{"id":21359,"date":"2018-03-28T10:00:14","date_gmt":"2018-03-28T09:00:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.zestcarrental.com\/blog\/?p=21359"},"modified":"2021-03-25T14:56:22","modified_gmt":"2021-03-25T14:56:22","slug":"discovering-the-great-lakes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.zestcarrental.com\/blog\/discovering-the-great-lakes\/","title":{"rendered":"Discovering the Great Lakes of North America with Zest Car Rental."},"content":{"rendered":"

Located in North America, covering eight states and overlapping the Canadian<\/a> border, the Great Lakes are the largest group of freshwater lakes by total area. There are five main lakes; Superior, Michigan, Huron, Erie, and Ontario. Fed by the Atlantic Ocean via the Saint Lawrence River, Lake Superior is the second largest lake in the world by area. If you were to combine the area covered by the Lakes, it would be almost as large as the UK, and would cover the states of New York, Connecticut, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Vermont, and New Hampshire in total.<\/p>\n

\"GreatPictured Rocks National Lakeshore along Lake Superior. Photo by: Zack Frank\/Stock<\/span><\/p>\n

When is best to travel to the Great Lakes?<\/h2>\n

In summertime, the area around the Lakes won\u2019t be as hot as other parts of America<\/a>, because the water traps the heat and cools the air. However, this will be peak time for tourists to visit so you may want to avoid a visit in the summer as you\u2019ll be faced with inflated prices and competition for the best views and activities. As with any destination like this, shoulder-season (spring or autumn, nearest to summer but not actually in summer) is the best time to visit. In autumn, the water releases the heat it\u2019s stored from the summer, and in spring the foliage is in full bloom.<\/p>\n

Although you\u2019ll get the highest temperatures in the summer, you\u2019ll also get the highest risk of rainfall. While the sun will make the beaches and islands more tempting, be prepared! The winter cold and heavy snow may make exploration more difficult but it\u2019s sure to be quieter.<\/p>\n

Activities at the Great Lakes<\/h2>\n

The Lakes are spread across eight states so there\u2019s no shortage of things to do or see. Minnesota is home to 1400 designated wildlife areas so if nature-spotting is your thing, then be sure to check some of these out. Wisconsin is great for fishing, with over 72 million caught per year.<\/p>\n

The Lakes are often referred to as inland seas because they have several characteristics in common with seas, such as high winds, strong currents, waves, and high depths. The area is popular for water sports and fishing. You can take a cruise or enjoy some sport fishing, yachting, sea kayaking or kitesurfing.<\/p>\n

As the Lakes have been used over the years for trading, there are several shipwrecks caused by hidden reefs and storms. Explore the marine sanctuary of Thunder Bay on Lake Huron where there\u2019s a great concentration<\/a> of wrecks. Alternatively, the stretch of coastline from Grand Marais to Whitefish Point of Lake Superior is known as the Graveyard of the Great Lakes due to the number of wrecks that lie on the seabed. The Whitefish Point Underwater Preserve<\/a> is an underwater museum aimed to protect these.<\/p>\n

\"NorthNorthern Lights over Lake Superior. Photo by: DavidMohn\/Stock<\/span><\/p>\n

Go hiking along the rugged peninsulas and rocky cliffs, following dunes or exploring national parks. See if you can spot some of the great wildlife including black bears, moose, and white-tailed deer.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s also possible to catch the Northern Lights from the Great Lakes area several times a year. There are a couple of Facebook pages<\/a> you can check out to see what the chances are of catching a glimpse during your visit. Near Lake Superior, particularly at the top of Oberg Mountain, you\u2019re in with a chance between late autumn and early spring. Those staying around the Keweenaw Peninsula may also be lucky, or in Northern Wisconsin.<\/p>\n

What to visit around the Great Lakes<\/h2>\n

Lake Huron<\/h3>\n

Joined with Lake Michigan as no land separates the two, only the Straits of Mackinac keep the two apart. It rests on the border between Canada<\/a> and America<\/a>, split between the states of Ontario and Michigan. The second largest of the Great Lakes, it has a surface area of 23,007 miles. The world\u2019s largest lake island, Manitoulin Island, can be found on Lake Huron. It\u2019s named for an underwater cave where it\u2019s said a spirit dwells.<\/p>\n

The Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary and Underwater Preserve protects the 116 shipwrecks that rest on the lakebed. You can catch a glass-bottomed boat tour from Alpena to view some of them without getting too wet.<\/p>\n

Take a visit to Fort Gratiot Light, the first lighthouse to be built in Michigan, which guards part of Lake Huron\u2019s south coastline. It\u2019s the second oldest on the Great Lakes and stands 82 feet high. Climb over 90 steps with a tour guide to the top for incredible views over Port Huron and the lake.<\/p>\n

Lake Ontario<\/h3>\n

\"GreatToronto city skyline along Lake Ontario. Photo by: anderm\/Stock<\/span><\/p>\n

This lake\u2019s tourism is fed mostly by one main attraction. Perhaps you\u2019ve heard of the Niagara Falls<\/a>? Visit this stunning natural phenomenon and get soaked upon the Maid of the Mist<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Those with an interest in photography should visit Rochester, hometown of Kodak, where you can find the Eastman Museum<\/a>. This museum is dedicated to George Eastman, founder of Kodak, which is based in his home and features one of the oldest film archives.<\/p>\n

Across the border, Toronto<\/a> sits on Lake Ontario. Visit the CN Tower<\/a>, the city\u2019s tallest landmark reaching 550metres towards the sky. Daredevils should experience EdgeWalk<\/a>– the world\u2019s highest hands-free walk around the tower\u2019s ledge.<\/p>\n

Lake Superior<\/h3>\n

For stunning natural formations, visit the Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore. It\u2019s a 42-mile stretch with incredible views of the sandstone cliffs between Munising and Grand Marais. You\u2019ll see natural archways, sand dunes and waterfalls. It\u2019s a great place for hiking to fully immerse yourself in the surroundings. If you don\u2019t want to tackle the area on foot, you could take a kayak out on the lake to see all the formations in the cliff-face.<\/p>\n

Along the lake, waves can reach up to 20ft high due to its depth and size, and so draws in many surfers. The ideal time to go is in spring or fall when the wind is more likely to whip up surf-able waves. The Third Coast Surf Shop<\/a> located on Lake Michigan offer surfing lessons; they\u2019re unique in being the only shop on the Lakes that offer this service. Only those skilled in surfing should go up against the high waves that Lake Superior can produce.<\/p>\n

Explore one of the many national parks around the Lake, including Gooseberry Falls State Park, Voyageurs National Park and Sleeping Giant Provincial Park. Lake Superior Provincial Park<\/a> is one of the largest of its kind in Ontario. Hike some of the 11 trails around the park to take in some of the stunning natural formations, including those made by volcanic activity. There are campsites available for those that would like to spend days exploring the park by foot alone. Take the trail to the Agawa Rock Pictographs<\/a>, paintings on rock faces, which overlook Lake Superior.<\/p>\n

Lake Erie<\/h3>\n

\"GreatMarblehead Lighthouse on Lake Erie. Photo by: sara_winter\/Stock<\/span><\/p>\n

Wander parts of the Erie Canal and discover some of its 36 locks along the 363-mile stretch of waterway between Albany and Buffalo. Today, it\u2019s recognised as one of the most successful and influential of its kind. It\u2019s one of the most important works of construction and civil engineering in North America, having enabled New York a huge advantage over other ports for shipping goods during its peak in the 19th century.<\/p>\n

Visit Cleveland for the iconic Rock and Roll Hall of Fame<\/a>. See exhibitions on the legends of rock, such as Blondie, The Who, Michael Jackson, and Jimi Hendrix, plus many more in-between. Plan your visit to coincide with a documentary screening or a live performance<\/a>.<\/p>\n

We wouldn\u2019t be a very good car rental broker if we didn\u2019t encourage you to find out more about what gets us on the roads\u2026 pop along to Detroit and the Henry Ford Museum<\/a>. It doesn\u2019t just contain car-related memorabilia however, you\u2019ll also find exhibits about the Industrial Revolution and items showcasing pop culture, among others. You\u2019ll be able to see the limo that Kennedy was riding in when he was assassinated, the bus involved in Rosa Parks\u2019 arrest, and the airplane that first flew over the North Pole, plus many more.<\/p>\n

Lake Michigan<\/h3>\n

Chicago<\/a>, a must-visit if you want to indulge in rock, jazz or blues live music, sits to the west of Lake Michigan. Catch a performance at Lincoln Hall, Thalia Hall or Chicago Theatre. The city is also a hive for art-lovers, with the Art Institute of Chicago<\/a> and its 300,000 artworks requiring your attention.<\/p>\n

Those who love the thrill of two wheels and a high-powered engine should head north to Milwaukee and the Harley Davidson Museum<\/a>. Learn more about the history of the manufacturer and view bikes through the stages of their development. Witness what\u2019s left of a bike that was carried 4,000 miles in a shipping container following the 2011 tsunami that hit Japan. View a wall of fuel tanks that showcases their evolution.<\/p>\n

The city also has a long-standing brewing history, with it once being the number one beer-producing city in the world. There are several breweries that run tours including the Milwaukee Brewing Company<\/a>, Lakefront Brewery<\/a> and Sprecher Brewing Company<\/a>.<\/p>\n

You can also visit one of the most beautiful spots in America, the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore<\/a>. Take a drive along the Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive; it may only be 7.4 miles long, but you\u2019ll find yourself pausing at the five overlooks to take in the views. Time your trip for an incredible sunset. Pack a picnic and spend some time climbing the dunes.<\/p>\n

\"GreatLake Michigan. Photo by: Paul Lemke\/Stock<\/span><\/p>\n

Taking the Great Lakes Circle Tour<\/h2>\n

It is possible to drive around the entirety of the Great Lakes, excluding Lake Ontario. The Circle Tours are scenic roads that connect all the Lakes, allowing visitors to drive around them completely and take advantage of all the activities on offer. The route consists of the state or provincial highway which is closest to the shoreline, so visitors remain close to the Lakes.<\/p>\n

Your Great Lakes trip<\/h2>\n

If you\u2019re planning on visiting the Great Lakes, what activities are you most excited about ticking off on your itinerary? If you\u2019ve been before, what hotspots would you recommend for other visitors? Let us know in the comments below. Get a quote for your car hire to explore the Great Lakes using the following form.<\/p>\n

Written by Jessica Juby.<\/em><\/p>\n

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