Itinerary

Arrive in Chicago and take your private transfer to your hotel.

Included in your tour is admission to 360 Chicago Observation Deck on the 94th floor of the John Hancock Center for fantastic views over the city and Lake Michigan.

Explore Chicago’s many attractions. The city has fantastic museums and galleries, including The Art Institute of Chicago with the best Impressionist collection outside Paris, and the Field Museum, home to SUE, the largest and most complete T-Rex ever discovered.

If you’re planning to visit many attractions, then consider getting the Chicago CityPass with up to five attractions included.

Continue exploring Chicago today. We recommend an architecture cruise to see the city from the water. Head down the main branch of the Chicago River, up the north branch to the East Bank Club, and then south past Willis Tower (Sears Tower) to the old Post Office Building. Take in magnificent city skyline views of more than 40 notable buildings, including the John Hancock Center and the Wrigley Building. Alternatively, take a lunch cruise on Lake Michigan.

In the evening, explore Chicago’s renowned food and drink – from Deep-Dish Pizza and Italian Beef Sandwiches to breweries and cocktail bars. The Magnificent Mile of restaurants and shops through the heart of the city from the Chicago River to Oak Street is a good place to sample local and international cuisine.

Continue exploring Chicago. Wander through Millennium Park and see The Cloud Gate sculpture, known as the Bean, while the 18-mile Lakefront Trail is one of the best walks in the city.

Enjoy the city’s nightlife, dominated by its rich musical heritage, particularly in jazz and blues. Catch some live music – from Buddy Guy’s Legends to Green Mill Jazz Club, a former Al Capone haunt.

Pick up your hire car this morning and drive to Madison.

Wisconsin’s state capital has a stunning location on an isthmus between two lakes, and is known as the City of Four Lakes with more parks than any other large US city.

The city is filled with historic architecture, dominated by Wisconsin State Capitol, which has one of the largest domes in the world (daily tours available), as well as several buildings designed by Wisconsin architect Frank Lloyd Wright. Other city highlights the historic downtown around Capitol Square and Olbrich Botanical Gardens.

Drive north-west to the twin cities of Minneapolis-St Paul. Nicknamed the City of Lakes, Minneapolis is famous for its waterways and green spaces with more than 20 lakes and 180 parks. One of the most impressive is Minneapolis Sculpture Garden with more than 60 sculptures from the Walker collection, including the famous Spoonbridge and Cherry.

For some retail therapy, head to the Mall of America, one of the biggest shopping centres in the North America with 500 stores, 50 restaurants and an indoor theme park.

Continue exploring Minneapolis and St Paul today. Minneapolis has several excellent museums and galleries, including the Institute of Art with some 90,000 works, and Mill City Museum, built in the ruins of what was once the world’s largest flour mill. The nearby Stone Arch Bridge is the only bridge of its kind across the Mississippi with 23 arches stretching over 640 metres.

The best place to enjoy Minneapolis’s many waterways is The Chain of Lakes, five lakes including Calhoun, connected by 15 miles of paved shoreline paths, ideal for biking, hiking and kayaking. The 16-metre Minnehaha Falls are a highlight in the south of the city with a two-mile trail into the Mississippi River Valley.

Neighbouring St Paul boasts the second largest unsupported marble dome in the world at the majestic Minnesota State Capitol, as well as a Renaissance-style Cathedral, Minnesota Museum of American Art, and the huge hockey mural on the Treasure Island Center.

Head north-east to Duluth on the shores of Lake Superior, the town where iconic musician Bob Dylan hails from. The city is known for its remarkable Aerial Lift Bridge and the waterfront Canal Park.

It’s worth making a brief detour just south of Duluth to Pattison State Park, one of the most impressive in the region with Big Manitou Falls, the highest waterfall in Wisconsin.

Continue driving east along the shore of Lake Superior this morning towards Marquette. It’s worth breaking up the five-hour drive with stops at Ashland or Chequamegon Nicolet National Forest.

Ashland is a beautiful harbour town with a collection of impressive murals and natural beauty spots to unwind, including Prentice Park or at Maslowski Beach.

Half an hour’s drive south of Ashland is Chequamegon Nicolet National Forest, which has Morgan Falls, one of the highest waterfalls in the region, and another option is Copper Falls State Park with hiking trails and Brownstone Falls.

Cross into Michigan to Marquette, one of the region’s most beautiful towns.

Marquette has six lighthouses and nine waterfalls in its vicinity, as well as hundreds of bird species, deer and moose.

Highlights of Marquette include Presque Isle Park, a forested peninsular extending into Lake Superior, and the bright-red Marquette Harbor Lighthouse with adjacent Maritime Museum.

Just outside town, Sugarloaf Mountain commands fantastic views from its 150-metre summit. Other popular excursions include Big Bay Point Lighthouse, and the trails, beaches and waterfalls of Pictured Rocks.

Continue east this morning along Lake Superior’s shoreline. It’s worth stopping at Lakenenland Sculpture Park just outside Marquette to see more than 100 sculptures made from scrap iron.

Head south-east to St Ignace, a port on the peninsula dividing Lake Huron and Lake Michigan. South of St Ignace is the huge Mackinac Bridge, which vies with San Francisco’s Golden Gate as the longest suspension bridge in the Western Hemisphere, best admired from Bridge View Park.

Visit the Museum of Ojibwa Culture and Marquette Mission Park to learn the history of the region, from the original 17th century indigenous village to Father Marquette’s French Jesuit Mission.

Today, take the short ferry ride to tiny Mackinac Island (pronounced Mackin-aw). Cars are not permitted, so the island is a delightful step back in time with horse-drawn carriages and bikes.

Over 80% of Mackinak is protected in a state park with development restricted beyond the small harbour town. Explore beautiful landscapes of limestone bluffs, forests and beaches on foot, by bike, boat or kayak.

A geological highlight is Arch Rock, while Fort Holmes, constructed by the British during the American Revolution, is the oldest building in Michigan. The island is famous for its fudge, sold in shops in town, so be sure to sample some.

Drive south this morning to Traverse City, famous for its week-long cherry festival in July and surrounded by award-winning wineries, so a vineyard and tasting tour is recommended.

The most famous day trip from Traverse City is to the pristine Sleeping Bear Dunes. One of the most beautiful stretches of sand in North America, these dunes are backed by verdant forest and spectacular inland lakes.

The protected Sleeping Bear National Lakeshore extends over 35 miles of Lake Michigan’s eastern shore, and the most popular dune climb rises some 85 metres, overlooking shimmering Glen Lake. Take a ranger-led hike, cycle along the Sleeping Bear Heritage Trail, drive the Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive, then visit Glen Haven Historical Village and the maritime museums.

This is such a beautiful region that you may consider extending your stay for an extra day to explore more of the coastline and islands.

Head south-east today to Detroit. The city has experienced an exciting regeneration in the past decade with an attractive waterfront and some fascinating museums.

The city’s musical history is best discovered in the expanded Motown Museum and its motoring history at the Henry Ford Museum and Automotive Hall of Fame. Don’t miss the Detroit Institute of Arts, one of the USA’s top 10 museums with a renowned collection of more than 100 art galleries.

Continue to explore Detroit today. A good option is a river cruise passing under the Ambassador Bridge, which links the US and Canada. Alternatively, take a bus over to Belle Isle, nearly 1,000 acres of parkland including forested wetlands, a beach, walking trails, conservatory and the Dossin Great Lakes Museum.

Enjoy Detroit’s busy nightlife in the evening, exploring Downtown bars and live music venues.

Cross into the Canadian province Ontario this morning and head for Toronto, Canada’s biggest city.

Explore the vast waterfront and downtown of this multicultural city. Included in your tour is entrance to the CN Tower with a 450-metre ascent offering panoramic views.

Continue to explore the city of Toronto, including the Royal Ontario Museum with the world’s largest fossil collection, and consider taking a scenic cruise on Lake Ontario.

Take an optional bicycle tour of downtown before checking out the city’s diverse cuisine in the evening in neighbourhoods such as Chinatown, Koreatown, Greek Town, Portugal Village and Kensington Market.

Today it’s time for one of the highlights of your trip, visiting Wonder of the World Niagara Falls.
Take in the spellbinding sight of millions of gallons of water plunging over the sheer cliffs of 170-foot Horseshoe Falls on the Canadian side, and American Falls and Bridal Veil Falls on the US side.
Ascend the 175-foot Niagara Skywheel or the observation deck of Skylon Tower for the best views. Alternatively, opt for a boat cruise or helicopter tour.
Included in your tour is admission to Journey Behind the Falls. Descend by elevator 125 feet through bedrock to tunnels, then walk on to the Upper and Lower Observation Decks at the very foot of the Falls.
In the evening, enjoy the famous illuminations and fireworks.

Wake up in wonderful Niagara Falls and continue to explore this amazing place.

One of the best ways to escape the crowds is on numerous hiking trails around the Falls and further afield to Dufferin Islands.

A great day trip from Niagara Falls is the charming Victorian town Niagara-on-the-Lake, a delightful step back in time with well-preserved colonial buildings, boutique shops and horse-drawn carriages. Don’t miss Queen’s Royal Park, which commands views of the Niagara River and Fort Niagara.

Niagara-on-the-Lake is in one of Canada’s foremost wine regions, particularly famous for its sweet ice wine, so consider a wine tour. Historical highlights of the town include Niagara-on-the-Lake Museum and Fort George, used to defend Canada from the USA during the War of 1812.

Return to Niagara Falls to spend another evening in this magical place.

This morning, cross back into the USA through New York State and Pennsylvania to Cleveland, Ohio.

This city has emerged as a tourist destination in recent years. Cleveland is widely regarded to have staged the world’s first rock concert in 1962 and its most famous site is The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, a striking building on the shore of Lake Erie.

Inside you’ll find a huge, ever-changing exhibition documenting the history of rock from its birth to the present day. Check out the Hall’s busy concert programme or catch a band at the city’s many venues in the evening.

Enjoy another day exploring Cleveland. The Cleveland Museum of Art is a cultural highlight with more than 60,000 objects spanning 6,000 years, located in the University Circle neighbourhood.

Cleveland is also famous for its sports with major league sports teams in American football, baseball and basketball, so watching a game at one of the stadiums is recommended for sports fans.

Cleveland has rich and varied food and drink, renowned for its craft breweries and waterfront restaurants. Another place to sample local cuisine is West Side Market.

Head west this morning, crossing into the state of Indiana to Nappanee. This rural town has one of the largest Amish populations in the country. Stay at the Amish Inn and gain some insight into this unique culture.

Visit a 19th century farm at Amish Acres, explore the town’s indigenous roots at the Nappanee Centre, shop for artisanal wares and antiques at Coppes Common, then head to the Barns in the evening for sumptuous food and performances at the beautiful Round Barn Theatre.

Drive back to Chicago today for the last day of your tour. Drop off your hire car, check into your hotel, then take in any galleries and museums you didn’t visit earlier in your trip.

Consider ascending Skydeck on the 103rd floor of the Willis Tower, formerly the Sears Tower, the highest observation deck in the USA.

Enjoy one more night exploring Chicago’s restaurants and music bars.

Take your private transfer to the airport for your flight home.