The Great Lakes are the largest group of freshwater lakes on Earth by total area and contain 21% of the world's surface fresh water by volume, holds over 250 species of fish, and is considered a national treasure on both sides of the border.

The characters, hidden gems, off-the-beaten-track experiences, natural wonders, history, and one-of-a-kind eats only locals know about rival those found anywhere in the world.

Our job is to find them on both sides of the border – and we welcome your help!

Eastern Ontario begins at the border of Quebec at Ottawa and runs west to Toronto, north to Algonquin Park – it is comprised of many distinct regions – all of which have diverse and fascinating history, natural wonders, and amazing cultures to discover.

The eastern area of the province borders on the waters of Lake Ontario, as well as the St Lawrence River and the 1000 Islands. The province has over 250,000 lakes – so many lakes sports teams like the ‘Lakers’ are named after them – and boating, don’t get us started on the boating.

The province also boasts 5 National Parks, and 340 Provincial Parks.

We take for granted how fortunate we are to be able to access both countries via 4 border crossings at Cornwall, Lansdowne, and Prescott – and including the ferry from Wolfe Island to Cape Vincent, NY.

Western Ontario begins west of Toronto and runs west to Windsor, north to Georgian Bay – it is comprised of many distinct regions – all of which have diverse and fascinating history, natural wonders, and amazing cultures to discover.

The western area of the province borders on the waters of 3 of the Great Lakes, Lake Ontario, Lake Erie, and Lake Huron – as well as Lake St Clair and Georgian Bay. The province has over 250,000 lakes – and beaches, don’t get us started on the beaches.

The province also boasts 5 National Parks, and 340 Provincial Parks.

We take for granted how fortunate we are to be able to access both countries via 7 border crossings at Fort Erie, NOTL, Niagara Falls, Sarnia, and Windsor.

Northern Ontario is divided into 5 areas Northeastern Ontario, Muskoka, Algoma Country, Superior County, and Sunset Country – each of which consists of many distinct regions – all of which have diverse and fascinating history, natural wonders, and amazing cultures to discover.

The northern area of the province borders on the waters of 2 of the Great Lakes, Lake Superior and Lake Huron. The province has over 250,000 lakes – more lakes in fact than people in areas such as Sunset Country – and fish, don’t get us started on the fishing.

The northern regions of this magnificent province boast waterfalls larger than Niagara Falls, some of the world’s largest old growth forests, and spectacular views of the Aurora Borealis.

The province also boasts 5 National Parks, and 340 Provincial Parks.

We take for granted how fortunate we are to be able to access both countries via 4 border crossings at Rainy River, Fort Frances, Neebing, and Sault Ste Marie.

New York state is divided into two areas Upstate (the area north of New York City) and Downstate (the area south of New York City) – each of which consists of many distinct regions – all of which have diverse and fascinating history, natural wonders, and amazing cultures to discover.

The state borders on the waters of 2 of the Great Lakes, Lake Erie and Lake Ontario, as well as the Niagara and St Lawrence Rivers – all part of the amazing Great Lakes ecosystem. The state also has over 7,600 lakes and ponds!

There are 3 major mountain ranges: the Adirondack Mountains, the Catskill Mountains, and part of the Appalachian Mountains.

The state also boasts over 24 National Parks, and 180 State Parks.

We take for granted how fortunate we are to be able to access both countries via 7 border crossings – or via a ferry from Wolfe Island, Ontario to Cape Vincent, NY.

New York state is divided into two areas Upstate (the area north of New York City) and Downstate (the area south of New York City) – each of which consists of many distinct regions – all of which have diverse and fascinating history, natural wonders, and amazing cultures to discover.

The state borders on the waters of 2 of the Great Lakes, Lake Erie and Lake Ontario, as well as the Niagara and St Lawrence Rivers – all part of the amazing Great Lakes ecosystem. The state also has over 7,600 lakes and ponds!

There are 3 major mountain ranges: the Adirondack Mountains, the Catskill Mountains, and part of the Appalachian Mountains.

The state also boasts over 24 National Parks, and 180 State Parks.

We take for granted how fortunate we are to be able to access both countries via 7 border crossings – or via a ferry from Wolfe Island, Ontario to Cape Vincent, NY.

Michigan consists of two peninsulas – a lower peninsula referred to as ‘The Mitten’ and the heavily forested upper peninsula ‘The U.P.’ – each of which consists of many distinct regions – and all of which have diverse and fascinating history, natural wonders, amazing cultures to discover.

The Straits of Mackinac separate the two peninsulas, a 5 mile (8 KM) channel that joins Lake Huron and Lake Michigan and is accessed by one of the longest suspension bridges in the world. The state borders 4 of the 5 Great Lakes and has over 64,980 inland lakes and ponds – and no point is more than 6 miles (9.7 KM) from a natural water source.

Michigan has 5 National Parks, and 103 State Parks.

We take for granted how fortunate we are to be able to access both countries via 3 border crossings – or via ferries from Algonac, Marine City in Michigan – and Walpole Island, Wallaceburg, Sombra in Ontario.

Michigan consists of two peninsulas – a lower peninsula referred to as ‘The Mitten’ and the heavily forested upper peninsula ‘The U.P.’ – each of which consists of many distinct regions – and all of which have diverse and fascinating history, natural wonders, amazing cultures to discover.

The Straits of Mackinac separate the two peninsulas, a 5 mile (8 KM) channel that joins Lake Huron and Lake Michigan and is accessed by one of the longest suspension bridges in the world. The state borders 4 of the 5 Great Lakes and has over 64,980 inland lakes and ponds – and no point is more than 6 miles (9.7 KM) from a natural water source.

Michigan has 5 National Parks, and 103 State Parks.

We take for granted how fortunate we are to be able to access both countries via 3 border crossings – or via ferries from Algonac, Marine City in Michigan – and Walpole Island, Wallaceburg, Sombra in Ontario.

Pennsylvania is divided into 5 geographical regions – Allegheny Plateau, Ridge and Valley, Atlantic Coastal Plain, Piedmont, and the Erie Plain – all of which have diverse and fascinating history, natural wonders, and amazing cultures to discover.

The northern area of the state borders on the waters of Lake Erie. Presque Isle State Park on Lake Erie earned the title of “Best Freshwater Beach” from USA Today readers in 2016. 20-minutes southwest is one of the Great Lakes basin’s best natural features – Erie Bluffs State Park.

Although the state has over 2,500 lakes, it is famous for spectacular mountain ranges. The Appalachian mountain range crosses the entirety of the state, surrounded by the subranges of the Allegheny, Pocono, Blue Ridge, Bear Pond, Conewago, and the Endless mountains.

The state also boasts 121 State Parks, 19 National Parks, and 7 National Heritage Areas.

Ohio is divided into 5 geographical regions: Great Lakes Plains, Till Plains, Appalachian Plateau, Bluegrass Region, and the Lake Erie Shoreline – all of which have diverse and fascinating history, natural wonders, and amazing cultures to discover.

The northern area of the state borders on the waters of one of the Great Lakes, Lake Erie. Ohio’s nature scene is truly amazing. From the Lake Erie Bluffs to the forests of the Hocking Hills, there’s always something beautiful and surprising to explore here in the Buckeye State.

The state also boasts 74 State Parks, 8 National Parks, and 2 National Heritage Areas.

We take for granted how fortunate we are to be able to access both countries via a car ferry from Pelee Island, Ontario to Sandusky, Ohio.

Indiana is divided into 3 geographical regions: the Great Lakes Plain in the northern third of the state, the Tipton Till Plain in the central third, and the Southern Hills and Lowlands region in the southern third – all of which have diverse and fascinating history, natural wonders, and amazing cultures to discover.

The northern area of the state borders on the waters of one of the Great Lakes, Lake Michigan.

South Central Indiana is riddled with caves, several of which offer wonderful spelunking opportunities. Squire Boone Caverns hides rare underground waterfalls. Bluespring Caverns is large enough for tour boats to travel along an underground river for over a mile. Wyandotte Caves hold one of the world’s largest underground mountains.

The state also boasts 24 State Parks, 3 State Forests, and 43 National Historic Landmarks.

Illinois is divided into 13 geographical regions – all of which have diverse and fascinating history, natural wonders, and amazing cultures to discover.

The northern area of the state borders on the waters of one of the Great Lakes, Lake Michigan. The state has over 2,900 lakes – but with natural wonders with names like Garden of the Gods (Shawnee National Park), Cave in Rock, Starved Rock National Park water is not the only thing this gorgeous state has to offer.

The state also boasts 2 National Parks, 309 State Parks, and 2 National Heritage Areas.

Wisconsin is divided into 5 geographical regions: the Lake Superior Lowland, Northern Highland, Central Plain, Easter Ridges & Lowlands, and the Western Upland – all of which have diverse and fascinating history, natural wonders, and amazing cultures to discover.

The northern area of the province borders on the waters of 2 of the Great Lakes, Lake Michigan, and Lake Superior. The state has over 15,074 lakes, and the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore, which is an archipelago of 21 islands dotting the waters of Lake Superior. If shipwrecks, the largest collection of lighthouses in the country and some of the most pristine remaining sandscapes in the Great Lakes region is your thing, you’ll love Wisconsin!

The state also boasts 2 National Parks (and 2 National Scenic Trails), and 66 State Parks, and soon to be 1 designated National Heritage Area – North Woods and Waters of the St. Croix

Minnesota is divided into 4 geographical regions: the Superior Upland, the Young Drift Plains, the Dissected Till Plains and the Driftless Area – all of which have diverse and fascinating history, natural wonders, and amazing cultures to discover.

The northern area of the state borders on the waters of one of the Great Lakes, Lake Superior. The state has over 14,380 lakes – and 59 state forests that cover over 42,000,000 acres, dotted with caves and waterfalls.

The crown jewel of the state’s great outdoors, the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness in the Superior National Forest in northeastern Minnesota is an outdoor recreation enthusiast’s dream.

The state boasts 1 National Park (Voyageur National Park), and 75 State Parks, and 26 National Historic Areas.

Minnesota shares a 547-mile border with the Canadian provinces of Manitoba and Ontario. There are 8 border crossings including the Baudette – Rainy River border crossing that connects the communities of Baudette, MN and Rainy River, Ontario.

Quebec is divided into 3 geographic regions: St. Lawrence Lowlands, the Canadian Shield, and the Appalachian region – all of which have diverse and fascinating history, natural wonders, and amazing cultures to discover.

Quebec isn’t technically within the Great Lakes basin but borders the St. Lawrence River, which drains that basin. The St Lawrence River is a unique natural feature that’s one of the longest navigable waterways in the world – formed by all the Great Lakes water clashing with the ocean’s inflow.

The province has over 100,000,000 lakes, and streams – and don’t get us started on the mountain ranges of the Appalachians and the Laurentians!

The province boasts 24 National Parks, and 27 Provincial Parks.

We take for granted how fortunate we are to be able to access both countries via 29 border crossings from Quebec to New York, Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine.