By: JD Conroy
A couple of weeks ago a group of American Classic Travelers returned home from our 3-day Lake Michigan Blueberry Harvest Tour. We cruised across Lake Michigan, we took a thrilling dune buggy ride, we picked blueberries, and so much more. I wanted to share some of our experiences with you. Enjoy reading this Trip Recap!
Trip Route
We traveled up through Milwaukee to Manitowac, Wisconsin before taking the SS Badger across Lake Michigan to Ludington, Michigan. The next day we traveled south to Mac Wood's Dune, the Gilmore Car Museum, and Kalamazoo. On the third day of our trip we traveled from Kalamazoo to South Haven, Michigan and then to Eau Claire, Michigan before heading back to Chicago.
Lunch at the Lighthouse Inn
At the Lighthouse Inn in Two Rivers, Wisconsin we shared family-style chicken lunch. The video above was taken by JD while we were enjoying free time after lunch enjoying the beautiful shoreline of Lake Michigan outside of the Lighthouse Inn.
Board the SS Badger
We took a cruise across Lake Michigan aboard the mighty SS Badger. The SS Badger has been in use since 1953. It is the only coal-powered ship still cruising on the Great Lakes. We boarded the SS Badger in Manitowoc, Wisconsin and sailed all the way to Ludington, Michigan.
Mac Woods Dune Ride
We explored the stunning sand dunes between Silver Lake and Lake Michigan on a Mac Woods Dune Ride. Aboard the red cars, we zoomed up and down the dunes, enjoying views of the lake, as our guide explained how sand dunes formed and how they impact local ecosystems.
Little Sable Point Lighthouse
We traveled off the beaten path to the hidden Little Sable Point Lighthouse in Mears, Michigan. The white sandy beach, blue waters of Lake Michigan, and picture-perfect lighthouse make this overlook a must-see!
Gilmore Car Museum
The Gilmore Car Museum sits on 90 acres in Hickory Corners, Michigan. It is home to an amazing collection of over 300 antique cars including: Cadillacs, Franklins, Duesenbergs, Studebakers, Chevrolets, and so much more!
Cornwell's Turkeyville Dinner Theatre
At Cornwell's Turkeyville we dined on a tasty turkey meal and watched a live performance of Life Could Be a Dream - a story of a young doo-wop group trying to make it big. The show featured numerous '60's classics including: "Fools Fall in Love", "Tears on My Pillow", "Runaround Sue", "Earth Angel", "Stay", "Unchained Melody", "Lonely Teardrops", and "The Glory of Love".
Blueberry Picking at DeGrandChamps Farm
Located in South Haven, Michigan, DeGrandchamps is a family owned and operated blueberry farm. Mike, one of the owners of the farm, explained how DeGrandchamps cultivates, picks, and brings it blueberries to market. We were able to pick some blueberries for ourselves!
DeGrandChamps Blueberry Factory
Mike took us behind the scenes at the DeGrandchamps Factory to show us how the farm's blueberries are cleaned, sorted, and packaged. The video above shows one of the machines in the factory which is separating the overly ripe blueberries (those being shot into the green bin) from the good blueberries which are being pushed onto the conveyor belt.
Tree-Mendus Fruit Farm
At Tree-Mendus Fruit Farm, the last stop of our trip, we took a guided tour of the farm in the Folkswagon to learn about the history of the farm and the techniques used to grow fresh fruit.
Thanks for the Memories!
We took this picture after we enjoyed a country-style fried chicken lunch at Tree-Mendus Fruit Farm. Thanks to an amazing group of travelers! We cannot wait to travel with you again soon!
Want to Join American Classic Tours on our Lake Michigan Blueberry Harvest Tour in 2018?
July 31st - August 2nd, 2018
Click the button below to see the full itinerary for our 2018 Lake Michigan Summer Harvest Tour.