14-NIGHT GREAT LAKES COLLECTION CRUISE

Day 1 Aug 02, 2027 - Duluth

Spread along the hilly north shore of Lake Superior, Duluth lies amid some of the most beautiful country in Minnesota. Perhaps the best time to visit is autumn, when leaves on the hardwoods turn brilliant colors.

Start your exploration of the city at Canal Park, the centerpiece of the city's waterfront. The Canal Park Marine Museum includes the William A. Irvin, the 610-ft/186-m flagship of the old U.S. Steel Great Lakes Fleet. Canal Park also is where you can see the Aerial Lift Bridge. It lifts straight up to allow ships to pass through the Duluth Ship Channel. South of the bridge is the Great Lakes Aquarium, an unusual freshwater aquarium that's home to 70 species of fish found in the Great Lakes. Interactive exhibits explain the lakes' ecology. Canal Park also serves as the city's festival marketplace and entertainment center. From the park, stroll along the Lakewalk, a waterfront boardwalk great for scenery and people-watching.

We also suggest a walk around Depot Square, a compact re-creation of old Duluth, inside the St. Louis County Heritage & Arts Center (also known as The Depot). It has a meat market, a barbershop, a bank and other establishments—all at three-quarter scale—and a trolley running through the square. Round-trip excursions leave from there to Two Harbors along the North Shore of Lake Superior. Also in The Depot is the Lake Superior Railroad Museum (railway buffs will enjoy the large collection of antique trains) and the Duluth Art Institute.

Duluth is a popular base for chartered fishing expeditions on Lake Superior, where anglers can hook steelhead, chinook, coho and Atlantic salmon, and trout. Sightseeing cruises are another way to get onto the water. They run June-September and usually last about two hours.

If you're heading inland from Duluth, you may want to visit the Ironworld Discovery Center in Chisholm (65 mi/105 km northwest). The surrounding area was the source of most of the nation's iron ore for the past century, and this museum shows visitors what the iron range was like and how iron ore was excavated. Another of Minnesota's industries—timber—is the focus of the Forest History Center in Grand Rapids (35 mi/55 km southwest of Chisholm). It's a living history re-creation of a Minnesota logging camp. Fans of Judy Garland can visit the restored childhood home of the singer and actress, who was born in Grand Rapids. The house is decorated as it was when Garland lived there. The Vincent Shute Wildlife Sanctuary near Orr (about 55 mi/193 km north of Chisholm) is one of the best places in North America to observe black bears in their natural habitat. Duluth is 135 mi/215 km north of Minneapolis and St. Paul.

Day 2 Aug 03, 2027 - Thunder Bay

Day 3 Aug 04, 2027 - Silver Islet

Day 4 Aug 05, 2027 - Soo Locks

Day 5 Aug 05, 2027 - Sault Ste. Marie

Welcome to the world of The Great Waters – Nature’s Adventure Where Huron, Michigan and Superior Meet. Where nature, culture, and history collide to create an extraordinary place of quiet woodlands, rushing waters, native arts, and the stories that encapsulate them all. Three driving trails capture 33 waypoints that serve as your passport to unique and exhilarating experiences. Explore ancient shorelines by kayak, trek undisturbed forests on foot, or search rocky beaches for a glimpse at Earth’s treasures. The Great Waters showcases the best of nature in the only place on the planet where three Great Lakes come together.

Day 6 Aug 06, 2027 - Mackinac Island

Visit Mackinac Island and experience the sites and sounds of a bygone era. Located between Michigan's upper and lower peninsulas, the Island offers unforgettable natural and historical treasures surrounded by the sparkling blue waters of Lake Huron. From romantic weekend getaways to fun filled days with the family, Mackinac Island has something for everyone. Ride a bicycle around the 8-mile lakeshore path, or enjoy the quaint Victorian architecture from a leisurely ride in a horse drawn carriage.

Day 7 Aug 07, 2027 - Algoma

Day 8 Aug 08, 2027 - Alpena

Day 9 Aug 09, 2027 - Killarney, Ontario

Day 10 Aug 10, 2027 - Lake Superior/Georgian Bay

If you want to get a look at some of Ontario's better natural vistas without getting too far away from civilization, this drive along Lake Superior should fit the bill. It skirts the lake's shoreline and then takes you for a tour of the green islands of Georgian Bay. We recommend the tour for travelers who like the outdoors and who gravitate toward camping, fishing, canoeing and the like. Those who take more of an interest in shopping and sightseeing may find that this drive does not suit them.

The following route begins on Highway 61 at the border with the U.S. near Grand Portage, Minnesota, and moves east.

The first point of interest is Kakabeka Falls, a scenic cascade that measures 128 ft/39 m (get there by taking Highway 11/17 west off Highway 61) and is considered "The Niagara of the North" for its size—in this case, the vertical drop. Next, head east on Highway 11/17 into Thunder Bay, Canada's sixth-largest port.

Visit Sleeping Giant Provincial Park for hikes and bird sightings; then take a cruise of the harbor and visit Old Fort William, a living-history museum with costumed re-enactors skillfully depicting the fort's heydays when it was known as the North West Company during the fur trade more than 200 years ago. If you have time, visit the amethyst mines, where you can hunt for your own gemstones, or see the International Friendship Gardens or Mount McKay (1,000 ft/300 m tall).

Just outside of town is the Terry Fox Monument, a tribute to the courageous marathoner who tried to cross Canada after losing a leg to cancer. His quest ended near this site in 1980. Fox made it halfway across Canada on one leg, raising funds and awareness for cancer research and has since raised more money for cancer than any other individual. Each September, on the second Sunday after Labor Day, Canadians from coast to coast participate in the Terry Fox Run to continue raising funds.

From Thunder Bay, take Highway 17 east to Marathon, where you'll pick up Highway 627 south to Pukaskwa National Park for a walk along the shores of Lake Superior. There's a lengthy trail if you want to take an overnight hiking trip, and there's plenty of canoeing in the rivers feeding into Lake Superior. Quetico Provincial Park (west of Lake Superior on Ontario's southern border) preserves one of the greatest concentrations of Native American rock paintings on the continent. There are more than 28 sites in and around the park.

Back on Highway 17, look for the big goose (you'll know it when you see it) as you drive through Wawa. Not long afterward, you'll pass straight through the heart of Lake Superior Provincial Park. Stop to see the Indian Pictographs at Agawa Bay (which may have been the inspiration for Henry Wadsworth Longfellow's Song of Hiawatha). South of the provincial park, you'll leave Lake Superior as you head into Sault Ste. Marie. This is one of Canada's major industrial and shipping centers, which lies across St. Mary's River from Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan. Take a cruise of the canal and locks that allow ships to move from Lake Superior to Lake Huron.

While you're in the area, don't pass up one of the most interesting and scenic rail outings in Canada, the Agawa Canyon train trip. This moderately priced tour, which runs late spring through fall, is usually taken as a day trip. It passes through gorgeous countryside, and during the summer, a two-hour stopover allows you to get closer to the trees, waterfalls and mountains (in the fall, the changing leaves look stunning). There's also an overnight tour that operates during the summer.

From Sault Ste. Marie, head east on Highway 17 to Espanola, and then go south on Highway 6 to Manitoulin Island—the world's largest freshwater island. Lots of little ports and villages and 1,000 mi/1,600 km of coastline comprise the island. There's not all that much to do on the island, but we think it's fun to explore the beaches and do some fishing.

From the southern tip of Manitoulin Island, take the Chi-Cheemaun Ferry to Tobermory, which is home to two unusual attractions. At Fathom Five National Marine Park, you can go scuba diving around 20 sunken ships. If you don't scuba dive, you can still see the wrecks by snorkeling or via glass-bottom boat. (The boat will take you to Flowerpot Island, where you can see some strange rock pillars with trees growing on top.) Drive south on Highway 6 to Hepworth, where you'll take Highway 70 southeast to Owen Sound. The Grey County Museum documents life in the 19th and 20th centuries and houses an exhibit dedicated to native culture.

Next, take Highway 26 east to Wasaga Beach, Highway 92 northeast to Elmvale, Route 19 northeast to Moonstone and Highway 400 north to Honey Harbour, where you can take a water taxi to Georgian Bay Islands National Park, a beautiful collection of 59 islands. When you're back on the mainland, conclude the tour by heading south on Highway 400 toward Toronto.

Day 11 Aug 11, 2027 - Fathom Five National Marine Park

Day 12 Aug 12, 2027 - Detroit

Detriot has historic landmarks, museums, sightseeing, shopping, and accommodations to fit every budget. It is filled with history, culture and modern sophistication all at the same time. The new casinos bring Las Vegas thrill, and the Great Lakes cater to the water enthusiast usually headed to a coastal destination. Detroit has attractions and activities for a family on vacation, someone visiting for business, or a couple searching for romance. Boating tours, museums, historic shopping, fine dinging, and educational attractions including: The Henry Ford Museum, Detroit Science Center and the City of Troy Museum are all within minutes from anywhere in Detroit. Detroit offers culture, sophistication, old world charm, new world excitement and glamour.

Day 13 Aug 13, 2027 - Cleveland

Established beside the Ohio River and the Great Lakes, Cleveland was named after Connecticut's General Moses Cleaveland. Entering into the 20th century, the town became an important American manufacturing center for steam-powered and electric automotives. Today, it is a large growing urban economy with diverse communities, culinary cuisines, and advanced transit systems. It's thrives resonating musical and artistic culture with an entertainment market that's always seeking new artistic talent. Visitors can be transported from cityscapes to Cleveland's botanical garden recreating Costa Rican rainforests, participate in a melting pot of farmer market food and kiosks sampling international cuisine, watch a live theatrical performance with a scenic view of the Great Lakes, or enjoy crowds of great energy watching a Cleveland professional sports team.

Day 14 Aug 14, 2027 - Port Colborne

Day 15 Aug 15, 2027 - Port Colborne

Day 16 Aug 15, 2027 - Welland Canal

The Welland Canals' various locks make it possible for large ships to navigate through the North American-Canadian border, bypassing the Niagara Escarpment that makes passing from Lake Ontario to Lake Erie impossible. Visit Lock 3 to see this in action, peruse the gift shop, listen to a presentation or stroll through the St. Catharine's Museum, which has rotating art and history exhibitions.