The Great Lakes

Best time to visit the Great Lakes

The best time to visit the Great Lakes depends on your priorities and the activities you're interested in.

In spring (May-June) there's blossoming nature, temperate weather ideal for hiking, birdwatching (especially in May during migration), and exploring areas like Sleeping Bear Dunes. Water temperatures are still cool, but it's great for scenic beauty. Be aware of mosquitoes during June.

Autumn (September-October) has stunning autumn foliage (especially in Michigan's Upper Peninsula by mid-October), comfortable temperatures for hiking and other outdoor activities, and beautiful lighthouse photography opportunities.

Summer (June-August) is universally hailed as the best time for water activities (boating, swimming, kayaking), warmest weather, and the most vibrant atmosphere with numerous festivals and events. July and August are the warmest months.

Winter (December-February) is the time to go if you enjoy winter sports like snowmobiling, skiing, snowshoeing, or ice climbing. The scenery can be beautiful with snow and ice.

Discover the Great Lakes

The Great Lakes region sits in America’s Midwest and are dominated by the expansive lakes of Superior, Michigan, Erie and Huron, which due to their size and landscape look more like inland seas. Natural beauty awaits along its 10,000 miles of shoreline that meander up and down the region. Sail across the blue waters to one of its islands, such as Mackinac Island that offers a slower pace of life, stunning vistas and historic forts. Hike through national and state parks, climb up 200ft tall sand dunes, kayak along the lakeshores looking out for wildlife, or simply just relax on the unspoilt sandy beaches with a book in hand.

The interesting cities in the Great Lakes, perfectly complement its natural beauty. One of the regions gateways is the ‘Windy City’ of Chicago, filled with beautiful architecture, the pretty Chicago River and iconic attractions such as Navy Pier and the observation deck at the Willis Tower. To the east sitting on Lake Erie is the compact and clean city of Cleveland, and its over 20,000 acres of parks and gardens, the most brilliant Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and its fantastic restaurant scene making it one of America’s best culinary cities. Last but not least is Detroit – ‘Motor City’ which despite its challenging history, now has a great vibe packed with fascinating attractions such as the Henry Ford Museum and ‘Hitsville USA’, where Motown Records was born that put artists such as Stevie Wonder and Marvin Gaye on the world’s stage.

Highlights of the Great Lakes

What are the Great Lakes famous for?

• Chicago
• Detroit
• Cleveland
• Minnesota
• Milwaukee

Swipe left or right to learn more about each destination.

Chicago, Illinois

Proudly sitting on the shores of Lake Michigan, Chicago has an instantly recognisable skyline, deep rooted neighbourhoods and is perfect for a city break or as part of a longer Great Lakes itinerary. The skyline is dotted with many iconic buildings including the 360 Chicago, the Skydeck Chicago at the Willis Tower and the Ferris Wheel at Navy Pier which all give memorable views of the city.

Visitors will be wowed by Chicago’s architecture, particularly along the Magnificent Mile, the main shopping street in the city and around the pretty Chicago River. In this evening dine at an award-winning restaurant, enjoy a slice of a famous Chicago pizza or enjoy a night at the theatre, Chicago’s theatre scene has started to rival New York’s Broadway.

Detroit, Michigan

Detroit is the birthplace of Motown, when in the 60’s Berry Gordy bought a small recording studio and launched the Motown music label. Music legends that rose from the label include Stevie Wonder, Diana Ross, Marvin Gaye and the Four Tops and Smokey Robinson. Now a museum visitors can see artefacts such as original sheet music, photos and costumes worn by Motown stars.

Also lovingly called ‘Motor City’, Detroit was once the ‘car capital of the world’ due to the vast volume of Ford cars that were being built in the city’s Henry Ford car plant. The Ford Rouge Factory tour allows visitors to see Ford’s largest production line in Detroit, whilst the nearby Henry Ford Museum is a museum like no other. A living history museum it looks back at America’s automobile history and landmark innovations with some incredible exhibits including former President JFK’s limousine, the Rosa Parks bus and the evolution of the aircraft.

Cleveland, Ohio

Situated on the southern shores of Lake Erie, Cleveland is a clean and compact city filled with pretty parkland where the locals have a passion for food, sport and music. All types of music are celebrated at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, from Beyonce to Abba along with an entire floor dedicated to the successful careers of Bon Jovi and Pink Floyd.

Get a selfie in front of the Cleveland sign, stroll around the city admiring its stunning architecture whether that’s’ in the Cleveland Public Library or in Willard Park. Home of the Cleveland Cavaliers Basketball team, catch a game whilst in town and then head to East 4th, a pedestrian area in downtown lined full of restaurants, bars and nightclubs.

Minnesota

The most western of the Great Lake states, Minnesota boasts miles upon miles of natural beauty, with the serene shores of Lake Superior, to vast prairies, pretty waterfalls, outdoor adventure and cultural and vibrant cities. Take a hike through the iconic Boundary Waters Canoe Area, enjoy a houseboat adventure in Voyageurs National Park or feel the rush of a waterfall at Minnehaha Falls. With more shoreline than California, Florida and Hawaii combined get out and experience the water whether that is swimming, kayaking or paddleboarding.

Beyond the beauty of nature, Minnesota’s cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul offer a vibrant cultural scene, with world-class art museums, theatres, shopping and music. The artist known as Prince who was born and raised in Minneapolis and visitors can visit Paisley Park, his former home and studio and the world-renowned Mall of America, the country’s largest shopping mall.

Milwaukee, Wisconsin

From the stunning architecture to the roar of Harley engines, the crisp taste of Miller beer, and the beauty of Lake Michigan, the pretty lakeside town of Milwaukee in Wisconsin offers a taste of true Americana, plenty of green space and a wonderful spirit. With so city highlights, ones not to miss include the Harley Davidson Museum, home to an unbelievable collection of memorabilia and interactive exhibits that showcases the very best of this iconic American brand.

Stroll around the lake shore or take a cruise and visit the restored warehouse district – Third Ward and its many art galleries, fantastic restaurants, unique shops and breweries which serve Miller beer. Milwaukee is the hometown of this popular American beer, and visitors can see how it is made on a tour at the Miller Brewing Company.