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Request further details or information.Great Lakes Grand Discovery
A Voyage from Lake Superior to Lake St. Clair
The marvels of the great lakes never cease to inspire wonder. Here the history of America—from the traditions of its native peoples to the arrival of the Europeans to the dawn of the industrial revolution—comes alive. Sailing from Duluth, we venture through Lake Superior to revel in the pristine beauty of the Apostle Islands and the Keweenaw Peninsula; relax aboard as we sail along the ever-impressive Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore; visit Whitefish Point, with its abundant wildlife and fascinating Shipwreck Museum; and then transit the Soo Locks, which leads us to stunning Lake Huron. Explore Wisconsin’s Door Peninsula, known for its natural beauty, as well as Michigan’s charming Victorian-era Mackinac Island. Attend a traditional Native American powwow on Manitoulin Island, and then discover the magnificent Bruce Peninsula and Georgian Bay, which is sometimes referred to as the sixth Great Lake. Here, we will navigate among the 60 islands that make up Georgian Bay Islands National Park. This comprehensive voyage explores the very best of the Great Lakes while enjoying the relaxed and convivial spirit of the 138-guest Yorktown.
The marvels of the great lakes never cease to inspire wonder. Here the history of America—from the traditions of its native peoples to the arrival of the Europeans to the dawn of the industrial revolution—comes alive. Sailing from Duluth, we venture through Lake Superior to revel in the pristine beauty of the Apostle Islands and the Keweenaw Peninsula; relax aboard as we sail along the ever-impressive Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore; visit Whitefish Point, with its abundant wildlife and fascinating Shipwreck Museum; and then transit the Soo Locks, which leads us to stunning Lake Huron. Explore Wisconsin’s Door Peninsula, known for its natural beauty, as well as Michigan’s charming Victorian-era Mackinac Island. Attend a traditional Native American powwow on Manitoulin Island, and then discover the magnificent Bruce Peninsula and Georgian Bay, which is sometimes referred to as the sixth Great Lake. Here, we will navigate among the 60 islands that make up Georgian Bay Islands National Park. This comprehensive voyage explores the very best of the Great Lakes while enjoying the relaxed and convivial spirit of the 138-guest Yorktown.
Departures
Great Lakes Grand Discovery
01 August, 2012 to 11 August, 2012
01 August, 2012 to 11 August, 2012
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This will allow you to make an enquiry or check availability.Great Lakes Grand Discovery itinerary:
Day 1 (Wednesday) -DULUTH, Minnesota,USA
Fly to Duluth and transfer to the pier to embark Yorktown.
Day 2 (Thursday) -APOSTLE ISLANDS, BAYFIELD
From the ecologically diverse Apostle Islands, travel to the charming village of Bayfield. Perfectly blending the tranquility of village life with some of the finest offerings of any big city, Bayfield is a quaint village filled with many delights. Spend time enjoying its art galleries, delightful boutiques, and smart cafés.
Day 3 (Friday)- HOUGHTON, Keweenaw Peninsula
Today Yorktown will navigate through the Portage Waterway, the narrow channel that separates Michigan’s Keweenaw Peninsula from the mainland, to call at quaint Houghton, built on a bluff facing the channel. Keweenaw witnessed the country’s first mineral rush, when vast deposits of copper were discovered in 1840. By the time the rush was over early in the 20th century, copper had generated enormous wealth, estimated to be ten times more than the money generated by the California Gold Rush. The legacy of the copper rush is still evident today in the abandoned mines, deserted settlements nestled in the forest, and the opulent buildings in the region’s towns. We will explore this historic region, an area not only rich in history, but also a place of extraordinary natural beauty.
Day 4 (Saturday) -MUNISING, PICTURED ROCKS NATIONAL LAKESHORE
In the morning call in Munising. Explore this picturesque town, situated in a bay just outside the Lakeshore, with splendid views of Lake Superior. Spend the afternoon at sea sailing along Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, a 40-mile stretch of pristine natural wonders along Lake Superior’s southern coast. The colorful sandstone cliffs are of particular interest, having created beautiful arches, caves, and other formations over time.
Day 5 (Sunday) - WHITEFISH POINT, SOO LOCKS
We arrive at Whitefish Point located on Lake Superior and drive to Tahquamenon Falls State Park for a look at the Upper Falls. Return to Whitefish Point where there will be an opportunity to visit the Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum, located in a Coast Guard station built around a lighthouse which dates from 1861.Yorktown will then transit the Soo Locks, known as the busiest in the world, where some 12,000 ships pass annually.
Day 6 (Monday) - CHARLEVOIX, Michigan
The tumbling hills of Michigan’s scenic northwest are blanketed with maple and spruce. From lovely Charlevoix, explore the old port town of Harbor Springs, with its panoramic views of the bay. Later, drive through the Tunnel of Trees, en route to historic Cross Village, known for its ties to the Native American Ottawa Indians, and admire its spectacular forest canopy.
Day 7 (Tuesday) - STURGEON BAY, Door Peninsula, Wisconsin
Separating Green Bay from Lake Michigan, today we call in Sturgeon Bay, located on Wisconsin’s stunning Door Peninsula. Sturgeon Bay, positioned on a canal that cuts through the peninsula is a lovely and quaint town. Spend the day exploring the Door Peninsula’s bucolic villages and remarkable landscapes, well known for its abundance of cherry orchards.
Day 8 (Wednesday) - MACKINAC ISLAND, Michigan
Mackinac Island is a Victorian-era haven where cars are forbidden and bicycles share the road with horse-drawn carriages. Explore this idyllic island and see the ancient limestone formations that were considered sacred by the Straits Indians; the impressive Fort Mackinac, built atop a high cliff by the British in 1780; and the landmark Victorian Grand Hotel. Also enjoy free time to stroll along streets lined with ginger-bread-trimmed buildings and browse in the charming shops.
Day 9 (Thursday) - LITTLE CURRENT, Manitoulin Island, LAKE HURON
Land at Little Current, the main settlement on Manitoulin, the world’s largest freshwater island and one of 30,000 islands that grace Lake Huron. Manitoulin, home to the rare Red-shouldered hawk and Cape May warbler, is also home to the Wikwemikong Unceded Indian Reserve, a thriving Native American community that bears the distinction of being the only tribe in Canada never to have ceded title to their land. Drive to the reserve, where a traditional Native American powwow will be held, and visit the Ojibwe Cultural Foundation, whose exhibits chronicle the story of the native people of Manitoulin.
Day 10 (Friday) - TOBERMORY | BRUCE PENINSULA, TOBERMORY, Ontario, Canada
Arrive in Tobermory, located at the tip of the Bruce Peninsula, a prime destination for nature enthusiasts. The Bruce Peninsula separates Georgian Bay from Lake Huron and today we will have the opportunity to explore some of the peninsula’s most enticing locales, such as the Bruce Peninsula National Park, Fathom Five National Marine Park, several nature reserves, and the Bruce Peninsula Bird Observatory.
Day 11 (Saturday)- DETROIT, Michigan
Disembark in Detroit and transfer to the airport for return flights home.
Yorktown
The Yorktown is the perfect vessel for relaxed and convivial exploration of America’s great coastal waterways. Built in Florida in 1988 specifically for coastal cruising and certified by the U.S. Coast Guard, the Yorktown flies the American flag and is staffed by friendly and experienced American officers and crew. 257 feet long, 43 feet wide, with a draft of 8 feet, the Yorktown is able to maneuver in secluded waterways and visit small ports that are inaccessible to larger vessels. And Yorktown’s American registry makes it possible to operate domestic itineraries unavailable to foreign-flag ships. In addition to a large sun deck, the Yorktown boasts a spacious lounge for social gatherings and lectures as well as quiet space for private conversation. The ship’s cuisine, served in a dining room large enough to accommodate all guests at once, emphasizes American regional culinary traditions and specialties. Both the lounge and dining room are surrounded by large picture windows that afford unobstructed views of the passing scenery. Accommodating 138 guests in 69 exterior cabins, the Yorktown enjoys an atmosphere of warm and relaxed informality that endears it to repeat and new guests alike.
