The charming, car-free Mackinac Island is situated on the straits between Lake Huron and Lake Michigan, and played a key role in the Great Lakes fur trade. The island was the site of several battles between the British and Americans, and is home to some elegant Victorian-style architecture.

Duluth is the world’s largest inland freshwater port, situated at the westernmost point of the Great Lakes on the shores of Lake Superior. Tourist sights include the Aerial Lift Bridge and the Great Lakes Aquarium, and the city also has a burgeoning craft beer scene.

The city of Thunder Bay sits on the northern shore of Lake Superior, first settled by Europeans in the 17th century when the French established a fur trading post here. Find out more about this history at Fort William Historical Park, or marvel at nearby Kakabeka Falls, known as the ‘Niagara of the North’.

The little town of Parry Sound is situated within the Georgian Bay UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, sheltered behind 30,000 tiny islands that make up the world’s largest freshwater archipelago. It’s a laid back and tranquil place, surrounded by conifer forests and sandy beaches.

Windsor is the southernmost city in Canada, and is situated just across the river from the city of Detroit, Michigan. Cross the busy Ambassador Bridge to the famous ‘Motor City’ and you’ll see how Detroit is bouncing back from decades of decline, with highlights including the Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation and the Motown Historical Museum