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Upper Great Lakes Adventure
14 Days/13 Nights
Led by massive Lake Superior, the Great Lakes region is
a land of water, woods, hills, lighthouses, ships and
wildlife. Amidst all this is a diverse group of very
friendly people, descendants of Native Americans,
French-Canadians, English, Finns, Swedes, Italians,
Greeks and Croatians who settled the area. Today’s
culture is a relaxed and comfortable mosaic of
lumberjacks, sailors, miners, farmers and fisherman who
work right alongside college professors, artists,
craftsmen, technology buffs, and merchants. As you
meander along scenic roads, through historic towns and
natural pathways, you get the impression that local
citizens really like the area and genuinely want you to
enjoy yourself too. For visitors seeking serenity and
relaxation there are moss-covered paths, lots of scenic
drives and off-the-beaten path waterfalls. Others will
enjoy prowling local museums, book stores, antique
shops, boutiques and galleries. Adventure seekers can
fish, hunt, bike, hike, sail, ski, canoe, raft or kayak
to explore the outdoors. In winter there’s cross-country
skiing, snowmobiling, snowshoeing, ice fishing, nordic
ski trails, skating, and especially memorable dog
sledding and even riding a luge sled! Enjoy whatever you
choose to do in this totally unique are of America.
Day 1: Arrive Chicago
Welcome to America’s “Windy City,” sophisticated,
metropolitan and Midwestern all at the same time. After
you check into your accommodations head for the
Magnificent Mile, the great section of Michigan Avenue
with the best shops, restaurants and boutiques in town.
Free trolley rides make it easy to explore.
Overnight: Chicago, Illinois
Day 2: Explore Chicago
Four of Chicago’s prime attractions are all congregated
close together on South Lake Shore Drive. The Field
Museum, one of the nation’s premier natural history
museums, the Shedd Aquarium and the Adler Planetarium
are all located close together. The Museum of Science
and Industry is not far away. For fine art lovers, the
collections of the Art Institute of Chicago are equal to
any New York museum. In size, it is in between the
Metropolitan Museum in New York and the Philadelphia Art
Museum. We can highly recommend spending a day at the
Field, the Shedd and the Adler, right next door to each
other.
Overnight: Chicago, Illinois
Day 3: Chicago to Wisconsin Dells
Wisconsin Dells became a tourism destination 150 years
ago as visitors came to see the spectacular
glacially-formed gorge of sandstone formations along the
banks of the Wisconsin River. Walking among the enormous
stone formations is awesome. The best way to see the
river banks is by boat. In addition to the natural
beauty, The Dells is also surrounded with every type of
visitor entertainment imaginable.
Overnight: Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin
Day 4: Wisconsin Dells to Minneapolis
Minneapolis has received every accolade a city can get.
The New York Times calls it an “increasingly cool city”
and Frommer’s describes its “gorgeous layout.”
Television viewers know it as the very Midwestern home
of Mary Richards of Mary Tyler Moore Show fame. It’s
really all three of these, and in warm weather, it’s a
really wonderful place to visit. See cutting edge art at
the Walker Art Center, a blockbuster at the Guthrie
Theater, where the building is as good as the
performances and dine at one of many ethnic restaurants.
Overnight: Minneapolis, Minnesota
Day 5: Explore Minneapolis
There are a couple of outstanding options to do in
Minneapolis today. Both are wonderful. If you’re an
outdoor lover, drive the Grand Rounds National Scenic
Byway which takes you around all of the major lakes in
Minneapolis. If you’re more the indoors type, visit the
Mall of America, the largest shopping area in the US.
Or, if you can’t decide, do both.
Overnight: Minneapolis, Minnesota
Day 6: Minneapolis to Duluth
Duluth was founded and claimed by the French traveling
through the Great Lakes in 1676, 100 years before the
Declaration of Independence. It continued to serve as
the port at the “Head of the Lakes” for 300 years before
it began transforming into a visitor destination. And
transform it has, currently welcoming 3.5 million
visitors each year. Tour the William A. Irvin, former
flagship of the US Steel Great Lakes fleet and Glensheen,
the estate of one of the most powerful lumber barons in
the upper Midwest. Leave some time to drive a bit of the
National Scenic Byway that hugs the lakeshore to Two
Harbors. The views are incredible.
Overnight: Duluth, Minnesota
Day 7: Duluth to Bayfield, WI
The only way to go from Duluth to Bayfield is to take
the road less traveled along the pristine, quiet
lakeshore. Along the way, rock cliffs give way to gently
lapping waves on rock beaches. Bayfield is the gateway
to the Apostle Islands. Madeline Island is only reached
by boat. Always a maritime town, Bayfield has
transformed itself into a quality arts destination with
great historic preservation of the former homes of
lumber barons, galleries and even its own Chautauqua,
which most every night during the summer, features
headliner entertainment.
Overnight: Bayfield, Wisconsin
Day 8: Bayfield to Marquette, MI
One of the hidden treasures of the upper Midwest,
Marquette was in the top ten All American City
competition and was named one of the Most Livable Cities
in America. Visit all or any of Marquette’s six
lighthouses and nine waterfalls. You can also expect to
see moose which are being repopulated in the area. They
are most likely viewed in the early morning and evening
and found in areas around water.
Overnight: Marquette, Michigan
Day 9: Marquette to Sault Ste. Marie
After a drive through the wilds of Michigan’s Upper
Peninsula, you’ll reach Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan’s
oldest city. Settlement began in the 1600s when French
missionaries and fur traders ventured into unchartered
territory. The name of the town came from the French
word sault, which means jump. Sault Ste. Marie is thus,
the jump over the St. Mary’s River.
Overnight: Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan
Day 10: Explore Sault Ste. Marie
Sault Ste. Marie is filled with attractions. Start your
visit at the Soo Locks and Visitor Center which
illustrates the lock system between the Great Lakes
which was created to allow a continuous shipping lane
from Duluth, Minnesota to the Atlantic Ocean. A boat
tour will take you through the actual locks. Other boat
tours let you get out onto Lake Superior.
Overnight: Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan
Day 11: Sault Ste. Marie to Traverse City
When the snow melts and the flowers bloom, Traverse City
begins its season long celebration of summer. The
gracious downtown is filled with shops and restaurants
located on tree-lined streets. You can listen to
classical music at Interlochen, catch salmon in Grand
Traverse Bay, taste 25 flavors of beer, climb the dunes
at Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore or otherwise
enjoy at least 20 other things to do.
Overnight: Traverse City, Michigan
Day 12: Traverse City to Holland
Today’s Holland is very unlike the Holland founded by
the Dutch Reformed Church, yet it has not entirely lost
its heritage. It’s alive with diverse cultures, a vast
array of recreational activities, visual and performing
arts, Dutch attractions, beaches and award winning
galleries and shops. And of course, in season, there are
the tulips!
Overnight: Holland, Michigan
Day 13: Holland to Chicago
You’ll be following the shore of Lake Michigan before
rounding the end of the lake today as you make your way
back to Chicago. Take the rest of the day to explore any
of the can’t miss attractions in the Windy City.
Overnight: Chicago, Illinois
Day 14: Depart Chicago |
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