DAY 1
(of motorhome rental after previous one night hotel stay upon arrival)
Pick up your motorhome from the depot in Chicago and head east around the shores of Lake Michigan, out of Illinois into Indiana. As you cross the state line, you will come to Gary, birthplace of Michael Jackson. Then cross into Michigan, and to your first overnight stop, minutes from Lake Michigan’s superb beaches. Your KOA campground is also close to St. Joseph where the Curious Kids Museum “encourages discovery, wonder and awe”.
✪ 110 miles to Coloma/St Joseph
★ Visit the National Parks Service’s Indiana Dunes or the Warren Dunes State Park along the way
DAY 2
On the way to Detroit, the home of ‘Motown’, you’ll pass by Battle Creek which is where a certain Dr. Kellogg invented cold breakfasts. ‘Full Blast’ is an exciting water park. Your campsite is just a half hour drive from Detroit and close to the Henry Ford Museum, a huge complex dedicated to the motor industry.
✪ 175 miles to KOA Greenfield, Detroit
★ Visit the Arctic Ring of Life at Detroit Zoo. At 4.2 acres, it’s the world’s largest polar bear exhibit and features the only Polar Passage, a 70-ft long clear tunnel in which visitors can get closer to diving and swimming polar bears and seals than anywhere else on earth.
DAY 3
Cross from the centre of Detroit by bridge or tunnel into Canada. You will pass through Chatham, London and Cambridge, even cross the River Thames, to reach your multi- award-winning campground for tonight, located just 20 miles from Toronto.
✪ 285 miles to Toronto, Ontario
★ Visit the CN Tower, until 2007 the world’s tallest freestanding structure
Day 4
Toronto may well be somewhere you’ll choose to extend your stay but, if you’re carrying on, you’re headed round Lake Ontario bound for Niagara Falls. Along the way, you should see the Welland Canal which links Lakes Erie and Ontario. Its eight locks raise ships and enable them to bypass the 173 feet high Niagara Falls. Your campground is just ten minutes from the Falls and that’s where you should take the famous Maid of the Mist boat tour.
✪ 105 Miles to Niagara Falls, Ontario
★ Visit Niagara on the Lake and at least one of the nearby world class wine producers such as Chateau des Charmes and golfer Mike Weir’s estate.
DAY 5
Cross back into the United States and, passing Buffalo, take the interstate bound for Cleveland. This is another place where you may wish to extend your stay but make a start with the startling I.M. Pei design for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum. It’s here because local DJ Alan Freed is acknowledged as the person to coin the phrase; allow plenty of time to wallow in the soundtrack of your life. Woodside Lake campground is south of the city near other attractions.
✪230 miles to Streetsboro/Cleveland
★ Visit Presque Isle State Park near Erie on your way from Niagara and Aurora Farms Premium Outlet Mall, Geauga Lake and Wildwater Kingdom all close to your campsite.
DAY 6
If you have children on board, or just if you are young at heart, do stop after 80 or so miles at Cedar Point Amusement Park, The Roller Coaster Capital of the World! There’s much more here but the roller coasters attract visitors from every part of the world. After the thrills, it’s only another hour on to Stony Ridge KOA to overnight.
✪ 130 miles to Toledo East
★ Visit the Inland Seas Maritime Museum at Vermillion which is dedicated to the fascinating history of shipping, from sailing ships, forward on the Great Lakes.
DAY 7
Back to Chicago in 4 hours, crossing the state of Michigan. Your campground was chosen because it’s a very quick and easy drive back to Cruise America in the morning. But there’s fun to be had right next door at ‘Wild West Town’! This attraction includes a full service restaurant and is fun for adults and children alike on your last night.
✪260 miles to Union, Chicago Northwest
★ Visit the Illinois Railway Museum. It’s America’s largest and also in Union
DAY 8
Only a short drive to return your motorhome.
