Top 20: The Great Lakes
- bzukowsk
- Jan 29, 2021
- 5 min read
People frequently relate the Great Lakes more to oceans than lakes. The five lakes – Huron, Ontario, Michigan, Erie, and Superior have more coastline than the U.S. Pacific and Atlantic coasts COMBINED (not including Alaska). They feature 4,530 miles of sandy beach, rocky escarpments, lighthouses, port towns, surfing, sport fishing, and more. While one might easily mistake them for oceans, these Great Lakes are “unsalted”. And though they may lack true tides, you wouldn’t know the difference when witnessing a 40-foot wave in a storm (famous for sinking ocean bound freighters)!
The Great Lakes are integral to life throughout much of the Midwest and southern Ontario. I’ve spent years traveling to all the farthest reaches of our Great Lakes. And have put together my 20 favorite spots, as well as a hidden favorite for each lake.
Lake Superior
Lake Superior is immense. So large, in fact, it is technically classified as an inland sea AND has more water (2,900 cubic miles) than all the other Great Lakes put together. Don’t come expecting to find many cities (though urban centers like Duluth, Thunder Bay, and Copper Harbor are just a few of many worth visiting). Come instead for the sound of its relentless surf breaking on the rocky shoreline. Chase the horizon from atop several hundred foot cliffs. Then, explore natural caves where rock meets water – kayak by summer, ice caving by winter in the below freezing temps. There are even hidden stretches of white sand beach amid the expansive north woods. Wild and scenic rivers, innumerable waterfalls; Lake Superior is a gateway to the great north, a stronghold for iconic species like wolves, moose, and bear.
Check out:
**Hidden Favorite: Lake Superior Provincial Park – Don’t forget the Canadian side of our Great Lakes. The true north, strong and free boasts endless miles of boreal forest. The beginning of an ecosystem that stretches north to the Hudson Bay.
Lake Michigan
“If you seek a pleasant peninsula, look about you”, Michigan’s state motto rings true. Lake Michigan is significantly more docile than Lake Superior but it still provides plenty of adventure. The lake is technically a single lake with Lake Huron, connected at the narrow Straits of Mackinac. This lake has everything from coastal wineries to 300-foot sand dunes, Chicago’s metropolis to the packers of Green Bay. Michigan’s Lower Peninsula is especially popular with its sandy beaches. But plenty of solitude can be found along Michigan’s Upper Peninsula and Wisconsin. Find millions of people, diverse cultures, and foods between the urban corridor of Milwaukee and Chicago. Even Indiana has a national park over here!
Check out:
7. Chicago
8. Green Bay & the Door Peninsula
10. Beer Capitals of Milwaukee, Grand Rapids, Kalamazoo, and Holland
**Hidden Favorite: Huron-Manistee National Forest -- This vast national forest has plenty of hiking, hunting, boating, and camping opportunities. There are real joys in the wild rivers of the Pere-Marquette, Au Sable, and Manistee. There are sand dunes on the coast (try Nordhouse Dunes or Ludington State Park). And the North Country Trail also runs through here – a small section of the 4,000 + mile long trail from New York to North Dakota.
Lake Huron
Lake Michigan’s twin boasts plenty of regional favorites. Sweet toothed travelers come far and wide for Mackinac (MACK-en-NAW) Island fudge. There are beaches of sand and rock, plenty of forest, and the haunting melody of loons. Detroit is the southern gateway to Canada and Lake Huron. The Bruce Peninsula boasts world-famous scuba diving, hiking opportunities, and even rock climbing on its several hundred foot cliffs. From Motown to Mackinac, Saginaw to the Bruce – check out:
11. Mackinac Island
13. Detroit
**Hidden Favorite: Saginaw Bay - Tawas & the Thumb: This quiet corner of Michigan's lower peninsula is never too crowd with tourists, but boasts plenty of beaches, lighthouses, harbor walks, and quaint towns. Try some whitefish or perch at a local restaurant!
Lake Erie
Lake Erie is the great connector between the upper Great Lakes and the lower Great Lakes. It is by-far, the smallest Lake by volume. But it has plenty of things to see and do. Point Pelee is world-famous for its bird and butterfly migrations each equinox (spring and fall). AND the small spit is the southernmost point of Canada. There are urban centers like Cleveland. Ohio’s Cedar Point is consistently ranked as one of the world’s best amusement parks for roller coaster enthusiasts. Whether it’s the TopThrill Dragster, Cleveland’s Rock’n’Roll Hall of Fame, or the migrating raptors – check out:
18. Cleveland
**Hidden Favorite: Uncle Tom's Cabin. When Abraham Lincoln met Harriet Beecher Stowe he commented that he was meeting the lady who started the Great War. Stowe's novel, Uncle Tom's Cabin, was deeply influential to awareness of the atrocities of slavery. This historic site is just north of Lake Erie, near several other towns at the end of the Underground Railroad. Thousands of African Americans escaped slavery by covertly crossing from the United States into Canada.
Lake Ontario
The last, but not least, of the Great Lakes famously bridges the Midwest to the Atlantic Ocean via the St. Lawrence Seaway. New York and Ontario split much of this lakeshore, full of urban centers and quiet parks. Toronto is the most notable of them all, the largest city in Canada. But people come from around the world to see – or walk beneath – the pounding waters of Niagara Falls. From spectacular autumn colors to Canadian-made poutine, check out:
19. Toronto
20. Niagara Falls
**Hidden Favorite: Golden Hill State Park and Old Fort Niagara. See the oldest occupied military site in North America. Then, visit Golden Hill State Park where you can book a room in the historic 30 Mile Point Lighthouse.
The Great Lakes mean many things to many people. Check out some stories of their creation, their people, living ecology, and more:
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Find some more places to see, food to eat, and books to read if you’re visiting United States or Canada!
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