Departure
Depart the New Orleans area and travel north. [ITINERARY DETAIL: Add overnight stop from your WeTravel itinerary.]
Mackinac Island is one of the most distinctive places in America — an island in the Straits of Mackinac where cars have been banned since the 1890s, where everything moves by horse, bicycle, or foot, and where the Grand Hotel still sits as the longest porch in the world. This nine-day tour gets you there in style, with rich stops along the way: the Kentucky Horse Park, the Beef & Boards Dinner Theatre in Indianapolis, the Bavarian village of Frankenmuth, and Fort Mackinac at the top of the island. Fall on the island is a particular kind of beautiful, and the crowds have thinned just enough.
Tour Highlights
- Mackinac Island — car-free, horse-drawn
- Horse-drawn carriage tour of the island
- Fort Mackinac at the top of the bluff
- Frankenmuth — Michigan's beloved Bavarian village
- Beef & Boards Dinner Theatre in Indianapolis
- Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington
Day by Day
Kentucky Horse Park
Visit the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington — the working farm and museum dedicated to the horse. From thoroughbred history to live demonstrations, it's the rare attraction that genuinely lives up to the hype.
Indianapolis & Beef & Boards
Continue north to Indianapolis for an evening at the Beef & Boards Dinner Theatre — full musical production with dinner. A favorite stop on this tour.
On to Michigan
Travel into Michigan with [ITINERARY DETAIL: lunch stop or attraction from your WeTravel itinerary] and an overnight in the Mackinac region.
Mackinac Island Arrival
Ferry across the Straits of Mackinac to the car-free island. Check into your historic island hotel and let the unhurried pace of the island settle in. Evening at leisure.
Mackinac Island Full Day
Horse-drawn carriage tour of the island and Fort Mackinac at the top of the bluff. The afternoon is yours — fudge shops on Main Street (the island's specialty), the Grand Hotel's long porch, or a slow walk along the lakeshore.
Ferry & Frankenmuth
Ferry back to the mainland and travel to Frankenmuth — Michigan's beloved Bavarian-themed village. Family-style dinner is a local tradition.
Begin the Journey Home
Travel south through Indiana and Tennessee. [ITINERARY DETAIL: Add overnight stop from your WeTravel itinerary.]
Return Home
Arrive home in the New Orleans area in the evening.
What's Included
Included
- 8 nights' hotel accommodations
- Most meals included
- All attractions on the itinerary
- Roundtrip motorcoach transportation
- Ferry transfers to Mackinac Island
- Professional tour director
Not Included
- Gratuities for tour director and driver
- Meals not listed
- Personal purchases and souvenirs
- Travel insurance (recommended)
Frequently Asked Questions
Will we stay on Mackinac Island itself?
Yes — two nights on the car-free island. Hotel accommodations on the island are part of what makes the experience unforgettable.
What's the weather like in early October?
Cool and crisp, with daytime highs around 60°F and cool evenings. Fall color is generally near peak. Pack layers.
Is Mackinac Island accessible?
The island is fairly walkable, though there are hills (Fort Mackinac sits at the top of one). The horse-drawn carriage tour is seated. Bicycles and pedicabs are widely available.
Why is the price lower than other multi-day trips?
Because no airfare is included — this is an all-motorcoach tour. The pacing is built for it, with sensible drive days.