Lakeside, MichiganFriday - Sunday, May 21 - 23, 2004

Extraordinary dune formations grace the eastern shore of Lake Michigan. Inland the area is covered with vineyards and fruit orchards. In addition, nearby you will find many art galleries and interesting shops.

ITINERARY

After arrival on Friday afternoon, we go a short distance to walk through a Nature Conservancy site and through the surrounding countryside before going to dinner at one of the special eateries in the area.

Saturday after breakfast, we travel north to walk in the Grand Mere Dunes, a unique natural area. We walk where cranberry bogs once were and past lakes that once provided ice for the residents during the summer. Climb over the dunes to eat your trail lunch on the shores of Lake Michigan, before walking along the beach. On the way home we will visit one of the area wineries for a tour and a taste! Dinner will be at Miller's Country House, perhaps followed by a view of the sunset from the beach.

Sunday we’re off to the Love Creek and Fernwood nature centers. There we walk through a Beech-Maple climax forest, open meadows and the winding Love Creek valley for a botanical delight.

The tour fee includes guided hiking, lodging, breakfasts, trail lunches and Friday and Saturday night dinners.

Tour Fee: $495 ($160 add'l single occupancy). Tour deposit: $300. Reservation deadline: April 18th, at which time the full fee is due.

Transportation available from Chicago airports.