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The Great Lakes

USA

Lonely Planet's Best in Travel 2026

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View of Chicago from Lincoln Park beside Lake Michigan.

Dan Welldon

Overview

Don't be fooled by all the corn. Behind it lurks surfing beaches and Tibetan temples, car-free islands and the green-draped night lights of the aurora borealis. The Great Lakes takes its knocks for being middle-of-nowhere boring, so consider the moose-filled national parks and Hemingway, Dylan and Vonnegut sites to be its little secret.

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Maine's Marvelous Coastline: 10 Days in Acadia, Bath, Bethel, and Camden

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  1. 1Unwinding Scandinavian-style with saunas and cold plunges at a beloved Nordic spa
  2. 2Visiting a local oyster farm to taste fresh shellfish straight from the source
  3. 3Sailing Penobscot Bay as the sun sets on Camden Harbor
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