Chicago, the UP, Ontario

[lexacto]

Hello everyone,

I'm trying to iron out the details for a trip at the tail end of August, with point A being Chicago, point B being Toronto and back again. I have 9 or 10 days and would like to camp for most of it (barring, of course, two or three days in Toronto).
So far, I'm thinking of a quick drive north through WI, straight to the shores of Lake Superior, across the U.P. to Sault Ste Marie, down through Ontario to Toronto and either ending by dropping down to Buffalo and taking the interstates back to Chicago or going through Detroit and taking the interstates back to Chicago. This all looks fine and dandy on the map, but I haven't been to Lake Superior, the U.P., Sault Ste Marie, Ontario, Buffalo OR Detroit. As such, I'm looking for opinions on good routes, places to stop or avoid, nice camping spots, or any other recommendations.

Thanks much,
Alexis

[Quebec Gen]

Personally, I would drive back to Chicago using QEW and then drive accross the border, that way you will see Niagara and maybe have a few opportunities to go wine tasting. On the other hand, Detroit is a pretty rough city but they have great museums (DIA, Ford). It depends on what you're looking for.

Gen

[lexacto]

Thanks for the recommendation. We've decided to flip the trip around and start in Toronto, then continue north along the lakes. Still undecided on the route to get into Canada, though Buffalo and Niagra seem like a nicer approach. Chances are slim that we'd actually stop in Detroit, not for lack of interest, but rather because it wouldn't seem like much of a vacation, being relatively close to Chicago. Really I just want to relax and absorb all the stimulation that a road trip and new places provide.
Which approach (via Detroit or Niagra) do you think is more enjoyable? Wine tasting does sound like a stellar way to start things off... any ideas for places to stop?
Thanks again,
alexis

[Mark Sedenquist]

Chances are slim that we'd actually stop in Detroit, not for lack of interest, but rather because it wouldn't seem like much of a vacation, being relatively close to Chicago. Really I just want to relax and absorb all the stimulation that a road trip and new places provide.

Maybe not this trip -- but one day you ought to stop by the Henry Ford Musem in Dearborn. It really is pretty cool. Also not on the line of march of your current trip -- I just finished reading a guide book to NW Indiana (all of which is a day trip from Chicago) and so for future 20-Hour trips , might be a great resource for you.

The road trip you are envisioning is one I would love to do myself and so don't have many useful recommendations -- with the exception that if you like aircraft -- stop by OshKosh on the way north.

Mark

[Quebec Gen]

Which approach (via Detroit or Niagra) do you think is more enjoyable?

Niagara, definitely!

Wine tasting does sound like a stellar way to start things off... any ideas for places to stop?

Yes, of course, here are a few ideas :

WINE TASTING
Inniskillin Winery
I believe was the first ice wine producer in Canada.[/color]
-Brae Burn barn houses, Visitor and Tour Centre, Wine Tasting Bar and Boutique.
-guided public tour or self-guided tour.
-Open Daily May-October 10:00am-6:00pm with daily guided public tours at 10:30am and 2:30pm.

Hillebrand Estates Winery
-VQA wines
-complete tours all day, everyday, seminar and sample tastings
-Wine Boutique.
-Open year round.

Ontario Wine Merchants Retail Tasting Centre
Vintage, VQA table and icewines.
Open daily, including most major holidays.

Palatine Hills Estate Winery
select range of wines, including their specialty Ice Wines.
Open daily from 10 a.m. till 6 p.m.

Shaw Café & Wine Bar
French cafe-style cuisine
Open for lunch and dinner daily year round.


TOURS
Crush on Niagara Wine Tours
morning or afternoon - Niagara's Vineyards.
Daily wine tours and packages.wine tours.

Grape and Wine Tours
structured tastings for individuals, groups and corporate

Niagara Grape and Wine Festival
September - Niagara Wine Festival
June - Niagara New Vintage
January - Niagara Icewine Festival.

Wine Country Tours
winery tours, vineyard and winemaking seminars, vineyard picnics and winery restaurant meals, distillery and beer tours and tasting.

[Syv]

If you have any females along, they will enjoy a stroll through Niagara-on-the-Lake. A cutesy tourist town just down from the falls with many unique shops.

for your drive north from Toronto through Ontario, you'll want to look up info re:

Muskoka - "cottage country" - beautiful lakes, rivers, forests, & rock cuts
www.muskoka-tourism.on.ca
www.traveltomuskoka.com

www.getnorth.com
www.gottagonorth.com
www.ontariosunsetcountry.ca

Kakabeka Falls
www.ontarioparks.com/english/kaka.html

Barrie is a nice city to stop in one hour north of Toronto.


Happy trails to you.