U.P. MARP meeting celebrates Indian Trails 100th Anniversary

MARP members: meet in the U.P. (besides family, bring friends who could become members)

• Special fares to celebrate Indian Trails’ 100th birthday and its new St. Ignace depot
• Show support for Indian Trails’ expansion of Thruway service by traveling GREEN to the meeting on an Indian Trails coach at a highly discounted fare.
• Low hotel rates too
• We hope you support for the green effort and ride Indian Trails but you can leave the driving to yourself to attend and still take advantage of the low hotel rates
• Bring a friend or family member (wife, son, grandchild; he or she does not have to be a member to take advantage of the special rates. )

Here’s the travel deal:

• For just $35 for adults and $15 for kids under 12 — RIDE ROUND TRIP FROM ANY INDIAN TRAILS STATION IN LOWER MICHIGAN OR FROM MILWAUKEE OVERNIGHT THROUGH THE U.P.  Schedules can be found at www.indiantrails.com // (Note schedules are subject to change) Go up any day of the week before the meeting and return Sunday or any day the following week. Call Brenda Cheney at Indian Trails- (800)292-3831 ext. 217 for tickets. Ask Brenda for the special rate for the MARP-Indian Trails meeting. She would appreciate a call by Sept. 1 although she will accept a call no later than Sept. 12 in order to guarantee the tickets arrive by mail.
• $54.99/room (1-2 adults per room plus children)– NIGHTLY RATE PLUS TAX AT THE VOYAGEUR INN, ST IGNACE, JUST STEPS FROM THE INDIAN TRAILS DEPOT. Continental breakfast included and pop corn nightly. Call the hotel at Toll Free: (877) 643-1530 and mention the MARP-Indian Trails meeting to get the special rate. Hotel web site is: http://www.stignacelodging.net/
  E-mail jwallington@msn.com if you have any questions.

 Here are meeting details:

Regular membership session starts at 9:30 a.m., Saturday, Sept. 25, at the St. Ignace Transportation Center, which is Indian Trails’ depot adjacent to the Voyageur Inn. The meeting will mark MARP’s first meeting in the U.P. and will celebrate Indian Trails’ 100^th year of service and the opening of Thruway service to the U.P. and to Bay City plus Indian Trails’ expansion of service to Sault Ste. Marie and Newberry. Local and company dignitaries expected. 

 Member and family fun ideas:

 DURING THE MEETING
While you and fellow MARP members meet, your friends or family can use the pool at the Inn or shuttle to downtown St. Ignace and ferry to Mackinac Island. Or simply relax. Or attend the meeting. 

Check these sites:
http://www.stignace.com/ or http://mackinacislandtourism.com/ or http://www.mackinacisland.org/gettinghere.html

• Ride the old  Soo Line trail to Trout Lake rail junction. Rent an off-the-road vehicle from our hotel and UP Sports Rental Saturday afternoon for a ride that uses the Duluth South Shore & Atlantic Railway (later Minneapolis St. Paul & Sault Ste Marie or Soo) abandoned rail bed to Trout Lake between (25 to 30) miles Saturday afternoon after our meeting. You can get a ½ half day rental with a 10 % discount & free helmet rental with a minimum of six (6) persons. Other rentals might be available during the weekend depending on availability. Call  (877) 643-1530 and/or check out this link: (prices on the site do not include the discount).
  http://www.stignacelodging.net/index.php?page=ATV_RENTALS_
• Shuttle to the local casino
• Shuttle to the ferries to Mackinac Island
• Do a round trip to Mackinaw City via the island ferries
• On Friday or Sunday, take the Agawa Canyon train in the SOO (Those who drove could invite those who rode Indian Trails to ride with them to and from the Canadian Soo. If there is sufficient interest, the hotel said it could arrange a shuttle for a fee.)
• Bike the trails and country roads of the U.P. or Mackinac Island. Indian Trails said you can bring a bike but it must be properly boxed for storage under the seating area. Check Indian Trails regarding the cost.

Figuring the cost:

Round trip coach and two hotel nights:
FAMILY of 2 — $70 transportation. $110 hotel = $180; add 3rd night $235
FAMILY OF 2 with 11-year-old (son, daughter or grandchild) — $85 transportation. $110 hotel = $195; add 3rd night $250.
LONE TRAVELER — $35 transportation. $110 hotel = $145; add 3d night $200 (save by doubling with a MARP friend or other buddy)
Bring a friend/buddy/prospective member; does not need to be a current member to take advantage.

Those who drive pay only the hotel cost. See www.indiantrails.com  for detailed schedules. (Note schedules are subject to change) 

Unofficial Indian Trails schedule

 Some sample stations and times to and from St. Ignace (as of May 8):

*Free parking available at E Lansing & Flint Intermodal stations 
**Connects to Amtrak from Chicago
See www.indiantrails.com for detailed schedules.   (Note schedules are subject to change)

Motor coach routing

Consider going north on one route and returning on another: For example, leave East Lansing at 1:20 p.m., see the sights along the Lake Huron Shore and arrive before 10 p.m. On the return leave at 8:50a and ride southbound through the middle of the state. Those riding south on the west Michigan line to Kalamazoo could make connections to return to East Lansing on Amtrak.  www.amtrak.com
 Greyhound connection available at Grand Rapids, East Lansing and Flint.  www.greyhound.com