8 Night Chicago / Milwaukee to Niagara Falls (Port Colborne) Cruise and Land Tour from Chicago

Enjoy your complimentary stay at the pre-cruise hotel. The evening is yours to become acquainted with the city. For your convenience, American Queen Voyages Hospitality Desk will be located in the hotel, and the friendly staff can assist with everything from general questions about your upcoming voyage to reserving premium experiences. Representatives from AQV and a local port/city partner will be available to provide you with dining, entertainment, and sightseeing options to maximize your time here.

Bold, brazen and distinctly American, Chicago has personality to spare. From our embarkation point at Navy Pier to towering skyscrapers to regional cuisine and a quirky dialect, this city represents the heart and soul of the Midwest. Chicagoans are easy to recognize and quick with a smile and a lighthearted quip. The quintessential Chicago experience is a visit to the 24.5-acre Millennium Park, a well-loved public space that is home to the Jay Pritzker Pavilion, iconic Cloud Gate - a shiny bean-shaped sculpture, famous Crown Fountain, and Lurie Garden. Admire Chicago's architecture and history on an organized excursion or informal walking tour through the city. Navy Pier is a good place to sample the local fare. Deep-dish pizza, Italian beef, or signature Chicago dogs... you decide. Shoppers are in for adventure along the Magnificent Mile, a 14-block stretch of Michigan Avenue, from the Chicago River to Oak Street. Here, you'll find malls and boutiques selling designer fashions as well as more affordable clothing. Keep in mind, this area is congested with shoppers - especially around the holidays and on weekends - so it's best to map out which shops you'd like to visit in advance. Not a shopper, perhaps plan to visit the acclaimed Adler Planetarium or take the high-speed elevator up to the observatory at 360 Chicago, where, on a clear day, you can see Michigan, Indiana, and Wisconsin. The TILT attraction on the Skydeck open-air viewing deck lets thrill seekers test their fear of heights as you admire Michigan Avenue, 1,000-feet below.

These waters are home to a vast variety of wildlife - trout, salmon, walleye, smallmouth bass, crawfish, freshwater sponges, and sea lamprey, to name a few. That buffet attracts raptors such as hawks and bald eagles and waterfowl such as ducks, swans, and geese. Relax and enjoy the view on your own time on this peaceful lake cruising day. Sip a midmorning consomme, breathe in the fresh lake air on the upper deck, share convivial conversation with other guests, or delve into a captivating book as you look forward to yet another astounding sunset on the water.

Although the robust fur trade continued into the 1800s, the military and economic significance of Fort Mackinac was waning. By the latter half of the 19th century, tourism had emerged as the hallmark of Mackinac Island. Much of the land, designated a national park, was staffed by soldiers from the fort. Coastal resort hotels and Victorian cottages were developed. As more vacationers arrived, entrepreneurs worked to make Mackinac Island synonymous with fudge. In the 1920s, downtown shops innovated the brilliant techniques of demonstrating fudge making right in front of customers and using large ceiling fans to waft the sweet scent out into the street. And although Oldsmobile was making automobiles in nearby Lansing, Mackinac Island banned cars - a distinctive characteristic that remains to this day. Trapped in time and surrounded by staggeringly beautiful landscapes, visitors have found this treasured landmark to be the ideal vacation spot for centuries. No cars. No chain hotels. Just world-famous Mackinac Island Fudge, historic Fort Mackinac, and unique shopping. With awe-inspiring sunrises and unforgettable sunsets, Mackinac Island centers the spirit and soothes the soul. Visitors can experience the tranquil pace on a tour by horse-drawn carriage, just as they did back in 1920. You can tour the Biddle House and get a feel for domestic life during the fur trade. Fire a cannon at historic Fort Mackinac. Or explore the beauty of Mackinac Island State Park. Alternatively, enjoy stunning views of the Straits of Mackinac from the colossal porch - the world's longest - at the legendary Grand Hotel, opened in 1887.

Sault Ste. Marie or "the Sault" is located in Michigan and Ontario. There are two separate cities side by side in different countries; bridged together by name and commerce. Culture beats through street veins that connect these harbors to the distinctly different North American countryside beyond each border. Sault Ste. Marie is the oldest city in Michigan, and among the oldest cities in the United States. Some 2,000 years ago, Native Americans settled here for the fish and fur found along the rushing waters of the turbulent river that linked the Great Lakes of Huron and Superior. In the 1600s, French fur traders began calling this burgeoning settlement Saut de Gaston. In 1668, the Jesuit explorer Fr. Jacques Marquette renamed it Sault Ste. Marie in honor of the Virgin Mary. Throughout its history, the St. Mary's River has continued to dominate the life and events of Sault Ste. Marie - as it continues to do so today. Sault Ste. Marie is home to historical sites, lighthouses, pristine nature preserves, and the spectacular Tahquamenon Falls - it has a drop of nearly 50 feet and is more than 200 feet across. Peer into the past at the preserved fur traders' settlement homes on Water Street on an included tour. You will also view the fascinating Soo Locks built by the Fairbanks Scales company, despite challenging construction conditions. The system of two locks, in tandem, each 350 feet long, are the busiest locks in the world and include the largest lock in the Western Hemisphere.

The port of Little Current is quite literally the gateway to the world's largest freshwater island - Manitoulin - considered sacred by the native Anishinaabe people. Considering the only land access to the island is the iconic swing bridge on the east end of town, it's an apt tag line. Recognized as one of the best freshwater boating regions in the world, an evening stroll along the boardwalk will reveal boats from all over the Great Lakes Basin and east coast of Canada, as well as the U.S. Little Current's main street is home to many stores and shops, some with a long and rich history. Turner's, which opened its doors in the late 19th century, is still operating today, and still run by the Turner family. The upper level houses a small display of artefacts from the early days of Little Current. With the Immaculate Conception Church and its distinctive tepee-like architecture as a symbol, indigenous life and legend meld with European history. Venerated rhythms of the ages come to life in the talented hands and feet of native drummers and dancers, which you may have the chance to experience. If you decide to venture out of town during your visit, there are two must-sees. Ten minutes away, you'll find the Cup and Saucer hiking trail - a 7-mile (12-kilometer) network of trails leads up to the summit. Further down the road at the small settlement of Kagawong, enjoy the natural beauty of Bridal Veil Falls, which you can admire from the lookout above.

These waters are home to a vast variety of wildlife - trout, salmon, walleye, smallmouth bass, crawfish, freshwater sponges, and sea lamprey, to name a few. That buffet attracts raptors such as hawks and bald eagles and waterfowl such as ducks, swans, and geese. Relax and enjoy the view on your own time on this peaceful lake cruising day. Sip a midmorning consomme, breathe in the fresh lake air on the upper deck, share convivial conversation with other guests, or delve into a captivating book as you look forward to yet another astounding sunset on the water.

Step off the ship onto what some call America's "North Coast" and discover why Clevelanders are so fiercely proud of their home. The reinvented city reverberates with vitality and a cool new atmosphere. Expand your mind at the world-class Cleveland Museum of Art, with over 45,000 works to explore. You can also feel the backbeat at the museum devoted to one of America's finest gifts to the world - the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. An optional premium experience to Geauga County offers a glimpse into a simpler way of life with a visit to an Amish home for a traditional wedding feast.

We dock at Port Colborne, located on Lake Erie. Originally called Gravelly Bay, after the shallow, bedrock-floored bay upon which it sits, the city traces its roots to the United Empire Loyalist settlements established in the area following the American Revolution. The original village was renamed after Sir John Colborne, the Lieutenant Governor of Upper Canada at the time the Welland Canal's new southern terminus opened in 1833. In the year 1888, American tourists from southern states began building vacation homes on the lakeshore of the western edge of the town. By 1890, these southern transplants had created an entire gated community called the Humberstone Club. Over 30 grand summer homes, along with a variety of clubhouses and service buildings, were built along the lake in the following years, many of which still stand today on historic Tennessee Avenue. Described by the city as "Niagara's South Coast", tourism is important to Port Colborne's local economy. The city features live theatre, golfing, trails, fishing, beaches, restaurants, recreation, a marina, and shopping districts along the Welland Canal. But most American Queen Voyages guests will consider Port Colborne as the gateway to Niagara Falls, which is approximately 45 minutes away by coach. Since its formation 12,000 years ago, the power and grandeur of Niagara Falls has been coveted by explorers, honeymooners, daredevils, and the curious. An optional premium experience ferries you past the roiling waterfall whitewater and massive rock formations; followed by a tasting at a local winery and time to shop for souvenirs.