Born Free Leap'n Lions RV Club

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Name: 2010 Best of Michigan Caravan
Dates: September 9-30, 2010
Starting Location: Harbortown RV Resort
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx14931 Laplaisance Road
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxMonroe, MI 48161 (located South of Dearborn, MI)
Caravan Hosts: Howard and Barbara Norlin
Mail Address: 4165 Estate Drive
xxxxxxxxxxxxHolland, MI 49424-5603
Phone 606-399-6654
E-mail: norlinh@allcom.net
Tail Gunners: Forrest and Beverly Seavey

NOTE: This caravan limited to 20 coaches.

There is a good reason why the State of Michigan Motto is: “If you seek a pleasant peninsula, look around you”. And Michigan has two peninsulas! Plan on seeing the best of Michigan’s Upper and Lower Peninsulas on this exclusive Born Free Leap’n Lions RV Club Caravan. This tour will highlight the beauty, history, and charm of Michigan: You will see magnificent lakeshore vistas, quaint fishing villages, waterfalls large and small, numerous lighthouses, superb Fall color, and much more on this 22 day tour.

Led by club members Howard and Barbara Norlin, the caravan will total about 990 miles and will include 19 meals. The farthest travel day distance will be around 190 miles, with many being considerably shorter. We will spend 2-3 days at most venues so we will be able to see all that each area affords, and we will camp at some of Michigan’s nicest private and State parks on the shores of Lakes Michigan, Huron, and Superior.

We will rendezvous on September 9, 2010, at Dearborn, MI (Henry Ford Museum, Greenfield Village, Henry Ford’s Estate “Fairlane”), and work our way up the Lower Peninsula of Michigan; we will then tour the Upper Peninsula and conclude our trip on September 30, 2010, at Copper Harbor in the Keweenaw Peninsula. Along the way, we will spend 3 days in and around the fabulous Mackinac Island, the “Gem” of the Great Lakes, where we will enjoy the Grand Luncheon Buffet at the Grand Hotel, and we will also stay overnight on Beaver Island (America’s Emerald Island), which is the most remote inhabited island in the Great Lakes. Please review the itinerary for all of the tour attractions and details.

We are looking forward to a fantastic “Best Of Michigan” Caravan: it is our intention to provide you with the best tour you could have. We feel that you will truly experience the “Best Of Michigan” by the conclusion of this tour; expect a superb caravan along with great Born Free fellowship!

CARAVAN ITINERARY

Thursday, Sept. 9...Dearborn, MI...0.0 mile
Rendezvous at the Harbortown RV Resort in Monroe, MI (near Dearborn, MI); orientation meeting at 4:00 pm followed by an evening of nibbles, snacks, hor d’oeuvres, and Born Free socializing.
Friday, Sept. 10
Bus pick up at 8:00 am for the Ford Rouge Factory Tour to see Ford F-150 trucks assembled, transport to Henry Ford’s Estate “Fairlane” for a guided tour and “Lunch at Fairlane”, ample time to view the estate and landscaped setting, return to camp between 4:00-5:00 pm.
Saturday, Sept. 11
Bus pick up at 8:30 am for Henry Ford Museum and Greenfield Village, lunch included. “Old Car Festival” at Greenfield Village today, return to camp around 4:00 pm.
Sunday, Sept. 12...Frankenmuth, MI...138 miles
Travel day to Frankenmuth. Last day of “Classic Car Festival”.
Monday, Sept. 13
Pancake breakfast at RV park at 8:00 am. Open day to explore
Frankenmuth and visit Bronner’s (world’s largest Christmas store); 5:00 pm pick up for dinner at Zehnder’s Restaurant.
Tuesday, Sept. 14...Holland, MI...155 miles
Travel day to Holland, camping at the Beach Unit of Holland State Park on the shore of Lake Michigan, catered dinner at camp at 5:00 pm.
Wednesday, Sept. 15
Bus pick up at 8:00 am for a guided tour of Holland, Windmill Island, Dutch Village, lunch, tour of Fenn Valley Winery & Vineyards, return to camp at 5:00 pm.
Thursday, Sept. 16...Traverse City, MI...192 mi
Travel day to Traverse City, MI; scenic motoring along the Lower Peninsula’s West Coast; will camp at the Wild Cherry Resort near Lake Leelanau, MI. Pizza social at the RV Park.
Friday, Sept. 17
Free day to explore the Traverse City area.
Saturday, Sept. 18
Another free day. Attractions to see include the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive, Old Mission Peninsula, National Music Camp at Interlochen, N & S Manitou Islands, lighthouses, Leland, wine tours, Suttons Bay, Petoskey Stone hunting, golfing, and more. A catered dinner will be served at the park in the evening.
Sunday, Sept. 19...Beaver Island, MI...83 miles
Travel day to Fisherman’s Island State Park on Lake Michigan (near Charlevoix, MI). Scenic touring along “Gold Coast” of MI.
Monday, Sept. 20
Ferry to Beaver Island (box lunch), arriving at 1:30 pm; guided land tour from 2:00-5:00 pm; 6:00 pm dinner at Nina’s Restaurant; will stay at the Beaver Island and Laurain Lodges tonight.
Tuesday, Sept. 21...Mackinaw City, MI...52 miles
Transport from the lodges for 8:30 am ferry back to Charlevoix, pick up motorhomes, travel to Mackinaw Mill Creek Campground near Mackinaw City, 5:30 pm dinner at the Mackinaw Grille in St Ignace, MI.
Wednesday, Sept. 22
Shuttle pick up at 9:00 am for guided tour of Historic Mill Creek State Park, Colonial Michillimackinac State Park, lunch at Audie’s Restaurant, guided tour of Old Mackinac Point Lighthouse, return to camp. Evening campfire.
Thursday, Sept. 23
8:00 am shuttle pick up for ferry to Mackinac Island; carriage tour of the island, tour Fort Mackinac, taxi by carriage to the Grand Hotel for the Grand Luncheon Buffet at 12:30 pm. After lunch, open afternoon to enjoy the island, shop at the Mackinac Island Village, or bicycle around the island. You may return to the mainland and camp when you want to.
Friday, Sept., 24...Sault Ste. Marie, MI...52 miles
Travel day to Sault Ste. Marie, MI. We will camp at the Aune-Osborn RV Park on the Sainte Mary’s River. Optional attractions include the Valley Camp Museum and the Tower of History. At 5:30 pm we will enjoy the Sunset Dinner Cruise through the Soo Locks
Saturday, Sept. 25...Tahquamenon Falls...66 miles
Travel day to Tahquamenon Falls State Park. Optional attractions include Brimley State Park, Point Iroquois Light Station, the Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum, Whitefish Bay, the Upper & Lower Tahquamenon Falls, and more.
Sunday, Sept. 26...Munising, MI...62 miles
Travel day to Munising, MI, Will stay at the Wandering Wheels Campground. En route options include the Seney National Wildlife Refuge, Grand Marais Light, Grand Sable Dunes, Au Sable Point and Light, and more. Catered supper at the campground at 5:30 pm.
Monday, Sept. 27
Bus pick up at 9:00 am for a land tour of area falls, Miners Castle, and Sand Point. At 1:00 pm we will take the Pictured Rocks Boat Cruise in Lake Superior, then we will enjoy a dinner buffet at a local restaurant at 5:00 pm, returning to camp around 6:30 pm.
Tuesday, Sept. 28
Bus pick up at 8:30 am for the Glass Bottom Boat Shipwreck Tour. Box lunch. We will return to camp around 12:00 pm. Optional guided tour of Grand Island in the afternoon.
Wednesday, Sept. 29...Copper Harbor, MI...189 mi
Travel day to Fort Wilkens Historic State Park at the tip of the Keweenaw Peninsula. Many optional attractions will be recommended in the Marquette, L’Anse, and Houghton areas.
Thursday, Sept. 30
Optional attractions include Copper Mine tours, Laurium Manor Inn, Brockway Mountain Drive, Copper Harbor Lighthouse, Astor House Museum, and much more which we will highlight on the tour. Our farewell dinner will be Thursday night at one of Keweenaw Peninsula’s finest restaurants, The Harbor Haus, located in Copper Harbor.

Total Miles: 989...22 Days...19 Meals
Itinerary Subject To Change

For additional information, please click on this Macatawa Travel Company, LLC website link: http://sites.google.com/site/macatawatravelcompanyllcsite/home

Limited to 20 motorhomes, the cost is $3379 per coach with 2 people, or $2734 for a single. An initial deposit of $250 per person is required to reserve a position on the caravan, with the balance due 90 days prior to the rendezvous date. Deposits should be made out to: Macatawa Travel Company, LLC, and sent to:

Howard Norlin
4165 Estate Drive
Holland, MI 49424-5603
Phone: (616) 399-6654
Email: norlinh@allcom.net

Cancellation Policy

If you cancel for any reason 90 days or more before the start date of the caravan, all of the money that you have paid toward the caravan will be refunded except a $50 cancellation/administrative fee. If you cancel the caravan less than 90 days before the start of the caravan due to a bona fide emergency, all of the money that you have paid will be refunded except a $50 cancellation/administrative fee.

NOTE: A bona fide emergency would be the death or serious illness of an immediate family member or a mechanical breakdown of your motorhome which can not be repaired in time to join the caravan. A statement from a physician or a repair bill is required. If you cancel the caravan tour less than 90 days before the start of the tour due to a non bona fide reason (voluntary cancellation), we will retain your deposit and refund any remaining money that you have paid for the caravan.

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Please click on the blue Download button on the right side of the window located directly below the 8 photos below to download and view and print out a caravan Registration Form. Please fill out this form and submit with deposit payment to address listed on the form.

NOTE: Please contact the caravan hosts directly using either the phone number or e-mail address provided above rather than clicking on the blue e-mail button at the bottom of this post. The info above was posted for the caravan hosts by the bfadmin and clicking on the blue e-mail button below will address your e-mail message to the bfadmin rather than to the actual hosts.