Road Trips
Great Lakes Circuit
A loop around four of the five Great Lakes through Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Ontario during peak fall color.
Route
Chicago
Chicago, IL
Lou Malnati's
Starting point. Deep dish and a walk along the lakefront.
Sleeping Bear Dunes
Empire, MI
Climbed the dunes. The views over Lake Michigan were worth every step.
Mackinac Island
Mackinac Island, MI
Pink Pony
No cars on the island — rented bikes and ate fudge.
Pictured Rocks
Munising, MI
Kayaked along the sandstone cliffs. Colors were unreal.
Marquette
Marquette, MI
Babycakes Muffin Company
Iron ore country. Good pasties and a cold night.
Apostle Islands
Bayfield, WI
Sea caves accessible by kayak. Clear cold Lake Superior water.
Duluth
Duluth, MN
Fitger's Brewhouse
Canal Park, the lift bridge, and a bowl of wild rice soup.
Boundary Waters
Ely, MN
Two-night canoe trip into the BWCA. No roads, no noise.
Thunder Bay
Thunder Bay, ON
Crossed into Ontario. Sleeping Giant Provincial Park from the highway was incredible.
Sault Ste. Marie
Sault Ste. Marie, ON
Watched a freighter pass through the Soo Locks.
Traverse City
Traverse City, MI
Right Brain Brewery
Cherry orchards and a great brewpub before the final push south.
Chicago
Chicago, IL
Home.
September was the right call — the UP foliage was just starting to turn and the crowds were mostly gone. The Boundary Waters detour added a day but was the best part of the whole trip.