’s colorful murals in downtown Flint. Venture to any of the picturesque small towns and cities around the county for some boutique shopping and craft dining.

Explore Flint & Genesee is more than an invitation. It’s a team of travel professionals who look forward to helping you make a memorable and distinctive visit for your tour group.

Fogo de Chão

Fogo de Chão is an internationally renowned restaurant that allows guests to discover what’s next at every turn. Founded in Southern Brazil in 1979, Fogo elevates the centuries-old cooking technique of churrasco —the art of roasting high-quality cuts of meat over an open flame— into a cultural dining experience of discovery.

In 2017, the company opened its first location in Michigan on West Big Beaver Road in Troy, just east of Interstate 75. Fogo de Chão is minutes from upscale, luxury retail shopping at The Somerset Collection in the heart of Metro Detroit’s most recognized suburb. The warm, contemporary interior boasts panoramic views, an open display of the grill area, and a 10-foot bas-relief interpretation of Antônio Caringi’s famous statue, O Laçador—the embodiment of gaucho culture in Southern Brazil.

Frankenmuth CVB

means welcome. An offer

in. Something you don’t hear enough

there is a place that’s all about

welcome. Welcome to family time. Welcome to playtime. Welcome to Christmastime all year long. Welcome to Frankenmuth.

In Michigan’s Little Bavaria, you’ll find all the things that make time together so meaningful. It’s a place of horse-drawn carriages and covered bridges. Of riverboat cruises and world-famous chicken dinners. Of big water parks and small-town strolls. So, when you need to simplify the agenda and when you want extraordinary experiences with new friends, come visit Frankenmuth—a place where you’ll be welcomed with the warmth of history, heritage, and happiness.

Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park

Masterpieces of art and nature delight. Surprising sil houettes and endless kaleidoscopes of color and texture inspire. Brief, shining moments of clarity about what matters most bring people back.

Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park features bountiful gardens and more than 200 permanent collection works—indoors and outdoors—on a 158-acre main campus. Enjoy tours, programs, and interactive activities yearround. Printed materials lead visitors through changing exhibitions with overviews, thought-provoking questions, and highlights. Free public sculpture exhibition programs aid content and idea understanding through lectures, gallery walks, and demonstrations. Self-guided and docent-led tours are available for groups of 10 or more. A narrated outdoor tram tour runs seasonally, April through November. Please plan at least a few hours for visiting, to tour, and to enjoy the James & Shirley Balk Café and the DeVos-Keeler Gi Shop.

Gilmore Car Museum

The Gilmore Car Museum is North America’s largest auto museum with over 400 vehicles on display. Located mid way between Chicago and Detroit in beautiful southwest Michigan, the museum’s 90-acre historic campus features numerous vintage structures, including a restored and fully functioning 1941 Silk City Diner, a re-created 1930s Shell gas station, and seven on-site partner museums.

If you’re a travel professional, the Gilmore Car Museum is an ideal venue, and tour guests can make a whole day out of visiting the museum. They can spend hours touring the expansive exhibits, theater, library, and museum store. Tourgoers can browse historic barns filled with incredible collections, visit the vintage dealerships span ning many decades, and see the 1930s Shell gas station. The museum offers over 200,000 square feet of indoor event and exhibit space in its Heritage Ballroom, theater, library, and outdoor venue spaces. Make the Gilmore Car Museum part of your 2023 travel plans today!

Grand Hotel

Opened in 1887, the historic Grand Hotel on Mack inac Island provides an unforgettable setting for any group with its distinctive accommodations and dining, as well as afternoon tea, golf, biking, swimming, and many other activities. In addition, there’s plenty to explore on the island, including hiking, carriage tours, sailing, kayaking, and shopping. Mackinac Island was just voted “No. 1 Best Island in the Continental U.S.” by Travel + Leisure magazine.

All tour group rates are noncommissionable and are based on the Modified American Plan (MAP), which includes accommodations, breakfast, and dinner; or the Full American Plan (FAP), which includes accommodations, breakfast, Grand Luncheon Experience, and dinner.

Bring your group to Grand Hotel and discover why it was recently voted one of the “Best Boutique/Historic Hotels” for groups by the readers of Groups Today.

Great Lakes Crossing Outlets

Great Lakes Crossing Outlets is Michigan’s largest fully enclosed outlet center with 180 retail, dining, and entertainment options. Easily accessible from the state’s busiest freeway (Interstate 75), the center is a onelevel, mile-long racetrack design featuring 20 retailers exclusive to the state with family-friendly attractions, including Legoland Discovery Center, Sea Life Aquar ium, Peppa Pig World of Play, and Round 1 Bowling & Amusement. Guests can dine at Michigan’s largest food court, plus four full-service restaurants, including Bar Louie, Rainforest Café, Miyako Japanese Steakhouse, and Kerby’s Koney Island.

Visitors traveling from 50 miles or more can receive a Passport to Shopping discount booklet with special offers from participating businesses. Explore stores, dining, events, sales, and offers at greatlakescrossingoutlets.com, facebook.com/greatlakescrossingoutlets, and @greatlakescrossingoutlets (Instagram).

Hackley & Hume Historic Site

Visit the Queen Anne-style Victorian houses of Muskegon lumber barons Charles Hackley and Thomas Hume. The Hackley House, interpreted to 1890, shows what life was like for one of Muskegon’s most well-known philanthro pists. The Hume House, interpreted to 1920, shows the life of a wealthy family a er the lumbering era. Each home features incredible woodwork, elaborate stained glass, and original family furnishings.

Visitors can also explore the Fire Barn Museum and Scolnik House of the Depression era. A replica building based on fire barns of the 19th century, the Fire Barn Museum illustrates the history of firefighting in Muskegon while showcasing antique firefighting equipment. The Scolnik House is a unique gentle-touch house museum, allowing visitors to experience what life was like for many families during the Great Depression.

The historic sites are open May to October. See lakeshoremuseum.org for hours and more details.

e Henry Ford

The Henry Ford is Michigan’s premier multivenue cul tural destination with must-see attractions: Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation, Greenfield Village, and the Ford Rouge Factory Tour. At The Henry Ford, you’ll experience the history of America—its inventions, people, culture, and can-do spirit—and hundreds of interactive ways to explore it, enjoy it, and be inspired by it.

The 2023 Tour Operator Exclusive at The Henry Ford, All-American Package, is $70 and includes these four premier experiences: Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation is a 9-acre museum showcasing American Innovation in mobility, design, agriculture, and social transformation. Greenfield Village is an 80-acre outdoor living history museum with historic districts, larger-thanlife artifacts, and interactive experiences. With the Village Ride Trio, visitors ride in a vintage Model T, historic steam locomotive, and historic carousel. During the Ford Rouge Factory Tour, visitors experience the legendary Ford factory making America’s most iconic truck, the Ford F-150.

Angela Rampin,

Historic White Pine Village

Historic White Pine Village offers a living history, groupfriendly, and fun-filled tour of a late 19th-century/early 20th-century pioneer village. The village boasts 30 historic exhibit buildings, including the original 1849 Mason County Courthouse (on the National Register of Historic Places) and an authentic turn-of-the-century steam locomotive, tender car, and flat car loaded with logs and headed toward the village’s working sawmill. The buildings contain thousands of authentic artifacts and archives depicting the rich lumbering and agricultural history of the area.

Thousands of area schoolchildren, families, individual visitors, and residents tour the village annually. Historic White Pine Village is open May through October. Groups should plan for at least two hours to tour the village.

Holiday Inn Express & Suites Ludington

Nestled along the sunset coast of Michigan is the historic town of Ludington—homeport to the SS Badger Lake

Carferry, the hub of west Michigan, and a popu

destination for family vacations. Experience the sandy

lighthouse views, and vast forest

that attract outdoor enthusiasts. Visit downtown Ludington for unique shops, locally owned restaurants,

seasonal outdoor events.

Trust the professionals at the Holiday Inn Express & Suites Ludington to provide your home base for adventure. Dedicated to exceptional service, Holiday Inn Express & Suites is known for its clean rooms, well-maintained facili ties, and helpful staff. Be sure to ask the local experts at the front desk about all the must-see attractions!

today to learn how the Holiday Inn Express & Suites Ludington can enhance your next west Michigan trip!

Holiday Inn Express St. Ignace-Lakefront

Situated on the shores of Lake Huron in St. Ignace, Holiday Inn Express St. Ignace-Lakefront offers stunning views of Mackinac Island and warm northern Michigan hospitality. The beachfront hotel is conveniently located within minutes of the ferries to Mackinac Island and offers a complimentary hot breakfast, Wi-Fi, a fitness room, and an indoor pool. Groups can enjoy full-service dining at The Club located next door at Breakers Resort, which will debut a new wood-fired pizza oven and beach service in spring 2023.

Holiday Inn Express St. Ignace-Lakefront ameni ties include access to Lake Huron beachfront, ample motorcoach parking, group dining options next door at Breakers Resort, luggage handling, and access to Mackinac Island ferry services. The resort is within driving distance to Tahquamenon Falls State Park, Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, the Soo Locks, and Kitch-iti-Kipi.

Iron Mountain Iron Mine

Iron Mountain Iron Mine, a famous Michigan historical landmark, is an authentic mine that has been offering guided underground tours since 1958. You travel 2,600 feet into the mine through dri s and stopes to 425 feet below the Earth’s surface to see the reality of iron ore mining. Ride the underground mine train for a quarter of a mile and walk the rest of the way while listening to experienced tour guides explain mining machinery and techniques used over 100 years ago. This mine produced over 21 million tons of iron ore from 1870 to 1945. When the Chicago and North Western Railway was built in 1877, this mine was the first to ship ore by rail to the great steel mills of Ohio and Pennsylvania.

Your group will never forget the experience of taking a trip back in time. The mine is open from Memorial Day weekend through Oct. 15 each year, and operates seven days a week from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. The last tour of the day begins at 4:10 p.m. CST.

Island House Hotel

Guests choose Island House Hotel for the gorgeous waterfront views and ideal location to downtown Mack inac Island. Longtime family stewards continue to add contemporary conveniences while preserving the historic ambiance of this award-winning state landmark.

Amenities include casual and fine dining, a heated indoor pool, indoor/outdoor hot tubs, bicycle rental, and freshly decorated, air-conditioned guest rooms with pri vate bathrooms. Whether enjoying lunch in the garden; rocking on the porch watching bikes, boats, and buggies pass; or having dinner in the elegant dining room, Island House Hotel is the perfect location to experience an authentic Mackinac Island getaway.

Island Resort & Casino

Located in Michigan’s scenic Upper Peninsula, 15 minutes

of Escanaba, Island Resort & Casino

one of the

largest golf, casino, and entertainment resort

Island Resort & Casino features over 450 guest rooms, including spacious suites, a 12th-floor restaurant, and a pool with water park features. The expansive Vegas-style casino offers over 1,200 slots, a poker room, various table games, a bingo hall, and the hot test sports betting action in its in-house sportsbook room.

amenities include the luxurious Dri Spa, offer ing a variety of high-end spa services, a gi shop, and two of the finest championship golf courses in the Midwest: Sweetgrass and Sage Run. Dining options range from fine dining to quick bites—just what you need to please every palate in your group. The resort and casino hosts headline entertainment in its 1,315-seat Showroom, as well as free weekly bands and comedians in Club 41.

Kewadin Casinos

Kewadin Casinos are nestled in the heart of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula—one of the world’s most beautiful places! Kewadin’s five casinos are in Sault Ste. Marie, St. Ignace, Manistique, Christmas, and Hessel. Each of its locations offers exciting gaming action and the rejuvenating atmo sphere only found in “Kewadin Country.” Whether you’re looking for a thrilling night out on the town, spectacular lake views, or the quaint and personal treatment you can only find in smaller towns, look no further than Kewadin.

Lake Michigan Carferry: Badger

A big ship means more fun! Discover exciting group travel adventures when you cruise on the 410-foot SS Badger. The Badger offers the largest cross-lake passenger service on the Great Lakes and an authentic steamship experience.

Enjoy a relaxing four-hour, 60-mile trip between Ludington, Michigan, and Manitowoc, Wisconsin. There is plenty to see and do aboard the big ship, including games with an onboard entertainer, free movies, shop ping in the gi shop, or just strolling or lounging on the spacious outdoor decks.

The Badger is the last coal-fired passenger steamship in operation in the United States. The ship has provided a fun, reliable, and affordable shortcut across Lake Mich igan for more than 60 years and has transported millions of passengers since its rebirth in 1992. The Badger was designed a National Historic Landmark in 2016.

Mackinac Island Tourism

Mackinac Island is a must-see location for any tour group on a northern Michigan discovery journey. You’ll be transformed to a bygone era when you arrive on the island where the automobile was banned in 1895. Victorian charm, unique shopping, and one-of-a-kind restaurants and bars, along with Fort Mackinac and the famous Grand Hotel keep bringing tours back season after season. See for yourself with a narrated horsedrawn carriage tour and make sure to leave time to buy some world-famous Mackinac Island fudge for all your friends back home.

From students on a field trip to retirees on a Great Lakes cruise, groups of all ages enjoy Mackinac Island. The Mackinac Island Tourism Bureau can assist with book ing hotel rooms, reserving dinner tables, and planning activities and attractions.

Shelby Soberalski

Michigan Tours Pure & Simple

At Michigan Tours

& Simple, the concept is designed

make it simple for clients while providing the utmost in

service. The company prides itself on offering

of itineraries full of creatively designed experi

time by using the company’s logistical knowledge and networks among Michigan hospitality providers that are eager to welcome you and your group to a “Pure Michigan” experience. All operational tasks are completed for you, like securing hotels, making dining reservations, and booking the perfect attractions and activities tailored to your needs, expectations, and budget. You will have one contact, and you will only need to make one payment to one company!

Attention to detail is a priority when developing your itinerary and confirmation documents, and ensuring peace of mind from the early planning stages through the completion of your tour. Call for more details on how a pure and simple tour throughout Michigan will create memories that last a lifetime!

Michigan Vacation Destinations

Your northern Michigan vacation starts with Michigan Vacation Destinations! From Petoskey to Charlevoix and north to Mackinaw City, Michigan Vacation Destinations offers four seasons of experiences with six contemporary, warm, and upscale hotels. The hotels offer more than just a place to rest your head—groups of any size receive amenities such as itinerary planning, complimentary welcome receptions, complimentary luggage handling, and other comps and upgrades.

Michigan’s Great Lakes Bay Regional Convention & Visitors Bureau

One visit to the six communities within the Great Lakes Bay Region of Michigan will have you yearning to return! There are so many things to see and do in each community; you can’t take in the entire region with just one visit.

Learn about well-known architectural leaders and their mansions, inventors and their creations, and artists and their famous works. Explore waterways teeming with Indig enous wildlife and foliage as well as maritime history. Taste the gastronomical delicacies and see the diverse cultural phenomena that the region’s forefathers le behind. And don’t forget to enjoy the varied restaurants, shopping venues, attractions, and events that are offered year-round.

Whether you visit in the winter for cold-weather events, the spring to see the region pop back to life, the laid-back days of summer, or the glory of fall foliage, the Great Lakes Bay Region of Michigan is the place to be!

Midland Center for the Arts

Imagine a place where art, science, history, music, theater, dance, films, camps, classes, and professional world-class entertainers live under one roof! Welcome to Midland Center for the Arts, a one-of-a-kind venue where all ages are invited to create, as well as appreciate and explore a diverse array of guest artists, internationally known art and science exhibits, professional symphony concerts, awardwinning theater, art classes, and more.

Group benefits include discounted tickets, priority seating, flexible payment schedules, free parking, behind-the-scenes tours and meet-and-greets, promo tional materials, and on-site space and catering for events.

Mission Point Resort

Mission Point Resort on Mackinac Island transcends time.

the moment you step off the ferry, there’s an instant

nostalgia—where no cars or worries are allowed.

as you notice the glistening waters steadfast to the

you’re warmly greeted by staff who welcome all to experience the tranquility of Mackinac Island. Mission Point attracts travelers craving to reconnect with them selves, their passions, and their surroundings. It’s a place so special, you have to take a ferry to get there.

Exploring Mackinac Island with a group tour event is a great way to share the beauty, history, and hospitality of the island. Poised on 18 acres overlooking the water’s edge, Mission Point is Mackinac’s largest family-owned resort hotel and features 241 guest rooms and suites; six restaurants and eateries; ample activities, including bike rentals and putt putt golf; the Lakeside Spa & Salon, a full-service Aveda spa; and the Great Lawn, dotted with 81 Adirondack chairs.

Murray Hotel

The Murray Hotel has been greeting guests with its award-winning hospitality and Victorian splendor since it first swung open its doors in 1882. The charming inn is conveniently located for groups, in the heart of down town Mackinac Island. The family-owned and -managed hotel has continued its tradition of courteous friendly service with marked success for over 140 years.

For the modern group traveler, all rooms have been updated with air conditioning, cable TV, free Wi-Fi, and private bathrooms. The hotel also has an elevator and a sundeck spa pool. Murray Hotel staff members look forward to having your groups come and experience the ultimate in hospitality while relaxing in the perfect blend of old-fashioned service and contemporary comfort.

Odawa Casino

Groups will find two winning locations, a beautiful 137-room hotel, and an environment that is above the ordinary at Odawa Casino.

Odawa Casino Petoskey is just minutes from downtown and a short drive from Charlevoix, the Tunnel of Trees, or any of the beautiful local wineries. This location features nearly 900 slot machines, a variety of table games, the Rendezvous Lounge, Victories Sports & Entertainment, free RV parking, the Copper Café, and Sage Fine Dining. Odawa Hotel is conveniently located just three minutes from downtown Petoskey. The hotel offers a large indoor pool and hot tub, complimentary breakfast, and free shuttle service between the casino and hotel.

Odawa Casino Mackinaw City is a smaller, more inti mate casino where guests feel like family. It offers 250 slot machines, three blackjack tables, and the Mukwa Bar & Grill, which offers daily specials and a happy hour.

Petoskey Area Visitors Bureau

Located in northwest lower Michigan, the Petoskey Area includes the historic waterfront resort towns of Petoskey, Bay Harbor, Harbor Springs, and Boyne City. The region has been a popular resort destination since the late 19th century when visitors came by train and steamer to escape industrialized cities throughout the Midwest.

Today it’s your turn as motorcoaches bring groups of all types to the area to enjoy its stunning natural beauty, Victorian charm, and genuine hospitality. Outdoor types will love the hiking and biking trails and finding Petoskey stones along the beach. Golfers can choose from 17 outstanding courses. Shoppers can browse dozens of charming boutiques. Sightseers will thoroughly enjoy the Bay View Association—its 500 Victorian cottages and buildings have earned it a designation as a National Historic Landmark. Groups of all sizes love coming to the Petoskey Area; every member of your group will find something to bring a smile.

Pictured Rocks Cruises

Established in 1946, Pictured Rocks Cruises is an autho rized

of the National Park Service.

Rocks Cruises provides fully narrated, two- to

boat tours along the Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore on the southern shore of Lake Supe rior. Travel 32 miles round trip and view brilliantly colored cliffs, sea caves, and pristine beaches.

Cruises depart from the Munising City Dock. Tour group rates are available during select periods of the season (May, June, September, and October). Contact

Rocks Cruises for more information.

Pinnacle Hospitality of Michigan

Founded in 1997, Pinnacle Hospitality started in the hotel industry managing a midsized hotel in Grand Blanc, Michigan. With over 30 years in the hospitality and tourism industry, Pinnacle is known for its family values, integrity, and attention to detail. Pinnacle Hospitality focuses on managing and developing limited, select, and full-service franchised hotels from the top brands, including Hilton, Marriott, IHG, Choice Hotels, Best Western, Wyndham Hotels, and more.

Pinnacle Hospitality’s regional director of sales and marketing, Victoria Leonard, has taken its motorcoach industry business to new heights. Customer service, plain good sense, and a love for people continues to show at each of Pinnacle’s properties under her guidance.

Pinnacle Hospitality team members look forward to servicing your motorcoaches at destinations throughout Michigan, including Whitehall/Ludington, Battle Creek, St. Joseph/Benton Harbor, Jackson, Grand Blanc, Marshall, and West Bloomfield/Farmington Hills.

Sault Ste. Marie Convention & Visitors Bureau

The Sault Ste. Marie Convention & Visitors Bureau serves as the premier destination marketing organization in the eastern Upper Peninsula and markets attractions, busi nesses, and must-see destinations within the area. Tour operators can contact the Sault Ste. Marie Convention & Visitors Bureau to put together custom itineraries for their groups, as well as find information on business hours.

The Sault Ste. Marie Convention & Visitors Bureau also serves as a hub for travel in the Upper Peninsula. Popular destinations such as Tahquamenon Falls and Point Iro quois Lighthouse are easy to access from Sault Ste. Marie. Adventurous groups can be directed to hiking paths, kayaking routes, and more outdoor activities. Sault Ste. Marie is an all-seasons destination that is just as desirable for groups in the middle of winter as it is in summer. The Sault Ste. Marie Convention & Visitors Bureau is your part ner in planning group tours to historic and adventurous Sault Ste. Marie.

Shepler’s Mackinac Island Ferry

Shepler’s Mackinac Island Ferry is your “Gateway to Mackinac Island.” Shepler’s has been providing first-class service to Mackinac Island since 1945 and more groups trust Shepler’s with their travel plans. The ferry company can help with island packages and itineraries, and under stands the importance of keeping to your schedule with on-time departures. With Shepler’s Mackinac Island Ferry, guests ride in style, comfort, and safety with two newly built vessels since 2015.

Shepler’s loves groups and will make yours feel appreciated. During your visit, the ferry company takes pride in creating an unforgettable experience that starts and ends with Shepler’s. Other group benefits include complimentary motorcoach parking, attraction planning assistance, discounted round-trip rates, and a convenient single-dock location at its three ports.

Sleeping Bear Tour Co.

Sleeping Bear Tour Co. brings the lands alive! View

Sleeping Bear Dunes like never before with a

step-on guide or group hiking adventure.

journey with cultural, geological, and

interpretations of northern Michigan’s Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore.

Your guide, a former park ranger, provides park expertise and local excellence. Begin the adventure at the national park visitor center in Empire. Travel through time along Michigan’s scenic byway M-22 to the famous Dune Climb and Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive, a 7-mile vista extravaganza. Sites on the full-day tour include Glen Haven and the Sleeping Bear Point Coast Guard Station Maritime Museum.

Discover more than beautiful vistas. Guides com plete the vision and exponentially add value to the journey, making it fun and educational. Sleeping Bear Tour Co. offers small and large group tours for all ages and capabilities.

Soaring Eagle Casino & Resort

Luxury and excitement come together to create an unfor gettable experience at Soaring Eagle Casino & Resort in Mount Pleasant. The casino itself delivers the excitement. This is where you’ll find thousands of big-hitting slots and table games like blackjack, craps, and roulette. Plus, there’s live poker, bingo, and the new Ascend Sportsbook, where you can watch, wager, and win on action all year round.

For luxury, it’s everywhere you go at this AAA Four Diamond Resort. From the 516 exquisite, well-appointed hotel rooms to the 2,400-square-foot, free-form pool area adorned with a half million Italian glass tiles and underwater music, Soaring Eagle is your chance to escape the norm. This is a destination for your taste buds as well. You’ll find a variety of culinary options, from fine dining to casual fare, including Siniikaung Steak and Chop House, Legends Diner, Ascend Sportsbook and Lounge, or the Central Deli.

St. Ignace Visitors Bureau

St. Ignace is located in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula at the north side of the mighty Mackinac Bridge. It is Michigan’s second oldest, continuously inhabited city and was a Native American settlement long before the coming of the French, who were led to the Straits of Mackinac by Father Marquette and Sieur Robert de LaSalle. Rich in cultural and Native American history, St. Ignace lures visi tors from all over the world with its unhurried atmosphere surrounded by spectacular beauty.

St. Ignace’s downtown business district stretches along the stunning blue shoreline of Lake Huron on Moran Bay. Stroll the beautiful, mile-long Huron Boardwalk along the expansive waterfront and view historical plaques along the way. St. Ignace offers unparalleled opportunities to enjoy unspoiled beauty, unique history, and the Great Lakes of Huron, Michigan, and Superior. St. Ignace hosts a variety of events throughout the year for your enjoyment!

Sta ord’s Hospitality

Stafford’s Hospitality has welcomed groups to Michigan’s Little Traverse Bay area for over 60 years. Three waterfront restaurants, a historic downtown hotel, a quaint inn, and a log-sided “Up North” lodge makes Stafford’s Hospitality a hub for group travelers across the nation.

Stafford’s Hospitality offers groups a destination unto itself and is within reach of endless day trips. Allow Stafford’s Hospitality to be your home away from home while your group experiences all the vacation possibili ties that await in Michigan’s most beautiful resort area.

Star Line Mackinac Island Ferry Company

Island remains a true Great Lakes gem and

the “Best Island in the Continental U.S.”

The island continues to be a

place for tour groups around the world. Your tour

will enjoy complimentary custom-planned tours in

idyllic setting, experiencing Mackinac Island’s natural beauty and historic charm.

Star Line Mackinac Island Ferry Company can create an itinerary that delights your guests while meeting your package goals. All of this is possible with group and pack age pricing options, fudge tasting upon arrival, luggage

and accessible barrier-free boarding.

Top of the Lake Snowmobile Museum

The history of snowmobiling comes to life at Top of the Lake Snowmobile Museum in Naubinway, located in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. When you walk through the door, you are taken back in time to the era of snowmo biling when it first began and to the racing era. There are more than 185 snowmobiles on display, and you will see memorabilia that corresponds with the machines’ history. Dealer signs, helmets, suits, and gloves are just some of the snowmobile items on display. Don’t forget to stop by the gi shop for snowmobile-related items and books. The museum is open daily from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Adult admission is $5. Children aged 16 and under get in free.

Tours Around Michigan

Tours Around Michigan’s step-on guide and receptive services explore history, architecture, gardens, and more! Groups love the Grand Rapids City Tour, as well as tours focusing on historic homes, art, the lakeshore, and church history and architecture, as well as other customized experiences. Tours Around Michigan strives to keep guests engaged with stories developed through constant research. Ready to bask in a stunning view, marvel inside lum ber baron mansions, stroll colorful gardens, taste craft beverages, or feel through hands-on experiences? Ask the staff at Tours Around Michigan about any topic that excites your groups to book travel.

Tours Around Michigan shares high-quality, accessible experiences. The company also arranges unique tours all around Michigan with trusted part ners. Minimize your work and maximize your fun with Tours Around Michigan.

Travel Marquette

On the shores of Lake Superior, Marquette is a commu nity where nature’s assets are on display through scenic vistas, rugged trails, and rushing waterfalls. Marquette’s historic downtown pays homage to the rich mineral deposits, dense forests, and maritime markers that have helped shape its story. From unique dining experiences, award-winning cra breweries, and a thriving art scene, Marquette embraces a rich culture anchored in artisanship and ingenuity. Defined by its untouched surroundings and abundance of outdoor activities, Marquette is the largest community in the Upper Peninsula and one of the best small towns offering big adventure to explore. With many waterfalls to discover, 150 miles of single-track to bike, and 83 miles of Lake Superior shoreline to enjoy, Marquette is the perfect escape for the action-seeking outdoor enthusiast or leisure traveler.

Traverse City Tourism

Traverse City is exactly where we should be. This is a region defined by Grand Traverse Bay and Lake Michi gan. With stunning panoramic views, over 40 wineries of the Traverse Wine Coast, diverse food that makes it a “foodie” paradise, and so much to see and do, Traverse City is the perfect destination—ideal for family reunions or group getaways. It’s home to Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, which was voted the “Most Beautiful Place in America” by ABC’s “Good Morning America” viewers.

It’s an area steeped in history with unique shopping and a creative music and arts community. It’s one of the top travel destinations in the Midwest.

Traverse City Tourism can help plan customized itiner aries, secure accommodations, and provide tour guide referrals and promotional materials.

Visit Lenawee

Lenawee is the southern gateway to “Pure Michigan.” It’s a four-season destination that has something for everyone. Spend the weekend relaxing and enjoying lake life on one of the area’s 52 lakes or indulge in waterfront cuisine and shopping in Manitou Beach. Spend the weekend feeling the thunder of NASCAR beat in your chest or take a historical walk in downtown Adrian. Give your group the experience of catching a live performance at Michigan’s oldest continually operating theater, The Croswell Opera House. If small-town dining and shopping are more your speed, spend the a ernoon taking in the experience of Tecumseh. Or perhaps stroll and tour a 755-plus-acre botanical garden in the heart of the Irish Hills.

When you start planning your next getaway, think about the memories you can create when you visit Lenawee. Check out visitlenawee.com for more information and assistance in creating your next group travel experience.

Visit Muskegon

Visit Muskegon for a variety of attractions, including his toric ships, a renowned art museum, the restored homes of lumber barons, three maritime museums, and over 26 miles of Lake Michigan beaches and dunes.

Muskegon’s three state parks include Muskegon Luge and Adventure Sports Park, which offers winter and summer luge, dual 1,300-foot zip lines, and a variety of outdoor programs for your group. The parks also offer many miles of hiking and biking trails if you’re looking for an adventure.

In Muskegon, you’ll find affordable lodging with names you know and trust, independently owned and -operated restaurants serving fresh foods direct from the farm, and of course, spectacular Lake Michigan sunsets. Al fresco dining is popular in the summer months and the fall brings bounti ful harvests and the best apples in the world to Muskegon’s farmers market, one of the largest in Michigan.

Visit Muskegon provides group tour operators with everything they need for a successful tour package.

Weathervane Terrace Inn & Suites

Weathervane Terrace Inn & Suites, a building of Earl Young architecture, is a wonderful vacation spot in down town Charlevoix. The hotel is within walking distance to Charlevoix’s wonderful shopping, dining, and harbor dis tricts. Located one block from U.S. Highway 31 between Traverse City and Mackinac City, Weathervane Terrace Inn & Suites is on the route to see farmers markets, breweries, wineries, and distilleries along the way. The hotel is only 300 feet from the beach and 3 miles from Castle Farms.

Groups can choose from standard rooms, deluxe patio rooms, or suites and Jacuzzi rooms. Each of the suites and Jacuzzi rooms has a fireplace and a balcony with a view toward Lake Michigan. All rooms come equipped with a refrigerator and microwave. The hotel also offers a complimentary continental breakfast.

W. K. Kellogg Manor House and Conference Center

W.K. Kellogg Manor House in Hickory Corners is the former estate of cereal magnate W.K. Kellogg and his wife, Dr. Carrie Staines Kellogg. Restored to its original grandeur, the home is rich with history and elegance with natural gardens around a lovely lakeside setting. The grounds include a carriage house with chauffeur’s residence, a greenhouse with potting shed, a caretaker’s cottage, a boathouse, an authentic Dutch windmill, and a lakeside pagoda. The Manor House estate is accessible to all and includes an elevator and paved walking paths.

W.K. Kellogg Manor House and Conference Cen ter welcomes tour groups small and large year-round for guided and self-guided tours, both indoors and outdoors. Located between Chicago and Detroit, the Kellogg Manor House is a wonderful day trip for those interested in history and historic homes. Add dining for a truly memorable experience.

Windmill Island Gardens

Experience a slice of old Europe in Holland, Michigan! Windmill Island Gardens features the historic, work ing windmill “de Zwaan” standing among 36 acres of exhibits, gardens, and natural areas. The mill still turns and grinds grain into flour—a tour up five floors is the highlight of any visit. Visitors are also welcome to watch a filmed tour of the windmill for background or if they don’t wish to climb. Tourgoers can enjoy tunes from a working street organ (a post-war gi from the city of Amsterdam); thousands of annuals and perennials in bloom during spring, summer, and fall; and tasty Dutch treats from the gi shop. Other exhibits include a Dutch kiddie carousel, replica buildings, hand-built maquette of the “old coun try,” and much more.

Windmill Island Gardens strives to connect with its visitors on a variety of interests—history, horticulture, floriculture, engineering, music, science, agriculture, food, and much more—all under an umbrella of Holland, Michigan’s Dutch heritage.