Most Angelenos partake in water-related activities and travel excursions to the wonderful California coast. However, for spending the day at a land-locked body of water, there are much fewer options in and around LA. Fortunately, in other areas of the country, massive reservoirs, lakes, and surrounding areas are the ideal settings for supporting recreation, tourism, leisure, and more!
This is especially true for the five largest lakes in our country, which offer travelers plenty of entertainment and memory-making opportunities. Read on to learn the three best things to do when visiting the Great Lakes and discover why these bodies of water just might be the ultimate domestic vacation destination.
Discover the Great Lakes Cities
A vacation to the Great Lakes requires landside accommodations, such as lodging, nightlife, entertainment, food, and more. Luckily, the surrounding cities of all five Great Lakes make fantastic vacation destinations. You can easily plan a trip that involves time in Chicago, Milwaukee, Detroit, or Buffalo.
Alternatively, consider adding multiple cities to your itinerary to truly experience the best of the American Midwest. Alternatively, set your sights internationally and spend time in Toronto, Canada—the largest metropolitan presence along the Great Lakes. Regardless of your desired cities and destinations, you always have premium access to at least one of the five most amazing freshwater reservoirs on our planet.
Enjoy Six Quadrillion Gallons of Water
Aside from exploring the many wonderful cities in this region, the Great Lakes themselves are ideal environments for recreation and relaxation. The five reservoirs hold over six quadrillion gallons of water in total. Basically, there’s no end to the possible activities available to you on your Great Lakes vacation.
Spend a day basking in the sun on the ocean-like beaches off of Lake Shore Drive, Chicago. Or venture into the expansive Lake Superior for unbeatable king salmon and muskie fishing. In fact, many Great Lake states are among the best states for freshwater fishing and worth visiting if you’re an avid fisher. You could also ditch the fishing poles in favor of a lazy day floating on the water. The Great Lakes, home to well over 6,000 shipwrecks and many diverse bottom-dwelling ecosystems, are also among the best freshwater diving locations in the Western Hemisphere.
Connect With Nature
Despite the many cities neighboring the five Great Lakes, there are plenty of secluded, wilderness-rich destinations worth visiting on your vacation. These areas—such as Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore Park, Sleeping Bear Dunes National Park, and Isle Royale National Park—are ideal locations for hiking, camping, backpacking, and other nature-related activities. The combination of expansive waterfronts and breathtaking terrains creates the most stunning views during these outdoor excursions, regardless of the season.
It’s easy for Angelenos to keep their travels contained to the West Coast. However, so many other amazing destinations across this country are worth exploring. Hopefully, this list of the best things to do when visiting the Great Lakes will inspire you to plan a truly unique and enriching vacation in the Midwest.
