Thinking of taking this trip this summer......feedback?

[The UnDoug]

Apologies in advance if this email is a bit "all over the place." I'm in a bit of a rush to leave for work (2 hour delay at my daughter's school due to ice), but wanted to get it posted before I go.


I'm thinking about doing a drive this summer, leaving from Philadelphia, PA on Sunday, June 26th with my wife and 13 year old daughter, driving to pick up my 17 year old nephew at his house in Medina, OH, then driving to visit my family in Mahomet, IL (near Champaign-Urbana), and then driving up to Ste. Saulte Marie, Ontario, then along the Trans-Canada Highway to Toronto, Ontario, and then to Niagara Falls, Ontario, then back to my nephew's house, then back to Philadelphia.

We would want to end up back in Philadelphia on either Saturday, July 9th, or Sunday, July 10th.

We would likely spend a few days in Mahomet, and then potentially a day in Medina on the way back.

Any suggestions for things to see or do along this route?

Here's a link to the Google Map showing our approximate route:

https://goo.gl/rOAq8Q


A likely timetable would be:

6/26: Drive to Ohio (~7 hour drive)

6/27: Drive to Mahomet (~7 hour drive)

6/28 - 6/30: In Mahomet. Visit family.

7/1: Drive to Ste. Saulte Marie, Ontario (~8.5 hour drive), stay in tent or cabin or hotel..not sure which.

7/2 - 7/3: Tour Ste. Saulte Marie area. Visit Agawa Canyon. Visit Saulte locks.

7/4: Drive to Toronto along Trans-Canada Highway (~ 7.25 hour drive). Can one view the July 4th fireworks over Niagara Falls from Toronto?

7/5 - 7/6: Tour Toronto

7/7: Drive to Niagara Falls (~ 1.5 hour drive)

7/8: Tour Niagara Falls area

7/9: Drive to Medina, OH to drop off nephew (~4 hour drive)

7/10: Visit with family in Medina or drive back to Philly (~7.5 hour drive)

7/10: Home since yesterday or drive back to Philly


You'll see that 7/10 is listed twice. I'm thinking of cutting out one day somewhere (likely either one less in Ste. Saulte Marie, or one less in Toronto. Doing so would give us a day to visit with family in Ohio or get us back home to Philly on a Saturday, giving us Sunday to "recover" before work on Monday.

For the record, the reason I'm considering Ste. Saulte Marie is mainly because it seems like it would be a cool place to go, and a cool spot at which to go from the US to Canada. I also think my dad may have traveled there before I was born, and that I saw it in pictures. I'll have to double-check.

So whaddaya think? More time anywhere? Less time? Is one full day in Niagara Falls enough? Is two full days (and 3 nights) in Ste. Saulte Marie too much? If we do tents there, that'll be our cheapest lodging on the trip. Is two full days (and 3 nights) in Toronto too much/not enough? That will likely be a hotel, so skipping a night there would save a couple hundred dollars, I'd guess.

What should we see/do in Toronto? Anybody know anything about Ste. Saulte Marie? Anything amazing on the stretch of the Trans-Canada highway between the two? What's to do in Niagara Falls other than see the Falls?

I'm on a *definite* budget.....no specific amount other than: spend as little as possible. Hotels and meals will be the biggest expenses. If we stay in a tent in Ste. Saulte, that would help.

For the record, we (me, wife, daughter, and nephew) have done quite a few summer vacation drives together, and I'm not at all worried about the amount of driving. We've also all camped in a tent together before.

Thanks for any feedback you can provide.

[michaelb]

It would be nice to have more time. It seems too bad to just drive through N. Michigan when that will be the very nicest part of the trip. Can you stop at Sleeping Bear or Traverse City?

I have been through Sault St. Marie a couple of times, and I don't remember anything memorable about the border crossing or the town. But I wouldn't miss stopping at a gorgeous place on Lake Superior, so either Pictured Rocks or yes do Agawa Canyon (I backpacked through Lake Superior Provincial Park and if Agawa Canyon is in there, that place was awesome).

My memory is that the actual road trip from Sault St. Marie to Toronto is boring, but Algonquin is sort of along the way and the Georgian shore is also wild and beautiful (Killarney is a long way off your path though).

[OWC Jamie]

41 miles from Toronto to Niagra Falls - you might hear the sound of the loudest ones (fireworks) traveling across the lake.


edit:
Toronto: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PATH_(Toronto)

the forum removes parenthesis at the end if a wikipedia url for some reason, you have to click on the lightbulb link on the page the erred link goes to

[tenders]

A day in Niagara Falls is quite enough. You can spend an hour or two looking at the falls, then taking the boat ride, maybe the cave walk if you're particularly intrepid...and then you're done. The town itself is really pretty awful.

What *is* nice, however, is the near-but-not-too-near Canadian town of Niagara-on-the-Lake. Charming town, nice wineries, Shakespeare festival sometime during the summer, etc.

[cbelt3]

Sounds like fun ! Wave 'hi' as you go past on the Turnpike towards Medina. Note that the Algonquin is along your path.. the quintessential Canadian summer at the lake experience is a possibility along your path. Just be sure the black fly have burned off by then. Them suckers bite, not to mention drowning in your Chardonnay .

[GuyGene]

All I can add is, when you get back to Philly, GO, just GO to the Reading Market, and welcome home!!miley-signs003:

This should be a good trip!

[Ombligo]

Two thoughts..

I would go through Wisconsin (maybe visit the Dells?) and across Michigan's UP. Much prettier than up through Michigan.

Rather than drive from the falls (also agree that 1 day is plenty there) to your son's home, drive straight back to your place and then fly him to Cleveland (at 17, he should be fine to make a 1-way nonstop by himself). It would be easier and likely cheaper (gas, wear/tear, motel, food, etc)., you would also gain a day (which could be used for the Wisconsin rerouting).

[sekker]

Cleveland is worth a stop - great and free museums.

And getting Papa Dels in Champaign should be on the itinerary...

[TLB]

Mackinac Island is a bit touristy but an interesting excursion.
Traverse City, you'll be passing through right around the Cherry Festival
We did a day trip to the Soo Locks from Mackinaw, just rode the locks on the US side and walked the water front.
Old Fort Erie and Herdner Winery are a nice side trip from the neon and tourist traps at Niagara Falls. Enjoyed Maid of the Mist, the under the falls on the Canadian side didn't impress me.

[cbelt3]

FWIW.. Urban Cleveland will be foo.bar from July 15th through July 25th thanks to the RNC convention. And probably pretty booked up for a week or so beforehand. Hotels are already booked up. Airbnb is getting there. But it is a nice town in the summer. If you like Rock & Roll, the Hall of Fame Museum is an amazing place to spend three or four hours. Not cheap, but it's worth it.