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Voyage to the Great Lakes

Program Number: 20422RJ
Start and End Dates:
7/7/2013 - 7/16/2013; 7/21/2013 - 7/30/2013; 8/17/2013 - 8/26/2013;
Duration: 9 nights
Location: Michigan/Ontario/Illinois/Ohio
Price starting at: $4,790.00 - Price may vary based on date, departure city
Program Type: Adventure Afloat Study Cruise; Small Ship Cruising Activity Level: t (see description)
Meals: 26; 9 Breakfasts, 8 Lunches, 9 Dinners    
Meal Options: Gluten Free; Vegetarian; Low Fat; Low Salt    

From Lake Michigan’s great sand dunes, lighthouses and historic resort towns to Mackinac Island’s bygone Victorian charms, experience the majestic grandeur found along the shores of the Great Lakes. Navigate through Lakes Michigan, Ontario, Huron and Erie plus rivers and canals for an in-depth experience of America’s inland seas.




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 reembarkation.



Itinerary At-a-Glance

Toronto, (Canada) 1 night; aboard Yorktown, 7 nights; Chicago, Ill. 1 night.



Days 1-2:
Arrival Toronto, Canada / embark Yorktown:

An expert-led city excursion reveals the exciting architecture and diverse neighborhoods of this global city. Lodging: Comfortable hotel.



Day 3:
Welland Canal / Niagara Falls:

Make the dramatic passage from Lake Ontario to Lake Erie via the Welland Canal. A series of seven locks designed as a continuous flight of “stairs” elevates the ship 324 feet over the course of 27 miles. If you wish, disembark for an optional excursion to Niagara Falls.



Day 4:
Cleveland, Ohio:

Explore the industrial city of Cleveland including the I. M. Pei-designed Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, the superb Cleveland Museum of Art and the Cleveland Botanical Garden.



Day 5:
Sailing Lake Huron and Lake Erie:

Enjoy a day onboard the ship, navigating the St. Clair River, Lake St. Clair and the Detroit River and viewing the Detroit skyline from the water.



Day 6:
Mackinac Island:

Get a glimpse of the everyday lives of residents of this Victorian-era haven where cars are forbidden and bicycles share the road with horse-drawn carriages.



Day 7:
Charlevoix::

Go ashore in Michigan’s scenic northwest, a region blanketed with maple and spruce. From lovely Charlevoix, explore the old port town of Harbor Springs, with its panoramic views of the bay.



Day 8:
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.



Days 9-10: Chicago, Ill. / disembark / departure:

A field trip in Chicago includes the lively sculptures of Millennium Park and the renowned Art Institute of Chicago. Lodging: Iconic downtown 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
   The Westin Harbour Castle
  Toronto 1 night
   Yorktown
  Yorktown - At Sea 7 nights
   Palmer Hilton House
  Chicago, Illinois 1 night
 The Westin Harbour Castle
Type: Four-Star Hotel
  Description: The Westin Harbour Castle is located on the vibrant waterfront of Lake Ontario in downtown Toronto near the Air Canada Center and CN Tower. Canada's largest city, Toronto is the cultural, financial and entertainment capital of Canada. The Westin Harbour Castle is a green hotel where they pride themselves on their eco-friendly initiatives.
  Contact info: 1 Harbour Square
Toronto, ON M5J 1A6 Canada
phone: 416-869-1600
web: www.westinharbourcastletoronto.com
  Room amenities: Each room has cable television, telephone, air conditioning, climate control, safe, and wireless Internet access (for a fee).
  Facility amenities: The hotel offers restaurants, a bar, air conditioning, pool, spa, gym and wireless 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

 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 after: N/A To book additional nights, please call the Road Scholar Amherst office (413) 253-9736.
  Check out time: 11:00 AM


Travel Details
  Start of Program:
Toronto, Ontario. Welcome Orientation at 5:00 PM in the hotel. You will be staying at The Westin Harbour Castle that night.
  End of Program:
Chicago, Illinois. After breakfast on the last day. You will be staying at Palmer Hilton House 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:
Program begins in Toronto and ends in Chicago so parking is not applicable.
Transportation
To Start of Program
  Location:  Toronto
  From End of Program
  Location:  Chicago, Illinois
Travel Details
 

From Pearson International Airport to the Westin Harbour Castle

 

From Airport

 
 

Service:

 

Hotel Shuttle

 

Per Person/One Way:

 

CAD $26.95, Seniors CAD $24.25
Prices are subject to change.
 

Travel Time:

 

40-60 minutes 
   

The Westin Harbour Castle uses Airport Express as their airport shuttle. There is a shuttle leaving from the airport to the hotel every 30 minutes from 5:20 AM - 12:50 AM everyday.
 

From the Palmer Hilton House to Chicago O'Hare Airport

 

To Airport

 
 

Service:

 

Public Transportation

   

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

From the Palmer Hilton House to Chicago O'Hare Airport

 

To Airport

 
 

Service:

 

Taxi

   

Take a taxi from the hotel to the airport. It will cost approximately $45.00.
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
(Saturday, August 17)
   
 Afternoon: Independent arrivals in Toronto. Welcome Orientation at 5:00 PM in the hotel.
 Dinner: Welcome Dinner.
   
Accommodations: The Westin Harbour Castle
Meals Included: Dinner

Day 2: Embark Yorktown
(Sunday, August 18)
   
 Breakfast: Breakfast in the hotel dining room.
 Morning: Guided excursion of Toronto.
 Lunch: Lunch at a local restaurant.
 Afternoon: Transfer to the Yorktown for 3:00 PM embarkation.
 Dinner: Welcome Dinner onboard.
   
Accommodations: Yorktown
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 3: Port Weller / Welland Canal / Niagara Falls
(Monday, August 19)
   
 Breakfast: Breakfast onboard.
 Morning: Arrive this morning at Port Weller, from where Yorktown begins the dramatic passage from Lake Ontario to Lake Erie 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. 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.
 Lunch: Lunch onboard.
 Afternoon: Continue your day traversing the locks. Attend a shipboard guest lecture.
 Dinner: Dinner onboard.
 Evening: Attend a shipboard guest lecture.
   
Accommodations: Yorktown
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 4: Cleveland, Ohio
(Tuesday, August 20)
   
 Breakfast: Breakfast onboard.
 Morning: Sitting where the Cuyahoga River meets Lake Erie, Cleveland is home to a monumental downtown and a rich cultural legacy. Over nine million people visit this city on the lake, founded on the wealth of steel and oil barons. Cleveland’s industrial foundation is very much in evidence, though downtown’s steel warehouses and tool-and-die factories now house smart restaurants, cafés, and shops, and its many bridges lead to revitalized neighborhoods. Our field trip exploring the city will include the striking I. M. Pei-designed Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, located on the Lake Erie waterfront. Also explore the superb Cleveland Museum of Art, noted for its collection of European paintings, as well as American, Asian, and African Art, and the Cleveland Botanical Garden.
 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 5: Cruising Lake Huron and Lake Erie
(Wednesday, August 21)
   
 Breakfast: Breakfast onboard.
 Morning: At sea. Enjoy a day at sea as the Yorktown navigates from Lake Huron through the St. Clair River into Lake St. Clair and on to the Detroit River. Attend a shipboard guest lecture.
 Lunch: Lunch onboard.
 Afternoon: Pass by the glittering city of Detroit with its beautifully renovated International Riverfront with its attractive waterfront parks and the Renaissance Center, home of General Motors world headquarters on our way to Lake Erie. Attend a shipboard guest lecture.
 Dinner: Dinner onboard.
   
Accommodations: Yorktown
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 6: Mackinac Island, Michigan
(Thursday, August 22)
   
 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 that was 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 gingerbread-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 7: Charlevoix, Michigan
(Friday, August 23)
   
 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: Free time to explore on your own.
 Dinner: Dinner onboard.
 Evening: Attend a shipboard guest lecture.
   
Accommodations: Yorktown
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 8: Saugatuck, Michigan
(Saturday, August 24)
   
 Breakfast: Breakfast onboard.
 Morning: Arrive this morning 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 excursion in Saugatuck.
 Dinner: Dinner onboard.
   
Accommodations: Yorktown
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 9: Disembark / Chicago, Illinois
(Sunday, August 25)
   
 Breakfast: Breakfast onboard.
 Morning: Disembark Yorktown in Chicago, Illinois. Enjoy a guided excursion of Chicago.
 Lunch: Lunch at a local restaurant.
 Afternoon: Free time to explore Chicago.
 Dinner: Farewell Dinner at a local restaurant.
   
Accommodations: Palmer Hilton House
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 10: Departures
(Monday, August 26)
   
 Breakfast: Breakfast in the hotel dining room.
 Morning: Indepedent departures.
   
Meals Included: Breakfast
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.





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