2026 Upper Michigan

Day 1 - Friday July 10, 2026 (D)

We will arrive at Austin Strubel Airport in Green Bay, WI.  You can take the shuttle to the hotel.  That evening we will meet each other at the Welcome Dinner and engage in conversations about the tour.

Day 2 - Saturday July 11, 2026 (B/L/D)

After breakfast we will travel north to Iron Mountain for a quick break.  After the time change (for EST) we will continue to Baraga and have lunch.  Our first lighthouse of the day will be Sand Point Lighthouse. We will then travel through the beautiful scenery to Eagle River Museum and then Eagle River Light Station.  More beautiful landscape and we stop at Sand Hills Lighthouse.  Our next stop is a double treat, Keweenaw Waterway Upper Entrance light and Eagle Harbor Range Light. We have dinner and then end the day at Holiday Inn in Houghton-Keweenaw. (Night 1 of 3)   

Day 3 - Sunday July 12, 2026 (B)

After breakfast we are off to Copper Harbor.  Here we will be divided into groups.  Half will board a boat to see Gull Rock Lighthouse and Manitou Island Lighthouse.  Plus shuttle to Copper Harbor Lighthouse for a self guided tour, and view Copper Harbor Range Light.  The other half will head south to see Mendota Lighthouse and Eagle Harbor Rear Range Light.  This group will then have a relaxing visit Eagle Harbor Life Saving Station and Museum.  Just around the corner is the next stop where this group will visit Eagle Harbor Light Station and Museum where they will climb the lighthouse.  Then back to Copper Harbor where the 2 groups will swap, 1 group going on the boat cruise and shuttles and the other heading south to see the lighthouses there. Then in the evening the 2 groups join back together to go to the hotel and compare notes and pictures.  (Night 2 of 3).  It is free night after that and dinner on your own.

Day 4 - Monday July 13, 2026 (B/L/D)

After breakfast we have a unique visit to the Quincy Mine and Hoist Company.  After a 2 hour tour we go to Ontonagon and snap pictures of Ontonagon West Pierhead Light and have lunch in town.  Our next stop is A.E. Seaman Mineral Museum for a look at some beautiful minerals.  Then on to Keweenaw Waterway Lower Range & Portage River Light.  After taking our photos we journey into town and have dinner, then back to the hotel. (Night 3 of 3)

Day 5 - Tuesday July 14, 2026 (B/L/D)

Breakfast and then bags on the bus. We head to Marquette Harbor and Hooked Up Charter boats for a 5 hour boat ride including lunch.    We will break up into groups again so we all have a chance to enjoy this 5 hour boat ride.  The first group on the boat will see Granite Island Lighthouse, Stannard Rock Lighthouse, Huron Island Lighthouse, Big Bay Lighthouse, Marquette Harbor Light and Marquette Breakwater Light. The group not on the first boat ride will be on the bus and travel to see Upper Harbor Lighthouse (Presque Isle Harbor) and Big Bay Lighthouse (from the ground).  They will stop for lunch and then go to Marquette Maritime Museum and Marquette Harbor Breakwater for a guided tour.  At about midday the 2 groups change places and everyone gets the chance to see all of the lighthouses of the day.  In the evening the groups get together for dinner and then back to a hotel in Marquette.

Day 6 - Wednesday July 15, 2026 (B/L/D)

This morning will be a relaxing morning and will allow some people to get some additional rest.  We will go to Christmas, MI, and view the Grand Island Harbor Range Lights.  After lunch we will board a boat to see Grand Island East Channel and Grand Island North Lights. When we get settled on land again we head to Munising Range Lights for a photo opportunity.  We will stop at the Munising Falls Visitor Center where we will have an opportunity for a National Park Passport Stamp. We stop for dinner and then go to Pleasant Moose Lodge (Night 1 of 3).

Day 7 - Thursday July 16, 2026 (B/L/D)

We pick up some box lunches in the morning and head to Hurricane River Campground.  From there we can take a 1.5 mile walk to  Au Sable Lighthouse, another opportunity for a National Park Passport Stamp.  We will stay here long enough to make it a leisure walk.  We will go to Grand Marais Range Lights and Museum next.  And another opportunity for a National Park Passport Stamp.  We leave there and go to Crisp Point Lighthouse for a Tour.  Off to dinner as a group and then back to Pleasant Moose Lodge (Night 2 of 3).

Day 8 - Friday July 17, 2026 (B/L/D)

After breakfast we pick up lunch to go and depart to Whitefish Point Light Station where there is a museum and gift shop.  Our next stop is Little Rapids Cut Light. We then head to the Coast Guard Station and Frying Pan Island Lighthouse.  Continuing on we stop at Vidal Shoals Range Lights and then Point Iroquois Lighthouse. Then for something different.  We stop at the Oswald Bear Ranch to learn about the local bear population.  On to Tahquamenon Falls where after a leisure walk and view of the beautiful falls, we have dinner at the local Brewery and Pub.  Back to Pleasant Moose Lodge for the evening. (Night 3 of 3)

Day 9 - Saturday July 18, 2026 (B/L/D). 

Today we load up our bags on the bus and head for Seul Choix Bay Lighthouse.  Next is Manistique East Breakwater Light.  At this point we have to change back to CST and then stop for lunch in Escanaba.  After a delicious lunch we head to Menominee North Pier Light for a photo opportunity and walk on the pier. Our next stop is a double treat and we see the Grassy Island Range Lights.  They are both located in a marina and we will be greeted by the caretakers of the lights.  Our final destination of the day is back to the hotel by the airport in Green Bay, WI.  Here we will have our Farewell Dinner and reflect on our exciting journey and many lights we have seen.

Day 10 - Sunday July 19, 2026  (B)

Breakfast
Flights Home