What is included in the Mackinac Island & Frankenmuth tour?

The tour includes round-trip motorcoach transportation, 4 nights lodging, 7 meals (4 breakfasts, 3 dinners), high-speed ferry ride, narrated horse-drawn carriage tour on Mackinac Island, and visits to Frankenmuth and Bronner's CHRISTmas Wonderland.

How much walking is involved?

Expect moderate walking for sightseeing and shopping—comfortable shoes are recommended; carriage tours minimize long walks on the island.

Are gratuities and travel insurance included?

Gratuities for drivers and guides and travel insurance are not included; travelers are encouraged to budget for tips and consider separate trip protection.

Is the Grand Hotel entrance included?

Yes, the itinerary includes a visit to the grounds and public areas of the Grand Hotel as noted in the trip description.

Can people with mobility devices join?

Call before booking if you use a wheelchair, scooter, or other mobility device; the motorcoach does not have an ADA elevator and some island areas are uneven.

Mackinac Island & Frankenmuth: A Five-Day Michigan Motorcoach Escape | Carriage | Ferry

Q: Where do we meet?

The primary meeting point is Rochester Trolley & Tour Company, 103 20th St NE, Stewartville, MN 55976, with additional pickup locations listed at booking.

On this five-day motorcoach escape from Stewartville, Minnesota, you'll move through two of Michigan's most charismatic destinations: Frankenmuth and Mackinac Island. The itinerary balances Bavarian streets and year-round holiday wonder with car-free island calm, ferry crossings, and a narrated horse-drawn carriage tour. Begin in Frankenmuth, a village built on German-American traditions where painted storefronts, half-timbered facades, and family-style dining shape the pace of the day. Bronner's CHRISTmas Wonderland fills a morning with oversized ornaments and holiday curiosities; afternoon time to browse the Main Street shops leads naturally to a classic dinner at Zehnder's Restaurant. Those details—hand-carved roasts and old-fashioned hospitality—capture why Frankenmuth feels unlike other Midwestern towns. The route north toward Mackinaw City unfolds as relaxed highway scenery and short stops that keep the trip easy on the feet. From the mainland you board a high-speed ferry and cross open water to Mackinac Island, where engines are banned and the soundtrack is clip-clop. A guided, narrated carriage tour is the most efficient way to learn the island's history and grand architecture; the itinerary also includes a visit to the grounds of the Grand Hotel and plenty of time for fudge shops, galleries, and shoreline walks. What makes this tour shine is its careful rhythm: included breakfasts and three dinners remove logistic pressure, while scheduled free time honors the impulse to linger in a cafe or discover a tucked garden. The small touches—ferry crossings planned for daylight, knowledgeable guides narrating local stories, and optional entertainment at Kewadin Shores Casino—turn a checklist of attractions into a considered regional portrait. Logistics are straightforward. The meeting point is Rochester Trolley & Tour Company, 103 20th St NE, Stewartville, MN 55976, with multiple pickup options and comfortable motorcoach travel. A minimum of 25 passengers is required; luggage and accessibility notes are provided at booking. Pack layers, comfortable shoes, sun protection, and a camera to capture porches, lake views, and horse teams. Who should go? Travelers who want history without hardship, island calm without long hikes, and the pleasures of regional food and small-town shopping. Families, couples, and groups of friends will find pace and programming suited to easy conversation and relaxed discovery. This five-day experience is not about crossing boxes off a map; it's about stepping into two distinct Michigan personalities—Bavarian cheer and Victorian island repose—while leaving the planning, driving, and timing to a team that knows how to keep travel simple and surprising. Expect easy daily rhythms, curated meals, and moments for solo wandering or group conversation; bring modest walking stamina and curiosity, and you'll return with layered memories—candied fudge, a hotel porch view, and small-town strangers become companions—real snapshots of Michigan that stay vivid long after you unpack and a renewed travel appetite.

About Rochester Trolley & Tour Company

Rochester Trolley & Tour Company operates guided trolley and motorcoach tours out of Rochester, Minnesota. The company organizes themed day trips and multi‑day itineraries that showcase regional attractions, history, and entertainment.

Offerings include wine tasting excursions, history and true crime narratives, seasonal holiday trips, scenic rail and museum visits, and theater outings.

Signature experiences feature the Three Rivers Winery Tour with guided tastings and a leisurely lunch at Four Daughters Vineyard, and the True Crime: Rochester trolley tour that explores documented local cases narrated by expert guides. Multi‑day departures include a Duluth Winter Village holiday tour, a weeklong New Year’s Eve in Branson getaway, the Minnesota Rail & History Tour highlighting train museums and Lake Superior scenery, and longer national adventures such as Celebrate America 250 and a nine‑day Timeless Texas itinerary.

Additional experiences bring outdoor and cultural highlights: a visit to Forestville/Mystery Cave State Park, where Minnesota’s longest cave is featured, a Guthrie Theater Cabaret outing with premium seating and a post‑show Q&A, and a convenient day at the Minnesota State Fair.

Transportation, guided narration, scheduled tastings, museum visits, and curated itineraries are central to each trip. Departure and return logistics originate in Rochester, allowing travelers to relax without driving. Rochester Trolley & Tour Company focuses on small‑group travel logistics and themed storytelling that connect passengers with regional destinations and memorable shared experiences.

Trips are suitable for wine lovers, history buffs, theatergoers, families, and groups seeking curated travel experiences departing from Rochester. Advance reservations are recommended for most departures.