Inspiration for your own tailor-made trip
Chicago, Saugatuck, Grand Rapids, Detroit, Columbus, Louisville, Bowling Green, Nashville
100% customisable for you
So long London, Chicago is calling. Your mid-morning flight is just shy of nine hours, so enjoy a pre-flight coffee and croissant in the lounge before you board. Touch down at Chicago O’Hare just after lunch, and once you’re reunited with your luggage, take a private transfer to your hotel in the city’s elegant Gold Coast neighbourhood.
Beat the jet lag by taking yourself on a wander around the neighbourhood (we recommend stopping by La Colombe Coffee Roasters for a cold brew). Head south and you’ll find yourself on the Magnificent Mile, loaded with upscale shops, fashion outlets and chic restaurants. Go north and you’ll be in Lincoln Park, home to beaches, museums, a yacht club and even a theatre. Round off your first evening with a deep-pan pizza – the Chicago special – at Giordano’s, which has been serving locals since 1974.
The next two days are all about getting to know Chicago and its famously lively craft beer scene. Spend your mornings soaking up the city’s cultural highlights, from snapping selfies beneath the mirrored curves of Cloud Gate and admiring the collections at the Museum of Contemporary Art, to strolling the Bloomingdale Trail –Chicago’s elevated answer to New York’s High Line.
By afternoon, it’s time to turn your attention to the city’s taprooms. Kick things off at the independent Crushed By Giants Brewing Company, where an ever-changing lineup of IPAs, sours and saisons are paired with simple yet standout dishes to match. Consider lunch sorted.
As evening rolls in, head to the South Loop, where the brewery scene comes alive. Sip your way through inventive pours at spots like Moody Tongue and Duneyrr Wine and Beer Company, the latter adding a Nordic touch to its barrel-aged brews.
Soak up last night’s drinks with a hearty hotel breakfast before picking up your rental car (once sober, of course) and hitting the open road all the way to Saugatuck, Michigan. This 143-mile journey packs a punch with its sights, from the shores of Lake Michigan to the town of Gary, birthplace of Michael Jackson, so keep your eyes peeled along the way.
Once in Saugatuck, a sleepy coastal town on Lake Michigan, check into your accommodation. The rest of the day is yours to unwind. Soak in the waterfront spa, curl up by your fireplace overlooking the harbour, or stretch your legs along award-winning beaches and forest trails in the nearby state park, where dunes and lake views provide a fitting change of pace.
With more than 350 breweries across the state, it’s no secret that Michigan takes its beer seriously. After a suitably gentle morning – whether that’s indulging in a spa session or attempting a three-mile run along the shores of the Kalamazoo River (we know which we’d choose…) – it’s time to dive back into the scene.
Kick things off at the Guardian Brewing Company, Michigan’s first 100% LGBTQ+ and women-owned craft brewery. Continue on to The Mitten Brewing Co., a vintage baseball-themed microbrewery serving handcrafted beers alongside some of the best gourmet pizzas in town.
Round things off at Waypost Brewing Co, a rustic farmhouse brewery set on a 58-acre fruit farm, specialising in traditional farmhouse style and crisp craft lagers. With a rotating line-up of food trucks and plenty of wide-open space to unwind in, it’s the perfect place to raise a glass to a very good day indeed.
With a drive of around 40 miles on the cards today, we recommend taking things slow and savouring the morning. Maybe that looks like kayaking along the lower Kalamazoo River, or perhaps it’s one final spa treatment – we’ll leave that tough decision to you.
Once in Grand Rapids, check into your hotel (for one night only) before joining a group of brewery buffs on an afternoon tour of the city’s best taprooms (voted ‘Beer City USA’ twice). Over the course of the afternoon, sample around 12 beers at Perrin Brewing Company, Cedar Springs Brewing Company, Rockford Brewing Company and Brick Haus Brews, meeting the brewers along the way and learning how each tipple is crafted.
Afterwards, head to the Downtown Market to refuel, where artisan food stalls and local produce make for the perfect post-tasting feast.
Ignore David Bowie (for today, at least) – there’s no need to Panic in Detroit. After a scenic two-and-a-half hour drive across Michigan’s waistline, you’ll roll into the legendary ‘Motor City’. Drop your bags at your decadent downtown hotel, all sweeping arches and old-world mouldings, before heading straight out on a guided tour of the Motown Museum. Founded by Esther Gordy Edwards in 1985, it’s home to the world-famous Studio A, where legends like The Temptations, Marvin Gaye and The Supremes recorded alongside the Funk Brothers.
Come evening, it’s time to find a bite to eat. Ask your Concierge for dining recommendations or follow your noses to one of the city’s excellent taco trucks. Locals swear by El Parian, just off Vernor Highway, and its pineapple-topped tacos al pastor.
These two days are yours to spend how you like. Of course, on a craft beer crawl, we’re always going to suggest the Detroit Brew Trail – spanning Downtown Detroit, Oakland, Wayne and Macomb counties – for a deep dive into the city’s taproom culture. Expect stickers, koozies, bottle openers, pint glasses, coasters and other beer-themed souvenirs along the way.
Fancy a break from the brews? Spend the day kayaking or paddleboarding on the Detroit River or fishing in one of the surrounding lakes. Evening entertainment is plentiful – your Concierge will happily point you in the right direction.
If you prefer to be up and at ‘em, rise early for your three-and-a-half-hour drive from Detroit to Columbus. Cross the state line at sunrise and relish having the highway to yourself. Reward your efforts with a coffee and a cream puff once in the state capital, before heading out on foot to explore the Short North Arts District, home to more than 30 murals, or the Columbus Museum of Art.
If you’re feeling peckish, swing by the North Market, a public market featuring more than 30 butchers, bakers, grocers and restaurants. Fancy a drink? We recommend waiting until you check into your hotel: the world’s first hotel inside a craft brewery that boasts 32 beer-themed rooms, each with its own draft beer tap (yes, really). Inside its signature taproom, you can grab a game of shuffleboard or pinball and tuck into one of their epic burgers before sampling the rest of Columbus’ nightlife.
Beat the crowds at North Market, home to more baked pastries, bagels and cream puffs than you can imagine, to stock up for the day ahead. From there, wander over to Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Gardens. Marvel at its 400 species of plants and rotating exhibitions before heading to The Old Bag of Nails pub (conveniently just around the corner) for a plate of their signature fish and chips.
In the evening, if baseball season is in full swing, head to Huntingdon Park to watch the Columbus Clippers knock a few out of the park.
After a good night’s sleep, pack your bags once more and drive for three-and-a-half-hours across state lines (again) to Louisville, Kentucky. Once you’ve dropped your bags at your hotel, we recommend a walking tour to get under the skin of this historic town. Start in Old Louisville, the largest Victorian architecture district in the USA, replete with stately mansions dating from 1880 to 1910. Or step back in time on board the circa-1914 Belle of Louisville steamboat, the oldest of its kind still in operation.
Following a culture-filled first day, you’ll be ready for an afternoon beer tour with a local historian. Before starting, we suggest lining your stomach with a hot brown sandwich – an open-faced sub piled high with sliced turkey and bacon, covered in a French Mornay sauce (béchamel with cheese), and broiled. Once you’ve explored the sights and sampled half pints at each stop, the evening is yours to spend as you wish.
Today, your beer crawl continues to Bowling Green, located just 121 miles away (around a two-hour drive). From the moment you drop your bags at your hotel, expect to be charmed by its rolling green terrain, welcoming locals – experts in southern hospitality – and postcard-perfect downtown. But Bowling Green is more than its sweeter-than-pie scenery. It’s also the birthplace of America’s sports car, the Chevrolet Corvette. Save an afternoon to tour its museum, home to more than 80 antique, collector, concept and one-of-a-kind Corvettes. If your stomach is grumbling, stop by a local farmers market before swinging by White Squirrel Brewery for an ale.
Nashville is the headline act on this craft beer journey, where live music and small-batch brews set the rhythm. The short drive from Bowling Green gives you enough time to play all your favourite country songs (or listen to our favourites on our curated USA playlist) before rolling into Music City.
Your downtown hotel places you centre stage on the Honky Tonk Highway, where high-gravity pours at HonkeyTonk Brewing Co. and inventive small-batch beers at TailGate Beer Brewery kickstart the evening. As the lights come up, drift between icons like Layla’s Bluegrass Inn and AJ’s Good Time Bar, where live bands do the rest.
On day two, swap pints for pedigree with a visit to the Country Music Hall of Fame, tracing legends from Hank Williams to Dolly Parton. Round things off at Corsair Distillery with a behind-the-scenes tour and tasting, before ending the night at the Ryman Auditorium or Grand Ole Opry.
If you feel the urge to stretch your legs before your evening flight home, head out early for a run along the Cumberland River or around Centennial Park. Reward your efforts with a last-minute downtown shopping spree and one final hot chicken sandwich from Prince’s. Once at Nashville International, it’s just eight hours between you and the UK. You’ll touchdown mid-morning the following day.
Each of our trips is entirely tailor-made with originality, quality and cultural immersion in mind. Our team of destination specialists will craft itineraries based on your tastes, using their first-hand knowledge and the help of our in-country team of Concierges and guides. All trips are accompanied by a wide range of additional services, including a 24-hour helpline, the Original Travel app, fast-track airport services and much more.
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Our team of destination experts will get to know you and your unique requirements for your holiday
We work with you to build an ultra-personalised holiday itinerary with your choice of accommodation, experiences and activities
All of our holidays include little extras designed to make a big difference to your trip, from fast-tracking you through airport check-in and security to our network of local Concierges
