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Tourism
in the Great Lakes Region
What's New |
Overview |
General Resources |
Agencies & Organizations
Laws |
Publications |
Research |
Discuss
What's New
Take Me to the River exhibition (6/12) The Chicago Architecture Foundation’s latest exhibition,Take Me to the River: Building Chicago’s New Waterfront, is now open! The exhibition includes fresh design ideas to create excitement around a renewed relationship between the Chicago River and the city.
Wisconsin comes up short in revitalizing waterfronts Fond du Lac Reporter (6/10) In 2005, dozens of Wisconsin officials gathered at a new resort on Lake Michigan. Sheboygan’s Blue Harbor Resort was a case study for revitalizing Wisconsin’s waterfronts. Eight years later, Wisconsin hasn’t come up with a blueprint for making that happen.
This summer, travel on La Route Bleue Montreal Gazette (6/7) Downstream from Montreal, as the St. Lawrence River gets progressively wider, car ferries are the critical transport links for area residents. For tourists, they offer an opportunity for inexpensive and interesting boat travel.
New Great Lakes Seaway Trail Magazine includes local tips WICU12/WSEE - Erie, Penn. (6/5) The 2013 Great Lakes Seaway Trail Travel Magazine is out and publishers say packed with ideas for exploring the 518-mile National Scenic Byway that hugs the freshwater shoreline of New York and Pennsylvania.
EDITORIAL: Encouraged by Falls hotel growth Niagara Gazette (6/5) One of the largest gaps between Niagara Falls, U.S.A. and Niagara Falls, Ontario, involves one of the key elements of any tourism destination: quality hotel rooms. Now the American side is adding more rooms.
Permits approved for Le Griffon shipwreck expedition UpNorthLive (6/4) Permits have been approved for the Great Lakes Exploration Group to perform underwater test excavations to identify the shipwreck in Lake Michigan that is believed to be the Le Griffon.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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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