Extended Vacation Tours, 2010

Tour of Lake Michigan Coastline

June 19 through June 25, 2010

Overview

In Touring Cyclist’s early years we did several tours along the Lake Michigan coastline of Michigan’s Lower Peninsula, and they were quite popular. In more recent times we’ve concentrated on tours to overseas destinations, but now with the dollar’s weakness we have returned to our roots and are again focusing on tours in the United States and Canada. We have brought back the Lake Michigan Coastline tour and expect it to be a popular destination once again. This is a seven day tour that starts in Holland, Michigan (after van transfer from St. Louis), hop-scotches up the coast along bike trails and small country roads to Mackinaw City at the top of the Lower Peninsula, and is capped by a ferry trip and day ride around famous, car-free Mackinac Island.

The northern part of Michigan’s Lower Peninsula appeals to tourist from all over the Midwest. The Lake Michigan and Huron shorelines have sandy beaches and cool breezes, while inland is rolling hill, rural forest and scenic woodland. Most of our tour will be on bicycle routes based on the Michigan Trail Map. As we will be cycling mostly along the lakeshore the terrain is primarily flat. In June the weather is ideal with days in the 70’s and nights in the low 60’s.

The tour package includes transportation from St. Louis to Michigan and back, six nights in three star hotels, six evening meals, and breakfast at the hotels. Lunches and one evening meal (in Mackinaw City) are on your own. All participants will receive luggage transport and sag support throughout the ride, mechanical service, map and guides. The cost of the tour is $825.00 per person (double occupancy). To reserve a place please make a deposit of $200.00 payable by credit card (call Carol Boedeker at 314-739-4648). The dates and basic itinerary are set, but some details regarding hotels and restaurants may change before we leave.

Itinerary

Day 1: Saturday, June 19th – Travel via van from St Louis to Holland, Michigan (412 miles). We will meet in the Touring Cyclist warehouse parking lot at 7 am to depart for Holland. If possible please bring your bicycle to our warehouse prior to today so we can have it packed in the trailer and ready to go. It will take about eight hours to get to Holland, allowing stops along the way for lunch. Dinner will be in Holland as a group.

If we leave on schedule this morning we will have some free time to explore Holland in the afternoon. This city of 35,000 was originally settled in 1847 by Dutch Calvinist separatists, who came to Michigan to escape persecution in the Netherlands. They brought much of their culture with them, and Holland still has much of the character of its namesake country, visible in the homes, commercial buildings, and ever-present flowers. Expect to see tulips everywhere.

Breakfast: on your own before the tour starts.
Lunch: on your own during the van ride, probably near Chicago.
Dinner: at the 8th Street Grille, 20 West 8th Street, Holland. Specialties are the soup bar and local seafood.
Hotel: Holiday Inn Express, 12381 Filch Street, Holland MI 49424 (phone 616-738-2800).

Day 2: Sunday, June 20th – Cycle along the lakeshore from Holland to Muskegon (30 miles). We leave Holland and take the paved Lakeshore Trail going north to Grand Haven (distance 20 miles), then take Route 31 on to Muskegon. This route follows the shore of Lake Michigan. Muskegon has a population Of 39,000 and is located on the shores of Lake Michigan. Muskegon is more an industrial city than a tourist city.

Breakfast: at the hotel in Holland.
Lunch: on your own along the route.
Dinner: we will eat as a group at the Station Grill, 910 W Broadway Ave, Muskegon (always favorably reviewed).
Hotel: Baymount Inn & Suites, 4677 Harvey Road, Muskegon, MI 49444. Just off highway 31 as we ride into town. Has all the amenities: swimming pool, sauna, whirlpool, and very good breakfast.

Day 3: Monday, June 21st – Cycle from Muskegon to Pentwater (38 miles). We leave Muskegon and continue north along the coast. The ride starts with 8 miles on the Muskegon Lakeshore Trail, a paved boardwalk trail. Next is the paved Hart-Montague Bicycle Trail State Park for 25 miles. We continue on for 3 miles on Highway 31 and arrive in Pentwater, a small village (population 958) right on the shore of Lake Michigan. The name Pentwater means “five-waters”, and the village is surrounded by lakes and rivers.

Breakfast: hotel in Muskegon.
Lunch: on your own, suggested in village of Hart.
Dinner: Antler Bar, 283 South Hancock St Pentwater MI.
Hotel: Channel Lake Inn, 10 Channel Lane, Pentwater, MI (phone 231-869-5766). The inn is located in the center of the village next to Lake Michigan.

Day 4: Tuesday, June 22nd – Transfer via van to Charlevoix, ride to Harbor Springs (23 miles). We start with a 4 hour van transfer to Charlevoix, traveling up the coast on Highway 31. We will spend some time in Charlevoix, a beautiful little town of 3,000 that sits between the Lake Michigan shore and the western end of Lake Charlevoix. The town has a Coast Guard station that has been active for over 100 years. From Charlevoix we cycle 23 miles on the paved Little Traverse Wheelway to Harbor Springs, where we spend the night. Harbor Springs was founded by the Jesuits in 1847, has a population of 1,500, and is located on a sheltered nook of Little Traverse Bay near the Little Traverse Light (house) at the entrance to the bay.

Breakfast: at the hotel in Pentwater.
Lunch: on your own, recommended in Charlevoix.
Dinner: at the Stafford’s Pier Restaurant, 102 East Bay St. Harbor Springs. The restaurant offers waterfront dining with traditional seafood menu. The restaurant was built on pilings over the harbor and overlooks the yacht basin.
Hotel: Colonial Inn Resort, 210 Artesian Ave., Harbor Springs (phone 231-526-2111). The hotel is within walking distance of downtown and the harbor.

Day 5: Wednesday, June 23rd – Cycle from Harbor Springs to Mackinaw City (38 miles). We ride north out of Harbor Springs today mostly along the Petoskey Trail, an unpaved (crushed limestone and gravel) bike path that traverses “Tip of the Mitt” country from near Harbor Springs to Mackinaw City. The northern end of this trail is especially popular with riders who have come to enjoy Mackinaw City.

Mackinaw City is a quaint town of 800 people that sits like a jewel on the Straits of Mackinac, the wide channel that connects Lake Michigan to Lake Huron. Four National Historic Sites in town preserve the area’s rich heritage, and offer exhibits, re-enactments, and hands-on experiences. Our stay tonight in Mackinaw City and tomorrow on Mackinac Island will also be our best chance to see the large lake freighters carrying iron ore or coal from the upper Midwest and Canada through the Great Lakes and out to the East Coast and Atlantic Ocean.

Breakfast: at the hotel in Harbor Springs.
Lunch: on your own on the trail.
Dinner: on your own in Mackinaw City. Our recommendation is the Blue Water Grill & Bar, 918 South Huron St. The Grill services the area’s finest freshwater fish and seafood, plus hand tossed pizza.
Hotel: Super 8 Mackinaw City/Beachfront Area, Central & Huron, 519 South Huron, Mackinaw City, MI 49701 (phone 231-436-7111). The hotel is a couple blocks from the ferry lines serving Mackinac Island.

Day 6: Thursday, June 24th – Ferry to Mackinac (pronounced Mackinaw) Island, ride around the island, van transfer to East Lansing. Today will be the highlight of the tour. In the morning we ride down to the docks and board a ferry out to Mackinac Island. (Ferries leave every 30 minutes, cost $24 per person plus $8 per bike.) Mackinac Island first became a popular summer resort destination in the early 1800s, and much of its building stock dates from that period. The island has no motorized traffic, just horses, pedestrians and bicycles, so riding here is like touring through Victorian times. There are numerous web sites dedicated to the historical sites, shopping, restaurants, and entertainment opportunities on this four square mile island, so doing some research beforehand to plan your day will pay off well. Late June is the start of high tourist season on the island, so be prepared for some crowds.

In the afternoon we return by ferry to the mainland, and transfer by van south to East Lansing, MI, where we have dinner and spend the night.

Breakfast: at the Super 8 hotel in Mackinaw City.
Lunch: on your own on Mackinac Island.
Dinner: Harpers Restaurant & Brewpub, 131 Albert Avenue East Lansing. Harpers is a local brewery with a wide selection of beers and an excellent menu. It always receives excellent reviews.
Hotel: Holiday Inn Express Hotel, 2924 West Road, East Lansing, MI 48823 (phone 517-333-0300).

Day 7: Friday, June 25th – Return to St. Louis. Today we leave East Lansing and return home via van (402 miles). We will get an early start for the long drive; the route is through Indianapolis, Indiana (lunch). The drive will be about eight or nine hours and we expect to be in St. Louis around 6 or 7 pm. Tour end.

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