By: JD Conroy
On September 30th a group of American Classic Travelers returned from a 5-day journey to Agawa Canyon in Canada. We saw so much, and we had a lot of fun. I wanted to share some of our experiences with you! Enjoy reading this Trip Recap!
WE ARE DOING THIS TRIP AGAIN NEXT YEAR!
CALL 847-548-3333 OR CLICK THE BUTTON BELOW FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT HOW YOU CAN JOIN US ON OUR Agawa Canyon TRIP IN SEPTEMBER 2018!
Lunch at The Butler in Saugatuck, MI
The first stop of our trip was at the Butler Restaurant located on Lake Kalamazoo in Saugatuck, MI. Our lunch featured a choice of Reuben, Beer Battered Cod Sandwich, or Grilled Chicken Sandwich. We finished our dining experience with vanilla ice cream topped with hot fudge!
Dinner at Audies Restaurant in Mackinaw City, MI
After a full day of scenic travel, we stopped at Audies Restaurant in Mackinaw City. Salad bar, Yukon gold potatoes with cheddar cheese sauce, blend of green beans, yellow beans & baby carrots, Chicken Cordon Blue with Armenian rice pilaf, Homemade Lasagna, & Parmesan encrusted Whitefish. Pineapple upside down cake dessert.
Free Time in Downtown Mackinac Island
We cruised across the Straits of Mackinac aboard Shepler's Ferry to begin the second day of our trip. We spent our first two hours on the island enjoying free time for shopping and exploring the charming downtown of Mackinac Island. Downtown Mackinac Island is known for its bright colored architecture, its tasty fudge, and its gorgeous views of the Straits of Mackinac.
Horse & Buggy Ride to the Grand Hotel
There are no cars on Mackinac Island - the only ways to get around is via foot, bicycle, or horse and buggy. We took a horse and buggy ride from downtown Mackinac up to the Grand Hotel.
Lunch at the Grand Hotel
Full of just about every gourmet dish and dessert imaginable, we enjoyed a delicious lunch at the Grand Hotel's famous lunch buffet. After lunch, we had free time to explore the hotel or relax on the iconic rocking chairs of the Grand Hotel's front porch.
Horses Getting Ready for Our Backroads Tour
In the afternoon we took a horse and buggy tour of Mackinac Island's scenic backroads. Above, is a video of the horses getting ready to lead us on our tour.
Scenes from Our Backroads Tour
On our backroads tour we saw Mackinac Island's Arch Rock and its scenic shoreline.
Drive Across the Mackinac Bridge
After our day-long tour of Mackinac Island, we journeyed north to Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan. Almost 5 miles long, the Mackinac Bridge is the longest suspension bridge in the western hemisphere.
Agawa Canyon Train Excursion
We boarded the Algoma Central Railway for an amazing train excursion through the Canadian wilderness of hills and ravines draped in brilliant fall color from the comfort of the train. During our ride, we listened to narration detailing the history and geography of the Algoma region.
Agawa Canyon Wildnerness Park
The Agawa Canyon is a shallow canyon located in the sparsely populated Algoma region in Northeastern Ontario, Canada. Formed by faulting along the Canadian Shield and erosion from the Agawa River, the Agawa Canyon is over 1.2 billion years old. The only way to reach the Agawa Canyon Wildnerness Park is via the Algoma Central Railway.
Soo Locks Visitor Center
The Soo Locks enable 10,000 ships to travel between Lake Superior and the lower Great Lakes every year. Located on the St. Mary's River between Lake Superior and Lake Huron, the Soo Locks allow ships to bypass the rapids of the St. Mary's River where the water level drops about 21 feet. The Soo Locks are an integral part of North America's economy.
St. Mary's Boat Cruise
As we cruised the St. Mary's River we enjoyed a lunch which featured Swedish Meatballs, Baked Chicken, Mashed Potatoes & Gravy, Steamed Vegetables, and Chocolate Cake for dessert. We passed through the Soo Locks, learned about the important industrial activity of the St. Mary's River region, and admired the blue waters and colorful foliage which surrounded us throughout our cruise.
Dinner at Harrington's By the Bay
At Harrington's by the Bay we had a choice of three entrees: Panko & Parmesan Crusted Lake Superior Whitefish, Mediterranean Chicken Pasta, or a 12oz. New York Strip.
Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore
We visited Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lake Shore on the PERFECT day. Clear blue skies, bright blue waters, and golden sandy dunes made for picture-perfect scenery.
Thanks for the Memories!
Special thanks to our awesome group of American Classic Travelers! This was definitely one to remember. We hope to travel with you all again soon!