Great lakes guide 05

greatlakesUSA.co.uk

Featuring: Ohio, Minnesota, Michigan, Wisconsin and Illinois

PLUS A focus on Indianapolis

Discover the sights, sounds, food and fun in the Great Lakes USA Book 1.indb 2

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A World of Discovery

Michigan’s Sleeping Bear Dunes were voted the most beautiful place in America on the Good Morning America breakfast TV show

T

HE Great Lakes … the very name conjures up visions of huge expanses of water stretching as far as the eye can see and covering half the planet. While not quite that large, the Great Lakes do make up the largest expanse of freshwater in the world.

And the vast shoreline, which includes Ohio, Michigan, Illinois, Wisconsin, Indiana and Minnesota, may be called ‘America’s Third Coast’, but if you move inland, there is a whole world of discovery, a land of dreams, a destination you will fall in love with.

Spectacular scenery and bustling, modern cities, fascinating history and fabulous food, welcoming people and elusive wildlife, outdoor adventures and natural wonders, and more than 10,000 inland lakes in both Michigan and Minnesota alone – it’s easy to see why the region is called the Great Lakes.

Four very distinct seasons highlight the variety of options the region offers – fresh,

,

,

.

:04 AM

Twitter @greatlakesusa

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Contents Map out your trip to the Great Lakes of USA

Page 4

ILLINOIS: From skyscrapers to Scenic Byways

Page 5

WISCONSIN: Warm welcome in the great outdoors

Page 8

MINNESOTA: Trails galore and shopping at the Mall

Page 12

MICHIGAN: Motown, motors and Page 15 open-air magic Page 18

Sounds like a great place to hear music INDIANAPOLIS

Page 20

OHIO: Rock and roll, roller-coasters and river beauty

Page 21

invigorating springs; hot, sunny summers; vibrant, exhilarating autumns; and crisp, cold winters.

Outdoor opportunities abound – from hiking, biking, boating and

fishing, to golfing, kayaking, caving and snowmobiling. Whatever your sport or pastime, you can rediscover it here.

Discover, too, the fascinating stories behind the Civil War; hear tales of Native American history; go off the beaten track to trace the source of the mighty Mississippi River; be bowled over by marvellous museums; and thrill to the region’s sports stars.

And when you visit the cities of the Great Lakes, you’ll discover modern, pulsating places with soaring skyscrapers and beautiful beaches (Chicago), bustling breweries and motorbike mania (Milwaukee), magical music and auto history (Detroit), raucous rock and roll and classic culture (Cleveland), and popular paddle-steamers and champagne shopping (Minneapolis, Saint Paul).

If you thought you knew the Great Lakes, think again. There is a World of Discovery waiting. Come and find for yourself!

Editor: Neil Murray neil@murrayfeatures.com

UK Office: +44 (0) 1403 276091 angelaspencer@phoenixip.com

Contributing writers: Nick Dalton, Donna Dailey, Roger St Pierre Published on behalf of Great Lakes USA

by Phoenix International Publishing.

Web site: www.phoenixip.com

Advertising sales: Larry Cohen Northeast Media, Inc. +1 203 255 8800 larrycohen@northeast-media.com

Publisher: Simon Todd +1 682 831 0133 simontodd@phoenixip.com

Design: CPL (Cambridge Publishers Ltd) +44 (0) 1223 477411 info@cpl.co.uk; www.cpl.co.uk

Photographs courtesy of Great Lakes USA, Illinois Bureau of Tourism, Visit Indy, Travel Michigan, Explore Minnesota, Ohio Office of Tourism, Harley-Davidson Museum, the Henry Ford Museum, Bill Bowen, Dan Bussey, Shutterstock and Wisconsin Department of Tourism.

Although every effort has been made to ensure accuracy, the publishers cannot accept responsibility for mistakes or omissions. The publication may not be reproduced, stored or transmitted in any form or by any means without prior permission of the publishers. © Phoenix International Publishing 2012

Great Lakes USA – Official UK Tourist Board

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Map out your trip to the Great Lakes of USA Superb scenery, fascinating cities, absorbing history and fantastic food – what more could you ask for?

Great Lakes USA has them all – and a lot more besides. So, check out the map, start thinking about your route – and get ready for the trip of a lifetime!

International Falls

71

Bemidji 2 Itasca State Park Moorhead 371 71

Hibbing

1

169

Lake Superior

2

Duluth

Whitefish Point

Bayfield

2

Brainerd

10

61

53

Minnesota Detroit Lakes

Grand Marais

Ely

East Grand Forks

41

Ashland

35

Marquette

Hurley

53

Munising

2

94

41 75

Cable 10

St Cloud

35

94

Pipestone

51

94 61

Wabasha

Austin

75

Traverse City

Gaylord

Eau Claire

Green Bay

Wisconsin

94

Winona

75

43

94

94

Grand Rapids

Galena Rockford Moline 80

For more information in the UK and Ireland The Great Lakes USA Tourist Office c/o Cellet Travel Services Ltd Brook House, 47 High Street Henley-in-Arden, Warwickshire B95 5AA. Tel: 08456 020 574; Email: info@cellet.co.uk.

From Ireland: +44 8546 020 574

88

75

Detroit

94 69

Chicago

275

80

75

Peoria

55 155

Illinois

Fort Wayne 65

Wapakoneta

Champaign

74

35

57

Alton

421

55 65

70 40

Columbus

70

90

271

71 224

71

Loudonville

Sugarcreek

75

Indiana

74 Atlanta Danville Indianapolis Springfield 72

36

80

Ohio

69

57

Lake Erie

Toledo Sandusky Cleveland

90

55

Pontiac

94

96

Joliet Gary

39

39

72

69

196

94

90

74

Look up greatlakesUSA.co.uk and click on the Book Your Trip link.

23

Holland

51 180

Frankenmuth Birch Run

127

96

196B

Saugatuck

39

75

Pleasant

Grand Haven Milwaukee

43

88

West Branch

Michigan Lake Michigan Mount

51

39 La Crosse Wisconsin Dells Spring Green 90 Madison

Find a Tour Operator for your Great Lakes adventure

Lake Huron

Grayling

90 90

90

Door County

Wausau

35 75

Petoskey

141

Saint Paul

Bloomington

Mackinac Island

Woodruff

Rice Lake 53

Minneapolis 75

Taylors Falls

Sault Sainte Marie

270

40

Dayton

77

71 74

Cincinnati

Jasper 64

Carbondale

64

57

Check out these websites For more information on the Great Lakes USA region, log on to greatlakesUSA.co.uk. To find out more about the various states, check out discoverillinois.org, discoverohio.com, travelwisconsin.com, exploreminnesota.com, michigan.org and visitindy.com

RIGHT: Hitting the open road in the Great Lakes USA

*Only major roads and selected cites are included in this map. Contact Cellet Travel Services Ltd (see information, above) for full driving maps of any of the Great Lakes USA states.

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Illinois From skyscrapers to Scenic Byways

50% 5 famous attractions

Includes: • • • •

Shedd Aquarium Skydeck Chicago Fast Pass The Field Museum Your choice of Museum of Science and Industry, Chicago, OR John Hancock Observatory Fast Pass • Your choice of Adler Planetarium OR Art Institute of Chicago

Buy at these attractions - Good for 9 days - Skip most ticket lines

ONLY

Ages 3-11

94 $79

$

Connect with CityPASS

(888) 330-5008 or citypass.com

Estimated prices for the 2013 program year.

Prices and programs subject to change.

Twitter @greatlakesusa

Book 1.indb 5

Chicago skyscrapers... the public face of Illinois

T

HE skyscrapers of Chicago, one of the USA’s great cities, are the public face of Illinois. Big, bold and exciting.

Chicago is also a place to play, with great food and music – this is the blues capital of the world and there are many clubs for a great night out.

The state capital, Springfield, is where Abraham Lincoln lived from 1837 until 1861, when he left for the White House. The city has a host of Lincoln sites but visitors are also attracted by numerous events, including the International Route 66 Mother Road Festival in September.

There’s more to the state than Chicago and

Springfield, whether it’s the Lake Michigan waterfront (from bustling beach to quiet harbour), rural backwaters or inspiring drives.

Take to the road on one of Illinois’ seven National Scenic Byways, such as Lincoln Highway or Ohio River Scenic Byway, or make for Shawnee National Forest, a world of hills, lakes and bluffs that reaches its pinnacle in the Garden of the Gods, a magical place of strange rock formations.

And, at the Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site, near Collinsville – a UNESCO World Heritage Site – check out the remains of the most-sophisticated prehistoric native civilisation ➜ north of Mexico.

Great Lakes USA – Official UK Tourist Board

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Illinois

Sights

Sounds

Food

Fun

Award winner

Road tales

Winning wine

Hit the heights

The award-winning Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum in Springfield (above) opens up the president’s (and America’s) history to a wide audience. Among hundreds of items, it features Lincoln’s trademark, beaver-fur, stovepipe hat, an original copy of the Gettysburg Address and the document Lincoln signed to end slavery. alplm.org

Listen to the stories of America’s past on Route 66, America’s most-famous road, which starts in Chicago.

The 400 miles in Illinois are lined with colourful motels, historic diners and quirky tourist stops (above). The people have as much history as the places and love talking about the old days. discoverillinois.org

Sip Illinois wine at one of 450 vineyards (above) or 100 wineries in some of the state’s most-enchanting parts.

They create everything from sophisticated reds to sweet, country wines, and many offer tastings. Some have restaurants and B&Bs and there are wine trails to help you get there. illinoiswine.com

Sky-high city

Hot music

Chicago offers two opportunities to soar to the skies – the Skywalk, the open-air platform on the 94th floor of the John Hancock Observatory, and Skydeck Chicago, which is 1,353ft and 103 floors up the Willis Tower (formerly the Sears Tower, above) and extends four feet outside the building. jhochicago.com, theskydeck.com

Sail below Chicago’s stunning skyscrapers on an architectural river cruise and learn the history of some of the city’s amazing buildings. The glass and steel modernism of Ludwig Mies van der Rohe sits alongside innovations from the Victorian era, as well as the work of Frank Lloyd Wright. discoverillinois.org

Check out the sound of Chicago’s music festivals, led

by Lollapalooza, a massive gathering in lakefront Grant Park (starring such bands as Black Sabbath and Red Hot Chili Peppers among others), but also including the Chicago Blues Festival, the Chicago Jazz Fest and many others. choosechicago.com

Sample some of Chicago’s 21 Michelin-starred restaurants, from the Italian of Spiaggia and classy Mexican of Topolobampo to the contemporary American of Graham Elliot. The ultimate accolade goes to the Alinea, with a 23-course dinner and rated the world’s best restaurant

by Elite Traveler magazine. choosechicago.com

River route

Festival fun

The Great River Road, a National Scenic Byway, meanders along the Mississippi River, taking in attractions such as Galena (former home of President Ulysses S Grant), Alton (home of the country’s second-largest population of bald eagles) and the Lewis and Clark State Historic Site, the explorers’ starting point. greatriverroad-illinois.org

Enjoy the rocking sounds at the On the Waterfront festival in Rockford. The state’s biggest street festival welcomes 100,000 people over three days for all manner of bands and fun, including star names, from the southern piano boogie of Leon Russell to the punk rock of The Offspring. onthewaterfront.com

Twitter @greatlakesusa

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Classy line-up

Delightful dishes Don’t miss Illinois’ local favourites – Springfield’s Horseshoe Sandwich (hamburger and fries on toast, covered in cheese sauce), a Chicago Hot Dog (in a poppy-seed bun, with mustard, onions and hot peppers, relish, tomatoes, kosher dill pickle and celery salt), Garrett’s Chicago Mix popcorn (caramel and cheese), Eli’s Cheesecake or a deep-dish pizza. discoverillinois.org

Dramatic digger Fancy yourself driving a two-storey-high Cat 797 digger? Climb into a high-tech simulator in the Caterpillar Visitor Center, which pays homage to the chunkymachinery maker in Peoria.

Or visit the giant farm machinery at the John Deere Pavilion in Moline. Both also feature loads of history. caterpillar.com, deere.com

Sand dancer Get the sand of Chicago’s 26 miles of beaches under your feet. You are on the shores of Lake Michigan but, with water stretching into the horizon, you could be at the ocean. From the city to outskirts, you can swim, sail, jog or simply relax. cfmstage.com Great Lakes USA – Official UK Tourist Board

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Wisconsin

Warm welcome in the great outdoors

S

ince Wisconsin produces a quarter of the nation’s cheese, it’s no wonder the state’s licence plates proclaim it ‘America’s Dairyland’. Wisconsin, however, isn’t just about mile after mile of rolling pastures. Eighteen million acres of conifer and hardwood forest create a year-round great outdoors to explore – and an autumn leaf-peaking season to rival that of New England. Come winter, snow and iced-up lakes and rivers turn Wisconsin into a wonderland for skiers and ice fishers.

Eighty per cent of Wisconsin’s population resides in its friendly towns and bustling cities. Middleton, a suburb of Madison, the state capital, has been cited

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Great Lakes USA – Official UK Tourist Board

as the ‘Best Place To Live in America’, but Milwaukee is the biggest magnet, with its vibrant arts, culture, sports and social whirl.

Wisconsin is about its welcoming people – a melting pot of backgrounds and cultures. Fortytwo per cent of the population can trace roots in Germany but Norwegians, Poles, French, English, Afro-Americans and others have left their mark.

Wisconsin is also home to 11 Native American tribes.

It’s no wonder that, in a year-round calendar of celebrations, they not only anticipate the Fourth of July and Thanksgiving but also Oktoberfest, Bastille Day, Indian Summer Festival – and a flurry of other ➜ ethnic events.

ABOVE: Harley-Davidson Museum ... more than a century of motorbiking is celebrated there

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Wisconsin

Sights

Sounds

Food

Fun

On the road

Outdoor theatre

Say cheese!

On the tee

One of the Midwest’s mostscenic road trips, the 250-mile Great River Road (above), wends through 33 historic riverside towns and past parks and beach areas and 12 state and three national recreational facilities. The scenery is stunning between mighty limestone bluffs. experiencemississippiriver.com

The woods and meadows outside Spring Green host the acclaimed American Players Theatre (above) for eight plays presented in rotating repertory. In 2011, the Wall Street Journal named APT the Best Company of the Year and its play The Cure at Troy was named Best Play.

There’s a 1,148-seat outdoor amphitheatre and the indoor Touchstone Theatre with 200 seats. americanplayers.org

Industrious Swiss immigrants brought cheese-making skills to Wisconsin and, today, Monroe alone has more than a dozen cheese-makers hosting tours and tastings, as well as the unmissable Historic Cheesemaking Center (above).

Other producers across the state offer a flavourful welcome. No wonder Wisconsin is called ‘America’s Dairyland’. nationalhistoriccheese makingcenter.com

Nature’s gift to Wisconsin golfers is some of the sport’s best natural terrain (above).

It’s no surprise there’s one of the highest ratios of courses to players in the nation, with 500 offering a challenge.

Lee Trevino, Gary Player and Arnold Palmer are among the great designers who’ve set that task. golfwisconsin.com

Take flight

Farm bounty

More than 10,000 planes from around the globe gather each summer for the annual EAA AirVenture celebration – called the world’s largest and most-entertaining annual aviation event. Oshkosh Regional Airport hosts a programme that includes forums and workshops and spectacular acrobatic flying exhibitions. airventure.org

Wisconsin is renowned for its farm bounty. Every Wednesday and Saturday, year round, more than 300 fresh fruit, vegetable, flower and specialist product vendors put out their stalls in Madison for the Dane County Farmer’s Market – the biggest producer-only gathering of this kind in the country. dcfm.org

Magical islands Eight historic lighthouses guide visitors around Wisconsin’s 21 magical islands and mainland shores at the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore Coastal Park.

Discover low cliffs, white sands and mysterious sea caves by kayak, or hike miles of delightful trails. Frog Bay Tribal National Tribal Park opened in 2012 and has some of the best views in the area. apostleisland.com

Native colour Wisconsin is home to more Native American tribes than any other state east of the Mississippi. This heritage is showcased at the Waswagoning Ojibwe Indian Village – a 20-acre living museum where visitors can buy arts and crafts, eat traditional food or join colourful celebrations. waswagoning.us Twitter @greatlakesusa

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Packing ’em in An icon for American football fans, the Green Bay Packers have been winning games and making headlines for more than 50 years. Check out the Hall of Fame and admire their four Super Bowl trophies, then take a guided tour of Lambeau Field stadium. packers.com

Interesting wines Wisconsin has a longstanding tradition for producing interesting wines and Wollersheim Winery, overlooking the Wisconsin River in Prairie du Sac, can claim to be one of the oldest in the country. Other wine trail destinations include the Fox River Valley Wine Trail, Great River Road Wine Trail and Door County. wiswine.com

Rejuvenation time Take time out for rejuvenation – Wisconsin has some of the nation’s best health spas.

Surrounded by sky-high pines at Wisconsin Dells, being shamelessly pampered for a few days at Sundara Spa, enjoying a Crystal Chakra balancing massage at Osthoff Resort’s Aspira Spa – the options are many. spawisconsin.com

Harley rumble It’s 110 years since the first Harley-Davison motorcycle rumbled into action on Milwaukee’s streets.

Celebrating this most famous of local icons, the 130,000sq-ft Harley-Davison Museum showcases bikes from a 400-strong collection, including one that belonged to Elvis Presley – along with a host of magical memorabilia. harley-davidson.com Great Lakes USA – Official UK Tourist Board

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Minnesota

Trails galore and shopping at the Mall

M

INNESOTA is known as the Land of 10,000 Lakes, and Lake Superior, the largest of the Great Lakes, forms its north-eastern border. Fishing and boating abound in state parks and recreation areas. In the far north, canoeists and kayakers glide through the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, much of which is accessible only by water. Everywhere, there are trails for hiking and biking, for soaking up the summer sun or the glorious autumn colour. In winter, Minnesota’s outdoor spirit turns to ice fishing, cross-country skiing and other snowy sports, no matter how low the temperatures.

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Great Lakes USA – Official UK Tourist Board

The headwaters of another landmark, the mighty Mississippi River, flow from Lake Itasca through the Twin Cities, dividing Minnesota’s historic capital, Saint Paul, and its largest city, Minneapolis. The latter is home to the award-winning Guthrie Theater, the Walker Arts Center and many other cultural venues. There, too, in Bloomington, is the Mall of America, the USA’s largest shopping centre.

Wildlife enthusiasts are well catered for, with the International Wolf Center (‘teaching the world about wolves’) and the North American Bear Center (where they correct misconceptions about the animals), both in Ely, and the National Eagle Center in Wabasha – where you can view eagles up close. ➜

ABOVE: Make for Taylors Falls to take a trip along the scenic St Croix River Valley on an authentic paddlewheel boat

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Minnesota

Sights

Sounds

Food

Fun

Superior shoreline

Year-round music

Tempt tastebuds

Furry friends

Follow the shoreline of Lake Superior (above) up to the Canadian border. Starting from Duluth, the North Shore Scenic Drive is 154 miles (248km) long and passes dramatic cliffs, secluded beaches, lush forests, gushing waterfalls and lonely lighthouses, with spectacular views of this vast Great Lake. superiorbyways.com

The Minneapolis Sound can be heard all year, from free, summer outdoor concerts in the parks (above) featuring classic rock, brass bands and more, to the Minnesota Orchestra’s classical, jazz and pops concerts at Orchestra Hall.

Or visit First Avenue nightclub, where Prince launched the Minneapolis Sound in the 1980s. mplsmusicandmovies.com

The SPAM Museum in Austin (above) is one of a kind. It pays tribute to spiced pork in a tin with displays of SPAM trivia, SPAM advertising, SPAM history, a quiz and a tribute to Monty Python. If your tastebuds are tempted, stock up at the SPAM store. spam.com/spam -101/the-spam-museum

There are many furry animals at the Minnesota Zoo and, while you can’t cuddle a baby bear, you can pet domestic animals at the Wells Fargo Family Farm (above). Shows and demonstrations such as the World of Birds let you get up close to some of the zoo’s amazing creatures. mnzoo.org

Top trading With 520 stores including top national names, the Mall of America in Bloomington is the largest shopping and entertainment centre in the US. Nickelodeon Universe theme park, Lego, Minnesota Sea Life Aquarium, cinemas, 50 restaurants, nightclubs and more keep the whole family entertained. And clothing has no sales tax. mallofamerica.com

Heyday horn

Safe sanctuary

Country classic

The source of the Mississippi River lies in Minnesota’s north woods at Itasca State Park.

This great waterway crosses the country on its 2,552-mile journey to the Gulf of Mexico, but here it’s so tame you can walk across it. The surrounding park offers lakes, historic sites and a wilderness sanctuary. dnr. state.mn.us/state_parks/itasca

One of the largest outdoor country music festivals in the US is held every August in Detroit Lakes. WE Fest takes place at Soo Pass Ranch, which has a natural, 50,000-people amphitheatre and 10 campgrounds. Many of the top names in country music perform at the event. wefest.com

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Nothing recalls the heyday of the riverboats like a horn blowing on a paddlewheeler.

At Taylors Falls, take a trip along the scenic St Croix River Valley on an authentic paddlewheel boat, past amazing, glacier-carved rock formations. The valley is home to bald eagles and other fascinating wildlife. wildmountain.com/boat-tours

Fair game Beginning in late August, the Minnesota State Fair celebrates its rural heritage with livestock shows, cooking demonstrations, art and science exhibitions, and competitions from crop art to taxidermy. There are carnival games, thrill rides, musical entertainment and food stalls that serve everything from corn dogs to lobster on a stick. mnstatefair.org

Daring dive

Winning wine

The red pipestone quarries at the Pipestone National Monument are a sacred site for many Native Americans, whose ancestors used the stone to carve ceremonial effigies. It is still quarried today and, during the summer months, local carvers demonstrate the tradition at the Upper Midwest Indian Cultural Center. nps.gov/pipe

The Three Rivers Wine Trail leads to five Minnesota wineries and some fun events, from Tap the Barrel, which opens each new growing season in May, to the Art and Wine Crawl in June and November’s Cheese and Chocolate Weekend.

The wineries, set in scenic river valleys, offer tastings. threeriverswinetrail.com

Go ahead, take the plunge and dive into the clear, cold waters of Lake Superior, the world’s largest freshwater lake. Its average water temperature is just 40F (4C).

Splash about at Duluth’s Park Point beach, where a natural sand bar extends seven miles into the lake. visitduluth.com

Sacred site

Great Lakes USA – Official UK Tourist Board

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special feature

Mall Of America annually – all free to guests – including many Hollywood celebrity appearances, performances and autograph signings.

Convenient Location

Mall of America® Features World-Class Shopping and Leading Family Entertainment for European Travellers all of America® – Largest U.S. retail and entertainment centre in Bloomington, Minnesota featuring 520 stores, 50 restaurants, leading family attractions and over 400 annual events. More than 40 million guests visit the Mall annually from around the world. Here’s why…..

World-Class Shopping Enjoy leading designer brands at prices lower than many parts of the country with no sales tax on clothing and shoes. Experience an unparalleled selection of

apparel, jewellery, accessories, electronic goods and more at leading retailers like Burberry, Michael Kors, Apple, Coach, AIX Armani Exchange, Victoria’s Secret, Hugo Boss, Lacoste, Microsoft and Abercrombie & Fitch.

Typically, 15-20 new stores open each year with fresh fashions and gift ideas. Save even more with the Mall of America Coupon Book featuring more than 250 discounts – over USD $2,000 in combined savings – and available at Guest Services desks.

theatres, mirror maze, mini golf and much more.

Excellent Dining Choose from more than 50 restaurants ranging from elegant dining to fun family eateries.

Favourite choices include Napa Valley Grille, Rainforest Café, Crave, Bubba Gump Shrimp Co., Tucci Benucch, Sky Deck Sports Grille and Lanes, Dick’s Last Resort, Cadillac Ranch and Masu Sushi & Robata.

Daily Events

Mall of America is located in Bloomington – 15 minutes from downtown Minneapolis and St. Paul. It is only five minutes from Minneapolis/St. Paul International Airport (MSP).

Enjoy nonstop flights from Europe and Light Rail service from the Mall to the airport and downtown Minneapolis.

More than 38 hotels in Bloomington are within 10 minutes of the Mall and offer courtesy shuttle service. Visit www.MOAspecialoffers.com for attractive hotel rates, amenities and value.

A new 500-room Radisson Blu will open at Mall of America in March 2013, the first hotel to be connected to the Mall.

Visit www.mallofamerica.com for full details.

Retail Hours l Monday-Saturday: 10 am-9.30 pm; Sunday: 11 am-7 pm l Summer and holiday hours are longer. l Hours for restaurants, nightclubs and attractions vary.

Enjoy more than 400 events

Leading Family Attractions Have hours of fun at Nickelodeon Universe® – the nation’s largest indoor theme park in the centre of the Mall featuring 27 exciting rides and live entertainment. Experience other top attractions including American Girl®, an aquarium, aircraft simulators, ropes climbing course, LEGO®,

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greatlakesUSA.co.uk

Michigan

Motown, motors and open-air magic

M

ICHIGAN is known as the Great Lakes State … and no wonder. It has more than 11,000 inland lakes and 36,000 miles of rivers and streams; four of the five Great Lakes – Michigan, Superior, Huron and Erie – wash the 3,200 miles of its shores; and, wherever you are in the state, you are never more than 85 miles from one of those Great Lakes.

Virtually surrounded by deep, blue water, Michigan’s two peninsulas – Upper and Lower – are linked by the impressive Mackinac Bridge. To the north, outdoor adventures abound, with rich, abundant forests to explore, while in the south, which also has its fair share Twitter @greatlakesusa

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of natural beauty, the ‘Motor City’ of Detroit is being revitalised and experiencing a re-growth. The city is also the home of the Motown Sound.

A visit to Mackinac Island is a trip back in time.

Transportation is limited to horse-and-buggy, bicycle or foot, and its 500 residents maintain that Victorian ambience, keeping the island’s cottages in their original state.

Aficionados of the outdoor life will love Michigan; it has almost 100 state parks, four national parks, 1,300 designated mountain bike and bicycling trails, more than 800 public golf courses, and 600 campgrounds.

Pure Michigan … great lakes – and a great state. ➜

ABOVE: Snow delight...

Michigan offers many downhill and crosscountry trails

Great Lakes USA – Official UK Tourist Board

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S:268 mm

Waterfalls. Forever flowing. Forever changing.

Swift waters that stir deep reflection.

Where the rush of cars becomes the rush of brilliant water.

And the world slows down just enough for us to step off for a while.

Feel the weight of the day cascade away.

And let the current take us to Pure Michigan.

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greatlakesUSA.co.uk

Michigan

Sights

Sounds

Food

Fun Shore-fire hit

There has been a famous rivalry between the American Coney Island and Lafayette Coney Island restaurants in Detroit for more than 70 years as to who produces the best Coney Island chilli hot dog (above). As they are next door to each other, why not pop in to both and make your own mind up? americanconeyisland.com

Outdoor delight

Music fans should make a beeline for the Motown Museum in Detroit. Located in the Hitsville USA building, the original home of Motown records from 1959 to 1972, the museum traces the roots of Motown’s remarkable story and chronicles its impact on 20th-century popular culture and musical styles. motownmuseum.com

Enjoy the feeling of sand between your toes at the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore (above), a 35-mile stretch of Lake Michigan shoreline that features massive sand dunes sculpted entirely by the winds and waters.

More than 100,000 viewers of Good Morning America voted for it as the Most Beautiful Place in America.

Nearby communities offer unique shops and galleries. sleepingbeardunes.com

B:303 mm

Dog-gone delicious

Synchronizing water, light and music, the Grand Haven Musical Fountain show (above) is the world’s largest musical fountain. Built in 1964, its 20-minute show can be seen up to a quarter-of-a-mile away and easily stands comparison with the Bellagio fountains in Las Vegas. visitgrandhaven. com/musical-fountain-71/

S:268 mm

Fountain fantasy

The Henry Ford Museum (above) and Greenfield Village in Dearborn is a fascinating history and family attraction. It combines a museum featuring the Driving America exhibit on the history of the car, a village with seven recreated historic districts, a factory tour of a working Ford assembly line, and 3D films in the IMAX theatre. thehenryford.org T:297 mm

Fabulous Ford

On the banks of Lake Superior, the Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore is an outdoorlover’s delight. There’s scope for camping, kayaking, backpacking, hiking, fishing and other open-air activities and the area’s multi-coloured sandstone cliffs, beaches, waterfalls, inland lakes and forests make it a scenic area not to forget. It also has a maritime museum. nps.gov/piro

Art on show Art combines brilliantly with nature at the Frederik Meijer Gardens and Sculpture Park in Grand Rapids. The 132-acre park’s beautiful gardens host Michigan’s largest tropical conservatory and more than 200 sculptures, many situated in glorious, natural settings. meijergardens.org Twitter @greatlakesusa

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Motown magic

Top tower Listen to the German glockenspiel at the Bavarian Inn in Frankenmuth. The inn’s 50ft Glockenspiel Tower houses a 35-bell carillon, a figurine movement and an illuminated clock – all imported from Germany. American and German tunes and hymns are played, followed by the 4.5ft wooden figures depicting the legend of the Pied Piper of Hamelin. bavarianinn.com

Champion cherries Farm-fresh fruit – in particular, cherries and blueberries – and vegetables can be found at stands along Michigan roads. In Traverse City, an area known for its world-record tart-cherry harvest, the National Cherry Festival celebrates the fruit with more than 150 events on the shores of Lake Michigan’s Grand Traverse Bay. cherryfestival.org

Fantastic fudge The history of Mackinac Island fudge dates back to the late 1880s, when Harry Murdick opened his Candy Kitchen. Nowadays, the fudge (there are 15 stores on the island) is known worldwide and a Fudge Festival is held each year in August. mackinacisland.org/fudgeshop

Fishing king Head out on to the waters of one of the Great Lakes and revel in the exhilaration of pulling in a king salmon on a charter-boat fishing expedition. A variety of operators offer charter trips. michigancharterboats.com

Super skiing Experience the joy of whizzing over the powdery snow at Michigan’s many downhill and cross-country trails. There’s no need to be an expert, as Michigan skiing offers excitement at any level and, with more than 40 downhill skiing resorts, the state offers the best Alpine skiing in the Midwest. goskimichigan.com Great Lakes USA – Official UK Tourist Board

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Sounds like a great place to h

M

usic and the Great Lakes USA go hand in hand, no more so than on the shores of Lake Erie in Cleveland, Ohio, where, in 1995, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum opened its doors with a mission to ‘educate people about the history and continuing significance of rock and roll music’.

Since then, countless giants from the world of rock have been ‘inducted’ into the Hall of Fame, from the Beatles, Rolling Stones and Elvis to Chuck Berry, Michael Jackson and Bob Dylan.

The museum itself holds an amazing collection of artefacts from artists through the years, and, as they are forever changing with additions and loans, no two visits there are ever the same.

Another hugely popular attraction for music buffs is the Motown Museum in Detroit, which was founded in 1985 by Esther Gordy Edwards, who reputedly sanctioned a loan of $800 from the Ber-Berry Co-Op to her younger brother, Berry Gordy, in 1959 to help start Motown Records.

A small photography studio was modified into a small recording studio, which, until the early 70s, produced a string of hits. The museum holds costumes, photos and records from that successful period, during which the record company had 110 Top Ten hits.

Buddy Guy performing at his famous Legends club in Chicago

Bordering Chicago

along Lake Michigan

The most picturesque region in metropolitan Chicago can be found twenty minutes from the heart of the city on Chicago’s North Shore. Our vibrant towns have their own great dining, hotels, culture, shopping, and history, and you are just minutes away from Chicago’s world-famous stores, music and museums via the famous “EL” — Chicago’s public transit train, or by commuter rail or car, making us a great base for a Chicago visit.

For hotel reservations or group reservations, contact askme@cnscvb.com

www.visitchicagonorthshore.com

Ravinia Festival— outdoor classical, jazz, pop concerts

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“The Magnificent Mile” Millennium Park Shopping District

Chicago Botanic Garden

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o hear music Bob Dylan’s home town is Gibbin in Minnesota, where, every year in May, Dylan Days are celebrated.

Started informally in 1991 in Zimmy’s Bar and Restaurant, the event now celebrates one of America’s greatest musicians and poets with events that include songwriting contests, local tours and concerts.

Music festivals are a feature of life in Chicago, Illinois, and the Chicago Blues Festival – the largest, free blues festival in the world – attracts more than 500,000 blues fans during its three days. Known as the Blues Capital of the World, Chicago has a host of clubs to choose from, including Blue Chicago, Buddy Guy’s Legends and Green Dolphin Street.

Indiana’s home of the blues is the award-winning Slippery Noodle Inn in Indianapolis, which also works with the Slippery Noodle Sound record label to produce a range of blues compilation albums.

The Big Gig, the local’s name for Summerfest in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, is said to be the world’s largest music festival. Started in 1968, it runs for 11 days, during which it features more than 700 bands, attracting crowds from around the world.

Check out these sites for more information: rockhall.com, motownmuseum.com, dylandays.org, choosechicago.com, slipperynoodle.com, summerfest.com

The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum in Cleveland, Ohio

Summerfest in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, features 700 bands in 11 days

The annual Dylan Days in Gibbin, Minnesota, started in Zimmy’s Bar and Restaurant

Twitter @greatlakesusa

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The famous recording studio in the Motown Museum in Detroit, Michigan

Great Lakes USA – Official UK Tourist Board

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Indianapolis

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ndianapolis, or the Circle City as it is also known because of its famous landmark Monument Circle, is certainly at the centre of the action. Indiana’s capital city is located right in the middle of the state and Indiana itself is set almost at the crossroads of America.

Indianapolis is famous for the Indy 500 race and its love of all sport, and is increasingly renowned

Sights

Art attack... Museum of Art

Sounds

for its White River State Park, America’s only cultural urban state park. The park includes a view of history at the Indiana State Museum, the thrill of sport at the NCAA Hall of Champions, and an attractive Central Canal with boat rides scenic and walking paths. Locals and visitors enjoy cozy neighbourhoods such as Broad Ripple Village and Fountain Square.

Food

Fun

Fantastic for kids

Racing ahead

Hot stuff

Animal antics

There are five floors to the Children’s Museum of Indianapolis (above), the world’s largest, with terrific hands-on attractions, life-size roaring dinosaur skeletons in the Dinosphere, and an antique carousel. childrensmuseum.org

Feel what it’s like to ride a real Indy race-car at the Dallara IndyCar Factory (above), or take a virtual ride on simulators, with you in control of your speed. Elsewhere, follow a racecar’s history, from design to track. indycarfactory.com

Listen out for wild-animal noises at the Indianapolis Zoo (above), one of the US’s ten best. It also has an aquarium and a botanic garden and, in 2014, will be home to the world’s only International Orangutan Centre. indyzoo. com

Speeding home

Try the world-famous shrimp cocktail (above) – voted the spiciest dish in the world – at the more-than-acentury-old St Elmo Steak House, a hot-spot for local politicians, businessmen, sportsmen and celebrities. stelmos.com

The spirit of America’s West comes alive at the Eiteljorg Museum of American Indians and Western Art. Founded by Indianapolis philanthropist Harrison Eiteljorg, past exhibitions have included the histories of pistols to motorcycles. eiteljorg.org

Deli delight

Canal capers

Sporting thrills

Think you could cope with the Shapiro’s Delicatessen’s Rueben sandwich, stacked high with corned beef and all the fixings? Opened in 1905, Shapiro’s has been following the ‘Cook good, serve generous, price modestly and people will come’ motto ever since. shapiros.com

Catch gondoliers singing on Indianapolis’s Central Canal, a waterfront area with pedalboats, gondolas and bicycles.

Walk the three-mile Canal Walk loop or pop into White River State Park, which hosts many festivals. discovercanal.com

Experience the excitement, thrills and fun of professional American sport by watching the Indianapolis Colts (American football) at Lucas Oil Stadium or the Indiana Pacers (basketball) at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. colts.com, nba.com/pacers

Award-winning

The R Bistro’s policy of using fresh, local ingredients – farmto-table – has won chef Regina Mehallick several awards.

Opened just over ten years ago, the bistro has proved a huge favourite with both locals and visitors alike. rbistro.com

Home of the world-famous Indy 500 automobile race, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway celebrated the 100th anniversary of the 500mile race in 2011. Its museum is recognised as one of top automobile museums in the world. indianapolismotor speedway.com

A great day out The Indianapolis Museum of Art houses more than 50,000 works of art and, set in a 152acre complex that includes glorious gardens and an artand-nature park, it makes for a great day out. imamuseum.org

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Pioneering art

Great Lakes USA – Official UK Tourist Board

Blues bar

Revel in the blues at the Slippery Noodle Inn, Indiana’s oldest, continually-operating bar and host to countless music legends. During Prohibition, bank robber John Dillinger used the back of the building for target practice. slipperynoodle.com Twitter @greatlakesusa

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Ohio Rock and roll, roller-coasters and river beauty

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hio has pride of place on Lake Erie, with more than 300 miles of lighthousedotted coastline. The city of Cleveland contrasts with quiet beaches, fishing ports, pretty islands, nature reserves – and some of best amusement parks anywhere. Cedar Point has the most rides of any park in the world, not least the Gatekeeper roller-coaster, new for 2013, which twists, turns and flips as riders hang in the air.

Cleveland, home of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum, has its own symphony orchestra and great waterfront restaurants. Other city attractions in the state are the capital, Columbus, which has Twitter @greatlakesusa

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the number-one zoo in America and the numberone Science Center for Families in America, and Cincinnati, where a newly-developed riverfront fosters a superb nightlife on the banks of the Ohio River.

Set on Lake Erie, the tiny, party island of Put-inBay is full of historic homes, hosts the third-tallest monument in the US, and welcomes visitors to some quaint restaurants.

Ohio also has the world’s largest Amish population, with settlements to visit. The Cuyahoga National Park is only a short drive from Cleveland but a different world away as the Cuyahoga River winds through hills and forests – look out for the 65ft Brandywine Falls. ➜

ABOVE: Thrills galore... the Max Air ride at Cedar Point

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Ohio

Sights

Sounds

Food

Fun

Trailing history

Rock on!

Home cooking

Gentle relaxation

The Ancient Ohio Trail in the Ohio heartland links four earthworks showing the sophistication of Native Americans thousands of years ago. Serpent Mound (above) is a quarter-mile rendition of a snake along a ridge, while Fort Ancient involved filling gullies to create a hilltop enclosure. ancientohiotrail.org

Listen to the music that changed the world as it reverberates through the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum in Cleveland (above). There’s a new Beatles gallery, permanent collections, ever-changing exhibitions, Q&A sessions – and the glorious noise of regular live performances. rockhall.com

Relax to the gentle bob of the waves and a tug on your line during a fishing expedition on Lake Erie (above). There are plenty of small-boat charters to help you search for walleye, perch and bass while giving great views of the shoreline and islands. shoresandislands.com

Flying high

Zipping ahead

Comfort food is a speciality of Ohio’s Amish. This is real home cooking – fried chicken, mashed potatoes, fresh vegetables, homemade egg noodles, date-nut pudding and so many kinds of pies, such as Whoopie Pie (above) and the most famous, Shoofly Pie. You’ll find it in restaurants and country-store diners statewide.

The National Museum of the US Air Force near Dayton features several hundred flying machines, from the Wright Brothers to the NASA spaceshuttle crew-compartment trainer, with a whole hangar devoted just to presidential aircraft. And it’s the only place you’ll get to see a B-2 stealth bomber. nationalmuseum.af.mil

Enjoy the whirr overhead – and shriek! – as someone flies past on one of the state’s many zipline adventures, sometimes through the treetops, sometimes across the open prairies. Try Ozone Zipline Adventures, in south-west Ohio, with a five-hour extravaganza featuring nine sky bridges and 11 wires, including two that whiz across Little Miami River 200 feet up. campkern.org

Super safari The Wilds in Cumberland is a safari park and conservation centre with giraffes, rhinos, zebras and many more roaming in 10,000 acres of rolling countryside. Take the open-air safari bus, go on a horseback trek – or fly over herds of grazing animals on a network of 10 ziplines. thewilds.org

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Shopping bonanza Revel in the ring of the cash register as you make another must-have purchase from one of the individual shops and boutiques that have sprung up in the cities, or from one of the many outlet malls, where you’ll find top names at bargain prices. discoverohio.com

Great Lakes USA – Official UK Tourist Board

Champion chilli Cincinnati-style chilli is different from any chilli you’ve ever had – there may be a hint of cinnamon and cloves in the meaty sauce, and it’s served over a mound of spaghetti.

Go the whole hog with fiveway chilli, which also comes loaded with grated cheese, onion and red beans.

Buckeye beauty Don’t leave Ohio without tasting a Buckeye, a ball of peanut butter dipped in chocolate. It’s so-called because it looks like a buckeye nut, a conker-like nut that’s widespread in the Ohio River Valley. And, once you’ve eaten one, you’ll long for another. Ohio is also known as the Buckeye State.

Happy hiking Experience the cool, worn sandstone of caves and the spray from the waterfalls in the Hocking Hills, Logan. This state park of forests and cliffs is made for hiking, or you can canoe Hocking River and swim in Lake Logan. It’s even more beautiful during the autumn leaf season.

1800hocking.com

Breathtaking best Imagine you’re suspended 350 feet in the air before the wind takes your breath (and your hair style) away and leaves you with a squintyeyed, roller-coaster face at Cedar Point in Sandusky.

It claims to be the best amusement park in the world, with 16 coasters and dozens of other rides. cedarpoint.com Twitter @greatlakesusa

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WWW.EXPLOREMINNESOTA.COM

The land of 10,000 lakes is also the land of 10,000 adventures.

Minnesota offers visitors exciting adventures: Enjoy the nation’s largest shopping complex—Mall of America; experience world-class arts and culture; shop for clothing tax-free; view America’s eagles, bears and wolves at national centers and visit the Mississippi River at its headwaters. For more Minnesota adventures visit www.exploreminnesota.com.

Check out these websites for more information about places to go and things to do in Minnesota. www.minneapolis.org www.bloomingtonmn.org www.mallofamerica.com www.visitsaintpaul.com

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