Thunder Bay Golf& RV Resort 800-729-9375 27800 M-32 Hillman · MI 49746 |
 (Arriving from the West) BUS BASH! Day One Our first stop this afternoon, we enjoy a complete turkey dinner for lunch at Cornwells Turkeyville USA, where Turkey is king! Enjoy some old fashioned fun! After lunch visit the turn-of-the-century ice cream parlor or browse through the gift shops or the bakers. Then sit back in the theatre for the professional theatre production. Depart Turkeyville as we make our journey north to West Branch and travel to the Quality Inn Forward Conference Center where we will check in for the evening. Be sure to save room for a Lumber Jack dinner this evening at Quality Inn Forward Conference Center, which is home to Lumber Jack Food & Spirits, listed by the Detroit News as one of the top three places to dine in mid Michigan. Enjoy a little time to shop Quality Inn's Up North Gift shop before dinner on your own enjoying specialties such as White Wine Pucker Pickles, Buckeye Onion Soup and Gang-sawed BBQ Ribs. We will arrive at the hotel at approximately 7:00 PM so before or after dinner you might want to spend some time next door at the Tanger Outlet shopping mall looking for must have items and bargains galore! How about taking a dip in the pool or just enjoy relaxing in the great up north atmosphere. (Outlet is open from 9:00 AM 9:00 PM) Day Two After a hearty hot breakfast we depart for Au Gres and the where we board at 10:30 the 50 foot Passenger Vessel Northport Travel CenterShirley Ann. Enjoy the 45 minute ride across the open waters of Saginaw Bay to Big Charity Island. The lake mariners named the island for its location, placed through the charity of God midway between the city of Au Gres and the Thumb of Michigan. On the way to the island we will also stop at Gravelly Shoals Light House. Upon arrival at the Island Harbor, you will receive a presentation of the history of the Island and the Charity Island Lighthouse. We will then walk through the beautiful hardwood forest to the Lightkeepers House. (Transportation available for those needing assistance) A traditional Great Lakes Perch or Beef Tenderloin Tips lunch/dinner is served on the porch providing a breathtaking view of Saginaw Bay. Tours of the home are given after dinner. Dessert is served on the return trip back to the mainland. Early this evening we arrive in Hillman. Where we will check in at the Thunder Bay Resort where we will stay for the next 2 nights. Enjoy a stroll on the grounds or a game of horseshoes. Enjoy dinner on your own this evening in the Club House Grill. Prior to retiring for the evening try a little stargazing in the dark sky of northern Michigan. Day Three Enjoy a hot breakfast buffet before we depart at 8:45 to visit one of the oldest surviving lighthouses on the Great Lakes. Built in 1840, Old Presque Isle Lighthouse and then to the New Presque Isle Lighthouse built in 1871. After enjoying the lighthouses and the sight of freighters going by, we head for downtown Alpena with a visit the Great Lakes Maritime Heritage Center. This 20,00 sq. foot center was built by the NOAA (National Oceanic & Atmospheric administration) to complement the Thunder Bay National Underwater ShipWreck Preserve. Lake Huron's unpredictable weather, its murky fog banks, and sudden gales coupled with rocky shoals earned Thunder Bay the unfortunate name of Shipwreck Alley. During the 200-year shipping history, scores of vessels ended their careers on the lake floor of Alpena, Michigan. Here you will be able to explore shipwrecks in real time via live video feeds, discover the Great Lakes rich maritime past through innovative exhibits and learn how underwater archaeologists work to preserve historic shipwrecks. (I will send you a video called Tragedies in the Mist that tells of the Thunder Bay Shipwrecks that you can show on your way from the lighthouse. This will prepare them for arrival and your tour with the docent) The staff will then welcome you at the John A. Lau Saloon where we sit back and enjoy the up north atmosphere and a hearty lunch in Old Town Alpena. Lunch is on your own so be a little daring and try a local favorite of Deep Fried Artichokes or the King Crab and Asparagus Salad. After lunch were off to the Besser Museum for Northeast Michigan. This is the only accredited museum in the region with changing exhibits, and galleries. The permanent displays include exhibits of the areas early lumbering and farming industry; the gallery of People of Lakes and Forests a history of the areas first inhabitants. On the grounds of the museum will visit historic buildings that include the Maltz Exchange Bank, Green School, McKay Cabin and Spratt Church. Then its back to the hotel for time to freshen up or relax prior to departing at 5:30 as we prepare for a four-hour slice of Northern Michigan heaven. We will enjoy a horse-drawn carriage ride through the woods, across the Thunder Bay River and into the Elk Preserve. Here you'll see majestic Rocky Mountain Elk and trophy Whitetails. Then its on to the Elk Antler Log Cabin for a gourmet five-course dinner prepared before you on antique wood cookstoves. While deep in the northern forest you will also enjoy samples of six locally produced wines from the Stoney Acres Winery in Alpena. Then its back to the carriages for the return trip. Day Four This morning after a full breakfast buffet we depart at 9:00 AM as we travel south to the Tawas area and visit the Tawas Point Lighthouse built in 1876. The lighthouse is located at the North end of Tawas Point, which is famous among Birdwatchers, as it is a busy flyway for migratory birds each spring and fall. Take the short ride to the city of East Tawas located on beautiful Tawas Bay. The streets of downtown East Tawas welcome guests for a stroll down Newman Street with its quaint shops and sidewalk cafes for a lunch on your own. You may also enjoy a leisurely walk out on the Tawas State Dock, which extends a quarter mile out into the Bay. Be sure to stop at Klenows market to enjoy one of their 14 varieties of home made jerkey or award winning smoked fish! This afternoon we continue south as we visit The Marshall M. Fredericks Sculpture Museum housed in the Arbury Fine Arts Center on the campus of Saginaw Valley State University. The main exhibit houses an extraordinary collection of more than 200 works that span the career of Marshall M. Fredericks (1908-1998) who was a Detroit based traditional figurative public sculpture. He is known in America and abroad for his monumental figurative sculpture, inspiring public memorials, exuberant fountains, insightful portraits and whimsical sculptures of animals. The Sculpture Garden includes twenty of Fredericks bronze and metal sculptures. Next we head to the City of Flint where we will check into our hotel for the evening. Get ready for tonights dinner where we will bask in the ambiance of the Big Easy while enjoying the bold aromas of their signatures dishes prepared with delicious herbs and spices to create a mouth-watering dining experience. The Big Easy is the only restaurant that offers Oyster Pot cooking in the state of Michigan. Its a slice of New Orleans located in Flint, MI. Day Five Enjoy your breakfast but be sure to save room for some special coffee as wonderful smells await you as we tour the roasting room of the Coffee Beanery. Next we enjoy sampling different gourmet coffees. Your take home sample might not be enough so be sure to purchase some to enjoy at home! Heading toward home we make our final stop in Kalamazoo at the Air Zoo with awesome full-motion flight simulators, a breathtaking 4-D theater, which is the first of its kind in the Midwest. We will enjoy a guided tour and time on your own to take the controls of a jet fighter or hop on one of the indoor amusement park rides which are all framed by the worlds largest indoor mural. Take time for lunch at your leisure in the Kitty Hawk Café! The Air Zoo will lift your spirits, expand your awareness and bring the flight experience to life! Depart for home INCLUDING
HIGHLIGHTS:
Marketing Director Michigan Sunrise Tours P.O. Box 174 Au Gres, MI 48703 heidi@michigansunrisetours.com (989) 876-6018 (989) 876-7472 FAX http://www.busmag.com/ |
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Produced by Gaslight Media.