Midwest - The Great Lakes

Chicago rises along the southwestern shore of Lake Michigan, the third-largest city in the United States and the acknowledged birthplace of the modern skyscraper: here, after the Great Fire of 1871, American architecture reinvented itself, giving rise to one of the most famous skylines in the world. Its beating heart is the Loop, the business district encircled by the elevated 'L' train, where masterpieces by Louis Sullivan, Mies van der Rohe and Frank Lloyd Wright stand side by side. A short walk leads to Millennium Park, with the gleaming 'Cloud Gate' sculpture (nicknamed 'The Bean' by locals) and the Jay Pritzker Pavilion designed by Frank Gehry. Nearby, the Art Institute of Chicago, one of America's great museums, guards Impressionist masterpieces and Grant Wood's celebrated 'American Gothic'. Along the water, the Chicago Riverwalk offers another vantage on the city, while the boats of the Architecture River Cruise glide between the façades, recounting a century and a half of building ingenuity. Toward the lake, Navy Pier with its Ferris wheel and the Magnificent Mile, the elegant stretch of Michigan Avenue lined with shops and hotels, set the rhythm of city life. Yet Chicago is also music and flavour: the home of electric blues and jazz resounds in the clubs of the South Side, while its tables serve the hearty deep-dish pizza, Chicago-style hot dogs and the food markets of lively neighbourhoods such as Pilsen and West Loop. Rising to the 412-metre Skydeck of the Willis Tower, the gaze sweeps across the lake and the boundless Illinois plain. A city of lakes and skyscrapers, of jazz and bold architecture, Chicago reveals itself on foot, amid the gusts that earned it the nickname 'Windy City' and the unmistakable energy of the American Midwest.

Brookfield is a residential city in Wisconsin, on the doorstep of Milwaukee, known for its orderly neighbourhoods and broad green spaces. A quiet, well-planned community, it offers shopping centres, parks and a serene atmosphere a short distance from Lake Michigan. Its position makes it a convenient base for exploring the metropolitan area. A functional stop in the heart of Wisconsin.

Green Bay is a historic city in Wisconsin set on its namesake bay of Lake Michigan, famed worldwide for the Green Bay Packers, the legendary American football team that plays at historic Lambeau Field. From here one reaches picturesque Door County, a peninsula nicknamed 'the Cape Cod of the Midwest' for its seafaring villages, lighthouses, cherry orchards and quiet bays. Between sporting passion, the welcoming Midwestern atmosphere and enchanting lake landscapes, Green Bay and Door County offer a blend of culture, nature and authentic traditions.

St Ignace is a historic town in northern Michigan, located on the shore of the Upper Peninsula right at the entrance of the majestic Mackinac Bridge, which links it to the lower peninsula across the Straits of Mackinac. From here depart ferries to the famous Mackinac Island, a car-free island where people get around by carriage or bicycle. Founded by French missionaries in the 17th century, it preserves the memory of the voyageur past and the Native cultures. Between an iconic bridge, picturesque islands and frontier heritage, St Ignace is a captivating gateway to the Great Lakes.

Cradle of the American auto industry and home of Motown, Detroit is today a city in full revival, where its industrial heritage coexists with vibrant creative energy. Downtown shows off Art Deco skyscrapers such as the Guardian Building and the Fisher Tower, overlooking the Detroit River and the RiverWalk waterfront. The Detroit Institute of Arts holds masterpieces and Diego Rivera's famous murals devoted to industry, while the Motown Museum tells the story of the musical revolution born in the studios of “Hitsville U.S.A.”. The historic Eastern Market enlivens weekends with markets and murals, and neighbourhoods like Corktown are reborn amid distilleries and restaurants. Detroit wins over those seeking culture, music and the authentic, resilient soul of industrial America.

The main highlights of the Toronto visit include the financial district, the old and new City Halls, the Parliament of Ontario, University Avenue with its most important hospitals and traditional institutions, the distinctive Yorkville district with its elegant shops, Chinatown (the second largest in Canada), and the CN Tower—the tallest structure in the Western Hemisphere at 553.33 meters, visited by more than 2 million people every year.

You follow the western coast of Lake Ontario. Niagara Falls, on the Canadian side, offers the most spectacular view of the famous Niagara Falls, among the most renowned and visited in the world. The imposing Horseshoe Falls plunge with power, creating clouds of spray and rainbows, in a scene of grandiose nature. Sightseeing boats carry visitors to the foot of the falls, while walkways and viewing terraces allow them to be admired from every angle, by day and night, when they are lit with light displays. The town that hosts them offers attractions, casinos, observation towers and a lively atmosphere. Nearby, the wine region and picturesque Niagara-on-the-Lake enrich the visit. Thrilling and overwhelming, Niagara Falls is one of North America's most iconic natural wonders, capable of leaving every visitor breathless.

Cleveland sits on the shores of Lake Erie, in Ohio, an industrial city reborn as a lively cultural and musical hub. Its symbol is the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, a museum dedicated to the history of rock designed by I.M. Pei. The Cleveland Museum of Art holds world-class collections, while its university and major hospitals make it a centre of excellence. Districts like Ohio City and the West Side Market reveal the city's multicultural soul. Facing the Great Lakes, Cleveland combines industrial heritage, sport and urban revival.