Great lakes guide 03

Take Off for

BIG CITIES, BIG THRILLS, BIG STYLE and

GREAT STATES!

ILLINOIS ● INDIANA ● MICHIGAN MINNESOTA ● OHIO ● PENNSYLVANIA ● WISCONSIN

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For free vacation information, call Tel: 08456 020 574 or visit www.greatlakesnorthamerica.co.uk

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INTRODUCTION TO THE REGION

Great Lakes, Great People

Great STATES

● Illinois ● Indiana ● Michigan ● Minnesota ● Ohio ● Pennsylvania ● Wisconsin

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ome to the Great Lakes region of the USA and you really have got it all: great cities, great attractions, great scenery, great people, great adventures – and great memories to take home again.

From pretty Pennsylvania in the east to rugged Minnesota in the west, it is a region chock-full of all the reasons for visiting America, boasting just about every kind of activity and excitement you can imagine – and usually more besides!

It features legendary encounters like the mighty Mississippi River, cities such as chic Chicago, historic Philadelphia and dynamic Detroit, colonial historical epics and, of course, the five Great Lakes themselves, some of the most captivating waters anywhere in the world.

In fact, there is SO much to see and do here you will probably be amazed and bemused in

equal measure, so we have made it easy for you by breaking it all down into the top sights and activities as follows: ● The Big Cities – where to focus on for your arrival and the main attractions ● Family Fun – the outstanding opportunities to make it fun for everyone ● The Great Outdoors – how to enjoy the many bountiful outdoor adventures ● Great Drives – key routes to ensure freewheeling pleasure ● Super Shopping – where to grab the best bargains and local specialities ● Aah, Say Spa – some key places to preen and pamper yourself We even point out some of the main historical moments of the various states, as this region boasts some fascinating heritage dating back

Published on behalf of the Great Lakes of North America by Phoenix International Publishing Ltd, PO Box 615, Horsham, Sussex RH 13 5WF, E-mail: postmaster@phoenixip.com. Editor: Simon Veness, E-mail: venesstravelmedia@yahoo.com.

Although every effort has been made to achieve accuracy, the publishers cannot accept responsibility for any mistake or omissions. The publication may not be reproduced, stored or transmitted in any form or by any means without the prior permission of the publishers.

several thousand years that is sure to surprise and amaze in equal measure.

Bringing things right up to date, you will discover some of America’s greatest amusement parks and modern achievements, such as the brand new Harley-Davidson Museum in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum in Cleveland, Ohio.

And, if there is one other thing to whet your appetite, it is the sport – not just the opportunities to play golf, go fishing, skiing or kayaking, but the true touch of Americana that is taking in a baseball game, or American football, or basketball, or ice hockey.

One warning, though: be sure to allow plenty of time for your visit – the Great Lakes region is roughly the size of Western Europe, so you won’t see everything in one go. But you’ll always be welcome back now, you hear...!

Photographs courtesy of: Great Lakes of North America, Illinois Bureau of Tourism, Visit Indiana Tourism, Travel Michigan, Explore Minnesota Tourism, Ohio Division of Travel and Tourism, Pennsylvania Tourism Office, Travel Wisconsin. Additionally: shutterstock.com, P13; Amtrak, P 18; Cedar Point Amusement Park, P 21; Peddler’s Village, Pennsylvania, P 26. Cover photo: Warren Dunes, Michigan; insets, Minnesota golf; Cedar Point, Ohio; Chicago.

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Great Lakes of North America

FINDING YOUR WAY AROUND UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

www.exploreminnesota.com

G R E A T S T A T E FA C T S Location: From the Mid-West to North-East, mainly bordering Canada to the north The States: Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin www.gochicago.com

Area: Approximately 364,000 square miles (more than 94 million hectares)

www.discoverohio.com

Climate: You get all four seasons in the Great Lakes region: usually temperate and pleasant in spring; hot and sunny in summer; vibrant and colourful in autumn; and cold and snowy in winter

www.VisitIndiana.com

Time Zones: Pennsylvania, Ohio and most of Michigan and Indiana (bar the north-east corners) are on Eastern Standard Time, 5 hrs behind the UK; the corners of Michigan and Indiana, plus Illinois, Wisconsin and Minnesota are all on Central Time, 6hrs behind the UK

www.visitpa.com

Contacts for UK and Ireland: The Great Lakes of North America Tourist Office c/o Cellet Travel Services Ltd, Brook House, 47 High Street, Henley-in-Arden Warwickshire B95 5AA Tel. 01564 794999 email: info@cellet.co.uk; or visit www.greatlakesnorthamerica.co.uk.

Callers from Ireland should dial 44 1564 794999 www.michigan.org 4

www.travelwisconsin.com

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Your Great Lakes journey begins here.

OUR WRITERS

Paul Wade

Kathy Arnold

Simon and Susan Veness Great Lakes North America 2008 is a unique collaboration of AngloAmerican travel writing expertise, with a wealth of experience and insight into the seven states. North American specialist PAUL WADE studied in the USA while KATHY ARNOLD lives in London but hails from Ohio; both have contributed to numerous publications on Ohio, Minnesota and Illinois. Husband-and-wife team SIMON and SUSAN VENESS are based in Michigan for much of the year and are well known for their guidebooks and freelance writing, with Susan also a native of the Great Lakes region.

FIND A TOUR OPERATOR FOR THE GREAT LAKES REGION! Look up www.greatlakesnorthamerica.co.uk and click on the Book Your Trip link

3 WELCOME TO THE GREAT LAKES!

18 GREAERAIL WAYS OF THE REGION

4 GETTING AROUND

20 OHIO – Great Cities, Great Thrills!

6 ILLINOIS – All That Jazz 9 INDIANA – At The Crossroads 13 MICHIGAN – Pioneering Country 16 MINNESOTA – Water Way To Go!

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Contents

Plan an exciting holiday

23 PENNSYLVANIA – History Central

to Chicago and beyond.

27 WISCONSIN – Beauty and Culture

must-see attractions, visit:

30 GREAT LAKES, GREAT DRIVES! – Touring The Region

For great itineraries and

gochicago.com Credits: center inset: G. Kunz, bottom right, City of Chicago/C. McGuire

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Great Lakes of North America

ILLINOIS

All That Jazz!

Set in the heart of the Midwest, Illinois has played a key role in America’s history. The nation’s third largest city, Chicago has long been a centre for transport, business and culture. And, in 2008, capital Springfield launches bicentennial celebrations to mark Abraham Lincoln’s birth.

www.gochicago.com The beautiful Starved Rock State Park

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tretching some 430 miles from north to south, the state is bordered by the Mississippi River to the west, while Lake Michigan is one of Chicago’s defining features to the north.

Take time to visit towns such as Peoria and Galena; tuck in to deep-dish pizza in the state where it was born; and ride the open road on the legendary Route 66.

‘CHICAGO, CHICAGO, THAT TODDLIN’ TOWN’ You’ve sung the song, now discover what inspired it. Skyscrapers rule the city where architect Frank Lloyd Wright made his name: get an overview from the 94th floor of the John Hancock Center or the even taller Sears Tower Skydeck, 1,353ft high. From both, views stretch for 50 miles to three neighbouring states. A newer landmark is Millennium Park, 24 lakeside acres with concerts, galleries and leading edge sculpture – don’t miss

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Illinois State Facts There are more than 12 million Illinoisans, as they are called.

Illinois means ‘tribe of superior men’ in Algonquin The state nickname is the Prairie State and it covers 56,400sq miles Famous jazz musicians from Illinois include Miles Davis, Benny Goodman, Ramsey Lewis and Herbie Hancock

the Crown Fountain with its LED screens. There is more art in the Art Institute of Chicago, where famous works by American artists like Edward Hopper and Georgia O’Keefe, European masters and more make it a world-class museum.

But the Windy City is fun – especially at Navy Pier, with its rides and fireworks on Wednesday and Saturday summer nights. Chicago is famous for its blues and jazz clubs, but summer is a season of outdoor music, from the Gospel Music Festival and the world’s biggest Blues Festival (both in June) to the Chicago Jazz Festival (late August/early September). Most performances are free.

Take a boat trip with a difference on the Chicago River to see the city’s famed skyscrapers, old and new. Ride the El, the elevated (and subway) transit system, 25 minutes out to the suburb of Oak Park. Frank Lloyd Wright’s home and studio are here, as well as Ernest Hemingway’s birthplace and museum.

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ILLINOIS

Get the most from your visit with the Chicago CityPass – 5 top attractions (plus AK E transport tips and maps), BR including the Shedd Aquarium, Adler Planetarium and Field Museum, for just $49.50 per adult.

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north shore convention visitors bureau &

FAMILY FUN In Gurnee, north-west of Chicago, 12 screaminducing coaster rides provide entertainment at Six Flags Great America. Less scary is the ‘foam ball combat zone’ in Looney Tunes National Park, where parents and kids zap each other with foam balls. In Rockford, a highlight of Magic Waters Waterpark is the Abyss, a dark tunnel tube ride five storeys tall!

For calmer fun, meet Sue, the world’s largest Tyrannosaurus Rex, at the Field Museum of Natural History in Chicago. Add in the Shedd, the world’s largest indoor aquarium, the Adler Planetarium and Museum of Science and Industry, and kids will always be stimulated.

Outside the city, in Woodstock, the Chester Gould-Dick Tracy Museum commemorates the cartoon private investigator and his creator.

THE GREAT OUTDOORS With more than 100 state parks and conservation areas, it isn’t hard to get away from it all. Birding, boating, biking, hunting and trail riding – the choice is yours. South of Chicago, Kankakee River State Park is a favourite for fishing and canoeing, hiking and biking. Close to the town of Kankakee, the park runs along both banks of the Kankakee River, known for the purity of its water. Birdwatchers flock to see American bald eagles – only Alaska has more.

During their migration (Dec-Mar), some 2,000 of these magnificent birds break their journey, many in 8,000-acre Pere Marquette State Park, Grafton, in the west of the state. Between Chicago and Peoria, the dramatic landscape in Starved Rock State Park includes buttes, canyons and waterfalls that are spectacular during the spring thaw. Stay at a comfy 1930s lodge, set high on a bluff, and enjoy views over the Illinois River.

AAH! SAY SPA Check out these heavenly Illinois spas: The Peninsula Chicago (overlooking Michigan Ave), where the spa’s ‘Magnificent Mile Package’ offers

Bordering Chicago along Lake Michigan, Chicago’s Nor th Shore is the perfect location for your Chicago area visit.

The Nor th Shore is home to Chicago Botanic Garden, Northwestern University, and Westfield Old Orchard Shopping Center which features Macy's, Bloomingdales, Nordstrom, Lord & Taylor and hundreds of other famous retailers.

Splashing fun at Magic Waters water park

Sport Spot Illinois is home to some top teams, including BASEBALL (Chicago White Sox and Chicago Cubs), BASKETBALL (Chicago Bulls), ICE HOCKEY (Chicago Blackhawks) and AMERICAN FOOTBALL (Chicago Bears). For tickets, call Ticketmaster in Illinois on 1866 448 7849 or visit www. ticketmaster.com.

World-class hotels at very affordable prices are located 20 minutes from downtown Chicago.

Most North Shore hotels offer free parking and hot breakfast and visitors to can take a city train directly to downtown Chicago.

For more information on planning your visit to Chicago’s North Shore call 847-763-0011 or visit

www.visitchicagonorthshore.com

HISTORY LESSON ABRAHAM LINCOLN is everywhere in Springfield: his home, the law offices where he practised, the Old State Capitol where he first spoke out on slavery, and the Lincoln Depot, where he took the train to Washington DC in 1861. At his tomb, a moving ceremony with a bugler and musketeers takes place on Tuesday evenings in summer. The full story is told in the Presidential Library & Museum.

Explorers LEWIS AND CLARK followed the Missouri River into the North-west 200 years ago.

Camp River Dubois, the start of their National Historic Trail is marked with a Visitor Center in Hartford.

East of Chicago, one-time Cinderella city ROCKFORD is now a weekend destination. See the finest Japanese gardens outside Japan, plus art museums and galleries. In north-west Illinois is GALENA. Here, on the Mississippi River, every house seems to be on the National Register of Historic Places, including the home of President and Civil War general Ulysses S Grant.

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Great Lakes of North America the ultimate pampering experience after a day’s shopping – http://chicago.peninsula.com; Bliss Chicago (in the W Chicago Lakeshore hotel), one of the latest outlets of this cult spa and beauty outlet, also with spectacular views over Lake Michigan and Navy Pier – www.blissworld.com; and Heartland Spa, Gilman (90 miles south of Chicago), set in a secluded 32-acre estate surrounded by a serene lake and peaceful forest – www.heartlandspa.com.

SUPER SHOPPING Chicago simply has some of America’s best shopping.

Nicknamed the ‘Magnificent Mile’, Michigan Avenue is lined with famous names. But the boutiques along East Oak Street are even more exclusive. If you prefer malls, try Chicago Place, 900 North Michigan and Water Tower Place for shops such as Saks Fifth Avenue, Bloomingdale’s and Gucci. As for Marshall Field’s, one of the most famous department stores in America, the renovated building is now Macy’s. For the funky and contemporary, head to Bucktown; it is hopping at weekends. For amazing bargains, it has to be at outlet malls. Among the 200 stores at Gurnee Mills, you will find everything from the posh to the practical: Abercrombie & Fitch, Gap, Banana Republic and TJ Maxx. Or try Chicago Premium Outlets in Aurora (120 stores) and Prime Outlets at Huntley.

GETTING THERE Flights from the UK to Chicago include: American Airlines (08457 789 789, www.aa.com) from London Heathrow and Manchester; Air India (020 8560 9996, www.airindia.com) from Heathrow, via New York; British Airways (0870 850 9850, www.ba.com) from Heathrow; bmi (British Midland, 0870 6070 222, www.flybmi. com) from Manchester; KLM/Northwest (08705 074 074, www.klmuk.com) from Heathrow via Amsterdam; United Airlines (0845 8444 777, www. unitedairlines.co.uk) from Heathrow; and Virgin Atlantic (08705 747 747, www. virgin-atlantic.com) from Heathrow

GREAT DRIVES WITH

There is nothing that conjures up the American Way better than ROUTE 66. Illinois boasts 436 miles of the ‘Mother Road’. Go the whole hog and go retro – rent a Harley-Davidson. Stop at the Launching Pad DriveIn in Wilmington, one of the few surviving Route 66 restaurants, complete with towering green fibreglass statue of the Gemini Giant holding a rocket ship.

Alternatively, check out the state’s wine on the SHAWNEE HILLS WINE TRAIL. In southern Illinois, the drive links eight of the state’s best winemakers, from the Pomona Winery to the Blue Sky Vineyard. And all along the route are small B&Bs.

The best way to see Chicago is through our windows.

Located on Michigan Avenue, the Essex Inn makes it easy to experience Chicago with unique museum, shopping and entertainment packages.* We have annual favorites like our Shop Chicago Package that combines an overnight stay with $50 in Water Tower Place gift cards, a Water Tower Place Premier Perks booklet and a tote bag to carry it all in.

Our year-round Room With A View Package includes two general admission tickets for the Sears Tower Skydeck—another great way to take in the city.

Want something more down to earth? Take our Chicago Field Trip and see Sue—the largest, most complete and best preserved T-Rex fossil yet discovered. This package provides two general admission tickets to The Field Museum of Natural History with one night’s accommodations at the Essex.

New packages that revolve around special events are constantly being added!

800 S. Michigan Ave.

*Packages subject to availability, applicable taxes and require advance reservations. ©2007 Essex Inn

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INDIANA

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HELVETICA

Indiana State Facts The 6 million residents are called Hoosiers It is known as the Hoosier State – after a French word for a country person, or someone who lives in the hills, or after builder Samuel Hoosier; no-one in the state can agree!

Indiana means ‘The Land of the Indians’ and it covers 36,185sq miles Famous residents include president Abraham Lincoln, actors James Dean and Steve McQueen and musicians Cole Porter and Michael Jackson

The grand Monument Circle, Indianapolis

INDIANA At The Crossroads Indiana invites you to take life in the fast lane – especially for the worldfamous annual Indy 500 motor-race – or as slow as you like, by visiting one of the many Amish communities in the state’s extensive rural landscape.

www.VisitIndiana.com

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ts well-planned leading city of Indianapolis – the state capital – is also a conurbation of contrasts, from the ultra-modern to the truly historic, with a plethora of appealing museums.

Elsewhere, the twin heritage hotels of French Lick and West Baden Springs are fast becoming major attractions in their own right, too.

And it positively thrives on its reputation as the Crossroads of America, with a healthy pioneering spirit that is underlined by the amazing collection of highways – more than any other city in the country – radiating out from Indianapolis. Arrive and travel is the message, and there is plenty to see and do, in every direction!

IT ALL HAPPENS IN INDIANAPOLIS Indiana’s premier city almost bursts at the seams with a bustling modernity that still nods in the direction of its 19th-century origins at places like the 1888 Indiana Statehouse and White River State Park, a rare downtown state park, where you’ll find the Indiana State Museum and the unique Eiteljorg Museum of American Indian and Western Art. Your prime visit, though, should be the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, the Mecca of American motorsport. Here, in the stupendous setting of the world’s largest sporting arena – with 250,000 seats – you can enjoy the Hall Of

Fame Museum and learn why the Indy 500 every May is such a revered event in the high-octane world, almost since the track first opened in 1909.

Tour the museum, smell the tyre-stained history of the fabled ‘Brickyard’ and take a bus tour of the 2.5-mile oval track. In late July, you can also soak up the excitement of NASCAR racing in the Allstate 400.

Then you can enjoy a more sedate journey along the new Indianapolis Cultural Trail (opening in stages from 2007-09), a 7.5-mile urban bike and pedestrian path connecting all five of the city’s cultural neighbourhoods and entertainment districts, including Monument Circle, Fountain Square and the world-class shopping of the Wholesale District.

Learn American Indian history at Eiteljorg Museum

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Great Lakes of North America FAMILY FUN Start in the capital and you can treat the family to the unique style of the Indianapolis Zoo (in White River State Park), where the Dolphin Adventure Show is one of the leading attractions, and those brave enough can try the new Shark Touch Pool, which is part of the Oceans Exhibit!

Then head to the Children’s Museum of Indianapolis and step back 65 million years into their Dinosphere to experience the Cretaceous

HISTORY LESSON February 2008 sees the start of the huge LINCOLN BICENTENNIAL celebration to honour the former president’s 200th birthday (February 12, 2009). Abraham Lincoln was not an Indiana native but spent many of his formative years – from 7 to 21 – in Spencer County in the south.

Today, Indiana’s many attractions dedicated to America’s most revered statesman include his boyhood home in Lincoln City, where you’ll find the NATIONAL MEMORIAL, STATE PARK and PIONEER VILLAGE. More extensive collections of Lincoln memorabilia and artefacts can be found at the INDIANA HISTORY CENTER in Indianapolis and LINCOLN MUSEUM in Fort Wayne. Look up more events at www.indianaslincoln.org.

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Period. Finally, check out the Robots & Us exhibition (until April 27).

Head south and you find the city of Evansville, nestled on the Ohio River, where the Children’s Museum is a vibrant new concoction of interactive play-and-learn, highlighted by the Quack Factory – 2½ floors of pulleys, machines, balls and water!

For a more rural touch, Fair Oaks Farms in the town of Fair Oaks (mid-way between Indianapolis and Chicago) offers kids a sample of dairy life in the middle of 30,000 cows, where 4 million glasses of milk are produced daily, all celebrated in a hilarious 3-D theatrical presentation, hands-on exhibits and guided tours.

Too sedate? Then head for Santa Claus (the town, not the person!), where you can find the Holiday World amusement park (complete with one of the world’s longest wooden roller-coasters, The Voyage) and its Splashin’ Safari water park neighbour.

THE GREAT OUTDOORS Indiana revels in its outdoor pursuits and healthy options year-round, and you’ll find plenty of choice to go hiking, biking, horse-riding, fishing,

canoeing, kayaking and cross-country skiing (plus ice-fishing for the ultra-hardy!). Golf is a major pasttime, with some 150 courses in the central region alone. Top designer Pete Dye hails from Indiana and has a number of courses to offer, while his son PB Dye designed the challenging Buck Point course in Liberty. The Donald Ross Course at French Lick features the newly-restored 1917 links course by famed Scottish designer Ross, while 2008 sees a new Pete Dye championship course here. For more info, visit the excellent www.visitindianagolf.com.

Brown County State Park (about an hour south of Indianapolis) features a little of everything for outdoor activity while the White River (from Daleville to Mounds State Park) has some of the best canoeing and kayaking along a series of small rapids, and Harmonie State Park on the River Wabash draws swimmers and hikers in equal measure.

The big attraction, though, is Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore, which runs for 25 miles on the southern edge of Lake Michigan. Famous for its ‘singing sands’ (they emit a low frequency sound under pressure), it is tops for bird-

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INDIANA

watching, hiking, swimming and fishing, and even cross-country skiing in winter. But don’t forget to climb Mt Baldy, a ‘wandering’ dune that moves an average of 4ft every year!

All action – the amazing Indianapolis 500

SUPER SHOPPING Antique shops and small-town crafts stores abound in Indiana, and you will find plenty to amuse and entertain in places like Zionsville, Carmel, Hagerstown, Noblesville, Shipshewana and Crawfordsville. For the larger-scale

GETTING THERE Indiana is easily accessible from both Cincinnati and Chicago: Delta (UK: 0845 600 0950, www. delta.com) serves Cincinnati; for Chicago, try American Airlines (08457 789 789, www.aa.com), Air India (020 8560 9996, www.airindia.com), British Airways (0870 850 9850, www.ba.com), bmi (British Midland, 0870 6070 222, www. flybmi.com), KLM/Northwest (08705 074 074, www.klmuk.com), United Airlines (0845 8444 777, www.unitedairlines.co.uk), and Virgin Atlantic (08705 747 747, www.virgin-atlantic.com)

Indianapolis 500. 2006.

Time is of the essence on the track, but stands still in the winner’s circle.

VisitIndiana.com

restart your engines

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Great Lakes of North America ‘The stunning 19th century hotels of French Lick and West Baden Springs are practically attractions in their own right’ experience, head for Lighthouse Place or Edinburgh Premium Outlets (in the towns of Michigan City and Edinburgh) for the big-name bargains while Indianapolis itself offers a hive of high-quality retail at The Fashion Mall at Keystone, Castleton Square Mall and the Circle Centre.

AAH! SAY SPA For Indiana’s best spa experiences, try the following: Villa Inn, Restaurant and Spa, Indianapolis, a unique location in downtown Indy that features a comprehensive new wellness package – www.thevillainn.com; Stonebridge Inn and Spa, Batesville (midway between Indianapolis and Cincinnati), located on a beautiful country estate – www. stonebridgeinnandspa.com; and the renowned French Lick Resort Casino, French Lick (in Springs Valley, Orange County), which has a history of health and medicinal springs dating back to the 19th century and features a brand new spa where the mineral waters are still used - www.frenchlick.com/spa/spa.asp. Here you’ll also find the two stunning 19th-century

The stunning interior of West Baden Springs Resort

hotels of French Lick and West Baden Springs, completing a huge array of exciting, modern resort development with major historic overtones.

Sport Spot For great sport, Indiana has BASKETBALL (Indiana Pacers) and AMERICAN FOOTBALL (2007 Super Bowl champs the Indianapolis Colts), plus the famous INDY 500 motor race (in Indianapolis) every May and the Allstate 400 in July.

For tickets, call Ticketmaster on 1866 448 7849 or visit www.ticketmaster.com.

GREAT DRIVES WITH

Epic look – that’s West Baden Springs

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In the south-east, the INDIANA WINE TRAIL offers the chance to take in rolling hills, river towns, antique shopping, state parks and historic sites like Lanier Mansion in Madison, plus six of the state’s leading artisan wineries (www.indianawinetrail.com).

No visit to Indiana could be complete without a tour of AMISH COUNTRY, starting in Shipshewana and visiting the Menno-Hof museum (to discover the amazing history of the Amish and Mennonite religions), via Middlebury (with its famous Das Dutchman Essenhaus restaurant) en route to Nappanee, where you can tour Amish Acres, a restored 80-acre Old Order Amish farmstead (and stop for a hearty dinner!).

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MICHIGAN

Michigan State Facts The 10 million residents are known as Michiganders Michigan’s name comes from the Indian word ‘meicigama’, meaning ‘great water’. The state covers 79,610sq miles.

The state’s nickname is The Wolverine State.

Ohioans branded Michigan ‘bloodthirsty wolverines’ in a dispute over territory, while Native Americans referred to ‘wolverine-like gluttonousness’ as settlers took over native land.

Downtown Detroit, seen from inside fabulous Comerica Park

Famous Michiganders include Henry Ford (Greenfield Township), Charles Lindbergh (Detroit) and music stars Stevie Wonder (Saginaw), Diana Ross (Detroit) and Madonna (Bay City).

MICHIGAN www.michigan.org

Nestled against 4 of the 5 great lakes, Michigan’s spirit of yearround adventure springs from a long history of lumber-jacking, fishing and farming.

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ith the longest freshwater shoreline in the world, the distinctive mittenshaped Lower Peninsula rests like a hand upon water while the Upper Peninsula resembles a deer running west, hinting at one of the state’s popular autumn pastimes.

The heart of its pioneering ancestry beats as strongly as ever in thriving national parks, hometown festivals and names such as Bad Axe and Grind Stone City.

Pioneering Country

REV UP FOR THE MOTOR CITY DETROIT honours its automotive heritage at Henry Ford Museum in Dearborn, a dynamic time-capsule of American industry, featuring exhibits as varied as the chair Abraham Lincoln sat in that fateful night in 1865 to full-size locomotives, a world-class automobile collection and the only remaining prototype Dymaxion House, a pre-fabricated house designed by inventor Buckminster Fuller. Neighbouring Greenfield Village is filled with original buildings such as Thomas Edison’s Menlo Park (where the light bulb was invented), the Wright brothers’ family home, working farms and craft shops. Offering an in-depth look into automotive history, a 90-minute Ford Rouge Factory Tour begins on the grounds at Henry Ford, ending at the Ford F-150 Final Assembly building.

Winter fun in Michigan includes snow-mobiling!

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Great Lakes of North America Isle Royale is one of Michigan’s most scenic locations

Situated on the banks of the Detroit River, the Renaissance Centre reflects miles of city sprawl in seven mirror-finished towers. Take a free one-hour tour, offered four times daily Mon-Sat, including an outdoor glass-elevator ride to the 72nd floor for a 30-mile view to the horizon. Hop aboard the People Mover for a more down-to-earth tour through the financial district. Favoured for its Greek restaurants, bars and casinos, nearby Greektown is a popular destination after a sporting event at Comerica Park or the Joe Lewis Arena, or a show at the ornate Fox Theatre.

Three miles away, Motown Historical Museum is the birthplace of the Motown Sound, paying tribute to the impact that artists such as Stevie

Sport Spot Detroit is home to the state’s top teams for BASEBALL (Detroit Tigers), BASKETBALL (Detroit Pistons), ICE HOCKEY (Detroit Red Wings) and AMERICAN FOOTBALL (Detroit Lions). For tickets, call Ticketmaster on 1866 448 7849 or visit www.ticketmaster.com.

Just beautiful – autumn on the Au Sable River

Wonder, Marvin Gaye and Smokey Robinson had on the evolution of music.

Tour Studio A, where their greatest hits were recorded, then dance with The Temptations! Original costumes, sheet music and rare photographs make the museum one of Detroit’s unique cultural draws. A short walk away, find the engaging hands-on Detroit Science Centre.

FAMILY FUN Tucked between Lakes Huron and Michigan, within sight of Mackinac Bridge, Mackinac Island recalls the Victorian era, when horse-and-buggy or a strong set of legs were the main methods of transportation. Hire a bicycle, hear the Colonial Fort Mackinac story as told by costumed interpreters, then search for Petoskey stones – 350-million-year-old fossilized coral, found only in Michigan. The elegant Grand Hotel, one of America’s prime listed buildings, is the Island’s true icon.

Bavarian-inspired Frankenmuth, just off I-75, is best known for chicken dinners with all the trimmings and 320,000sq ft Bronner’s CHRISTmas Wonderland, the world’s largest Christmas store. Looking for bigger thrills?

Michigan’s Adventure amusement park in Muskegon is home to six coasters, including the critically acclaimed 125ft wooden mega-coaster Shivering Timbers, along with dozens of family orientated rides and games, plus Wildwater Adventure water park.

THE GREAT OUTDOORS Summer offers lazy afternoons meandering down the Au Sable river in a hired inner tube or fishing the Great Lakes aboard a chartered boat. Winter brings out skiers by the thousands, notably at Boyne Mountain in Boyne Falls and Crystal Mountain in Thompsonville. Snowmobile hire is available throughout northern Michigan, where well-used trails wind through frostgilded forests.

Sleeping Bear Dunes, 25 miles west of Traverse City, poses a physical challenge of the windswept variety. Climb 300ft to the summit for a rewarding view of Glen Lake before making an exhilarating sprint back down. Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary near Alpena protects a collection of 100 shipwrecks, some in shallow waters convenient to boaters 14

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and snorkellers, with deeper wrecks accessible to divers. An easy hike into Upper Michigan’s Tahquamenon Falls State Park takes visitors to the 50ft Upper Falls, one of the largest waterfalls in the Midwest. Rugged Isle Royale National Park, in the north-west corner of Lake Superior, attracts serious hikers, kayakers and anglers. Or visit Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore in Munising, where mineral-stained sandstone cliffs and formations create a dramatic landscape; then watch the breathtaking Aurora Borealis light up the winter night sky.

American icon – that’s the Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island

SUPER SHOPPING Birch Run, 10 minutes from Frankenmuth, is outlet shopping at its finest, with 150 shops, including Michigan’s only Pottery Barn outlet, Waterford Wedgwood, and numerous designer clothing labels and casual dining options. First-class mall shopping can also be found at Summerset Collection in Troy.

More eclectic is the style of Traverse City’s Downtown and Old Town.

Inviting streetside cafes join with one-off boutiques, antique shops and art galleries set against the backdrop of Lake Michigan. Glen Arbor’s Cherry Republic specialises in cherry products, while many northern Michigan towns have thriving galleries selling local artists’ work.

AAH! SAY SPA Try these Michigan spas for the perfect touch: Mountain Grand Lodge & Spa, Boyne City (near Lake Charlevoix), where the 18,000sq ft Solace Spa features an extensive menu of services inspired by the four seasons of Northern Michigan – www.boyne.com/BoyneMountain; Grand Traverse Resort & Spa, Acme (near Traverse City), which has recently undergone an $11million renovation – www.grandtraverseresort.com; Garland Resort, Lewiston (near Grayling), where the Garland Spa offers the chance to rejuvenate in the largest log lodge east of the Mississippi – www.garlandusa. com; and Soaring Eagle Casino & Resort, Mount Pleasant (north of Lansing), with its full-service spa and four-diamond rated hotel, plus one of the largest casinos in North America – www.soaringeaglecasino.com.

H I S T O R Y

L E S S O N

Detroit’s most famous citizen was HENRY FORD, whose innovative moving assembly line construction of the automobile revolutionised American industry, influencing production practices still in use today.

FORT MACKINAC military outpost was constructed by the British during the Revolutionary War, then relinquished to the Americans in 1796. During the first land engagement of the War of 1812, more than 400 British troops and Native Americans captured the Fort during a surprise attack. After two failed attempts to recapture the Fort, it returned to American hands following the Treaty of Ghent in 1815 and is a living monument to the period to this day.

HOLL AND MICHIGAN

“One of America’s Dozen Distinctive Destinations”

Warm Sandy Beaches Boutiques & Galleries

GETTING THERE

Festivals & Fine Arts

Flights from the UK to Detroit include: British Airways (0870 850 9 850, www. britishairways.com) from London Heathrow; Northwest Airlines (08705 074 074, www.nwa.com) from London Gatwick; and KLM (08705 074 074, www.klmuk.com) from Heathrow via Amsterdam

Unique Attractions Farm Markets & U-Picks Hiking & Biking

GREAT DRIVES WITH

OLD MISSION PENINSULA stretches along the 45th parallel into Grand Traverse Bay, creating a climate perfect for growing grapes. Some 19 miles long but just three miles wide, the peninsula yields sweeping views of the Bay across vast vineyards. Five wineries, including nationally recognised Chateau Grand Traverse, offer free tastings, so be sure to designate a driver!

Spanning 20 miles along M-119 from Harbor Springs to Cross Village lies an interlocking canopy know as the TUNNEL OF TREES. Surrounding countryside is rich in folklore and the drive’s 45mph speed limit encourages travellers to stop at Thorne Swift Nature Preserve, check out various historical landmarks and feast on the blazing autumnal colours.

3 hours from Chicago & Detroit

www.holland.org info@holland.org

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Great Lakes of North America

MINNESOTA

Water Way To Go!

www.exploreminnesota.com

Awesome wilderness – that’s Boundary Waters Canoe Area

Minnesota State Facts The 5 million residents are known as Minnesotans Minnesota is the Dakota Indian name for ‘water that reflects the sky’ State nicknames are the Land of 10,000 Lakes and the North Star State; it covers 79,548 sq miles Famous Minnesotans include Judy Garland, Charles Schulz (Peanuts cartoons), Prince, Bob Dylan and Terry Gilliam (Monty Python)

Look out of the window as you fly in to the Twin Cities of Minneapolis and Saint Paul and it is easy to see why Minnesota is called the ‘Land of 10,000 Lakes’. The heavily-forested landscape is dotted with water glinting in the sun. From small ponds to vast lakes, they are ideal for exploring the glorious wilderness.

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oughly equidistant from the Pacific and the Atlantic, Minnesota even has lighthouses – on Lake Superior! Then there is the Mississippi River that starts out as a gurgling stream near Bemidji and broadens into the mighty Ol’ Man River.

But this is also the state that boasts America’s largest retail and entertainment complex, great golf and a score of casinos.

THE TWIN CITIES Next door neighbours on the Mississippi, MINNEAPOLIS and SAINT PAUL are always referred to as the Twin Cities. But, with three million 16

Outside the funky Walker Art Center, the startling 29ft giant spoon and cherry sculpture hints at what is inside – one of America’s finest collections of modern art, including Andy Warhol.

Right by the Mississippi, the stunning Guthrie Theater is considered the birthplace of regional theatre in the USA.

inhabitants, they are far from identical twins.

State capital Saint Paul takes pride in its Victorian architecture, from the Capitol building and Saint Paul Hotel to the Fitzgerald Theater, home of Garrison Keillor’s A Prairie Home Companion.

One of America’s greenest cities, Minneapolis has a modern feel, with glass-and-steel skyscrapers and the impressive Metro Dome sports centre.

The arts are an integral part of the experience these days and art lovers head for Minneapolis Institute of Arts, with works by American artists such as Gilbert Stuart, John Singer Sargent and Georgia O’Keeffe as well as European greats such as Van Gogh.

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FAMILY FUN More than just shops, the Mall of America (in Bloomington, immediately south of the Twin Cities) is an entertainment destination. The USA’s largest indoor amusement park can be found here – the dramatically redesigned Nickelodeon Universe (formerly The Park at Mall of America), which will feature new rides and attractions inspired by Nickelodeon’s popular kids TV programmes from March 2008, as well as original rides like the Timberland Twister spinning coaster.

Altogether calmer is the Underwater Adventures Aquarium. From its 300ft long tunnel, 14ft beneath the aquarium surface, you can peer at sharks, stingrays and giant sea turtles.

Then get into the water yourself at the nearby Water Park of America, America’s biggest indoor water park – where one slide is 10-storeys high!

In Saint Paul, the Minnesota Children’s Museum is one of the best. Climbing into an anthill, working a crane, pretending to be a beaver – all these and more encourage children to explore and learn. Fans of Little House on the Prairie should head for Walnut Grove, southwest

GREAT DRIVES WITH

With 22 designated scenic drives, covering more than 2,000 miles, this vast state is best explored by car. Some trails are seasonal, such as the APPLE BLOSSOM SCENIC DRIVE, along country roads overlooking the Mississippi valley, with its orchards and farms. Others lead into a wilderness still untouched by man. The GUNFLINT TRAIL starts on Lake Superior but heads inland through National Forest. There are no towns, so your companions are wildlife, with the occasional wolf howl to keep you alert!

One of America’s great drives is NORTH SHORE SCENIC DRIVE. Its 154 miles follow Lake Superior from Duluth to Two Harbors and on to Grand Portage. Waterfalls and ocean-like vistas line the way, along with the much-photographed 1910 Split Rock Lighthouse and arts-oriented town of Grand Marais, with its theatre, art galleries and folk school.

Sport Spot The Twin Cities are home to the state’s top pro sports teams for BASEBALL (Minnesota Twins), BASKETBALL (Minnesota Timberwolves) and AMERICAN FOOTBALL (Minnesota Vikings), all in Minneapolis, plus ICE HOCKEY (Minnesota Wild) in Saint Paul. For tickets, call Ticketmaster on 1866 448 7849 or visit www.ticketmaster.com.

of the Twin Cities, to see where author Laura Ingalls Wilder lived. A museum records those pioneering days, with a quilt hand-made by Laura and daughter Rose, as well as the Kelton Doll Collection dating back to 1870.

THE GREAT OUTDOORS Ever wanted to paddle your own canoe? Do it in Minnesota, where the calm, clean water makes it a pleasure. Up in Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, sign up for a 3-day guided tour (www.bwcaw.org). After instruction on how to paddle and pack, off you go, choosing from 1,200 miles of routes. The wilderness is home to eagles and deer, beavers and loons, even moose and bears. Sit round a camp fire and eat under the stars for a unique experience.

Although there are more than 100 public courses within 45 minutes of the Twin Cities, it is the heart of the state that throbs with golfing passion. The Brainerd Golf Trail is rated in the world’s top 50 by Golf Digest magazine, with some 20 courses, set among woods, wetlands and, of course, lakes. Among the award-winning resorts is Cragun’s on Gull Lake, but you are never far from a relaxing round or two with nearly 600 courses to choose from. Hazeltine National in Chaska was home to the 2002 PGA Championship.

HISTORY LESSON Minnesota was always on the frontier, either with Canada or the West. Learn more at HISTORIC FORT SNELLING, near the Twin Cities. This stone-walled military outpost guards the confluence of the Mississippi and Minnesota rivers. See, hear, smell and even taste life back in the 1820s. Members of the garrison, dressed in period uniforms and clothing, demonstrate everything from baking and cooking to firing muskets and playing the fife and drum.

One and a half hours north-west of the Twin Cities is LITTLE FALLS, home of Charles Lindbergh, who flew solo across the Atlantic in 1927. His boyhood home is a shrine to the aviator, complete with family furnishings, historic photographs and other memorabilia. To imagine what it must have been like to fly from New York to Paris, you can climb in a replica of the Spirit of St Louis cockpit.

Minnesota celebrates its 150th anniversary from May 9, 2008, with events throughout the state.

Look up all the details on www.mn150years.org.

GETTING THERE Flights from the UK to Minneapolis/Saint Paul include: Icelandair (0870 787 4020, www. icelandair.co.uk) from London Heathrow and Glasgow via Reykjavik; KLM (08705 074 074, www.klmuk.com) from Heathrow via Amsterdam; and Northwest Airlines (08705 074 074, www.nwa. com) from London Gatwick

SUPER SHOPPING The Mall of America is No 1 – the USA’s largest retail and entertainment complex. Now 15 years old, it is home to more than 520 shops, and counting!

Anchored by Bloomingdale’s, Macy’s and Nordstrom, the Mall also has Tommy Bahama, friends 2B made, Club Monaco, One Thousand Steps and much more. Feeling romantic? You can even get married in the Mall’s own wedding chapel.

By contrast, towns such as Grand Rapids and Red Wing still have traditional shopping streets, with local stores.

Edina (within the Twin Cities area), offering an entire programme with the latest body and beauty treatments – www.spabellacasa.com; and Grand View Lodge, Nisswa (in the Brainerd Lakes area), home of the Glacial Waters Spa and day spa packages for every day of the week – www. grandviewlodge.com.

AAH! SAY SPA For perfect pampering, try these Minnesota spas: Birdwing Spa, Litchfield (70 miles west of the Twin Cities), on an estate with 300 pristine woodland acres and 2½ miles of private lakeshore – www.birdwingspa.com; The Marsh, Minnetonka (10 miles west of Minneapolis), integrating architecture and aerobics, nutrition and nurturing to help balance the mind and body – www.themarsh.com; Spa Bella Casa,

Iconic – the Split Rock Lighthouse

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Great Lakes of North America Pulling into Saint Paul at night on the Empire Builder

along the way as the USA Rail Pass fully allows for stopovers (look out for some special offers and promotions along the way).

Choose from two main routes, The Lake Shore Limited route from Chicago to New York (or parts thereof), and the Empire Builder, which takes travellers along pioneer trails from Chicago through the heart of Wisconsin and on to Minneapolis-Saint Paul.

LAKE SHORE LIMITED

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This journey travels much the same route today as it did when it was known as the Twentieth Century Limited (1902-67) and features some of the prettiest shorelines in America. Starting in Chicago, the train crosses Northern Indiana and along Lake Michigan, the Mohawk River and southern shore of Lake Erie.

As the train departs Chicago, look left for a dramatic view of the towering city skyline, including the Sears Tower, Daley Center and John Hancock Building. Shortly after, the railway crosses the South

GREAT LAKES GREAT RAIL

Exploring by Amtrak

When you are ready to ditch the car for a more comfortable and convenient mode of transport, head for the rails – the Great Rails, of course. And, in the USA, that means the Amtrak rail system, one of America’s great arterial routeways.

Chicago skyline – the view from Amtrak’s Lake Shore Limited

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o enjoy the passing countryside and the magnificent vistas of Lakes Michigan and Erie, plus a quick trip from Chicago to Milwaukee, there is no better option than the comfort and ease of travelling on Amtrak.

This is one of the most relaxing ways to explore and you will find the miles rolling gently by as you contemplate the landscapes of Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania and even into New York State, finishing in great cities like Boston and New York if you so desire. You can even break the journey into overnight stays

Branch of the Chicago River, where ships travel between the Great Lakes ports and the Illinois and Michigan Canals.

First stop is South Bend, Indiana, home of famous Notre Dame University and its revered American football team, where you can see the famed ‘Golden dome’ above the treetops. Travelling via Waterloo (Indiana) and Bryan (Ohio) brings you to Toledo, where, just south of Fort Miami, General ‘Mad’ Anthony Wayne defeated the Native Americans at Fallen Timbers in 1794, a conquest that cleared the way for the settlement of northwest Ohio and northern Indiana.

Rolling on to Sandusky, you can see a monument to Oliver Hazard Perry (for his defeat of the British fleet in 1813) and glimpse of one of the tallest roller-coasters in the world – the 420ft Top Thrill Dragster – at Cedar Point. Sandusky is the second largest Great Lakes coal-shipping port,

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with an excellent natural harbour surrounded by islands. Next, Amtrak heads through Elyria to Cleveland, Ohio’s largest city, one of the leading manufacturing, trading and cultural centers of the Mid-west and home of the amazing Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum.

Erie is Pennsylvania’s only major Great Lakes port and is known as the ‘Gem City’ because of its sparkling bay (although the name comes from a tribe of fierce Native Americans, the Eriez). After 11 hours, the Lake Shore Limited finally exits the Great Lakes states for Buffalo-Depew, a city just across the Niagara River from Canada and famous for manufacturing steel, chemicals and auto parts before heading east to either New York or Boston, via Albany-Rensselear.

EMPIRE BUILDER Travelling daily between Chicago and the Pacific north-west along major portions of the historic Lewis-Clark trail, Amtrak’s Empire Builder provides the perfect way to experience the rugged splendour of the American west. Its exciting passage passes through some majestic wilderness territory, following in the footsteps of the early

pioneers. The full journey to Seattle takes 46 hours, but the section to Minneapolis-Saint Paul is a more manageable 8¼ hours.

From Chicago, there are magnificent views of the mighty Mississippi as you head north-west into Wisconsin via modern, suburban Glenview, with the view punctuated by older farms and industrial complexes.

Next stop is Milwaukee, the Brewing City made famous by its German immigrants, with the big baseball stadium on the right and the Miller Brewing Company on the left, as well as the glass domes of the Mitchell Park Horticultural Conservatory. Continue on through Columbus (with the landmark steeple of the Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church) and you reach Wisconsin Dells, with its glorious red sandstone canyon.

Tomah is the gateway to Wisconsin’s Cranberry Country, with rugged limestone bluffs, which soon gives way to soft, tree-covered mountains as you reach the town of LaCrosse, where the Black, LaCrosse and Mississippi Rivers meet. This marks the start of a 140-mile stretch of following the wide, quiet and scenic Mississippi valley, via the towns of Winona and Red Wing.

Finally, with darkness fallen and the glowing city skyline of Minneapolis-Saint Paul looming into view, it is time to leave the Amtrak behind and let it continue on its much longer voyage to the Pacific.

A C C O M M O DAT I O N Amtrak’s Viewliner sleeping cars provide private rooms with amenities for day and night use.

From Roomettes to Bedrooms featuring a private lavatory and shower, sleeping car accommodation can suit any need. Amtrak’s Metropolitan Lounge/ Club Acela is available in Chicago, New York and Boston for First Class passengers. Coach seating provides a wide reclining seat with a leg rest. Free pillow service is also available.

Dining Car service offers a wide range of complete meals prepared on board between Chicago and Albany-Rensselear to New York.

The Dining Car Steward will make regular announcements regarding service hours. The Lounge/Cafe Car offers sandwiches, snacks and beverages between Chicago and AlbanyRensselear to Boston, while also providing perfect viewing of the passing scenery. More info: check out Amtrak’s excellent website at www.amtrak.com.

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Great Lakes of North America Cincinnati’s Paddlefest on the Ohio River

Ohio State Facts The 11 million residents are known as Ohioans Ohio is an Indian name for ‘great river’ and the state covers 40,952.6sq miles It is nicknamed the Buckeye state, thanks to its numerous buckeye (horse chestnut) trees Singing stars from Ohio include Macy Gray (Canton), Chrissie Hynde (Akron) and the legendary Dean Martin (Steubenville)

www.discoverohio.com

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ake time to chat to the people in this state; Ohioans are a friendly lot – happy to help you get the best out of their cities and towns, their museums and parks.

OHIO’S THREE CS: COLUMBUS, CLEVELAND, CINCINNATI

OHIO

Big Cities, Big Thrills!

Stretching from Lake Erie to the mighty Ohio River, with lively cities and rolling countryside in between, Ohio is a true All-American state.

There is plenty to do, from listening to great music at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum to screaming with excitement on some of the world’s most thrilling rides.

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A favourite destination in COLUMBUS, the state capital, is German Village. Settled by Germans 150 years ago, this attractive historic area retains its small brick homes, one-of-a-kind shops and restaurants. The Short North Arts District offers some of the city’s best restaurants, bars and art galleries. The other major draw is the Columbus Museum of Art, with collections from Picasso to Monet and American art giants like George Bellows and Edward Hopper.

On the shores of Lake Erie, bustling CLEVELAND is home to an iconic American museum: the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum. With loads of great music, guitars and memorabilia (including David Bowie’s scarlet vinyl platform boots!), this is rock ’n roll heaven!

But Cleveland offers much more: the revitalised Warehouse District, with its pubs, clubs, galleries and restaurants; cruises on Lake Erie and the Cuyahoga River; and the Great Lakes Science Center, one of America’s biggest and best interactive science museums. University Circle offers more than a dozen museums,

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Top thrills – on the new Maverick ride at Cedar Point

GETTING THERE Flights from the UK to Cleveland include: Continental Airlines (UK: 0845 607 67 60, www. continental.com) from London Gatwick Flights from the UK to Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky include: Delta Air Lines (UK: 0845 600 0950, www.delta. com) from London Gatwick

including the Western Reserve Historical Society, where you can get a taste of local history.

Also on the water is CINCINNATI. ‘The Queen City’ stands on the banks of the broad Ohio River. Everyone has a favourite spot, from the world-famous Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden to leading edge designs: Fountain Square, with its 43ft high fountain, and the Zaha Hadid-designed Contemporary Arts Center. By contrast, the art deco Union Terminal train station now houses three lively museums: step aboard a 94ft steamboat or 1940s streetcar and talk to a costumed interpreter about life in 1792. For the local speciality, head for a chili parlour, such as Gold Star or Skyline. Choose from 3, 4, or 5-way chili, with everything from spaghetti to beans and chopped onions!

FAMILY FUN Ohio is the world capital of thrill rides, and top of them all is the Cedar Point park in Sandusky, an hour west of Cleveland, where 17 of the 68 rides are roller-coasters (more than any other park in the world). The scariest Cincinnati Zoo at Christmas

is 420ft-high Top Thrill Dragster while the newest is the amazing low-level Maverick, but there are still plenty of kiddie rides. Near Cincinnati, Paramount’s Kings Island has 80 rides, including 14 coasters. The newest is Firehawk, a ‘flying coaster’ that soars 115ft in the air and through five inversions at more than 50mph!

Or, head underground into the deep caverns that are a feature of the state. One of the largest is Seneca Caverns, Bellevue, going down 110ft to enormous ‘rooms’ and Ole’ Mist’ry River. As for special events, Columbus has hosted the State Fair for more than 130 years. Although the focus is agriculture, it combines all the fun of a fair with concert entertainments, with big names from the country scene. Ice cream fans should remember the name Graeters; for 135 years, this has been a favourite treat for Ohioans.

THE GREAT OUTDOORS With more than 800 courses, 600 of them public, you are never far from good golf in Ohio. Jack Nicklaus grew up in Columbus and designed the famous Muirfield Village. But, there are lots of other prime – and affordable – courses. At the Longaberger GC, rated the best public course in the state, green fees are as low as £40 a day.

Then there is fishing for smallmouth bass, steelhead and walley on Lake Erie. Like to walk or cycle? With 70 state parks and 20 forests, there is room for all. Walk part of the 1400-mile

‘Ohio is without doubt the world capital of thrill rides, and the best of them all is the magnificent Cedar Point amusement park in Sandusky’ Buckeye Trail that circumnavigates the state, taking in beaches along Lake Erie and hilltop views of the Ohio River in Cincinnati.

SUPER SHOPPING Shopping is a dream in Ohio. Outstanding is the Easton Town Center in Columbus, with highend shops and bargains galore. Buy a suitcase

GREAT DRIVES WITH

What could be more dramatic than the OHIO RIVER SCENIC BYWAY, covering 452 miles along the southern border? The river is never far from a route that goes up hill, down dale and through towns.

Several houses along the byway were stations on the‘Underground Railroad’ the secret network that helped slaves escape from the South. A real contrast is the 76-mile AMISH COUNTRY BYWAY, north-east of Columbus, where life has changed little in the past century. In the world’s largest Amish and Mennonite community, horses and buggies replace cars. Learn more at the Amish & Mennonite Heritage Center in Berlin, where you can enjoy a buggy ride and admire the 265ft cyclorama painting explaininag their beliefs and history.

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OHIO

Sport Spot Ohio offers some great opportunities for BASEBALL (Cleveland Indians, Cincinnati Reds), BASKETBALL (Cleveland Cavaliers), ICE HOCKEY (Columbus Blue Jackets) and AMERICAN FOOTBALL (Cleveland Browns, Cincinnati Bengals). For tickets, call Ticketmaster in Ohio on 1866 448 7849 or visit www.ticketmaster.com.

and fill it up! Nearby is another big name: Prime Outlets. South of Columbus are two centres in Jeffersonville, with 100 or so outlet stores, with great deals on clothing. A century-old tradition in Dresden is basketmaking, and no-one makes them better than Longaberger. The company is easy to find – its HQ looks like a seven-storey basket!

AAH! SAY SPA

Historic Mill Creek

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Take note of these memorable spas in Ohio: Walden Country Inn and Stables, Aurora (near Cleveland): This rural retreat’s spa is known for balancing treatments that focus on detox and purification – www.waldenco.com. The Inn at Cedar Falls, Logan (in the Cotswoldlike Hocking Hills, southern Ohio): Another rustic retreat, specialising in deep relaxation, traditional massages and body mudwraps – www.innatcedarfalls.com. Cherry Valley Lodge, Newark (east of Columbus): the Banyan Leaf Spa offers everything from stress relief and herbal wraps to reflexology and mud treatments – www.cherryvalleylodge.com.

HISTORY LESSON

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Ohio men changed the world. The first men to fly successfully were the Wright Brothers and their tale is told at the Dayton Aviation Heritage National Historical Park. The first man on the moon is commemorated at the Neil Armstrong Air & Space Museum in Wapakoneta, with its Gemini VIII spacecraft.

US presidents were from Ohio: Ulysses Grant (boyhood home, Georgetown), William Howard Taft (National Historic Site, Cincinnati), Rutherford B Hayes (Presidential Center, Fremont), William McKinley (Museum, Canton), William Henry Harrison (tomb, Cleves), Warren G Harding (his home in Marion), James A Garfield (National Historic Site, Mentor) and Benjamin Harrison.

Many industries have developed in Ohio but the state is renowned for GLASS MAKING. Toledo’s Museum of Art is known for its collection of glass, from ancient to modern.

See it all in the museum’s new Glass Pavilion!

For something different, go back in time (at least 2,000 years) to SERPENT MOUND STATE MEMORIAL, near Peebles, and learn about Native American traditions and the ‘snake mound’ that curls for some 400 metres.

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PENNSYLVANIA

Pennsylvania State Facts The 12.2 million residents are called Pennsylvanians It is known as the Keystone State and covers 45,000sq miles The state capital is Harrisburg, and it is one of the original 13 states Famous Pennsylvanians include actors James Stewart and Gene Kelly, comedian WC Fields, artist Andy Warhol and statesman Benjamin Franklin.

www.visitpa.com

Fab view – the Pittsburgh cityscape

PENNSYLVANIA

History Central

In many ways, Pennsylvania is the ‘home’ of the USA, rightly known as the Keystone State for its vital role in holding together the states of the original Union in the late 18th century.

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rom that illustrious beginning it has blossomed into a rich source of history, philosophy, art and architecture – plus some wonderful scenery and outdoor attractions.

It is also home to Gettysburg – arguably the most important site in the heritage of the USA, and now an essential place to visit for a depiction of the Civil War and insight into the country’s indomitable spirit.

PUTTING THE ‘P’ IN PENNSYLVANIA The key cities of Philadelphia and Pittsburgh are at once different and yet cut from the 23

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same cloth; urban streetscapes of historic proportions, boasting a wealth of museums, music and shopping, each with a vibrant riverfront and yet with divergent personalities.

Like Boston, PHILADELPHIA mixes the old and new with effortless charm. Here you can enjoy a journey back in time at Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell, the Masonic Hall and Benjamin Franklin Parkway, the city’s answer to the Champs Elysees. Take a ‘Philadelphia On Foot’ tour and you will gain the full historic perspective of all these sites, and more, while the ‘must-see’ museums include the Museum of American Art,

Carnegie Museum of Natural History

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Great Lakes of North America GETTING THERE Flights from the UK to Philadelphia include: British Airways (0870 850 9850, www.ba.com) from London Heathrow; US Airways (0845 600 3300, wwwusairways.com) from London Gatwick.

Philadelphia’s State Capitol

Scenic and enticing – the unique Peddler’s Village

‘America’s excellent value for all things to do with shopping takes on an extra dimension in Pennsylvania’ celebrating three centuries of American artistic achievement, the Rodin Museum and the huge Franklin Institute.

The frontier settlement of PITTSBURGH has long since bloomed into a major industrial and urban setting, with classic 19th-century architecture jostling with the likes of the modernistic Andy Warhol Museum and Heinz Hall for the Performing Arts.

Highlights include the famed Carnegie Museum of Natural History, the recentlyexpanded Children’s Museum and the High thrills at Hersheypark

GREAT DRIVES WITH

There is much scenic beauty to explore in the state, and the easiest way to do so is by road.

Start on ROUTE 6 (yes, that’s right, not 66!), rated “one of America’s most scenic drives” by National Geographic magazine, especially in the autumn.

From Lake Erie to the Pocono Mountains, it winds across northern Pennsylvania, visiting railroad country, the lush Endless Mountains, Pine Creek Gorge and the Allegheny National Forest.

For a wildlife extravaganza, try the 127-mile ELK SCENIC DRIVE, which passes through numerous natural wildernesses in north-central Pennsylvania, affording glimpses of beavers, coyotes, the rare red fox and the mighty bull elk. For the more historic touch, the ROAD TO REVOLUTION touches on many key points and sights from Philadelphia to Hershey, while also taking in the east coast’s largest shopping centre (the King of Prussia Mall) for good measure!

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Carnegie Museum of Art, founded in 1895 by philanthropist Andrew Carnegie. And don’t miss the unique funicular ride to the top of Mount Washington for a spectacular overview.

FAMILY FUN Kids of all ages are spoiled for choice, but pride of place must go to the magnificent Hersheypark, the state’s leading amusement park, with more than 60 rides and attractions, including the monstrous looping coaster of the Great Bear, the 72mph, 18-storey Storm Runner and brand new Boardwalk area, which boasts the largest water-play structure in the world! Set in the chocolate-inspired town of Hershey, it also offers the free-entry Hershey’s Chocolate World visitor centre and ZooAmerica, allied to the park.

Equally entertaining is Dutch Wonderland Family Amusement Park, with more child-friendly rides and water-play areas in Lancaster (between Philadelphia and Harrisburg), while Dorney Park & Wildwater Kingdom offers two great parks for one price just an hour from Philadelphia in Lehigh Valley. Philadelphia’s Academy of Natural Sciences boasts three floors of hands-on family fun while the Philadelphia Zoo is the oldest in America. The ExpERIEnce Children’s Museum in Erie, north-west Pennsylvania,

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PENNSYLVANIA

offers more interactive exhibits and attractions for enquiring young minds.

Get the most from your visit with the Philadelphia CityPass K – 6 top attractions (plus EA transport tips and maps), BR including the Philadelphia Aquarium, Zoo and National Constitution Center, for just $49 per adult.

Y

CIT

THE GREAT OUTDOORS Fishing, golf, hiking, camping, boating, birdwatching, hunting and even hang-gliding are all part of the state’s many outdoor adventures, showcased by the amazing 119 state parks and 4.5 million acres of public lands. The magnificent Appalachian Mountains provide a myriad opportunities to experience much of these, most notably in Caledonia, Swatara and Pine Grove Furnace State Parks, where the Appalachian National Scenic Trail cuts an impressive path in the south-east. Equally, the North Country Trail features some of the most outstanding scenic beauty in America as it passes through the north-west, including four state parks.

The Delaware River features much of the best fishing, and Shawnee River Adventures (in Shawnee on Delaware) can fix you up with all manner of boating and angling equipment in the north-east. Golf fans can pick from 700 PCVBGreatlakesad.qxd 12/9/07 15:44 Page challenging courses, including the majestic

HISTORY LESSON GETTYSBURG was the pivotal battle of the Civil War in 1863 and is now one of the great historic landmarks in the US, a living, breathing monument to an epic struggle that set the Union on the way to ultimate victory. Guided tours, on foot, by car and even horseback, are all on offer, and the main battlefield is an astounding place of preservation and record. The town is full of small museums, gift shops and interpretive characters in costume, and 2008 will see the opening of the new Museum & Visitor Center, which will add even more insight and value to this powerful experience. See www.nps.gov/gett/ for full details.

Remember the Bill Murray film Groundhog Day? It was based on the town of PUNXSATAWNEY, where the celebrity groundhog makes his historic appearance every February.

Amish transport

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FALL IN LOVE WITH

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PHILADELPHIA

hiladelphia is the perfect City Break destination and the perfect place to begin your trip to the Great Lakes of North America. Fall in love with Philadelphia’s friendly atmosphere and big city excitement. Discover world-class museums and cultural attractions, stroll cobblestone streets in America’s most historic square mile, and choose from among a variety of dining experiences and lively nighttime entertainment.

A

City Break isn’t complete without shopping and Philadelphia has some of the best shopping in the USA. Fill your bags at designer shops along Rittenhouse Row, trendy galleries in Old City, the King of Prussia Mall - one of the largest retail malls in the USAand outlets offering brand names at a discount. Best of all, there is no tax on shoes or clothing in Pennsylvania.

Philadelphia is easy to get to with non-stop flights from London and Manchester to Philadelphia International Airport. For more information, visit www.PhiladelphiaUSA.travel/uk

LANCASTER

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Great Lakes of North America

Sport Spot Pennsylvania boasts great teams for BASEBALL (Philadelphia Phillies, Pittsburgh Pirates), BASKETBALL (Philadelphia 76ers), ICE HOCKEY (Pittsburgh Penguins, Philadelphia Flyers) and AMERICAN FOOTBALL (Pittsburgh Steelers, Philadelphia Eagles). For tickets, call Ticketmaster on 1866 448 7849 or visit www.ticketmaster.com.

Oakmont Country Club, northeast of Pittsburgh, which hosted the 2007 US Open. Looking for something different? Hyner View State Park, north of Lock Haven, offers hang-gliding trips over the Susquehanna River – truly a ride with a view!

SUPER SHOPPING

Living monument – the great battlefield at Gettysburg

America’s excellent shopping value takes on an extra dimension in the Keystone State, where there is retail therapy almost everywhere

you look. Start with the vast King Of Prussia Mall (20 miles north-west of Philadelphia), which boasts no less than 8 world-class department stores, plus almost 400 more shops and 40 restaurants.

The fashion-orientated Philadelphia Premium Outlets, featuring 110 upscale brands, opened in 2007 in Limerick Township (a half-hour drive northwest from the city itself ), while new in 2008 is the Village at Valley Forge, an upscale ‘street’ layout of shops and restaurants, plus the first Philly outlet of the famous Barneys Co-op store. For more historic style, visit Philadelphia’s Reading Terminal Market, with stalls run by traditionally-dressed Amish and Mennonite families. The Waterfront is Pittsburgh’s newest shopping district, with a pleasant mix of large stores and smaller boutiques, plus some fine bars and restaurants.

For something completely different, head for Bucks County just north of Philadelphia. Here you’ll find some unique shops at Peddler’s Village in the Lahaska countryside – and the unique Golden Plough Inn, with 71 individually decorated rooms and suites located ABOVE the Village shops!

AAH! SAY SPA For some blissful spa experiences, try: Seven Springs Mountain Resort, Champion (south-east of Pittsburgh), where their signature couples-experience is the keystone of a wide range of massage treatments – www.7springs.com; Inn & Spa at Intercourse (between Philadelphia and Harrisburg), set in a romantic village inn in Amish country – www.amishcountryinns. com; and St Joseph Institute, Port Matilda, a holistic mountain resort, spa and retreat in the heart of the Allegheny Mountains – www.stjosephinstitute.com.

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WISCONSIN

Take a scenic boat tour on Wisconsin’s Geneva Lake on the ‘Lady of the Lake’

WISCONSIN

Natural Beauty with Culture

Resting comfortably along the southern border of Lake Superior and Lake Michigan’s north-west coast, Wisconsin is the mid-west’s rough, earthy cousin, fiercely proud of its mining and lumbering tradition and its agricultural history as America’s Dairyland.

www.travelwisconsin.com

W

isconsin is all about celebrating the seasons. Winter offers an abundance of outdoor activities, from snowmobiling to cross-country skiing, while summer turns up the heat on watersports, fishing, cycling and hiking. Autumn is prime time for fall colour drives and fabulous harvest festivals. With a heritage steeped in

nationally acclaimed beers, award-winning cheeses and world-renowned food and ethnic festivals, it positively overflows with flavour!

BREWING UP A STORM! City of Festivals, MILWAUKEE celebrates diverse ethnicity through numerous summer fetes, including Irish Fest, Festa Italiana, African World Festival and Norwegian Constitution Day in nearby Stoughton, plus 11-day Summerfest, the largest music festival

Wisconsin State Facts The 5.4 million residents are called Wisconsinites It is called the Badger State in association with lead miners who had to ‘live like badgers’, making burrows in the hillsides in winter The name Wisconsin comes from the Miami Indian word ‘meskousing’, meaning ‘river running through a red place’, and it covers 56,138sq miles Famous names from the state include Harry Houdini (Appleton), Laura Ingalls Wilder (Pepin) and Orson Welles (Kenosha)

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Enjoy tranquil scenery along Apostle Islands National Lakeshore

‘Wisconsin is all about celebrating the seasons with a super-abundance of genuinely superb outdoor activities’ in the world. Tap into a rich brewing history with a free one-hour tour of Miller Brewing Company or try out numerous microbreweries.

Tour Captain Frederick Pabst Mansion on Wisconsin Ave, testament to the extravagance which Pabst beer profits realised.

But Milwaukee is more than just ale.

Masterpiece of engineering Milwaukee Art Museum features rooftop sunscreen Brise Soleil, soaring like the wings of a great white bird. Visit at noon when the wings flap! The new Harley-Davidson Museum expands on the company’s 100-year history in Milwaukee, bringing the motorcycling experience to life through stories and a vast cycle collection, including Elvis Presley’s 1956 model KH Harley.

State capital MADISON offers a blend of contemporary sophistication and natural charm. Frank Lloyd Wright’s Taliesin home in Spring Green showcases the architect’s visionary design concepts while innovative House on the Rock (by rival Alex Jordan) showcases a dizzying collection of 19th and 20th-century bric-a-brac, including the world’s largest carousel. Walk along its glass-walled Infinity Room, cantilevered 218ft over a ravine, if you dare! Find gentler fun at Circus World Museum in Baraboo, where 28

big-top memorabilia, circus and magic shows remember Madison natives the Ringling Brothers.

Tucked in the crook of namesake inlet, GREEN BAY abounds with sports fever.

Experience the legendary Packers American football with a tour of Lambeau Field and Packer Hall of Fame, while energetic Native American Pow Wows and Heritage Hill living history centre offer hands-on participation in Green Bay’s past. Hike back in time along Ice Age National Scenic Trail, a 1,200-mile lesson in geology as it follows the outline

GETTING THERE Wisconsin is accessible from the UK via Chicago and Minneapolis/Saint Paul: Icelandair (0870 787 4020, www.icelandair. co.uk), KLM (08705 074 074, www.klmuk. com), and Northwest (08705 074 074, www. nwa.com) all fly to Minneapolis/St Paul; for Chicago, try American Airlines (08457 789 789, www.aa.com), Air India (020 8560 9996, www.airindia.com), British Airways (0870 850 9850, www.ba.com), bmi (British Midland, 0870 6070 222, www.flybmi.com), KLM/Northwest (08705 074 074, www. klmuk.com), United Airlines (0845 8444 777, www.unitedairlines.co.uk), and Virgin Atlantic (08705 747 747, www.virgin-atlantic.com)

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WISCONSIN

Sport Spot Wisconsin boasts the following leading teams for BASEBALL (Milwaukee Brewers), BASKETBALL (Milwaukee Bucks) and AMERICAN FOOTBALL (Green Bay Packers). For tickets, call Ticketmaster on 1866 448 7849 or visit www.ticketmaster.com.

Frank Lloyd Wright’s Madison House

of Wisconsin’s last glacier, with bedrock outcroppings near Eau Claire dating back 1.8 billion years. Nearby Ashwaubenon’s National Railway Museum houses one of America’s oldest railroad collections.

FAMILY FUN Go hands-on at Discovery World at Pier Wisconsin, the state-of-the-art science museum off Lincoln Drive in Milwaukee or cheer on the hometown favourite at dozens of lumberjack competitions across the state.

Visit in July for the Lumberjack World Championships in Hayward, where heavily muscled men approach log rolling with the grace and precision of a waltz. Just for fun, sample cheese curds, a treat only the Cheese State could concoct!

No family holiday is complete without a trip to the city of Wisconsin Dells. Indoor and outdoor water parks, amusement parks, animal attractions, Original Wisconsin Duck Wisconsin landmarks – waterfalls…..

Tours, plus theatre and live entertainment venues (including the new Broadway Dinner Theater) put the focus firmly on fun. Guests at the Kalahari Resort can test their mettle against the ‘Flowrider’ surf ride, but Noah’s Ark is the undisputed granddaddy, with 70 acres of wet and wild water-play.

THE GREAT OUTDOORS You can’t go far without finding the perfect spot to cast a fishing line along one of Wisconsin’s 15,000 inland lakes. Equally, you can hike pristine forests, sift through untrammelled snow on cross-country skis or traverse white-water rapids on Peshtigo and Menomonee Rivers, north of Green Bay. New Badger State Trail connects Madison to the Illinois state line with 40 miles of trails, plus parks for hiking, biking and snowmobiling.

Even golfers can appreciate the challenging glacier-sculpted landscape at Erin Hills Golf Course in Erin.

But the jewel in the crown lies in breathtaking sandstone cliffs, six historic lighthouses, accessible sea caves and a vast array of fishing, boating and hiking opportunities in Apostle Islands National Lakeshore near Bayfield, on the south-western corner of Lake Superior. Don’t miss touring restored Raspberry Lighthouse.

SUPER SHOPPING Serious shoppers head straight for Mayfair Mall, 15 minutes from Milwaukee. Anchor stores Macy’s and Marshall Fields team up with Abercrombie and Fitch, Pottery Barn, Ann Taylor and more. Dine at Maggiano’s Little Italy for scrumptious Italian or compromise your waistline with dessert at the fabulous Cheesecake Factory.

Had enough of the malls? Try Brady Street in Milwaukee for dozens of one-off boutiques and cafes. Downtown Madison’s State Street …..and lighthouses in Door County

outdoor pedestrian mall features block after block of speciality shops, sidewalk cafes, museums and art galleries, with the added advantage of no traffic.

AAH! SAY SPA For some true Wisconsin pampering, try these spas: Aspira Spa Salon, Elkhart Lake (at the beautiful lakefront Osthoff Resort), the latest to offer an exclusive and all encompassing private spa experience – www.osthoff.com; Sundara Inn and Spa, Wisconsin Dells (50 miles northwest of Madison), named among the Top 25 Spas in the US by Travel & Leisure magazine – www.sundaraspa.com; and Woodwind Health Spa & Wellness Center, Rhinelander (150 miles north-west of Green Bay), where coowner Marj Champney is part Native American and her treatments reflect her heritage – www.woodwindspa.com.

HISTORY LESSON Born in Pepin in 1867, LAURA INGALLS WILDER told the story of American pioneering through her Little House book series, bringing the joys and challenges of frontier life to children all around the world. A replica of the log cabin she was born in, the Little House in the Big Woods, stands near Lake Pepin. Laura Ingalls Wilder Days are also celebrated each September.

In 1887, Englishman WILLIAM HORLICK gave Racine its distinction as the home of malted milk, that wonderful powder that adds a rich, malty flavour to milkshakes and hot drinks, when he attempted to create an artificial infant formula.

Visit any of Racine’s ice cream parlours to enjoy Mr Horlick’s culinary contribution!

GREAT DRIVES WITH

A roller coaster of ridges and valleys known as the Driftless Area runs through TREMPEALEAU COUNTY near the mid-western border.

Untouched by glacial carving, hilly back-roads roll past Amish farmhouses and steepled churches, while every rise reveals a dramatic vista, especially in autumn. Bird enthusiasts flock to Trempealeau National Wildlife Refuge, home to 250 different species, plus coyote, mink, fox and deer.

Find an 85-mile wildlife-lover’s paradise along the NAMEKAGON RIVER, branching off the St Croix National Scenic Riverway in northern Wisconsin. Stop at the new visitor centre where the rooftop rain garden filters rainwater before it reaches the river.

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GREAT DRIVES WITH

GREAT LAKES, GREAT Drives!

T

o get the very best out of any visit to the Great Lakes states, a hire car is pretty much essential. With the keys to your fourwheeled friend, you can pretty much guarantee to see a healthy slice of everything on offer.

We have highlighted some Great Drives on our state-by-state look at the region, but you might also want to take note of a couple of routes that link many of our Great States into regular real freewheelin’ fiestas.

The Great Lakes Fly-Drive: this 15-day itinerary touches on all of the seven states, starting in Chicago and heading north through Wisconsin into Minnesota (visiting the Twin Cities) before swinging east and then south through Upper Michigan, down into Ohio and then west to Indiana.

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Detroit, Cleveland and South Bend will all be on your ‘To Do’ list as you motor around this mixture of Big Outdoors and Big City adventure, with other highlights like the old trading post and Indian burial grounds on Apostle Island (Minnesota) and the great industrial legacy of the Studebaker Corporation (South Bend, Indiana).

Circle Lake Michigan Tour: take 11 days and you will see the very best that Lake Michigan has to offer, from the Windy City itself, up through Indiana into Michigan, around the beautiful lake shoreline and into the heart of Wisconsin before returning to Illinois.

Along the way, you will discover the Dutch heritage of Holland (Michigan), with its annual Tulip Festival each May, stunning Sleeping Bear

Dunes, timeless Mackinac Island (Michigan’s Victorian hideaway) and magnificent Door County (Wisconsin), where there are more lighthouses and state parks than any other county in the nation!

If this whets your appetite, there are another NINE tours just waiting to be discovered on the pages of www.greatlakesnorthamerica. co.uk (just click on the Itineraries link), with everything from a 5-day Motown and Southern Michigan route to 18 days touring Wisconsin and even a houseboat adventure in Minnesota’s Voyageurs National Park.

But whatever you decide to do, make sure you travel in style. The car is king in America, and it truly is a regal way to see the Great Lakes region.

To enjoy our Great Drives, you need a Fly-Drive tour operator for the Great Lakes.

Find all your options online at: www.greatlakesnorthamerica.co.uk Just click on the Book Your Trip link and select Fly-Drive.

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T: 210 mm S: 183 mm

Become a morning person.

S: 268 mm

11,000 inland lakes • Over 19 million acres of forest • 10,000 miles of scenic trails • More than 850 golf courses

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We’ll Super

BOWL YOU OVER! One of the great ‘hidden’ gems of any visit to America is getting a taste of the local sport. Going to ‘the game’, be it baseball, basketball, ice hockey or American football, is considered an attraction for the whole community, and is wonderfully entertaining, not to mention highly family-friendly. US sports stadiums are impressive, great sporting ‘cathedrals’ that pay homage to the Lions and Tigers, the Colts and Bucks. And you don’t need to know the complexities of the game, either. The atmosphere and fringe entertainment are sure to sweep you along and have you cheering for the home team in no time! So, for a quick guide to what to look for – and how to enjoy – this most American of pastimes, choose from the following: BASEBALL: Otherwise known as ‘America’s sport,’ this is very much the US equivalent of cricket – a part of society as much as a game. Some teams date back to the 19th century and there is a real sense of history, as well as modern pizzazz. Games last around 3 hours and are accompanied by a lot of ra-ra rooting for the home team. There are nine innings per team (and extra innings if they are still level after nine) which are played alternately with the home team always batting second. The season runs April-October and this is the sport to chill out to and converse with your neighbour – grab a beer and a hot-dog and join in the Seventh Inning Stretch! There are 32 teams in Major League Baseball (MLB) but look out for smaller minorleague teams like the Toledo Mud Hens (Ohio) that can be equally entertaining.

Great Lakes Teams: Philadelphia Phillies, Pittsburgh Pirates, Cincinnati Reds, Cleveland Indians, Detroit Tigers, Chicago Cubs, Chicago White Sox, Milwaukee Brewers, Minnesota Twins.

AMERICAN FOOTBALL: Arguably the biggest sport in media terms, the NFL (National Football League) is a rough, tough, hard-hitting world of larger-than-life men and even bigger personalities!

There are 32 teams nationwide, all battling to reach the end-of-season Super Bowl, the world’s biggest annual sporting event. The game is divided into quarters of 15 minutes each, but the action stops at the end of every ‘play’, hence the whole thing often takes in excess of 3 hours with all the timeouts and other breaks (plus sudden-death overtime if the scores are all square). But the thunderous action and off-field ‘extras’ like the cheer-leaders and bands are more than enough to keep it exciting and attention-grabbing. The season runs SeptemberJanuary, so wrap up warm for outdoor games!

Great Lakes Teams: Philadelphia Eagles, Pittsburgh Steelers, Cincinnati Bengals, Cleveland Browns, Detroit Lions, Chicago Bears, Green Bay Packers, Indianapolis Colts, Minnesota Vikings.

BASKETBALL: The realm of the NBA (National Basketball Association) is another larger-than-life world, with most of the 30 teams having their share of 7ft giants. The high-energy action, split into 4 quarters of 12 minutes, then makes for some eyepopping feats of athleticism and near-acrobatics.

With all the various timeouts and other breaks from the regular action, games can still take almost 3 hours, but there is plenty of fun fan-related

razzamatazz in between to fill the void and ramp up the entertainment quotient. The season runs late October-June, and all stadiums are indoors in the warm, with full mod cons like concession stands, restaurants – and plenty of toilets!

Great Lakes Teams: Philadelphia 76ers, Cleveland Cavaliers, Detroit Pistons, Chicago Bulls, Indiana Pacers, Milwaukee Bucks, Minnesota Timberwolves.

ICE HOCKEY: Usually referred to just as ‘hockey’ in the US, this is another sport steeped in history and boasting plenty of hard-hitting (not to mention violent!) action. The NHL (National Hockey League) consists of 30 teams playing from October-April, with games split into 3 periods of 20 minutes (although, again, the various timeouts can make a game last the best part of 3 hours). With all-indoor stadiums, these can be among the noisiest events, but they also have some of the friendliest fans and, in many ways, it is the easiest sport to follow as the action is more direct and obvious.

Great Lakes Teams: Philadelphia Flyers, Pittsburgh Penguins, Detroit Red Wings, Chicago Blackhawks, Columbus Blue Jackets, Minnesota Wild.

More info: For the best websites on each sport, look up the following – www.mlb.com, www.nfl.com, www.nba.com and www.nhl.com. Each team will then have their own site for ticket sales, etc, or you can visit www.ticketmaster.com for most big-game events.

For further information on the Great Lakes of North America: Tel: 01564 794999 (from Ireland dial +44 1564 794999) or visit www.greatlakesnorthamerica.co.uk

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For further information on the Great Lakes of North America: Tel: 01564 794999 (from Ireland dial +44 1564 794999) or visit www.greatlakesnorthamerica.co.uk

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Tailormade Holidays City & Resort Stays Fly Drive Coach Tours Apartments/Villas Motorhome Special Interest Bed & Breakfast Activity/Adventure Holidays

UK TOUR OPERATORS

JETSET ★★ 32 Victoria Street, Altincham Cheshire WA14 1ET Tel: 0870 050 5747 www.jetsetholidays.co.uk JUST AMERICA ★ ★ ★★ ★★ ★ ★ Lavant House, Lavant Street, Petersfield, Hampshire GU32 3EL UK Reservations: 01730 266588 email: enquiries@justamerica.co.uk KEY TO AMERICA ★ 48 Victoria Rd, Leeds LS11 5AF Tel: 0113 398 3013 email: sales.enquiries@nats-uk.com KUONI ★ ★ Kuoni House, Dorking, Surrey RH5 4AZ Tel: 01306 742888 www.kuoni.co.uk LASTMINUTE.COM ★★★ ★ ★ ★ 39 Victoria Street, London SW1H OEE Tel: 0871 222 3423 Fax: 0207 400 7088 www.travel4less.co.uk MAINSTREET USA ★ St Cuthberts House, Framwellgate Perth, Durham DH1 5SX Tel: 0191 384 5500 www.mainstreetonline.co.uk MAJOR TRAVEL ★★ 28-34 Fortress Road, Kentish Town London NW5 2HB Tel: 0207 393 1000 www.majortravel.co.uk NORTH AMERICAN HIGHWAYS ★ ★ 10-11 Market Place Brewood, Staffordshire ST19 9BS Tel: 01902 851138 www.nahighways.co.uk NORTH AMERICA TRAVEL SERVICE ★ ★ ★ 43 Dover Street, London W1S 4NU Tel: 0113 246 1466 www.northamericatravelservice.co.uk OSPREY HOLIDAYS ★★★ 5 Thistle Street, Edinburgh EH2 1DF Tel: 0845 310 3031 www.osprey-holidays.co.uk PAGE & MOY MOTOR RACING ★ Compass House, Market Harborough Leicester LE16 7QD Tel: 08700 106 393 Fax: 08700 106 465 www.pageandmoy.com PEREGOR ★★★ 2nd Floor, Jubilee House 7-9 The Oaks, Ruislip Middlesex HA4 7LF Tel: 0845 345 0003/4 www.Baway.co.uk PREMIER HOLIDAYS ★★★★★★★ Premier Travel Centre, Westbrook Milton Road, Cambridge CB4 1YG Tel: 0870 889 0850 Fax: 0870 889 0859 www.premierholidays.co.uk SELIGO ★ 10 The Warf, Bridge Street Birmingham B1 2JS Tel: 0870 705 5000 www.seligo.com SKI ALL AMERICA HOLIDAYS ★ All America Holidays Ltd 117 St Margarets Road Twickenham, Middlesex TW1 2LH Tel: 08701 676676 www.skiallamerica.com STA TRAVEL ★ Priory House, 6 Wrights Lane London W8 6TA Tel: 0870 160 0599 www.statravel.co.uk TITAN TRAVEL ★ ★ Hitours House, Crossoak Lane, Redhill Surrey RH1 5EX Tel: 01293 440033 Fax: 01293 455310 www.titantravel.co.uk TOUR AMERICA ★ 62 Middle Abbey Street Dublin 1, Ireland Tel: 00 353 1 817 3500 www.touramerica.ie

TRAVELBAG ★★★★★★★★★ 5 Omega Park, Alton, Hants GU34 2UP Tel: 0870 900 1352 Fax: 04120 567 960 www.travelbag.co.uk

TOP FLIGHT 3rd Floor, Jervis House Jervis Street, Dublin 1, Ireland Tel: 00 353 1 240 1700 www.topflight.ie

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TRAVEL 4 ★★★★★★★★★ Hamlyn House, Macdonald Road, 21-23 Highgate Hill, London N19 5PR Tel: 0870 155 0066 Fax: 0207 561 2424 email: marketing@travel2.com

TRAVELPACK ★★★★★★★★★ Clarendon House, Clarendon Road Eccles, Manchester M30 9TR Tel: 0870 121 2010 Fax: 0870 127 2010 www.travelpack.co.uk TRAVEL CITY DIRECT 3A Gatwick Metro Centre Balcombe Road, Horley Surrey RH6 9GA Tel: 0871 911 2468 www.travelcitydirect.com

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TRAVELSPHERE LTD ★★ Compass House, Rockingham Road Market Harborough Leicestershire LE16 7QD Tel: 0870 240 2428 Fax: 01858 466477 www.travelsphere.co.uk

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TRADEWINDS ★★ The Globe Centre, St James Square Accrington, Lancashire BB5 0RE Tel: 0870 751 0003 Fax: 0870 751 0010 www.tradewinds.co.uk

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TRAILFINDERS 48 Earls Court Road, London W8 6FT Tel: 0845 050 5900 www.trailfinders.com

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TREKAMERICA Grange Mills, Weir Road London SW12 0NE Tel: 0870 444 8735 www.trekamerica.co.uk

THOMSON AMERICA ★★★★★★★★★ Thomson Holidays, Greater London House, Hampstead Road, London NW1 7SD Tel: 0870 403 0650 www.thomson.co.uk THOMAS COOK SIGNATURE ★★ Thomas Cook Business Park Coningsby Road, Peterborough PE3 8XP Tel: 0870 443 4446 www.thomascooktours.com UP & AWAY HOLIDAYS 19 The Mall, Bromley, Kent BR1 1TT Tel: 0208 289 5050

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UNITED VACATIONS ★★★★★★ PO Box 377, Bromley, Kent BR1 1LU Tel: 0870 606 2222 Fax: 0870 242 2850 www.unitedvacations.co.uk US AIRTOURS UK 1 Raven Road, London E18 1HD Tel: 08000 350 149 www.usairtours.co.uk

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VALLEY VACATIONS ★★★ Gateway House, 53 High Street Birmingham B4 7TA Tel: 0121 616 2664 Fax: 0121 616 3929 www.valleyvacations.com VIRGIN HOLIDAYS The Galleria, Station Road Crawley, West Sussex RH10 1WW Tel: 0870 220 2788 www.virginholidays.co.uk

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WALLACE ARNOLD TOURS/ W A SHEARINGS Miry Lane, Wigan WN3 4AG Tel: 0113 231 0739 www.wallacearnold.com WEXAS INTERNATIONAL 45-49 Brompton Rd Knightsbridge, London SW3 1DE Tel: 0207 589 3315 www.wexas.com

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