| Dates: | Aug 2 - 8 |
| Mileage: | 412 |
| Riders: | 500 |
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Traverse City to
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$195, Adult - LMB Member |
| (7-Day) | $315, Adult - LMB Member |
| Late Fee: | $25 (3 day) after July 6 $40 (7 day) after July 6 |
| Bus: | $55 Post Tour Bus - Aug 8th |
Requirements:
7-Day West  |
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Questions?
See our Rider Info section first to answer most common questions.
Itinerary:
| Day | Description | Mileage |
| Saturday | Montague check-in | Check-in |
| Sunday | to Ludington | 48 |
| Monday | to Frankfort | 71 |
| Tuesday | to Traverse City | 70 |
| Wednesday | Overnight Traverse City | 44 |
| Thursday | to Charlevoix | 64 |
| Friday | to Harbor Springs | 50 |
| Saturday | to Mackinaw City | 44 |
Description:
The 7-day Shoreline West Bicycle Tour takes the scenicroute from Montague to the mighty Mackinac Bridge in Mackinaw City. This year will include some new sites as well as our favorite sites. There is so much to experience on this ride: view historic lighthouses, pristine orchards and farms, swim at sugar sand beaches, climb the dunes, grab a fresh lunch and picnic along the route in "Michigan's playground" and ride through the Tunnel of Trees. The terrain is never mundane as it varies from flats, rolling hills, and many challenging climbs. With moderate mileage, this is a great bicycling vacation to either ride with someone you know or someone you meet on tour. Choose from our 3- or 7-day tours. The 3-day tour joins in Traverse City on Wednesday and ends in Mackinaw City.
Saturday, August 1
After you’re settled in and your tent is put up, feel free to goof off at the beach at Duck Lake Channel where you can swim in the warmer water of Duck Lake or take a refreshing dip in Lake Michigan. You can also visit the White River Lighthouse and Museum .You can check out the world’s largest weathervane in downtown Montague. If you are interested in taking a little pre-tour ride, we will supply you with the necessary map.
Since we will be starting in Montague this year, we will be serving you dinner on Saturday night. Following dinner, we will be holding our Welcome Bikers Meeting, approximately 7:00 pm.
Sunday, August 2
Today's route passes many lakes including Pentwater Lake, Bass Lake, Silver Lake, and of course Lake Michigan. Before entering Silver Lake, you will pass one of our favorite sites, The Cherry Market, where you can get a great cup of coffee and a cherry turnover. You will find PENTWATER a bustling town, and an excellent location for lunch. Mears State Park is at the north end of town and offers additional access to Lake Michigan. Swimming is great at Summit Township Park. Consumer Energy Pump Storage Facility offers an impressive overlook and information on how a pumped-storage-plant works. Walk to the top for a more impressive view of Michigan’s coastline.
View the Father Marquette Shrine north of the Consumer Power Pump Station. The Waterfront Walkway in Ludington extends from downtown Ludington, Waterfront Park, to Stearns Park. At Waterfront Park there is a wonderful Sculpture Park depicting local history. Ludington has 2 Fun Parks: Adventure Island Fun Park and AJ's Family Fun Park. There is also the beautiful beach and Ludington State Park.
Monday, August 3
By now you are ready to experience some of our varied terrain. Today’s ride offers a few strenuous climbs that reward you with awesome panoramic views. You will also pass through charming towns, such as Manistee and Onekama, with their own unique character and strong Michigan history. Today you will also be climbing the Arcadia hills and be rewarded by fresh watermelon at the top. As your route declines into Frankfort, you will find a town that is easy to walk to from our overnight school, interesting stores, and a beautiful beach to watch the setting sun.
Tuesday, August 4
Today you will ride through the beautiful Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore area. The rolling hills take you past coastal dunes and clear lakes, dense beech-maple forest and bluffs as high as 480-feet above Lake Michigan. Native Americans say that Manitou, the Great Spirit, placed a mound of sand where Mother Bear died waiting for her cubs after fleeing a huge Wisconsin forest fire. Hike the Empire Bluffs Trail to overlook Lake Michigan. You will be beautifully rewarded for this hike. The North and South Manitou Islands just off shore are located where the cubs perished.
Wednesday, August 5
Today is your day to do as you please. We will be staying overnight in Traverse City for you to enjoy the many activities that you can do in the Traverse Bay area. Wake-up and take a ride up the Old Mission Peninsula that separates East and West Grand Traverse bays, venture to the end to see the Old Mission Lighthouse. After taking your morning ride, you can take a nap, go swimming, walk downtown for shopping in Traverse City historical downtown, go kayaking or even take an evening cruise on a tall-ship. All things are possible in Traverse City. We will provide breakfast this morning, but lunch and dinner will be on your own. We encourage you to experience the fine eating establishments in Traverse City.
Thursday, August 6
There are many photo ops on the way today as you pass orchards and fields of sunflowers as you ride towards ELK RAPIDS, another charming Northern Michigan village on Lake Michigan. We will follow Torch Lake out of Elk Rapids on our way to Charlevoix. Enjoy the beautiful summer homes and blue-green waters along Lake Charlevoix. In Charlevoix, watch the boats go in and out of the channel in this harbor town.
Friday, August 7
From Charlevoix we have three different route options. You can take the Little Traverse Wheelway into Petoskey than on up to Harbor Springs. This route provides spectacular views of Lake Michigan. Or you can take the Ironton Ferry and follow the south shore of Lake Charlevoix through Boyne City and on to Harbor Springs. The short ride on the ferry is an experience you will want to have if you have never been on a ferry before. Or for those wanting the most miles you can go through East Jordan and up through Boyne City and on to Harbor Springs. This is the most rolling of the three, but also very picturesque. HARBOR SPRINGS hosts a wonderful combination of good restaurants, tasteful art galleries, interesting architecture, a large marina and a bike shop.
Saturday, August 8
Don’t miss the great view of the Harbor Springs from the bluff as you leave this morning. You will ride through one of Michigan’s most scenic drives, the historical and protected “Tunnel of the Trees.” Visit the Thornswift Nature Preserve. Explore wetlands, beaches, trails and a hands-on nature museum. CROSS VILLAGE has the historic Leggs Inn. Look at the gardens and view of lighthouses and islands in back. Sturgeon Bay offers many scenic vistas of Lake Michigan. Stop along the way for your last chance to swim in Lake Michigan.
If you want to experience Mackinaw City and Mackinac Island we would suggest that you ride the Pre Tour Bus down from Mackinaw City. That way your car will be there when you finish and this will allow you all the time you want to explore. WE DO NOT RECOMMEND TRYING TO EXPLORE THE ISLAND IF YOU ARE TAKING THE POST TOUR BUS.
Amenities:
Questions?
See our Rider Info section first to answer most common questions.
Contact:
Rich Moeller, LMB Executive Director
office@LMB.org
(888) 642-4537
John Lindemayer, LMB Associate Director
jlindenmayer@LMB.org
(888) 642-4537
