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What's New
2013 Tall Ships Challenge
(5/24)
Commemorating the military events of the War of 1812 across the Great Lakes for both the U.S. and Canada, the Tall Ships Challenge Great Lakes 2013 series will be an event of numbers - two countries, five Great Lakes, over 25 participating tall ships, 22 port appearances, five races, and millions of visitors.

Historic number of tall ships to converge on Brockville
Watertown Daily Times (5/23)
The city of Brockville, Ontario will host record 10 tall ships in June - a once-in-a-lifetime event as part of the tall Ships Challenge Great Lakes 2013 series.

Great Lakes Boaters' Forecast Tool
(5/22)
The Great Lakes Observing System's Boaters’ Forecast tool provides information on water currents and depth to help boaters plan a safe and enjoyable boating day. The easy-to-use, web-based format was customized to address information needs specific to Great Lakes boaters, including information on marina and boat launch locations.

“Sunken Treasure”: Documentary explores Great Lakes shipwrecks, promotes respectful diving
Great Lakes Echo (5/22)
With hundreds of shipwrecks scattered across the bottom of the Great Lakes, divers have access to an unrivaled underwater playground. The freshwater environment lends itself to preserving shipwrecks so well, some ships look ready to board.

Kites draw eyes to the sky at Great Lakes Kite Festival in Grand Haven
MLive (5/19)
Kite enthusiasts and curious onlookers stopped by Grand Haven State Park on Saturday for the second day of the 25th Annual Great Lakes Kite Festival.

'Discover Wisconsin' features Lake Michigan harbor towns
Green Bay Press Gazette (5/17)
“Wisconsin Harbor Towns—Lake Michigan” premieres May 18-19 and will reach more than 250,000 viewers across the upper Great Lakes region, including Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa, Northern Illinois and Upper Michigan.

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Overview
Outdoor recreation in the Great Lakes region is a way of life. The Great Lakes offer outstanding tourism and recreation opportunities, ranging from pristine wilderness activities in national parks such as Isle Royale and Pukaskwa to waterfront beaches in major cities. A well-defined four-seasons climate supports many types of recreation from ice fishing, skiing and snowmobiling in the winter to golf, fishing, boating and swimming in the summer. The eight Great Lakes states have about 3.7 million registered recreational boats, or about a third of the nation's total. Michigan and Minnesota lead the nation in the number of boat registrations, and six Great Lakes states rank in the nation's top ten in total number. The commercial and sport fishing industry is collectively valued at more than $4 billion annually. Diving on shipwrecks is a growing Great Lakes sport, thanks to many underwater preserves and parks throughout the lakes. Off Lake Superior's Whitefish Point, better known to sailors as the "graveyard of the Great Lakes," it is said that more than 300 ships have been lost to Superior storms. For people who don't dive, the shipwrecks can be studied at many of the maritime museums throughout the region.

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General Resources
The Great Lakes Circle Tour
Ride along on the 6,500-mile Great Lakes Circle Tour: a scenic, international road system connecting the five Great Lakes and the St. Lawrence River! For new visitors to the region, this online travel guide offers informational maps, road routes and estimated mileages, and links to major cities, camping and recreation areas, and natural attractions.

GreatLakesLodging.com
Find lodging, travel and vacation information on the various regions around the Great Lakes. Read about current weather conditions, events and helpful maps for planning your trip.

Midwest Weekends
An insiders guide to travel in the upper Midwest. Midwest Weekends is an independent guide featuring stories about the Great Lakes region with comprehensive trip-planning tips.

The Great Lakes of North America
This industry web site provides information on tourism in the Great Lakes region, industry news, a photo gallery, and information on each U.S. state and Canadian province in the region.

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Laws
Travel Tips
Government of Ontario
Travel Tips, including custom and duty information, to make your Ontario visit more enjoyable.

Traveler Information
U.S. Customs Service
Official information for foreign nationals traveling to the United States including merchandise restrictions, visa requirements, and more.

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Publications
Lake Superior Magazine
The magazine about the world's largest freshwater lake and the people who live and visit there.

Midwest Living
Featuring travel, dining, home & garden and shopping in the Midwest.

Outdoor Illinois
Illinois Department of Natural Resources (DNR)
A subscription magazine about he Prairie State's great natural and cultural resources.

Outdoor Indiana
Indiana Department of Natural Resources (DNR)
Experiencing Indiana's valuable natural resources.

The Northern Michigan Journal
Articles, reflections and news from and about northern Michigan.

Traverse Magazine
Travel, events, dining and news from Up North.

Wild Ohio
Ohio Department of Natural Resources
Featuring Ohio's natural resources.

Wisconsin Natural Resources Magazine
Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR)
Articles and photographs featuring Wisconsin's natural resources.

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Research
The Great Lakes, a Great Place! To live, to work, to visit
Great Lakes Commission

Trends in Tourism Visitation - Duluth, Minnesota: 1980-1994
Minnesota Sea Grant

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Great Lakes Information Network
Updated: May 24, 2013
Maintained by: Christine Manninen, manninen@glc.org
Selected Photos: Copyright ©John and Ann Mahan
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