A Voyage Along the Great Lakes – with Smithsonian Journeys

Toronto, Canada’s largest city and the capital of Ontario, is captivated by its vibrant diversity and impressive scale. Don’t miss the iconic CN Tower, the tallest in the Western Hemisphere, or the bustling St. Lawrence Market, showcasing the city’s multicultural flair. Nearby, the historic Distillery District enchants with its cobblestone streets, charming restaurants, cafes, boutiques, theatres, and art galleries. The Royal Ontario Museum, with its extensive natural and cultural history collections, is another must-visit highlight during your time in this dynamic global city.

Stretching over 42 kilometers, the Welland Canal is a vital link in the Saint Lawrence Seaway, connecting Lake Erie to Lake Ontario. Completed in its modern form with eight locks, this engineering marvel—initially conceived in 1824—stands as one of the 20th century's most significant technical achievements. It revolutionized trade in the Great Lakes region, enabling seamless transport of goods from industrial hubs like Chicago, Cleveland, and Milwaukee to the Atlantic Ocean. A journey along this historic canal offers a rare opportunity to marvel at its impressive locks and engineering masterpieces in their own right while taking in the stunning surrounding landscapes.

Port Colborne is a small port city located in southern Ontario at the mouth of the Welland Canal. It is well-known for being one of the longest locks in the world: measuring 420 meters, this lock, the 8th in the canal, has an observation footbridge and marks the final transit point before the Erie Canal. In addition to discovering this tremendous hydraulic infrastructure, this port of call will be your privileged access point to the famous Niagara Falls, renowned worldwide for its spectacular beauty. Located on the river of the same name, which means “water thunder” in Amerindian language, these wonders of nature are among the most powerful waterfalls in the world.

Located to the south of Lake Huron and connected to Lake Ontario by the Welland Canal, Lake Erie, which owes its name to one of the Amerindian tribes that peopled its banks before the arrival of the French in the 17th century, is remarkable for its unique ecosystem. Its shallow fish-filled waters make it an excellent fishing spot, while its banks, famous for their many migratory birds, attract photographers and ornithology enthusiasts.

While navigating the Detroit River, an important commercial waterway linking Lake Erie and Lake St. Clair to Lake Huron, sail along the largest city in Michigan. Then, enjoy panoramic views over the skyscrapers of the former Motor City, the jewel of the automotive industry, Fordism, and Motown music in the 20th century. Admire the Ambassador Bridge, which spans the river and enables access to Windsor on the Canadian shore of the river. This steel suspension bridge, over two kilometers long, was constructed in 1929. This bridge carries over 25% of trade between the United States and Canada.

Forming a natural line of separation between the United States and Canada, the St. Clair River, which flows from Lake Huron into Lake St. Clair, is a significant element of the Great Lakes Waterway. Used in the 18th century for the fur trade by the French colonists of North America who sailed it on small boats to trade with the Amerindians, it was then traveled by freighters transporting lumber, iron ore, and copper from the Great Lakes region to the cities of the Rust Belt.

A natural border between the American State of Michigan and the Canadian province of Ontario, Lake Huron is one of the five American Great Lakes and one of the largest freshwater lakes in the world. Comprising the main lake, Saginaw Bay, the North Channel, and Georgian Bay, and home to around 30,000 islands, it offers varied coastal landscapes and unique views. From your ship, admire the wild beauty of the wooded and, at times, craggy coastline of Manitoulin Island or the spectacular cliffs of the Bruce Peninsular.

The charming city of Parry Sound enjoys an exceptional natural setting in the heart of a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve east of Georgian Bay. A holiday destination favored by the province’s inhabitants, the city and its surroundings offer a condensed version of all that the Great Lakes region has to offer: windswept forests of conifers, rocky shores characteristic of the Canadian Shield, beaches of fine sand, clear and calm waters producing magnificent reflections that change with the time of day and luminosity… A real paradise for fauna and flora, the place will delight fans of nature and photography.

A small port town located along the North Channel of Lake Huron, Little Current is considered the gateway to Manitoulin Island, the largest freshwater island in the world. The town’s emblematic construction, the Little Current Swing Bridge, built in 1913, provides the only land access to the island, a peaceful land whose name means “the island of spirits” in the local dialect. A real haven of peace, sheltering wild nature and some hamlets, the place is ideal for outdoor activities such as horse riding and hiking.

Located to the east of the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, Sault Ste. Marie is one of the oldest cities in the United States. Separated from its Canadian twin city by the St. Marys River, it is famous, among other things, for its locks, known as either the Sault Locks or the Soo Locks, which enable ships to travel the meters in a change in elevation between Lake Superior and the lower Great Lakes. These locks, which date back over 160 years, are considered the most important worldwide due to their shipping traffic. Make sure you visit the Museum Ship Valley Camp, where you can see the interior of a former freighter that sailed on the Great Lakes for more than 50 years.

Close to the banks of Lake Huron in the State of Michigan, Mackinac Island promises a real journey through time. Initially inhabited by Amerindians, then occupied by French and British colonists, this small island measuring only a few km² still retains an atmosphere of yesteryear today, with its Victorian-style buildings and elegant horse-drawn carriages. Fort Mackinac, on the island's heights, is a reminder of the conflicts that punctuated the history of this strategic place, a former fur trade center. In addition to this scenery from the past, the island offers magnificent fine sandy beaches and is home to one of the oldest National Parks in the United States.

Sail through the United States' largest freshwater body, which gave its name to Michigan, one of the four states that border this lake, measuring 500 km long and 200 km wide. The first colonists settled in the south at the end of the 17th century, on the site of the current megalopolis of Chicago. Wild landscapes of forests with sparkling colors, cliffs, golden sandy beaches, and dunes as far as the eye can see stretch along its 2,600 km of shoreline. In the north, magnificent wind-swept islands rise from the lake's emerald waters. At 8 km long, the Mackinac Bridge, which spans the straits between Lake Michigan and Lake Huron, is one of the world's longest suspension bridges.

Nested on the shores of Lake Michigan, Milwaukee, the largest city in the State of Wisconsin, harmoniously combines tradition and modernity. Industrially, long ago, the city, known as Brew City because of its old breweries renowned worldwide, is experiencing a certain renaissance. While warehouses have given way to restaurants, bars, theatres, and art galleries in the city center, the district retains traces of its manufacturing past. Further south lies Chicago, the economic center of the Midwest, with an interesting mix of natural and urban landscapes: its immense skyscrapers, diverse architecture, many parks, and magnificent beaches make the city a popular destination.