• Chicago, Illinois
• Duluth, Minnesota
• Little Current, Ontario
• Mackinac Island, Michigan
• Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario
• Thunder Bay, Ontario
• Toronto, Ontario
• Traverse City, Michigan
• Welland Canal
• Windsor, Ontario

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Chicago, Illinois

Get to know this amazing city, from its roots in the grit of the western frontier to the soaring heights of its Sears Tower, one of the world's tallest buildings. Surround yourself with the world's largest assortment of sea creatures at Shedd Aquarium and Oceanarium—come see why the whales and dolphins think they're in the lake. On the fabled Magnificent Mile, you'll shop swanky boutiques and landmark department stores. The city is home to an abundance of museums, offering a world of fascinating facts and fine art to choose from.

Duluth, Minnesota

In the far southwestern corner of Lake Superior, the St. Louis River spreads a wide delta where it meets the lake. It was an early highway of the fur trade, connecting with other streams to the Mississippi. At this river mouth, the sandbar, 9 miles long, across and beyond the St. Louis and the smaller Nemadji River, created an immense harbor. The villages at either end (Superior, Wisconsin, and Duluth, Minnesota) vied for the carrying trade. The natural pass through the sand spit, named Minnesota Point, was at the southeastern end, fronting Superior, Wisconsin. But the citizens of Duluth, Minnesota, dredged a canal at their end of the harbor, and ultimately became the larger and wealthier city. Western grain, Minnesota iron and Canadian Oil have built a port that is second in the nation in the amount of tonnage handled from its docks. Duluth was originally settled by Sioux (Dakota) and Chippewa (Ojibwa) Indians, and was once home to more millionaires (per capita) than any other city in the world.

Duluth is an unusually shaped city, stretching for 30 miles in a narrow ribband rarely a dozen blocks wide under the high bluff of the Minnesota North Shore. In contrast, its compact downtown conveys a metropolitan atmosphere unexpected in a city this size, with an excellent selection of shops, restaurants, nightclubs and movie theaters. Sights to see include: The lacy network of steel triangles of the Aerial Lift Bridge. The symbol of Duluth, it spans the Duluth Ship Canal to connect downtown with the residential strip and beachfront park on Minnesota Point. So eye-catching is the operation of this bridge, as the long lakers pass underneath, that Canal Park was laid out beside it for the pleasure of shore bound boat watchers. Other sights to see are The Canal Park Museum, the Visitor Information Center, the 1892 St. Louis County Heritage and Arts Center, which houses an art gallery, a children's museum, a historical museum, a railroad museum, a recreated 1910 street, theater, ballet and symphony performance.

Little Current, Ontario

Enjoy charming Little Current—ironically named, since the current through the North Channel can be quite severe. Manitoulin Island, of which Little Current is the largest community, is the largest freshwater island in the world and remains rustic and unchanged. Its beautiful landscape of forests, meadows, rolling countryside, granite outcroppings and pretty rivers offers all the ingredients for a perfect day of relaxation and exploration.

Mackinac Island, Michigan

There's only one way to get from Lake Michigan to Lake Huron by sea, and that's through the Straits of Mackinac, less than five miles in width. In middle of the passage lies tiny Mackinac Island, its fort still stalwartly guarding the passage. In this enchanting place, cars and trucks are nowhere to be seen and Victorian-era cottages look much as they did in 1875, when Congress designated most of the island a national park. Sample the world-famous fudge, stroll the 660-foot porch of the Greek revival Grand Hotel and explore the quaint old town. Tour the island by horse-drawn carriage, while the driver tells the stories behind the various sights or rent a bicycle by the hour for a delightful 8-mile ride around the flat shore road that circles the island.

Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario

The name refers to the rapids of St. Mary's River and to each of the cities that face one another across the international boundary in the narrowest part of the river. And for each, the name is often abbreviated simply to The Sault, sometimes spelled Soo. French missionaries visited here in the 1640s. Twenty years later there was a permanent settlement of missionaries and traders at the strategic portage, where Indians congregated in great numbers in spring and fall for the massive whitefish runs in the rapids. Because the portage was shorter on the south side of the river, that's where the settlement began, making Sault, Michigan, the older community by 100 years. But for 40 years around the turn of the 19th century the people of both villages considered themselves one community. Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan Territory, didn't really become American until 1822.

By the turn of the 20th century, Sault, Ontario, began to industrialize in steel and paper and soon far outstripped Sault, Michigan, in population and importance. The major industry on the American side is the operation of the locks. Since the first tandem pair opened in 1855, additional locks, enlargements and replacements have been constructed regularly.

Today the friendly community of Sault Ste. Marie offers a variety of activities from hiking, golf and parks to museums, galleries and shopping, as well as a casino and zoo with over 100 animals from around the world.

Thunder Bay, Ontario

Thunder Bay's central location in the middle of a continent and at the head of the Great Lakes made it a natural meeting and trading site, as far back as the Paleo-Indian civilization 11,000 years ago. The first Europeans arrived in the 17th century and established a series of fur trading outposts at the place they named Baie de Tonnerre, or Thunder Bay. In 1798, the North West Company built Fort William near the Kaministiquia River, which quickly became a lively community of Scottish traders, French voyageurs and Native trappers.

You can see just what life was like back then in the re-created Old Fort William, one of the world's largest historical reconstructions. Step into the year 1815 and join the fun as a cast of colorful characters relives history. The site includes authentic period homes, Company offices, artisans' and tradespersons' shops, a working farmstead, native encampment and much more.

By the mid-19th century, the fur trade was fading and mining became the focus. Finds of copper, silver and gold drew prospectors from around the world. Another gem still found in this area is amethyst, Ontario's official gemstone. You can search out your purple treasures at several nearby mines that are open to the public. Later, the final links in the nation's railroad and the opening of the St. Lawrence Seaway helped make Thunder Bay the principal port for grain shipments from the prairies to the rest of the world.

The entrance to Thunder Bay is nothing short of magnificent. The flat-topped mesas here reach a climax, from the Sleeping Giant at Thunder Cape on the east to the incredible shape of Pie Island guarding the bay on the southwest and Mount McKay standing sentinel over the city on the west.

As you walk the streets of this fascinating cultural center you'll feel the influences of Scandinavian, French, Asian, Native American and many other peoples who flocked here to seek their fortunes in furs, timber or mining. A variety of museums, galleries, shops, and restaurants reflecting the city's rich cultural history await your exploration.

Toronto, Ontario

Vibrant and cosmopolitan in the best sense of the word, Toronto offers an abundance of delights. From the view atop the CN Tower, the exciting theatre and nightlife to the wonderful museums, galleries and shopping, Toronto offers something for everyone.

Traverse City, Michigan

In 1852, the first European settler in the Traverse City region planted an orchard of cherry trees. Quite unexpectedly, they blossomed and flourished, and America's largest cherry-producing region was established—now providing three-quarters of the nation's cherries. Treat your eyes to some extraordinarily grand vistas when you visit the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Seashore. Hear the Ojibwa Indian legend behind the name, climb the dunes for spectacular views, and hike along comfortable trails through shady forests of beech and maple.

Welland Canal

Longer than two football fields and weighing more than 30,000 tons, how is it possible to lift the behemoth lake-faring freighters and sea-going ships up and over the cliff face of the Niagara Escarpment? Not only is this done on a regular basis, but the technology is so simple that ships have been routinely hoisted up and down the escarpment for over 150 years. Engineers discovered the trick long ago—let gravity and water do the work. The locks are filled and emptied by water flowing downhill from Lake Erie toward Lake Ontario. Many fascinating hours can be spent watching how the gates are opened and shut to control the water flow, allowing ponderous monsters from all corners of the world to sail into the middle of the North American continent. Originally constructed in 1829 to link Lake Erie with Lake Ontario and offer ships a safe detour around Niagara Falls, the Welland Canal has a long and colorful history. Your passage through the Welland Canal provides a relaxing and interesting cruise through all eight locks.

Windsor, Ontario

Enjoy your day exploring the only Canadian city south of the United States, or venture across the river to Detroit, Michigan and explore The Henry Ford and Greenfield Village. Visit a Colonial village green, a working 19th century farm, Thomas Edison's laboratory, the Wright brothers' bicycle shop in which they built their airplane, and other thrilling venues of American ingenuity.