Great Lakes USA: 8 Ways to Experience These Freshwater Playgrounds

Completed in 1848, the Illinois and Michigan Canal became one of the USA’s most vital transportation routes. It was the first waterway to connect Lake Michigan to the Mississippi River via the Illinois River. Today, the I&M Canal National Heritage Area, the first of the USA’s national heritage areas, runs alongside 60 cities and towns between Chicago and La Salle, Illinois. Start your trip at the visitor’s center in La Salle, check out the gift shop, grab a bite at the cafe, and then hop aboard the 1840s replica canal boat for a fun and educational journey down this scenic waterway. Just as they did in the 19th century, the boat runs on mule power, and you’ll get to meet the engine himself, Moe the Mule. For a different type of adventure nearby, rent a bike and pedal along the canal, spot an American bison in the Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie, or hike the lush forests of Starved Rock State Park.

Just 80 kilometers (about an hour’s drive) southeast of Chicago, in Chesterton, Indiana, you’ll find one of the most breathtaking shorelines in the USA. Indiana Dunes State Park, adjacent to Indiana Dunes National Park, features nearly 5 kilometers of rustic and beautiful lakefront. Wander towering dunes along the windswept southern shores of Lake Michigan on the park’s seven scenic trails for hiking and biking. A visitor favorite, the 6-kilometer Trail 9 offers stunning dune and Lake Michigan views. Up for a challenge? Rugged Trail 8 traverses the three highest dunes in the park. For an easier route, Trail 2 features 4.8 kilometers of fern-lined paths, which are particularly vibrant with wildflowers in the spring. Cap off the day with a craft cocktail, tasty tacos and more awe-inspiring scenery at the Indiana Dunes Pavilion rooftop lounge.

You’ll find Holland State Park where Lake Michigan’s eastern shore meets scenic Lake Macatawa. Featuring wide, sandy beaches, as well kayak, canoe and paddleboard rentals, this is one of the most visited parks in Michigan. Get your steps in with a morning climb up the Mt. Pisgah dune. A meandering stair system leads visitors 48 meters atop a towering dune, culminating in a panorama featuring Lake Michigan, Lake Macatawa and Big Red, Holland’s signature historic lighthouse. When you’re not lounging on the beach, visit lovely downtown Holland or nearby outdoor attractions Tunnel Park and Windmill Island Gardens. But make sure to catch a sunset from the park; it’s one of the Great Lakes’ best spots for ending the day.

Minnesota’s North Shore All-American Scenic Drive – also known as Highway 61, referenced in Bob Dylan’s “Highway 61 Revisited” – runs from Duluth to Grand Portage, spanning 277 kilometers along the dramatic northern shoreline of Lake Superior. The largest of the Great Lakes and the largest lake by surface area on Earth, Lake Superior is called Gitche Gumee (Great Sea) by the native Ojibwe tribe. In Duluth, Dylan’s birthplace, stroll along the waterfront at Canal Park, and watch ships pass through the 1905 Aerial Lift Bridge. Make your next stop Gooseberry Falls State Park to enjoy hiking trails and waterfalls cascading into Lake Superior. Next up is Split Rock Lighthouse State Park with its rocky shoreline revealing more waterfalls and Split Rock Lighthouse perched high above the lake. The town of Lutsen is a great place to play with outdoor recreation opportunities including lakeside golf, downtown shopping, zipline tours and an exhilarating alpine slide. Next, walk the harborside streets of the oldest art colony in Minnesota, Grand Marais. In Grand Portage, marvel at High Falls, Minnesota’s tallest waterfall, at Grand Portage State Park, and learn about the North American fur trade at Grand Portage National Monument.

An 1825 engineering marvel, the Erie Canal stretches across upstate New York, connecting the Atlantic Ocean to the Great Lakes via the Hudson River. Early on, the waterway inspired inland migration, becoming known as the “Mother of Cities.” Today, the canal and 200 neighboring communities are part of the Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor, offering history, culture and adventure along over 800 kilometers of navigable waterway. The vibrant port city of Buffalo sits at the canal’s western terminus. Its bustling downtown attractions include the Canalside district, where you can paddle, dine, bike and stroll along a scenic waterfront boardwalk. Board a boat in nearby Lockport for a narrated canal cruise through fascinating locks and lift bridges. Niagara Falls State Park is just a 30-minute drive from Lockport, offering unforgettable views of its famous falls on excursions from boat tours to tethered balloon rides.

Bustling Cleveland, Ohio, is the biggest city on Lake Erie and the home of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. Get out on the water with a boat tour or kayak rental from the North Coast Harbor Marina, or head to the Cleveland Lakefront Nature Preserve to spot wildlife on its lakeside trails, including various bird species. Check out the Flats district, an eclectic hub on the Cuyahoga River brimming with restaurants, bars and entertainment experiences. Dine with a view at Collision Bend Brewing Company or Pier W, a five-star waterfront restaurant serving fresh seafood and hearty steaks. Catch the sunset or plan a morning stroll around one of the city’s vibrant lakefront green spaces, including Euclid Beach Park, Edgewater Park, Lakewood Park and Wendy Park.

Situated 158 kilometers up the Lake Erie coast from Cleveland, Northwestern Pennsylvania’s Presque Isle State Park is a National Natural Landmark popular for swimming, boating, fishing and more outdoor activities. Lace up your shoes or rent a bike from The Yellow Bike Rental Company, and hit the Karl Boyes Multi-Purpose National Recreation Trail – 22 kilometers of paved pathway perfect for taking in picturesque lake and bay views. Climb 78 steps to the top of Presque Isle Lighthouse, which has been standing for over 150 years. For a bite nearby, Sara’s Restaurant can’t be missed. It’s a seasonal, 1950s-style diner at the entrance to the park. Fuel up on hot dogs, onion rings and milkshakes in a laid-back, retro setting. Across Presque Isle Bay from the park, the city of Erie offers dynamic urban experiences at rooftop bars, chef-driven restaurants and waterfront hot spots.

The magnificent Door County Coastal Byway in Wisconsin is a 100-kilometer loop past the dunes, bluffs and bays of the Door County peninsula jutting into Lake Michigan. Drop in for sightseeing, shopping and dining at some of the byway’s quaint lakeside villages including Egg Harbor and Sister Bay. Another favorite activity is taking the ferry to Washington Island. Home to only 600 permanent residents, the secluded, low-key island is known for Schoolhouse Beach with its crystalline blue waters and smooth limestone rock shoreline. Take a break from the beach to explore boutiques and restaurants, and see the Stavkirke Church, a wooden Lutheran chapel designed after the Borgund Stave Church, built in 1150 in Norway. Back on the main land, hike lush trails to incredible Ellison Bay vistas at Newport State Park. Stay into the evening to watch the cosmos come to life at this International Dark Sky Park.