Great Outdoor Adventures in the National Parks
Featuring: Ohio, Minnesota, Michigan, Wisconsin and Illinois PLUS Indianapolis, Springfield, Detroit and Duluth
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Catch and release. It happens when we get to a place where we can catch our breath and just let go. Let go of deadlines, worries and commitments, while letting us hold on to what matters. Let’s drop an anchor or paddle, fly or bobber. And follow the current to Pure Michigan.
EING named a National Park in the United States has to be one of the most prestigious honours in the country’s history. The Great Lakes region played an early role when, in 1875, Mackinac National Park, Lake Huron, Michigan, became the second park to be given that designation. In 1916, due to the immense popularity of the National Parks, an even more rewarding idea came to fruition when the National Park Service was created, which is the current system that encompasses national monuments, memorials, historic sites, parkways, recreation areas, seashores, scenic riverways and trails.
Find a tour operator for your Great Lakes adventure Look up greatlakesUSA.co.uk and click on the Book Your Trip link. *Only selected cities are included in the map above. Contact Cellet Marketing & PR (see information, right) for full driving maps of any of the Great Lakes USA states.
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Lake Superior
Duluth
MINNESOTA Minneapolis, Saint Paul, Bloomington
Bayfield Marquette Mackinac Island
WISCONSIN
Lake Huron
Traverse City
Green Bay Pipestone
The 100th anniversary of the National Park Service has reinforced its popularity, with more events, activities and community involvement taking place throughout the Parks in the Great Lakes region. And the IMAX 3D film National Parks Adventure, shot specifically for the 100th anniversary and narrated by Robert Redford, highlights some of these wonderful sites. There is no better place, however, to experience what so many of those national treasures have to offer than the Great Lakes region. From glorious shorelines and beaches to dramatic gorges and stunning views, the breathtaking Great Lakes scenery alone is a massive draw for visitors. The Great Lakes are great for adventure and the Great Outdoors, too, as well as for wonderful wildlife, riveting history … and automobile events galore, all part of the National Park Service.
For more information in the UK and Ireland Cellet Marketing & PR, tel +44 (0) 8456 020 574; Email: info@cellet.co.uk; www.greatlakesusa.co.uk; www.facebook.com/GreatLakesUSA; @greatlakesusa
For more information in Germany, Austria & Switzerland TravelMarketing Romberg, tel +49 (0) 2104 79 74 51; Email: greatlakes@travelmarketing.de; www.greatlakesusa.de; www.facebook.com/GrosseSeen
Madison Milwaukee
MicLake hig an
A Service second to none B
MICHIGAN Lansing
Detroit
Rockford Chicago
Lake Erie Cleveland
ILLINOIS
OHIO
INDIANA Indianapolis
Springfield
Columbus Cincinnati
CONTENTS 5 MINNESOTA:
Hit the water on a hunt through history
7 DULUTH:
Skyline beauty above the city
8 MICHIGAN:
Picture perfect on the shores of the lakes
11 DETROIT:
Driving forward in Motor City
12 OHIO:
‘Crooked’ beauty that takes your breath a way
14 WISCONSIN:
Head north for island adventures
17 ILLINOIS:
An easy drive to stunning scenery
20 SPRINGFIELD:
Keeping those Lincoln memories alive
22 INDIANAPOLIS:
Paradise for ‘petrolheads’ FRONT COVER: Ash Cave in Hocking Hills State Park, Ohio.
Check out these websites For more information on the Great Lakes USA region, log on to greatlakesUSA.co.uk. To find out more about the various states, check out enjoyillinois.co.uk, discoverohio. com, travelwisconsin.com, exploreminnesota. com, michigan.org, visitindy.com, visitspringfieldillinois.com, visitdetroit.com, visitduluth.com
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WELCOME TO MINNESOTA
BLOOMINGTON
DULUTH
From bustling downtowns to untouched wilderness, pine forests to bluff country and modern-day attractions, create unforgettable Minnesota memories.
Bloomington, offering natural beauty and located adjacent to MSP International Airport and Home of Mall of America, welcomes Ryder Cup and six new hotels in 2016.
Overlooking magnificent Lake Superior, Duluth abounds with outdoor recreation, maritime history, gourmet dining and modern galleries.
MALL OF AMERICAÂŽ
Mall of America features over 520 stores with no sales tax on clothing and shoes, the nation’s largest indoor theme park and a 1.3 million gallon aquarium for hours of family fun.
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MINNESOTA Sunset fishing on Kabetogama Lake in Voyageurs National Park
Hit the water on a y r o t is h h g u o r h t t n hu
Voyageurs Na tional Park Boundary Wate rs Canoe Area
MINNESOTA
Grand Portage National Monument
Split Rock Lig State Park hthouse North Shore Sc enic Drive Skyline Parkway Scenic Byway
Mississi National Riverppi & Recreation Area
Pipestone Na Monument tional
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MAP KEY North Country National Scen ic Trail
become the longest trail in the US; and canoeing past lush, green landscapes. Voyageurs National Park, where boating is the recommended form of transport (with tour boats, motor boats and houseboats all available for rent), is situated on four large lakes – Rainy Lake, Kabetogama, Namakan and Sand Point. It is full of hardwood forests and intricate waterways, which allow visitors to explore the region by boat just like those early voyageurs. Guided boat tours, such as the Kettle Falls
Saint Croix Na Scenic Riverw tional ay
HE French-Canadian explorers hunting for beaver pelts and furs in the frontier territory of north MINNESOTA on the border with Canada during the late 1600s were called voyageurs. Which is how the Voyageurs National Park – established as a National Park in 1975 and the only
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fresh-water-based National Park in the United States – got its name. And it, along with other National Park-recognised attractions in Minnesota, such as the Mississippi National River & Recreation Area, the Grand Portage National Monument, the Boundary Waters Canoe Area and the Saint Croix National Scenic Riverway, make up a raft of outdoor experiences in the state that takes in boating, camping and fishing; exploring the history of a Native American tribe; hiking along what will
Split Rock Light Station, a National Historic Landmark, is one of Minnesota’s bestknown sights
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Cruise on Kabetogama Lake, take visitors on a voyage to the Kettle Falls Hotel and dam. And campsites – there are 200 of them – are only accessible by boat. Winter sport enthusiasts will also find the park to their liking, for cross-country skiing and snowshoeing or ice fishing. The Mississippi National River & Recreation Area, which winds its way along the Mississippi, passing the Twin Cities of Minneapolis and Saint Paul en route, is a 72-mile-long river park that offers a wide variety of activities, ranging from fishing, boating and canoeing to bird-watching, cycling and hiking. In the north of the river park, Anoka, is rich with history and two flowing rivers the. Coon Rapids Dam Regional Park is great for picnicking, boating and fishing, and there’s a heritage trail and history museum. Minneapolis has art museums, river gorge views and paths to check out, Minnehaha Falls can be almost inspirational, and, at Fort Snelling, a working river is ‘closely woven together with parks, trails and green space in a natural river valley’.
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ISITING the Grand Portage National Monument, on the north shore of Lake Superior in north-eastern Minnesota, tourists have the opportunity to explore the history of the Ojibwe
Boundary Waters Canoe Area is the ideal location to be at one with Nature
people and the North American fur trade at the Grand Portage National Monument Heritage Center. The portage trail is in pretty much the same condition as in times gone by and visitors can hike 8.5 miles from Lake Superior to the Pigeon River. At the monument, volunteers and
PIPE DREAM THAT LIVES ON TODAY Established in 1937, the Pipestone National Monument marks the fact that, for countless generations, Native Americans have quarried the red pipestone found nearby, which was then carved into peace pipes and used for prayer. Even today, the site is still considered a sacred place by many. Attractions at the monument include operating quarries, craftspeople carving the pipestone and an interpretive centre and gift shop. The importance of the pipestone quarries is expressed through storytelling, with the stories of the pipestone varying widely from one tribe to another, an indication of the geographical extent to which the red stone and pipes were used and traded. The area around the monument is A giant in stark contrast to the surrounding peace pipe in prairie, with forest, rock formations, Pipestone. waterfalls and native plants.
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park staff dressed in period costumes demonstrate what life was like at the trading fort at the turn of the 18th century. During the second weekend of August, the monument hosts a re-enactment and the Grand Portage Ojibwa Indian Reservation holds a pow wow, both of which draw large crowds. West of Grand Portage, the Boundary Waters Canoe Area is a million acres of wonderful, magical wilderness that is renowned for both canoeing and fishing. The ideal location to be at one with Nature, it has more than 1,000 pristine lakes and streams, and more than 1,500 miles of canoe routes. Considered by some as the ‘most beautiful wilderness they have ever seen’, it was named by National Geographic as one of 50 Destinations of a Lifetime. Fishing and canoeing are popular activities, too, on the St Croix National Scenic Riverway on the MinnesotaWisconsin border. One of the original eight National Wild and Scenic Rivers, it is a federally-protected system of riverways that is also a popular destination for hiking, boating, camping (there are dozens of National Park Service-designated sites) and hunting.
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DULUTH
y t u a e b e n i Skyl y t i c e h t e v o b a
en is part of The Rose Gard lk, one of the Duluth Lakewa lking paths wa ic en most sc perior ke around La Su
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AKE a stroll along the shores of Lake Superior in DULUTH, Minnesota, and you’re more than just relaxing on the shores of the greatest of the Great Lakes. For Duluth is also one of the stops along the way on the North Country National Scenic Trail, which, when completed, will stretch approximately 4,600 miles across seven states – from Crown Point in New York to Lake Sakakaqwea State Park in
Duluth is one of the stops on the North Shore Scenic Drive
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North Dakota – and be the longest, continuous hiking trail in the US. But before you head north to follow at least a small part of that trail, try exploring Duluth – named as the Best Outdoor Town by one US magazine – from the 25-mile Skyline Parkway Scenic Byway. It rises 700 feet above the city and winds its way through woods, over a dozen tumbling waterfalls and down a secluded boulevard to Brighton Beach, with spectacular views of Lake Superior and the St Louis River Bay along the way. And while in the city (the birthplace of Bob Dylan), check out Bob Dylan
Way. It travels almost two miles through downtown, from 5th Avenue West to 15th Avenue East, taking in part of the formerly-named (until 1991) US Highway 61, the road Dylan referred to in the album and song Highway 61 Revisited. Be sure to visit the permanent Dylan exhibit at Fitger’s Brewery and look out for the Dylan-themed manhole covers in the city that also holds the Duluth Dylan Festival every May. From Duluth, you can hit the road to explore some of the most beautiful drives in the country. The North Shore Scenic Drive is an All-American Road scenic byway that stays close to the rocky north shore of Lake Superior and offers breathtaking cliffs, stunning beaches and spectacular views of Lake Superior. About 50 miles north of Duluth, the Split Rock Lighthouse – reckoned to be one of the most picturesque lighthouses in the States – was built following the loss of 29 ships on Lake Superior during the Mataafa Storm of 1905. One of these shipwrecks, the Madeira, is located just north of the lighthouse. Split Rock Lighthouse State Park offers beautiful spots on the edge of Lake Superior, as well as lakeside scenic trails that link up to the spectacular Superior Hiking Trail. Anglers can expect to catch lake trout, salmon and brown trout.
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MICHIGAN
Picture perfect on the shores of the lakes
Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore has 15 miles of colourful, sandstone cliffs
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ROM dramatic, rugged clifftops and soaring sand dunes to a rich mining heritage, shipwrecks, and the nation’s first National Lakeshore, MICHIGAN has it all. Sandstone cliffs that have been sculpted and stained by the weather over centuries into awe-inspiring things of beauty; craggy rocks that could be mistaken for works of art; and thundering waterfalls that take the breath away – welcome to the Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore. A 42-mile stretch between Munising and Grand Marais in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula (and viewed in comfort on a three-hour cruise), the lakeshore hugs the shoreline of Lake Superior. The first officially-designated National Lakeshore in the United States, it takes its Pictured Rocks name from the 15 miles of colourful, sandstone cliffs north-east of Munising that rise to a height of 200 feet above lake level. But with miles and miles of hiking trails, glorious sandy beaches, inland lakes and caves, and rock formations that test the imagination for an original
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Keweenaw Nationa Historical Pal rk
Isle Roya National Pale rk Pictured Ro cks Nationa l Lakeshore
Thunder y National MBa ar Sanctuaryine
Sleeping Be National Laar Dunes keshore
MAP KEY North Co National untry Scenic Trai l
MICHIGAN MotorCities Na Heritage Ar tional ea
River Raisin BattlefieldNational Park
description, Pictured Rocks is a destination like no other. Along the north-west coast of Michigan’s Lower Peninsula, sand
bluffs that tower 450 feet above Lake Michigan offer spectacular views across the lake and are the stand-out feature at the 35-mile-long Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. With its lush forests, clear, inland lakes and spectacular views, it’s no wonder it was called the Most Beautiful Place in America by viewers of one US morning-TV show. The lakeshore features the sevenmile Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive – with spectacular overlooks of the Glen Lakes, the Sleeping Bear Dunes and Lake Michigan – and the 16-mile Sleeping Bear Heritage Trail. Planned to eventually run for 27 miles, the trail is designed for walkers, runners, skiers, cyclists, wheelchair users … and even baby-carrying buggies!
One of the wrecks in the Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary
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Decades ago, sudden gales, murky fog banks and rocky shoals earned an area in Lake Huron near Alpena, the nickname ‘Shipwreck Alley’. Nowadays, one of America’s bestpreserved collections of shipwrecks is protected by the Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary. Nearly 100 wrecks – from an 1844 side-wheel steamer to a modern 500ft-long German freighter – have been discovered in the 4,300sq-mile sanctuary and visitors can view many of them by glass-bottomed boat, kayak or diving. But if that isn’t enough to satisfy ‘wreck’ fans, the Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum at Whitefish Point in Paradise, near Pictured Rocks, shows artefacts from various wrecks as well as the bell from the infamous freighter The Edmund Fitzgerald that sank in Lake Superior during a 1975 storm.
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NE of the largest lava flows the earth has known helped produce the copper that has been mined in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula for centuries and, in the mid-1800s, caused a copper boom that dwarfed the California Gold Rush. Memories of those days linger in the Keweenaw National Historical Park where, at the Quincy Mine, visitors can drop to the seventh level to see what life was like for mine workers and tour the 1918 Hoist House, which contains the world’s largest steam hoist. Throughout the peninsula there are Keweenaw Heritage Sites that explain the rise and fall of the copper mining industry. Forty miles south of Detroit, in the River Raisin National Battlefield Park, costumed interpreters recreate one of the battles of the War of 1812, when British forces and their Native American allies overpowered about 1,000 American soldiers. Established as a National Park in 2010, River Raisin features reenactments and events that bring to life what one general called a ‘national calamity’, and which resulted in “Remember the Raisin!” becoming a US rallying cry for the rest of the war.
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Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore was voted the Most Beautiful Place in America
RIGHT ROYALE WAY TO GET AWAY FROM IT ALL Fifty-six miles from the nearest part of mainland Michigan, Isle Royale National Park is based on a rugged, isolated island that offers Great Outdoors adventure and wilderness galore. In fact, more than 99 per cent of the land in the park is designated ‘wilderness’. One of the least-visited US National Parks, its solitude appeals to backpackers and hikers, as well as kayakers, canoeists and scuba divers. The 570,000-acre park has 165 miles of hiking trails and 34 backcountry campgrounds. Located in Lake Superior, the 50-milelong island is reached by ferry, seaplane or private boat and has two areas for guests – Rock Harbour (where the Rock Harbour Lodge provides the island’s only hotel-style accommodation) and Windigo, which has two rustic, one-room cabins. Remote, rugged and roadless, the
island offers beautiful isolation and time for contemplation. The largest island in Lake Superior (there are 400 smaller neighbours), it was once a hub for commercial fishing operations, the legacy of which can be seen in the park’s four lighthouses and historic shipwrecks. The isolation also makes it a notable home for wildlife, such as wolves and moose. Visitors wanting to Authorised by Congress 1931 itbyall’ ‘get awayinfrom President Herbert couldn’t Hoover “to conserve come to a than a prime example ofbetter Northplace Woods Wilderness”, it wasMichigan established as a National Park by President Franklin D Roosevelt in 1940. It remains today as a prime example of primitive America. The area around the monument is in stark contrast to the surrounding prairie, with forest, rock formations, waterfalls and native plants.
Isle Royale National Park is perfect for Great Outdoors adventure
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DETROIT: AMAZING DISCOVERIES AROUND EVERY CORNER. Detroit’s rich culture is significantly influenced by its automotive heritage and economy, thus its moniker the Motor City. Explore the auto industry’s past and present at the Ford Piquette Avenue Plant, Ford Rouge Factory Tour and Automotive Hall of Fame. If you want great shopping, The D has lots of ways to shop till you drop, from upscale malls, premium outlet centers and boutique shopping in quaint downtowns. Along with diverse dining, accommodations for every budget and lots to do, there’s something exciting around every corner. Discover it all for yourself at meetdetroit.com.
CONNECT WITH THE D
DETROIT at the Detroit A Model T Ford seum y Henr Ford Mu
d r a w r o f g n Drivi y t i C r o t o M in
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RE you fascinated by cars? Does anything to do with automobiles grab your attention right away? Then DETROIT is just the place for you! It has been called Motor City virtually throughout the whole of the last century; was the place where the American automobile first saw the light of day; and, with the HQs for Chrysler, Ford and General Motors, has been at the heart of the US car industry for decades. When the automobile manufacture in the States declined, so did Detroit.
But now the city is fighting back, with substantial new development and a revitalised car industry. And this – and the industry’s history – is celebrated in Detroit’s MotorCities National Heritage Area. An affiliate of the National Park Service, the area was designated in 1998 to preserve everything cultural and historic associated with the automobile. Memories of the classic, Americanbuilt cars linger on with the annual Autopalooza festival – a series of world-class events that take place all over south-east Michigan, from Ferndale (the Woodward Dream Cruise attracts 40,000 classic cars) to The Inn at St John’s in Plymouth (Concours
The Edsel and Eleanor House gives an insight into the home life of the Fords
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d’Elegance of America), as well as at the magnificent Henry Ford Museum in Dearborn, south-west of Detroit. At the latter, a vast range of vehicles with historic connections includes Model T Fords galore, the Montgomery bus in which Rosa Parks travelled (sparking the challenge to segregation), and the limousine President Kennedy was riding in when he was shot in Dallas. Through the museum and the nearby Greenfield Village, visitors can trace the life of Henry Ford, one of America’s greatest innovators, from childhood to the founding of his Ford Motor Company. The village offers the opportunity to visit the farmhouse where he was born and tour the village site in a vintage Model T Ford or 1931 Ford Model AA Bus. And at the Ford Rouge Factory Tour, also nearby, visitors can see how a Ford is put together on a working assembly line. North-east of Detroit, in Grosse Pointe Shores, the Edsel (Ford’s son) and Eleanor Ford House gives an insight into the home life of the Fords, while Meadow Brook Hall, north of Detroit in Rochester Hills – a National Historic Landmark and a fine example of Tudor-revival architecture – is the historic home built by Matilda Dodge Wilson, widow of automobile pioneer John Dodge.
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OHIO
‘Crooked’ bea uty that takes you r breath away
The breath-tak ing Brandywine Fa lls in Cuyahoga Valley National Park
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ISITORS to OHIO’s Cuyahoga Valley National Park will find an amazing array of outdoor experiences packed into a park within easy access of two urban centres. Following the Cuyahoga River (Cuyahoga means ‘crooked’ in the language of Ohio’s Iroquois Native American Indian tribes) and Ohio and Erie Canalway from the Cleveland area to Akron, the park (one of the newest, in 2000, in the National Park system) welcomes more than two million visitors annually (at no cost) to a wide array of activities. About 240 bird species have been identified there, and the park’s wetlands – helped to a great extent by reintroducing beavers to the area – are a well-known habitat of the Great Blue Heron. Deep forests, rolling hills, waterfalls, secluded trails and open farmlands of the valley (just south of Cleveland) make it a must-visit for hikers, bike enthusiasts and more-active holidaymakers. While visitors can walk, jog or bike the historic route of the Ohio & Erie
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Cuyahoga Valle y National Park Dayton Aviation Heritage National Historical Park
OHIO
First Ladies National Historic Site
Hocking Hills State Park Hopewell National HistoCulture rical Park
Canal on the Towpath Trail, they can also ride a scenic railroad, hear a symphony concert, attend an art exhibit or play golf. In winter, the park is great for snowshoeing, cross-country skiing or ice fishing. Nor should they miss the breathtaking Brandywine Falls, and ought to plan to take a scenic train ride, combined with the stunning autumn foliage, wine or brew tasting, or an autumn foliage tour. And with the Bike Aboard programme, visitors can cycle for a while, then hop on the train back (with their bike). The area’s history harks back to the
days of westward expansion, when the Ohio & Erie Canal brought industry and a subsequent population boom to a region of frontier farmsteads. Nowadays, its well-preserved, 19thcentury villages, such as Peninsula, are a top attraction for visitors, with the villages’ historic architecture, artisan shops full of art and collectibles, restaurants and bicycle rental outlets. They should stop by the Boston Store Visitor Center for maps, gifts, event information and advice, and should also plan ahead for a demonstration of the canal locks. If history is your thing, you will be fascinated by the Hopewell Culture National Historical Park, with its Mound City. For five centuries (200BC to 300AD), Native Americans – people of the Hopewell culture – were living in the now-Ohio valley. In the valley, they built mounds of earth and embankments where they gathered for feasts, funerals and rites of passage. In the park, there are six separate sites to visit and at one, the Mound City Group, the visitor centre has an absorbing, award-winning film,
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Mysteries of the Ancient Architects, which explains the Hopewell culture. Various trails around the site offer terrific opportunities for birdwatchers, while one mile of the multi-use, 28-mile Tri-County Trail runs through the park but, elsewhere, connects the towns of Chillicothe, Frankfort and Washington Court House.
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RE you fascinated by stories of American Presidents? What about the women behind the men? The First Ladies National Historic Site in Canton was established in 2000 and comprises two buildings – the Ida Saxton McKinley Historic Home and the Education & Research Center. On the tour, a video highlights some of the forgotten First Ladies, while a guide describes the gowns, fashions and artefacts of the time and, in the home of Ida Saxton McKinley (a former First Lady herself), visitors can look through the two floors of the house. Ida Saxton McKinley was reckoned to be a great beauty of her day but for beauty of a different kind, Ohio’s Hocking Hills State Park takes some beating, with its cascading waterfalls, awe-inspiring cliffs, rock outcrops, deep caves, cool gorges and forests as far as the eye can see. Six different hiking areas give ample opportunity to see the park at its best. Located in Ohio’s sandstone region,
The dramatic Rock House in Hocking Hills State Park
The First Ladies National Historic Site focuses on the women behind the President
in the south-east of the state, the park’s beauty is enhanced by its wildlife. Visit the park and you can almost bet you’ll see white-tailed deer, wild turkeys or even box turtles. Too much to see in one day and you want to stay overnight? There are cabins to rent, as well as cottages and B&Bs in the area.
FULFIL THAT FASCINATION WITH FLYING
The Wright Brothers Museum highlights the Birthplace of Aviation
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The history of flying is a subject that fascinates people world-wide so the Dayton Aviation Heritage National Historical Park should be on the must-see list of any visitor to Ohio. At the turn of the 20th century, the Wright Brothers, Wilbur and Orville, ran bicycle shops in Dayton, where they researched and built the world’s first power-driven, heavier-than-air machine capable of free, controlled and sustained flight. The brothers had started their careers as printers and operated their second print shop – Wright & Wright Job Printers – in the building that now houses the Wright-
Dunbar Visitor Center, which shows an orientation film and has a restored Wright Brothers’ print shop. The centre also has a full-size replica of the brothers’ 1902 glider, which helped them discover balance and control. Their next flyer had an engine and went on to make history as that first ‘heavier-than-air’ flying machine … on December 17, 1903. The Wright Brothers trained to be pilots and perfected their invention during 1904 and 1905 at the nearby Huffman Prairie Flying Field, at Wright Brothers Hill, where many early-aircraft records were set. A film and exhibits there help shed a light on some of the experiments at the field.
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WISCONSIN
Head north fo island advent r ures
Sherwood Po int Lighthouse in Door County , one of the st ate’s top touring de stinations
MAP KEY Apostle Islands National Lakeshore
North Country National Scenic Trail Saint Croix National Scenic Riverway
Ice Age National Scenic Trail
WISCONSIN
Potawatomi State Park
Rocky Arbor State Park Wisconsin Dells k Mirror Lake State Par Devil’s Lake State Park
Apostle Islands National Lakeshore is made for those who love the outdoor life
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O you just love having a new fun adventure when you go on holiday? Then there’s no better place than WISCONSIN. From the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore to the Ice Age National Scenic Trail and Saint Croix National Scenic Riverway, the state just oozes adventure. The Apostle Islands National Lakeshore, a group of islands in the northern-most tip of the state, is made for those who love the outdoor life. Linked to the National Park programme, the 21 islands in the system and 12 miles of mainland
encompass stunning natural scenery, windswept beaches and cliffs and eight historic lighthouses that shine over Lake Superior. To get the best out of the islands, try hiking, kayaking, sailing or cruising. Take a glass-bottom tour of the shipwrecks and underwater world and marine wildlife of Lake Superior; investigate one of those historic lighthouses on a guided tour; or go on a boat trip to explore sculpted shorelines and sandstone sea caves. Madeline Island – not part of the National Lakeshore – is the only populated island and offers hotel accommodation, restaurants and a history museum as well as beachcombing, golfing, hiking, swimming and an entertaining nightlife. The island is reached by ferry from Bayfield, where you can cast off the stresses and strains of modern-day living in what is claimed to be ‘one of the most beautiful natural settings on Earth’. Around 12,000 years ago, when mammoths, sabre-tooth cats, and cave lions roamed the earth, a massive glacier covered much of the US.
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The Ice Age National Scenic Trail established in 1980 and administered by the National Park Service – follows the edge of that glacier and meanders its way for 1,200 miles (connecting trails link the completed sections) through Wisconsin. The eastern end of the trail is at Potawatomi State Park, in Wisconsin’s Door Peninsula on Lake Michigan. The park, which has 1,200 acres of gentle, rolling countryside and rugged limestone cliffs, is named after the tribe that inhabited Green Bay when Europeans first settled the area. The tribe called themselves Bo-DeWad-Me, but eventually the spelling and pronunciation were changed to Potawatomi. The area of Door County – one of the top touring destinations in the state – combines glorious scenery with some real-American, small-town living. It has 30 miles of picturesque coastline, six wineries, four other state parks, 32 beaches, ten landmark lighthouses and a range of charming towns such as Ephraim, Fish Creek and Sturgeon Bay.
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N route across the state, the Ice Age Trail dips into several local and state parks, forests and wildlife areas, offering many off-road hiking opportunities and some state bike trails, before it ends in the north-west of Wisconsin at Interstate State Park along the Saint Croix River There, the Saint Croix and Namekagon rivers are part of the 255-mile-long Saint Croix National Scenic Riverway, which offers canoeing and camping amid the Northwoods, or boating and fishing surrounded by wooded bluffs and historic towns. Considering the river corridor is near a major metropolitan area, it provides some beautiful scenic views and is a haven for wildlife. The Wisconsin part of the North Country National Scenic Trail (destined to be the longest, continuous hiking trail in the US when completed) offers hikers spectacular waterfalls and varied terrain. Wisconsin also claims to have the highest percentage of the trail that is officially recognised by the National Park Service.
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Fish Creek is one of a range of charming towns in Door County
MAKE A SPLASH IN THE DELLS AND BE SPOILED FOR CHOICE Visitors making for the Wisconsin Dells area – a glacially-formed gorge with striking sandstone formations along the banks of the Wisconsin River – will be spoiled for choice when it comes to deciding where to go in an area that is rich in natural attractions … and packed with manmade ones, too. As one of the biggest family destinations in the Midwest, Wisconsin Dells is known as the Waterpark Capital of the World, but it also has amusement parks, animal attractions, live entertainment, scenic tours and, just for the adults, breweries, wineries and distilleries to visit. Nature lovers should head to the
244-acre Rocky Arbor State Park, which has a mile-long, self-guided nature trail with an abundance of birds and wildlife. Three miles from Wisconsin Dells, Mirror Lake State Park covers more than 2,000 acres. The lake offers fishing, swimming, canoeing and kayaking, while, on land, there are miles of biking, hiking and crosscountry ski trails. Twenty minutes south of Wisconsin Dells, the 10,000-acre Devil’s Lake State Park sees more visitors (about 1.4 million) every year than any other state park in Wisconsin – and no wonder, with its spectacular cliff scenery, 360-acre spring-fed lake and more than 29 miles of trails.
Chula Vista Resort & Waterpark in Wisconsin Dells
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City Center is just minutes away Stay on Chicago’s North Shore The most beautiful area outside of Chicago’s city center can be found twenty minutes north along Lake Michigan. Gardens, museums, shopping, restaurants and affordable first-class hotels are located on Chicago’s North Shore, connected via transport on the city’s famed elevated trains.
“The Magnificent Mile” Shopping District
Millennium Park
Art Institute of Chicago Modern Wing
Cloud Gate “The Bean”
www.visitchicagonorthshore.com Contact us: askme@cnscvb.com
ILLINOIS
o t e v i r d y s An ea y r e n e c s g n i stunn
The beauty of ate Starved Rock St ive dr sy ea an is Park go from Chica
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HICAGO may not be the capital of ILLINOIS (that’s Springfield), but it’s still the biggest draw in the state for international visitors. And while the city has a plethora of attractions – from absorbing architectural river cruises, skyscrapers galore and fabulous museums to magnificent shopping, terrific blues clubs and outstanding restaurants – there are other places within striking distance that are well worth a visit. One such place is the Pullman State Historic Site (proclaimed a national monument in 2015), which is only 15 miles south of downtown Chicago and stands as testament to an attempt in the late 19th century by industrialist George M Pullman to create a ‘model’ town, one where his employees could ‘work, live and worship’. Pullman created those luxurious Pullman sleeping cars on the US rail system. Visitors can view the elegant, Queen Anne-style Hotel Florence, follow the story of the man and
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Rockford Starved Rock State Park Mormon Pioneer National Historic Trail
ILLINOIS Lincoln Home Nation al
MAP KEY
Pullman State Historic Site
Historic Site
Lewis & Clark Nation al Historic Trail
Trail of Tears National Historic Trail Shawnee National For est
the town he created, and take a walking tour into history. The A Philip Randolph Pullman Porter Museum highlights how America’s labour relations were changed by the creation of the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters Union, the first African American union to win a collective bargaining agreement. An easy drive from Chicago (less than 100 miles), the Starved Rock State Park offers lovers of beautiful
scenery a stunning mixture of thundering waterfalls, awe-inspiring bluffs, rugged canyons and 13 miles of scenic trails. Its 2,630 acres are located along the south bank of the Illinois River, which is great for fishing, ice fishing, canoeing and paddle-boat cruises. The most popular state park in Illinois, it is named after a famous battle between the Ottawa and Illinois American Indian tribes. After your hike, relax at the historic Starved Rock Lodge, built by President Roosevelt’s Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930s.
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OVING west across the state to the Mississippi River, Nauvoo was the starting point for the Mormon Pioneer National Historic Trail, which runs to Salt Lake City, Utah. Between 1846 and 1869, 70,000 Mormons fled across five states to escape religious persecution. Nauvoo itself is a history buff’s delight, with more than 30 historic
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Rick Nielsen Lead Guitarist of Cheap Trick (photographed at Coronado Theatre) It’s fitting that with a name like Rockford, one of the greatest Rock ‘n’ Roll bands of all time would call our city home. With artists like Rick Nielsen of Cheap Trick hanging around town, you are sure to be In Good Company when you visit the beautiful Anderson Japanese Gardens, when you canoe, hike and bike the Rock River Trail or the Forest Preserves of Winnebago County or when you are inspired at the Rockford Art Museum and the historic Coronado Theatre. Welcome to Real. Original. Rockford: A little city with big life (just 96 kilometers from Chicago). gorockford.com | @gorockford | #gorockford yolanda@cellet.co.uk | larellano@gorockford.com ROCKFORD
CHICAGO
Mormon sites dating back to the 1840s – from the Brigham Young home to the Nauvoo Print Shop – while, in nearby Carthage, visitors can look in on the restored Carthage Jail, where the Mormon Prophet Joseph Smith and his brother, Hyrum, were incarcerated.
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ARTHER south, one of the great adventures in US history began in Illinois on May, 1804, when 31 men, one woman and a baby set out on a journey that would open up a route to the west of the country. And the Lewis & Clark National Historic Trail, which runs through 11 states, commemorates that historic journey headed by Captain Meriwether Lewis and Second Lieutenant William Clark. You can experience how it all began at the first site on the trail, the Lewis and Clark Historic Site Visitors Center, located at a replica of the expedition’s 1803-04 winter camp area near Hartford and Alton. On display, too, is
The 55ft, full-scale replica of the keel boat used by Lewis and Clark
a 55ft, full-scale replica of the keel boat used by Lewis and Clark. Alton, incidentally, is reckoned to be one of America’s mosthaunted cities but is also full of history and, in 1858, LincolnDouglas Square, is where the famous ‘last great debate’ over
slavery took place between senatorial candidates Abraham Lincoln and Stephen A Douglas in front of 6,000 spectators. From late December until mid-February, the area is home to migratory American bald eagles, and there are guided eagle tours and birdwatching events.
DISTINCTIVE WINE … AND THE GARDEN OF THE GODS The Trail of Tears National Historic Trail (it follows the route Cherokee people took on the way to Oklahoma) crosses southern Illinois, which is now well known for the Shawnee Hills Wine Trail. These vineyards are connected by scenic drives through rolling hills and lush countryside and have 20 years of history growing grapes to make distinctlyIllinois wine. Designated as Illinois’ first American Viticultural Area (AVA) in 2006, the wine trail includes beautiful B&Bs and breath-taking views, and also connects travellers with another Illinois gem, the Shawnee National Forest.
The forest covers much of southern Illinois and is a major draw for lovers of the outdoor life, whether it’s for hiking, horse-riding, climbing or just enjoying the Shawnee’s rolling landscape and rugged bluffs. The forest is famous for its awesome, millions-of-years-in-the-making Garden of the Gods rock formations and is home to the Rim Rock Recreational Trail (there are 403 miles of trails in the forest). Hikers there are greeted by magnificent jutting walls of rock covered with emerald-green moss and paths that meander through canyons under the forest canopy. The rock formations in the Garden of the Gods are millions of years old
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5 famous attractions • • • •
Shedd Aquarium Skydeck Chicago Fast Pass The Field Museum Your choice of Museum of Science and Industry, Chicago, OR 360 CHICAGO Fast Pass
(formerly John Hancock Observatory)
• Your choice of Adler Planetarium OR Art Institute of Chicago
Buy at these attractions - Good for 9 days - Skip most ticket lines 2015-2016 savings advertised. Visit citypass.com for current details.
Prices and programs subject to change.
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SPRINGFIELD
ln o c in L e s o h t g in Keep memories alive
Springfield is the town Abraham Lincoln called home
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PRINGFIELD, the modern-day capital of Illinois, is also the town Abraham Lincoln called home from 1837 until 1861, when he moved to Washington to become President. The Lincoln Home National Historic Site, which is owned and has been administered by the National Park Service since 1971, preserves his home, the four blocks surrounding it, and a visitor centre. Lincoln’s son, Robert Todd Lincoln,
The family home was donated to the state by Lincoln’s son in 1887
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donated the family home to the State of Illinois in 1887 on condition that it would be well-maintained forever, and always open, free, to the public. The home, which contains 12 rooms spread over two floors, has been completely restored to its 1860 appearance, while the visitor centre has a scale model of Springfield as it was then. Bought by Lincoln and his wife, Mary Todd Lincoln, in 1844, the house was the only home Lincoln ever owned. He, Mary, and their sons, Robert, Eddie, Willie and Tad lived on the corner of Eighth and Jackson Streets for 17 years. Visitors taking the house tour can see the toys the boys played with, find a recipe for Mary Lincoln’s white cake, and learn more about what happened to Lincoln’s image and home after the family left for Washington. Film presentations in the visitor centre highlight his political and legal careers as well as his family life. All the homes in the four blocks of the historic site have been restored to their appearance during the time
Lincoln lived there. Two of them, the Dean House and the Arnold House, are open to visitors and house exhibits on the life of Lincoln and his neighbours. Springfield is also home to the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum, where his rise to President is captured through original (but rotating) artefacts such as his beaver-fur, stovepipe hat, an original copy of the Gettysburg Address and the document he signed to end slavery. And at the Lincoln Tomb State Historic Site at the Oak Ridge Cemetery, visitors can admire the stunning granite monument that marks the final resting place of the 16th US President, his wife and three of their four children. About 20 miles north-west of Springfield, Lincoln’s New Salem State Historic Site is a reconstruction of the village where Abraham Lincoln lived from 1831 to 1837 and made his living as a boatman, soldier, store owner, postmaster and surveyor, and was first elected to the Illinois General Assembly.
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Paradise for ‘petrolheads’
INDIANAPOLIS
The Indiana polis Motor Spee dway is a National H istoric Landmark
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HE National Park Service may be 100 years old but one of its National Historic Landmarks, the INDIANAPOLIS Motor Speedway, has already clocked up its centenary, opening in 1909 and, since 1911, staging the world-famous Indianapolis 500 Mile Race – the ‘Greatest Spectacle in Racing.’ For visiting ‘petrolheads’, going to the Speedway is a dream come true, especially if they time it to coincide with the Indy 500, which takes place on Memorial Day weekend, typically the last weekend in May. But the Speedway is also known for
Family fun at the Eiteljorg Museum of American Indians and Western Art
other hi-speed racing extravaganzas. The Indianapolis Grand Prix takes IndyCars out on the track’s road course two weeks prior to the Indy 500. In late July, the annual Brickyard 400 and the stock cars of the NASCAR circuit burn rubber on the oval, followed in August by the Red Bull Indianapolis GP, which lets visitors wallow in exhaust fumes and daredevil action while watching international motorcyclists riding high-tech machines at 200 mph. Visitors can also take an IndyCar, pace car, or shuttle tour around the 2.5-mile Indianapolis Motor Speedway track, or pop into the Hall of Fame Museum. Recognised as one of the world’s top automobile museums, it features 75 magnificent vehicles, including the Marmon ‘Wasp’, which won the inaugural race in 1911, and the Duesenberg #12 Murphy Special, the only car to win both the Indy 500 (1922) and the French Grand Prix at Le Mans (1921). Elsewhere in Indianapolis, the White River State Park, America’s
EDITOR AND WRITER: Neil Murray neil@murrayfeatures.com Published on behalf of Great Lakes USA by Phoenix International Publishing. Web site: www.phoenixip.com Publisher: Simon Todd +1 682 831 0133 simontodd@phoenixip.com UK Office: +44 (0) 1403 276091 angelaspencer@phoenixip.com
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largest cultural urban state park, offers a myriad of attractions – from the Indianapolis Zoo and White River Gardens to the Eiteljorg Museum of American Indians and Western Art and the Indiana State Museum. Conveniently, those two museums sit next door to each other. The Eiteljorg showcases fine art, while the Indiana State Museum highlights science, art and culture in celebration of Indiana’s history. As part of the Indianapolis Zoo, the White River Gardens is known for its botanical exhibits and annual display of butterflies, while the zoo’s new International Orangutan Center has been called ‘the most important zoo exhibit in the world.’ The simple pleasure of touring the park can be done on foot, by bike, boat or Segway, while visitors will delight in picturesque views of the Indianapolis skyline from a pedal boat, kayak or gondola as they drift along the Central Canal.
Photographs courtesy of: Michigan: Pure Michigan; Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary. Illinois: Illinois Office of Tourism; Mike Seroni. Indianapolis: Visit Indy. Minnesota: Explore Minnesota. Springfield: Springfield Convention and Visitors Bureau. Wisconsin: Wisconsin Department of Tourism. Detroit: Visit Detroit; Henry Ford Museum. Ohio: Office of Tourism Ohio. Duluth: Visit Duluth.
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