Circle Lake Erie

Depart Southgate and travel to Kingsville, ON where we will board a ferry to Pelee Island, for a relaxing and scenic day. Enjoy a historic tour along with lunch at the 1891 Stone House. Travel up the island's west side to Vin Villa, for a tour of Canada's first commercial winery. The afternoon is free to enjoy at your leisure to shop, relax, sight-see, or have an ice cream. After returning to the mainland, check into the Best Western Leamington Hotel for one night. Welcome dinner this evening. (L,D)

After an included breakfast, depart for Port Stanley, ON, along the shoreline of Lake Erie. Take a train ride on the Port Stanley Terminal Rail through the scenic Kettle Creek Valley and enjoy lunch at a local restaurant. Tour the HMCS OJIBWA Canadian Cold War Submarine. She was considered the "best of the best" during her 34 years of service, and now as a museum ship she still performs with excellence for visitors from ages 6 to 90. Enjoy a relaxing afternoon with a visit to a local winery for a tasting as well as a stop to see the Port Dover Lighthouse. After an included dinner at a local restaurant, check into the Hampton Inn Brantford for one night. (B,L,D)

After an included breakfast, depart for Caledonia, ON, for a one-of-a-kind "Blazing Fiddles" show. Their high-energy show is a great precursor to a relaxing cruise along the majestic Grand River where you can taste your way through a classic 3-course lunch aboard The Grand Riverboat. Enjoy a brief stop at the Port Maitland Lighthouse to walk the pier and take some scenic photos. Check into the Hampton Inn Downtown Buffalo for 3 nights. Group dinner at a local restaurant. (B,L,D)

After an included breakfast, explore Buffalo on a Double Decker Bus Tour. This 90 minute tour explores Buffalo's historic and beautiful waterfront. We begin with a ground floor walking tour of a massive, abandoned grain elevator, a complex comprised of 36 individual silos that could store more than 1 million bushels of grain. Hopping aboard the bus, we head towards Canalside with a stop at the Long Shed Building. Then we experience the Erie Basin Marina, featuring beautiful views of Lake Erie shoreline. We hop on the elevated Skyway to make our way to the Outer Harbor. After the bus tour ends, enjoy a relaxing riverboat cruise with a guide narrating Buffalo's River history. Hear the story of the Erie Canal and Buffalo's history as the largest grain port in the world. Travel along the waterway that made Buffalo one of the biggest and richest cities in the world while you gaze up at the magnificent structures that drove its growth. After an independent lunch, experience a visit and guided tour at the Buffalo and Erie County Naval and Military Park. Dinner tonight is included at a local restaurant. (B,D)

After an included breakfast, depart for Lockport, NY to enjoy a Lockport Locks & Erie Canal Cruise. Experience "Life in the Past Lane" when you get on board for your cruise on the historic Erie Canal, a 363-mile waterway. Your fun and informative cruise will take you past five of the original 1800's locks. The lively narration by the Coast Guard Licensed Captains is also accompanied by crowd-pleasing canal music, popular during the 1800's. Lunch today is at Spring Lake Winery at Varallo Vineyards, accompanied by a tour and tasting. This afternoon, visit Platter's Chocolate Factory to view their chocolate making process and enjoy a snack sized package of chocolate to take with you. Take a leisurely stroll through the Buffalo & Erie County Botanical Gardens, where visitors can find peace and harmony and enjoy the simple power of the natural world. The evening closes with a a sunset dinner cruise along Buffalo's waterfront on the Grand Lady Riverboat. (B,L,D)

After an included breakfast, depart for Derby, NY for a visit to Frank Lloyd Wright's Graycliff. You'll experience a tour of the gardens, grounds, and both floors of the main house. Enjoy an independent lunch at Dunkirk City Pier and Boardwalk Marketplace. This afternoon, tour the Dunkirk Historical Lighthouse and Veterans Park Museum. With its 27-mile range, Dunkirk Lighthouse is one of the most prominent beacons on Lake Erie. The Veterans Museum consists of 10 rooms of displays including each branch of the military, maritime history, and the depiction on the life of the lighthouse keepers. Stop for a photo op a the Barcelona Lighthouse. Built in 1892, this was the first lighthouse powered by natural gas in the country. Check into our last hotel of the tour, the Courtyard by Marriott Erie Bayfront Hotel for one night. Situated on the Sassafras Pier, this waterfront retreat boasts breathtaking views of Lake Erie's Presque Isle Bay. After an included dinner at a local restaurant, visit the Bicentennial Tower. This tower was built in 1996 to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the founding city of Erie and has become a "must do" for tourists and locals alike. While on the top observation deck, 138 feet above the bay, you can see in every direction and enjoy stunning views of Lake Erie and the surrounding areas. (B,D)

After an included breakfast at the hotel, visit the Tom Ridge Environmental Center where you'll learn about the unique 3,200 acres of Presque Isle and the many different forms of life that inhabit the peninsula. Visit the Presque Isle Lighthouse and State Park, before enjoying a bountiful brunch cruise aboard the Nautica Queen. Return home this evening with fond memories of your Lake Erie Tour. (B, Brunch)