The journal
Stories from around the lakes.
Long-form guides, seasonal ideas, history and practical itineraries from the shorelines of Lake Superior, Michigan, Huron, Erie and Ontario.
Seasonal · The Great Lakes
When to visit the Great Lakes: a season-by-season guide
Late September for most trips, spring for birders, and why Lake Erie and Lake Superior should never be planned the same way.
Things to do · Lake Ontario
The Thousand Islands: seeing them from the water
Cruises, kayaks and island campsites where Lake Ontario narrows into the St. Lawrence: how to see the Thousand Islands properly.
Outdoors · Lake Michigan
Sleeping Bear Dunes: what to know before you go
How to see Sleeping Bear Dunes without spending the day in a queue: the scenic drive, the Dune Climb and the quieter corners most visitors miss.
Itineraries · Lake Superior
Driving Lake Superior's north shore in three days
Two or three days between Thunder Bay and Sault Ste. Marie, with the parks, pictographs and quiet bays that make the north shore worth the distance.
Guides · Lake Huron
Georgian Bay: a first-timer's guide to the inland sea
Pink granite, thirty thousand islands and a shoreline that rewards boats over cars: how to plan a first trip to Georgian Bay without wasting the drive.