Road Scholar : Home
Into the Heartland of North America: The St. Lawrence Seaway and Great Lakes

Program Number: 20426RJ
Start and End Dates:
8/25/2013 - 9/7/2013;
Duration: 13 nights
Location: Quebec/Ontario/Michigan/Illinois
Price starting at: $6,235.00 - Price may vary based on date, departure city
Program Type: Adventure Afloat Study Cruise; Small Ship Cruising Activity Level: t (see description)
Meals: 37; 12 Breakfasts, 12 Lunches, 13 Dinners    
Meal Options: Gluten Free; Low Salt; Low Fat; Vegetarian    

From the U.S. to Canada, across Great Lakes, through the canals and locks of the Welland Canal and the St. Lawrence Seaway — embark on a nautical journey through North America’s “inland seas” encompassing amazing natural beauty, diverse cultures, historic small villages to soaring metropolises.




Activity Particulars

Walking up to one mile per day. Standing for up to two hours at a time, up to four hours a day. Mobility is essential, as small boats and tenders are sometimes used for disembarkation and re-embarkation.



Itinerary At-a-Glance

Chicago, Ill., 1 night; aboard Yorktown, 11 nights; Montreal (Canada), 1 night.



Days 1-2:
Arrival Chicago, Ill. / embark Yorktown:

A pre-embarkation field trip in Chicago includes the lively sculptures of Millennium Park and the renowned Art Institute of Chicago. Lodging: Iconic downtown hotel.



Day 3: Saugatuck, Mich:

Learn about the fascinating history of this former lumber town that was a prime summer destination for Chicago urbanites at the turn of the century.



Day 4: Charlevoix, Mich:

Go ashore in Michigan’s scenic northwest, a region blanketed with maple and spruce. Explore lovely Charlevoix and the old port town of Harbor Springs.



Day 5: Mackinac Island:

Discover this Victorian-era haven where cars are forbidden and bicycles share the road with horse-drawn carriages.



Day 6: Sault Ste. Marie:

The scenic waterways of the North Channel lead to Sault Ste. Marie, where a train trek takes you inland through Ontario’s magnificent Agawa Canyon.



Day 7: Alpena:

Discover the lovely town of Alpena, home to an outstanding maritime museum with displays on Great Lakes maritime history.



Day 8: Detroit:

An expert-led excursion brings you to the Henry Ford Museum and Greenfield Village and Ford’s state-of-the-art Rouge River factory.



Days 9-10: Sailing Lake Erie / Welland Canal / Niagara Falls:

Make the dramatic passage from Lake Ontario to Lake Erie via the locks of the Welland Canal. If you wish, disembark for an excursion to Niagara Falls.



Day 11: Kingston (Canada):

Explore one of Canada’s best preserved historic cities and enjoy a visit the Marine Museum of the Great Lakes.



Day 12: St. Lawrence Seaway:

Navigate this engineering marvel of lakes, canals and locks that provides a deepwater passage from the St. Lawrence River to Lake Ontario.



Days 13-14: Montreal / disembark / departure:

Get a taste of Europe in North America as you stroll Montreal’s streets with a local expert. Lodging: Comfortable hotel.



Yorktown

Built and registered in America and staffed by American officers and crew, the Yorktown is the perfect vessel for exploring America’s great coastal waterways. With a draft of only nine feet, it can sail where larger vessels cannot go, and its American registry allows it to operate domestic itineraries unavailable to foreign-flag ships. Passengers enjoy an informal onboard atmosphere and tend to spend much of their time underway enjoying lectures and concerts in the lounge or reading and relaxing on the sun deck.
Meals and Lodgings
   Palmer Hilton House
  Chicago, Illinois 1 night
   Yorktown
  Yorktown - At Sea 11 nights
   Hyatt Regency Montreal
  Montreal 1 night
 Palmer Hilton House
Type: Four-Star Hotel
  Description: An iconic downtown Chicago hotel, the Palmer Hilton House offers its guests the opportunity to relish in the grandeur of tradition while experiencing an infusion of modern elegance. The hotel is located in the lakeshore city of Chicago, known for breathtaking architecture, destination shopping, decadent dining and a diverse selection of world famous attractions. With its stunning interior design and stories of legendary guests, experience Chicago the way that Potter Palmer lived it.
  Contact info: 17 East Monroe Street
Chicago, IL 60603 USA
phone: 312-726-7500
web: www.palmerhousehiltonhotel.com
  Room amenities: Each room features a plush top mattress with fine European style linens, easy to set alarm clock with radio and MP3 connectivity, individually controlled heat and air-conditioning, an iron and ironing board, a hairdryer, standard desk and lamp, television with premium television channels and movies, a telephone, and high speed Internet access (for a fee).
  Facility amenities: The hotel offers a restaurant, bar, lounge, lobby bar, beauty salon, laundry service, safe and High-Speed Internet access (for a fee).
  Smoking allowed: No
  Elevators available: Yes
  Additional nights prior: N/A To book additional nights, please call the Road Scholar Amherst office (413) 253-9736.
  Check in time: 3:00 PM

 Yorktown
Type: Cruise Ship
  Description: 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. With a draft of only 9 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. The ship’s cuisine, served in a dining room large enough to accommodate all guests at once, emphasizes American regional culinary traditions. Accommodating only 130 guests in 65 exterior cabins, the Yorktown enjoys an atmosphere of warm and relaxed informality that endears it to repeat and new guests alike.
  Ship Information: Length: 257 feet Beam: 43 feet Draft: 8 feet Cabins: 69 Flag: American
  Contact info: Travel Dynamics International
132 East 70th Street
New York, NY 10021 USA
phone: 800-257-5767
web: www.traveldynamicsinternational.com
  Room amenities: Most cabins have large picture windows, and each is furnished with comfortable beds, a writing desk, ample storage, a clock/radio/CD player, and has a private bathroom. Your cabin is the perfect place for peace and quiet and for private rest and reflection.
  Facility amenities: The ship offers a dining room, spacious observation lounge, large sun deck, library, and swimming platform. Both the lounge and dining room are surrounded by large picture windows that afford unobstructed views of the passing scenery. The water aboard ship is safe to drink, and bottled water will be provided on group excursions. Cash (USD) and credit cards are the preferred forms of payment aboard ship. For telephone communication onboard, you may use the ship's Maritime service satellite system which will be charged to a credit card. Email access on board: Internet-ready laptop computers will be available for use on board from which personal emails can be received and sent by accessing your own web-based email account. A fee will be charged for each 30 minutes of use. There is also wireless Internet access available for a fee.
  Smoking allowed: No

 Hyatt Regency Montreal
Type: Four-Star Hotel
  Description: Discover this dynamic city from the perfectly situated Hyatt Regency Montreal hotel. Offering direct underground access to the Palais des Congrès (Montreal Convention Centre), as well as Chinatown, Old Montréal, Place des Arts (Performing Arts Centre) and the Metro transport system, Hyatt Regency Montreal is a top choice for business and leisure travelers alike. This downtown Montreal hotel has long been known as the "hotel of the festivals." Old Montreal holds centuries of history, fabulous restaurants and many festivals.
  Contact info: 1255 Jeanne-Mance
Montreal, Quebec, BC H5B 1E5 Canada
phone: 514-982-1234
web: www.montreal.hyatt.com
  Room amenities: Each room has satellite television, telephone, work desk, room service, air conditioning, coffee maker and WIFI Internet access.
  Facility amenities: The hotel offers a restaurant, lounge, gym, indoor pool, sauna, safe box at reception, gift shop, and WIFI Internet access.
  Smoking allowed: No
  Elevators available: Yes
  Additional nights after: n/a To book additional nights, please call the Road Scholar Amherst office (413) 253-9736.
  Check out time: 12:00 PM


Travel Details
  Start of Program:
Chicago, Illinois. 5:00 PM Welcome Orientation in the hotel. You will be staying at Palmer Hilton House that night.
  End of Program:
Montreal, Canada. After breakfast on the last day. You will be staying at Hyatt Regency Montreal the night before.
  Required documents:
The Road Scholar Health & Safety Form is required. The TDI Traveler Information Form is required. All participants are required to have a passport in order to embark the Yorktown. TDI requires that participants submit a photocopy of their passport with their Traveler Information Form.
  Parking availability:
N/A
Transportation
To Start of Program
  Location:  Chicago, Illinois
  From End of Program
  Location:  Montreal
Travel Details
 

From the Chicago-OHare International Airport to the Palmer Hilton House

 

From Airport

 
 

Service:

 

Taxi

   

Take a taxi from the airport to the hotel. It will cost approximately $45.00.
 

From the Chicago-O'Hare International Airport to the Palmer Hilton House

 

From Airport

 
 

Service:

 

Public Transportation

   

Take the Blue Line from the O'Hare station to the Monroe Station. It will cost $2.25 and will take approximately 1 hour.
 

From the Trudeau International Airport to the hotel

 

To Airport

 
 

Service:

 

Taxi

   

Take a taxi from the airport to the hotel. It costs approximately 38 CAD.
 
Driving Directions
  From the North to the Palmer Hilton House in Chicago Take highway 94 East and exit 51C towards E. Washington Blvd/100 N. Turn left onto W. Washington Blvd. Turn right onto N. State street. Turn left onto E. Monroe street. The Palmer Hilton House will be on the right.
  From the South to the Palmer Hilton House in Chicago From I-90 West / I-94 West, take exit 51C for East Washington Blvd. Turn right onto Washington Blvd. Turn right onto N. State street. Turn left onto E. Monroe street and the Palmer Hilton House will be on the right.
  From the West to the Palmer Hilton House in Chicago From I-290 East, continue onto West Congress Parkway. Turn left onto S. State street. Turn right onto East Monroe street and the Palmer Hilton House will be on the right.
The prices listed for commercial services and facilities that are not included in the program cost, such as airport shuttles or extra nights lodging, are subject to change without notice. Since Road Scholar cannot guarantee the accuracy of these prices, we strongly suggest contacting the companies directly for the most up-to-date information.


Daily Schedule

Day 1: Welcome Orientation
(Sunday, August 25)
   
 Afternoon: Independent arrivals in Chicago. Welcome Orientation at 5:00 PM in the hotel.
 Dinner: Welcome Dinner.
   
Accommodations: Palmer Hilton House
Meals Included: Dinner

Day 2: Chicago, Illinois / Embark Yorktown
(Monday, August 26)
   
 Breakfast: Breakfast in the hotel dining room.
 Morning: Guided excursion of Chicago.
 Lunch: Lunch at a local restaurant.
 Afternoon: Transfer to embark Yorktown at 3:00 PM.
 Dinner: Dinner onboard.
   
Accommodations: Yorktown
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 3: Saugatuck
(Tuesday, August 27)
   
 Breakfast: Breakfast onboard.
 Morning: Arrive in Saugatuck, nestled off the shores of Lake Michigan and Kalamazoo Lake. Originally a lumber town, Saugatuck eventually became known for its fruit production, especially its peaches. In the early 1900s Saugatuck was a prime summer destination for Chicago urbanites. Today, it is known for its historic buildings and churches, unique shops, and many art galleries, several of which you will have the opportunity to explore.
 Lunch: Lunch onboard.
 Afternoon: Continue your day in Saugatuck.
 Dinner: Dinner onboard.
   
Accommodations: Yorktown
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 4: Charlevoix, MI
(Wednesday, August 28)
   
 Breakfast: Breakfast onboard.
 Morning: 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.
 Lunch: Lunch onboard.
 Afternoon: At sea. Attend a shipboard guest lecture.
 Dinner: Dinner onboard.
   
Accommodations: Yorktown
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 5: Mackinac Island, MI
(Thursday, August 29)
   
 Breakfast: Breakfast onboard.
 Morning: Arrive in beautiful Mackinac Island, 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.
 Lunch: Lunch onboard.
 Afternoon: Enjoy free time to stroll along streets lined with ginger-bread-trimmed buildings and browse in the charming shops.
 Dinner: Dinner onboard.
 Evening: Attend a shipboard guest lecture.
   
Accommodations: Yorktown
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 6: Sault Ste. Marie, MI / Agawa Canyon, Ontario, Canada
(Friday, August 30)
   
 Breakfast: Breakfast onboard.
 Morning: Enter the scenic waterways of the North Channel, which lead to Sault Ste. Marie. Our full day train excursion travels inland through the magnificent scenery of the Agawa Canyon.
 Lunch: Lunch onboard.
 Afternoon: Continue your full day excursion.
 Dinner: Dinner onboard.
 Evening: Attend a shipboard guest lecture.
   
Accommodations: Yorktown
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 7: Alpena, MI / Presque Isle
(Saturday, August 31)
   
 Breakfast: Breakfast onboard.
 Morning: Arrive in Thunder Bay to call at the lovely town of Alpena, home to an outstanding maritime museum with displays on Great Lakes maritime history. There is also the opportunity to travel north to the small peninsula of Presque Isle, an untouched place of great beauty with two historic lighthouses. Pristine forests, numerous inland lakes and 72 miles of Lake Huron shoreline on the central flyway make Presque Isle a birder’s paradise.
 Lunch: Lunch onboard.
 Afternoon: Continue your excursion.
 Dinner: Dinner onboard.
 Evening: Attend a shipboard guest lecture.
   
Accommodations: Yorktown
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 8: Detroit, MI
(Sunday, September 1)
   
 Breakfast: Breakfast onboard.
 Morning: In the morning, explore the Henry Ford Museum and enjoy free time in Greenfield Village, an indoor/outdoor history museum complex housing a wide array of historical buildings, machinery, exhibits, and Americana.
 Lunch: Lunch onboard.
 Afternoon: In the afternoon, visit the Ford Rouge Factory to see how environmental innovation meets industrial production at this state-of-the-art facility.
 Dinner: Dinner onboard.
   
Accommodations: Yorktown
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 9: Cruising Lake Erie
(Monday, September 2)
   
 Breakfast: Breakfast onboard.
 Morning: At sea. Spend the day enjoying the lectures aboard and amentinies of Yorktown as we sail towards Niagara Falls.
 Lunch: Lunch onboard.
 Afternoon: At sea. Attend a shipboard guest lecture.
 Dinner: Dinner onboard.
   
Accommodations: Yorktown
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 10: Port Weller, Ontario, Canada / Welland Canal / Niagara Falls / Lake Erie
(Tuesday, September 3)
   
 Breakfast: Breakfast onboard.
 Morning: This morning the Yorktown begins the dramatic passage from Lake Erie to Lake Ontario via the Welland Canal. A series of seven locks designed as a continuous flight of “stairs” lifts Yorktown 324 feet over a distance of 27 miles. From the decks of the ship witness the mechanics of this engineering marvel, which took over 100 years to complete.
 Lunch: Lunch onboard.
 Afternoon: Stay on board for the entire transit or disembark for an excursion to Niagara Falls, one of North America’s most spectacular natural wonders, where we’ll see both the American Falls and Horseshoe (Canadian) Falls.
 Dinner: Dinner onboard.
   
Accommodations: Yorktown
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 11: Kingston, Ontario, Canada
(Wednesday, September 4)
   
 Breakfast: Breakfast onboard.
 Morning: Located at a strategic location, the junction of Lake Ontario and the St. Lawrence River, Kingston was founded in the 17th century by the French as a fur-trading settlement, becoming later an important British military post. Today, Kingston is one of Canada’s most charming and best preserved cities, justly known for its many historic 19th-century buildings. Our exploration of the city will include its major landmarks, such as the Fort Henry National Historic Site, built in 1832; the Marine Museum of the Great Lakes, whose exhibits highlight the maritime history of the Great Lakes, and the Bellevue House, with its beautiful gardens.
 Lunch: Lunch onboard.
 Afternoon: Free time to explore Kingston on your own.
 Dinner: Dinner onboard.
   
Accommodations: Yorktown
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 12: The St. Lawrence Seaway
(Thursday, September 5)
   
 Breakfast: Breakfast onboard.
 Morning: Navigate the St. Lawrence Seaway, a system of lakes, canals, and locks that provide a deepwater passage from the St. Lawrence River to Lake Ontario—and a fascinating glimpse of North America’s heartland.
 Lunch: Lunch onboard.
 Afternoon: At sea. Attend a shipboard guest lecture.
 Dinner: Dinner onboard.
   
Accommodations: Yorktown
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 13: Montreal, Quebec, Canada / Disembark
(Friday, September 6)
   
 Morning: Disembark Yorktown and enjoy a guided excursion of Montreal. A walking excursion through a maze of narrow lanes and old buildings provide a perfect opportunity to discover Old Montreal's history and charm. With their exuberant display of architecture, the streets and buildings testify to Montreal's rich heritage and illustrate a period of its history. Enjoy a guided excursion of the Basilica Notre-Dame. Your luggage will be transported from the ship to your hotel.
 Lunch: Road Scholar lunch in a local restaurant.
 Afternoon: Enjoy a guided excursion of the Olympic Tower and the Biodome followed by free time to explore Montreal on your own.
 Dinner: Meet at 6 PM in the hotel lobby to depart via coach to a local restaurant for the Farewell Dinner.
   
Accommodations: Hyatt Regency Montreal
Meals Included: Lunch, Dinner

Day 14: Departures
(Saturday, September 7)
   
 Breakfast: Breakfast in the hotel dining room.
 Morning: Independent departures.
   
Meals Included: Breakfast

Free Time Opportunities
  
  Montreal Montreal Biodome
A biodome that houses four different ecosystems found in North America. Within the Olympic Park, the biodome is sure to please the most curious of science lovers. For additional information, visit www.biodome.qc.ca/
  Musée d’art contemporain de Montréal
The Musée d’art contemporain de Montréal houses an impressive collection of contemporary art from Quebec. Opened in 1966, the museum has a collection of nearly 7,600 pieces. For additional information, visit www.macm.org
Important information about your itinerary: Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy and completeness of the information featured on this website. Itineraries are based on our best information at this time. Circumstances beyond our control may require us to adjust itineraries or other details. We regret any inconvenience this may cause and appreciate your understanding. Information will be sent to you from your Program Provider approximately three weeks prior to the program start date. The prices listed for commercial services and facilities that are not included in the program cost, such as airport shuttles or extra nights lodging, are subject to change without notice. Since Road Scholar cannot guarantee the accuracy of these prices, we strongly suggest contacting the companies directly for the most up-to-date information.

Suggested Reading List


A Traveller's History of Canada


Author: Robert Bothwell


Description: A readable and admirably concise march through Canadian history from prehistory to today, including a timeline.



Eastern Great Lakes Lighthouses


Author: Ray Jones, Bruce Roberts (Photographer)


Description: With color photographs, lore, history and practical details on visiting the lighthouses of Ontario, Erie and Huron.



Eyewitness Guide Chicago


Author: Eyewitness Guides


Description: This superb guide to Chicago features color photography, dozens of excellent local maps and a district-by-district synopsis of the city's attractions



Fishing the Great Lakes, An Environmental History, 1783-1933


Author: Margaret Beattie Bogue


Description: This sweeping, readable history examines the political squabbles, misguided public policies and commercial exploitation that destroyed the once-abundant fisheries of Great Lakes.



Great Lakes & New York Map, Northeast


Author: Borch Maps


Description: A handy laminated map.



Great Lakes Nature Guide


Author: James MacCormac


Description: Featuring 450 color illustrations of the plants and animals of the region.



Great Lakes Trees and Wildflowers


Author: Raymond Leung (Illustrator), James Kavanaugh


Description: This laminated fold-out reference illustrates almost 150 plants in the Great Lakes region.



Inventing Niagara


Author: Ginger Strand


Description: A witty, well-researched tale of the transformation of a natural wonder into an engineering feat, spectacle and monument.



Know Your Ships


Author: Roger LeLievre


Description: An aficionado's field guide to the ships on the St. Lawrence Seaway and the Great Lakes. The freighter fleets of all the shipping companies are listed, along with the vital statistics for each ship.



Michelin Green Guide Quebec


Author: Michelin Travel Publications


Description: A thorough introduction to the region in the classic Michelin style, featuring brief descriptions of all the major attractions.



National Geographic Field Guide to the Birds of North America


Author: Jon Dunn


Description: From Alaska to Baja California, Nova Scotia and Florida, this guide is the veteran's choice for birding anywhere in the United States. Tabbed for easy access, the color range maps in this sixth edition are outstanding.



Niagara, A History of the Falls


Author: Pierre Berton


Description: Meticulously researched and entertaining, this history of Niagara Falls captures the sideshow atmosphere of the place with its honky-tonk attractions and daredevil feats. An engrossing social history.



North American Indian Tribes of the Great Lakes


Author: Michael G. Johnson


Description: Heavily illustrated, this handy guide presents the Native American tribes of the Midwest, their culture, religion, leaders and role in the fur trade.



Pandora's Locks, The Opening of the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Seaway


Author: Jeff Alexander


Description: This detailed history of the St. Lawrence Seaway, which opened in 1959, focuses on the engineering feat's often devastating environmental effects.



Shipwrecks and Lost Treasure Great Lakes, Legends and Lore, Pirates and More!


Author: Michael J. Varhola


Description: Frederick Stonehouse provides the historical forward to these 21 riveting tales of ships that met their end in the treacherous waters of the Great Lakes, including the sinking of the British gunboat H.M.S. Speedy in 1804, the Navy brig U.S.S. Niagara in 1820, the Civil War steamer Island Queen in 1864 and the tanker Edmund Fitzgerald in 1975.



The Blind Assassin


Author: Margaret Atwood


Description: Winner of the Booker Prize in 2000, this hauntingly beautiful novel interweaves two disparate strands: one, a murder mystery set in Toronto at the close of WWII; the other, the text of the murdered woman's science fiction novel, which may hold a clue to her death.



The Great Lakes


Author: Wayne Grady


Description: Wayne Grady showcases the nature and ecology of the Great Lakes, hub of industry and agriculture, and home to 40 million people, in this illustrated portrait of the region, including the geological formation, conservation challenges, forests and resources. With hundreds of color photographs and illustrations by Emily Damstra.



The Living Great Lakes


Author: Jerry Dennis


Description: Raised on the shores of Lake Michigan, Dennis weaves the tale of his own month-long voyage on the Great Lakes aboard the Malabar with history and conservation in this outstanding portrait of the region.



The Long Ships Passing, The Story of the Great Lakes


Author: Walter Havighurst


Description: A vivid popular history of the Great Lakes, rich in anecdote, incident and drama. Havighurst recounts the early days of ships and shipping on the Great Lakes from the time of the early French voyageurs through the industrialization of the region at the turn of the century.





You can't find a better value than Road Scholar.


As a not-for-profit organization, we are dedicated to providing all-inclusive educational programs at great value. From lectures to gratuities to field trips to accommodations - the tuition you pay up front is all that you pay.



Specifically, this program includes:

Plus these special experiences...

View the Daily Schedule to see more

And included with all Road Scholar programs:


© Road Scholar 2013 | Call toll-free: 1-800-454-5768