Great Lakes tour

[Deanrobert]

Looking to do a Great Lakes trip this late spring, departing central Illinois (Spi ) - possibly going to New Brunswick / Nova Scotia - ending up at my sister s in Kennebunkport ME
Anybody done this trip? routing ideas/ airports / sights not to miss. 7-10 days
DA-62 is the mode of trans..
Thx for input

[Colin]

Mackinac Island.

[Colin]

Also, I love landing at Billy Bishop Airport and having lunch in the CN Tower (reservations necessary).

[danno2000]

Anybody done this trip? routing ideas/ airports / sights not to miss. 7-10 days

Thunder Bay for Sleeping Giant National Park is fun if you're a hiker/kayaker or if you like good geology from the air or ground. I heard good things about flying over Isle Royale in that area but was land-bound for that trip.

Canadian Bushplane Heritage Centre on the Ontario side in Sault Ste. Marie was a fun afternoon.

Being from central IL, you've probably done the Chicago skyline route over the water low under the Bravo, but if not, it's worth doing.

Beaver Island KSJX was like traveling back in time. Sparsely populated and not a lot to do for active folks, but relaxing.

Doing the Niagara Falls SFRA is easy and not to be missed. Both KIAG on the NY side and St Catharines CYSN on the ON side were easy to fly into.

Thousand Islands National Park is a cool area near Kingston CYGK and Watertown KART. Easy hop from there to Ottawa if that's of interest.

Enjoy!

dan

[Colin]

I don't know why I didn't think of the Diamond factory first, but it's right there in London, Ontario. Both times I went I got a very nice tour and it was fun to see the planes being made.

[Deanrobert]

Thank you for all the input; definitely want to take in the diamond factory tour..

[Derek]

In routing order, time permitting:
1.London (cyxu) for a factory tour if you’re into that. Nothing much else of interest there but the people who build our planes are true gems.
2. Billy bishop is the downtown airport for Toronto. Easy and friendly to land and CN tower is a great place for lunch or dinner. Big city so lots to do if time permits. Porter airlines offers a free shuttle to CN tower area or use Uber or city bike rentals are a great way to go along waterfront bike path.
3. If you’d like aviation museums there are excellent ones at Hamilton CYHM and Gatineau CYND Airports along the way. Gatineau has an awesome eclectic private collection including a spitfire. Everything perfectly restored. It’s close to Ottawa, Canada’s normally boring (except for covid lockdowns ha) but very nice capital.
4. Picton, CNT7, is a personal must if you want to tour wineries, see great vistas and hang out with musicians and artists for a couple days. I have a summer home there and love it so I’m biased. Try to ping me if you come and I’ll setup a tour for you and place to stay if you like.
5. Montreal (Old Montreal) and Quebec City are great French cities to visit along the route. You’ll feel like you’re in a European city in Old Quebec.
6. If you golf or want to go on a hike with incredibly soulful scenery stop at CYPD or CYQY on Cape Breton Island. Cabot Cliffs golf club is spectacular. The hiking, driving trails and people around the island are equally unique and spectacular.
7. So many other great fly - ins depending on your time and interests. Halifax is great on your way south. Pick the ones you have time for and have a great trip!

[Colin]

London (cyxu) Nothing much else of interest

London had the highest number of serial killers operating in a city simultaneously (three). I don't know if there's a plaque or anything.

[Deanrobert]

Derek - Xcellent input - thx for it all; if we put this plan to action and include Picton , will connect

[chili4way]

Although it's closed until May 1, the Tin Goose Diner (and adjacent Liberty Aviation Museum) at Port Clinton - Erie-Ottawa International (KPCW) is a nice stop. AOPA had an article about it.

We stopped there in the fall of 2021. The wait was a bit long as they were capacity-limited by staff, not by the number of places to sit inside the diner.