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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
Braddock Bay seeks to realize its economic potential Rochester Democrat and Chronicle (11/22) Amid the cattails, marshlands, migratory bird paths and blue-green waters of Braddock Bay, those who live, work and play in one of the state's largest coastal wetland ecosystems see something else: economic opportunity.
Mapping the music of the Great Lakes (11/20) Explore the many songs that feature the Great Lakes in this blog post, and add songs to the "Great Lakes Music Map," an interactive map of Great Lakes music.
Chicago Green City Market (11/18) Green City Market is Chicago’s only year-round farmers’ market promoting local, sustainable farmers, producers and chefs by connecting them to the public through educational programming and special events.
Midland potential port for historic steamship The Midland Mirror (11/18) Talks have been held to make Midland, Ont., a port of call for the S.S. Norisle, a 215-foot-long steamship that will be retrofitted to offer extended passenger excursions around the Great Lakes.
1987 Great Lakes Map (11/17) Published in July 1987 as part of the National Geographic "Making of America" series, this map of the Great Lakes contains a vast amount of historical information about the region, as well as tourist attractions.
Green hotel programs sprout in five states ENS Newswire (11/12) The State of Indiana became the first state in the USA to adopt the Green Key Eco-Rating Program as its official statewide environmental initiative for the lodging industry.

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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