Must see touristy places!

[Stuart and Thea 95]

When I move to the US, we will be driving from Ontario to Missouri. We can cross at Niagra Falls/Buffalo, or at Sarnia/Upper Michigan, or at Windsor/Detroit. I don't relish crossing through Detroit, unless you change my mind.

We DO plan on going to Niagra Falls before the crossing, but don't mind the long drive over to Sarnia if it's worth it for something we can't miss. Driving through Michigan or through New York, there's gotta be things along the way to see that we won't want to miss!

The route takes us either through Western New York or Michigan, through OHIO (yay, great music!) through Indiana, Illinois and then Missouri. There's a lot of cities along the way that I've heard of, but don't know what's special about them at all. We plan to take a few days driving, and I'm hoping some of you Americans (see, I didn't say Yanks!!!) can point out some great things along the way, or not far out of the way..

you can use google maps and the postal code N2J 2G9 and the american equivalent 65616 for directions. Just drag the top line over to niagra falls to see the different route options.

I know little about the interior US, sorry.. There's gotta be cool stuff about it though, right? Big ball of string, giant nickel, moose, anything? (or do they just do that weird stuff here?)

[IR5FORMUMSIE 850]

When I move to the US, we will be driving from Ontario to Missouri. We can cross at Niagra Falls/Buffalo, or at Sarnia/Upper Michigan, or at Windsor/Detroit. I don't relish crossing through Detroit, unless you change my mind.

We DO plan on going to Niagra Falls before the crossing, but don't mind the long drive over to Sarnia if it's worth it for something we can't miss. Driving through Michigan or through New York, there's gotta be things along the way to see that we won't want to miss!

The route takes us either through Western New York or Michigan, through OHIO (yay, great music!) through Indiana, Illinois and then Missouri. There's a lot of cities along the way that I've heard of, but don't know what's special about them at all. We plan to take a few days driving, and I'm hoping some of you Americans (see, I didn't say Yanks!!!) can point out some great things along the way, or not far out of the way..

you can use google maps and the postal code N2J 2G9 and the american equivalent 65616 for directions. Just drag the top line over to niagra falls to see the different route options.

I know little about the interior US, sorry.. There's gotta be cool stuff about it though, right? Big ball of string, giant nickel, moose, anything? (or do they just do that weird stuff here?)

K-W? If you go down the NYS thruway be careful if you cross into PA, the state police sit and wait just before you hit Erie. I can't think of anything that has that "can't miss" label. I've been through all the ports that you've mentioned and I can't think of anything that's really spectacular. I'm a bit jaded, though.

[Stuart and Thea 95]

If it's warm enough, we'll take the ferry from Long Point to Sandusky. But I think it will already be closed down. Other than already planning to see Niagra Falls, there's really nothing pulling us in that direction, and I'd prefer to cross at Sarnia. And jaded? Bah, you look lovely in green.

[Marilyn. 340]

check out this site..you can search by State or town/city for weird and interesting things to see and do...

http://www.roadsideamerica.com/

Edited July 30, 2011 by Marilyn.

[Stuart and Thea 95]

Thanks hon! Gonna check it out now!

[Ban Hammer 13,619]

which part of missouri you going through?

[IR5FORMUMSIE 850]

If it's warm enough, we'll take the ferry from Long Point to Sandusky. But I think it will already be closed down. Other than already planning to see Niagra Falls, there's really nothing pulling us in that direction, and I'd prefer to cross at Sarnia. And jaded? Bah, you look lovely in green.

I realize that now, but did you have to throw up on me to prove your point?

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

which part of missouri you going through?

http://www.bransontourismcenter.com/?gclid=CMuP1rD-p6oCFQIFbAod2yDAWA

[Stuart and Thea 95]

which part of missouri you going through?

We'll drive through St Louis down to Springfield before we hit Branson. I've been to Mark Twain National Forest before, it's beautiful there. I also have the option of hitting other Springfield's along the route it seems, which one is home to The Simpsons??

I'm looking at my route, and if it's early enough, I'll definitely hit the ferry from Leamington. Point Pelee is worth it for the extra time and cost. Also, Mansfield Penitentiary is not far, and it's just made my list as a possible stop, though I need to find somewhere to drop the animals while we tour it. Anyone ever been to it? They have a whole Shawshank tour listed as a treat.

Middle America seems kinda boring, much like most of southwestern Ontario. Please someone tell me there's some really cool place I have to see? I'm even considering looking for Drew Carey, and WKRP along the way...

[Stuart and Thea 95]

Damn ferry stops running in September... going back to the maps..

[IR5FORMUMSIE 850]

We'll drive through St Louis down to Springfield before we hit Branson. I've been to Mark Twain National Forest before, it's beautiful there. I also have the option of hitting other Springfield's along the route it seems, which one is home to The Simpsons??

I'm looking at my route, and if it's early enough, I'll definitely hit the ferry from Leamington. Point Pelee is worth it for the extra time and cost. Also, Mansfield Penitentiary is not far, and it's just made my list as a possible stop, though I need to find somewhere to drop the animals while we tour it. Anyone ever been to it? They have a whole Shawshank tour listed as a treat.

Middle America seems kinda boring, much like most of southwestern Ontario. Please someone tell me there's some really cool place I have to see? I'm even considering looking for Drew Carey, and WKRP along the way...

Mansfield is haunted, I've never been but you can unleash your inner Andy DuFresne is the spirit moves you and the spirits are in accord.

Damn ferry stops running in September... going back to the maps..

One word: Portage. 'nuff said.

[Stuart and Thea 95]

Mansfield is haunted, I've never been but you can unleash your inner Andy DuFresne is the spirit moves you and the spirits are in accord.

I don't have one of those, I'm a girl. I'm kinda curious as to why you named it that though five? Do you feel it's locked up unfairly? And what exactly is it about a penetentiary that makes you think about exposing yourself anyway?

[IR5FORMUMSIE 850]

I don't have one of those, I'm a girl. I'm kinda curious as to why you named it that though five? Do you feel it's locked up unfairly? And what exactly is it about a penetentiary that makes you think about exposing yourself anyway?

Men shrivel up in prison and...NEVER MIND. As for exposing myself, the last time I was arrested I ended up in front of a female judge who dismissed the charge on the grounds of insufficient evidence. I think that's what she said, I couldn't tell since she was laughing so loudly that I couldn't tell. Neither could anyone else who saw the evidence, I dare say.

[Kathryn41 3,205]

We crossed at Sarnia - Port Huron. They knew what they were doing and such, but in retrospect I would have crossed in Detroit given the option again. I was hoping to avoid all of the Detroit traffic but we ended up going through it all of the same - just not at the border. The Pelee Island route would have been great - there is a lovely vinyard to visit there - but with the ferries not running there is no point in taking that route. If you go down through Michigan into Ohio you can stop and see Fort Meiggs at Perrysburg just outside Toledo - a great reconstructed War of 1812 site that is worth a visit: http://www.fortmeigs.org/

I'd also recommend visiting Zane Caverns in Bellfontaine, Ohio - it is south east of Findlay and is close by your route. It is run by the Shawnee Nation and is a wonderful cavern well worth visiting. Here is a link to their site: http://zaneshawneecaverns.net/ and here is the driving directions there from Waterloo: http://www.mapquest.com/maps?1c=Waterloo&1s=On&1z=N2J2G9&1y=CA&2a=7092+State+Route+540&2c=Bellefontaine&2s=OH&2z=43311&cid=lfddwid

If you like caves there is another great one just south of Corydon, Indiana (Corydon itself is a nice town - it was once the Capitol of Indiana and the old Capitol buildings still remain) - the Squire Boone Caverns: http://www.squireboonecaverns.com/ or if you do go through Indianapolis, a little bit south (and further west from Corydon) you'll find the Bluespring Caverns which offers a boat ride into the caverns where they have 'blind' fish and a great tour : http://www.bluespringcaverns.com/Schedule.html . hehe, as you can tell, I enjoy caves!

Those are the ones I know about from having visited myself.

[IR5FORMUMSIE 850]

We crossed at Sarnia - Port Huron. They knew what they were doing and such, but in retrospect I would have crossed in Detroit given the option again. I was hoping to avoid all of the Detroit traffic but we ended up going through it all of the same - just not at the border. The Pelee Island route would have been great - there is a lovely vinyard to visit there - but with the ferries not running there is no point in taking that route. If you go down through Michigan into Ohio you can stop and see Fort Meiggs at Perrysburg just outside Toledo - a great reconstructed War of 1812 site that is worth a visit: http://www.fortmeigs.org/

I'd also recommend visiting Zane Caverns in Bellfontaine, Ohio - it is south east of Findlay and is close by your route. It is run by the Shawnee Nation and is a wonderful cavern well worth visiting. Here is a link to their site: http://zaneshawneecaverns.net/ and here is the driving directions there from Waterloo: http://www.mapquest....311&cid=lfddwid

If you like caves there is another great one just south of Corydon, Indiana (Corydon itself is a nice town - it was once the Capitol of Indiana and the old Capitol buildings still remain) - the Squire Boone Caverns: http://www.squireboonecaverns.com/ or if you do go through Indianapolis, a little bit south (and further west from Corydon) you'll find the Bluespring Caverns which offers a boat ride into the caverns where they have 'blind' fish and a great tour : http://www.bluesprin...m/Schedule.html . hehe, as you can tell, I enjoy caves!

Those are the ones I know about from having visited myself.

Kathryn, you mad spelunker, you! I had no idea.