Great Lakes Grand Discovery: Exploring Lake Superior and Beyond

Travel Dynamics

GREAT LAKES GRAND DISCOVERY: EXPLORING LAKE SUPERIOR AND BEYOND

AUGUST 1 TO AUGUST 11, 2012
ABOARD THE AMERICAN-FLAGGED, 138-GUEST YORKTOWN

The natural resources of the Great Lakes have attracted and inspired people almost since the receding glaciers created them. Early Native Americans gathere  to take advantage of the Lakes’ bountiful fisheries, intercepting the spawning runs of sturgeon and whitefish in places like the St. Mary’s River. French voyageurs and trappers turned the waters into the highways of the beaver trade that built Canada. Timber barons sought out the towering Great Lakes white pine stands to rebuild Chicago after the catastrophic 1871 fire. Today nature still beguiles the visitor. Those who love birds marvel at how the great expanses of water concentrate migrants in predictable locations. Ontario’s Point Pelee National Park is known as a world-class destination for migrating songbirds, while Minnesota’s Hawk Ridge funnels hawks southward in the autumn and Michigan’s Whitefish Point is known for owls. Encounters with rarities like the Piping Plover and Kirtland’s Warbler reward those willing to search for them. And along the way are endemic wildflowers, beautiful vistas, and many of the same attractions that have graced the Lakes for millennia.

This departure sails from Duluth, where we venture through Lake Superior to revel in the pristine beauty of the Apostle Islands and the Keweenaw Peninsula; relax aboard as we sail along the Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore; visit Whitefish Point, with its impressive waterfalls; and transit the Soo Locks, leading to stunning Lake Huron. Marvel at the natural beauty of Wisconsin’s Door Peninsula and visit Michigan’s charming Victorian-era Mackinac Island. Also attend a traditional Native American powwow and try to spot the rare Red-shouldered Hawk and Cape May Warbler on Manitoulin Island.

Audubon leader, David Catlin, has made a profession of connecting people with nature for over 35 years. He has worked in various capacities for the National Park Service, the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, and the Michigan Department of Natural Resources before spending 16 years building and running nature education centers for the Missouri Department of Conservation. Since 2000, he has helped develop and support a nationwide network of nature centers for the National Audubon Society, where he serves as Senior Director of Field Support. Catlin was born and raised in Detroit, and spent a number of summers visiting our ports-of-call by sailboat.

Audubon Nature Odysseys is pleased to offer a second Great Lakes departure, July 14 to July 21, 2012. View the brochure for information on each trip.

ITINERARY

Wed., Aug. 1, 2012 - FLY TO DULUTH, Minnesota, USA | EMBARK YORKTOWN (D)

Thurs., Aug. 2 - APOSTLE ISLANDS | BAYFIELD, Wisconsin
Sail through the ecologically diverse Apostle Islands. See the dramatic rock formations, sea caves, and historic lighthouses. Then travel to the charming village of Bayfield to enjoy its art galleries, boutiques, and cafés. (B, L, D)

Fri., Aug. 3 - HOUGHTON, Keweenaw Peninsula, Michigan
Today Yorktown will navigate through the Portage Waterway to call at quaint Houghton. The legacy of the copper rush is still evident today. Explore this historic region, including a visit to a copper mine. (B, L, D)

Sat., Aug. 4 - MUNISING | PICTURED ROCKS NATIONAL LAKESHORE
Discover the picturesque town of Munising and then sail along Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore to see its colorful sandstone cliffs. (B, L, D)

Sun., Aug. 5 - WHITEFISH POINT | SOO LOCKS
From Whitefish Point, drive to Tahquamenon Falls State Park for a look at the Upper Falls. Return to Whitefish Point, where there will be an opportunity to visit the Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum before Yorktown transits the Soo Locks. (B, L, D)

Mon., Aug. 6 - CHARLEVOIX
From lovely Charlevoix, explore the old port town of Harbor Springs, with its panoramic views of the bay. (B, L, D)

Tues., Aug. 7 - STURGEON BAY, Door Peninsula, Wisconsin
Call in Sturgeon Bay, on Wisconsin’s stunning Door Peninsula. Spend the day exploring its bucolic villages and remarkable landscapes. (B, L, D)

Wed., Aug. 8 - MACKINAC ISLAND, Michigan
Discover Mackinac Island’s ancient limestone formations, the impressive Fort Mackinac, and the landmark Victorian Grand Hotel. Also enjoy free time in town. (B, L, D)

Thurs., Aug. 9 - LITTLE CURRENT, Manitoulin Island, Ontario, Canada | LAKE HURON
Land at Little Current on Manitoulin Island, home to the rare Red-shouldered Hawk and Cape May Warbler, as well as the Wikwemikong Unceded Indian Reserve. Visit the Ojibwe Cultural Foundation and enjoy a traditional Native American powwow. (B, L, D)

Fri., Aug. 10 - CRUISE LAKE HURON

Sat., Aug. 11 - DETROIT, Michigan, USA | DISEMBARK | FLY HOME (B)

One-night pre and post-cruise extensions are also available in Duluth and Detroit at an
additional cost. Inquire for details.

CABIN RATES

Cabins start at $4,995. See the brochure for details.

RESERVATIONS

Phone: 800-967-7425
E-mail: travel@audubon.org

GENERAL INFORMATION

Payment Schedule: A deposit of $750 per person is required to reserve your space on the tour. For your convenience, you may charge your deposit to your American Express, Visa, Discover, or MasterCard. Final payment is due 90 days prior to departure. Credit cards are not accepted for final payment. However, personal checks are accepted for both deposits and final payment.

Cancellations & Refunds: All cancellations are subject to a $300 per person fee. Cancellations received 61-90 days prior to departure will be assessed a penalty equal to 50% of the total program cost per person. Cancellations received within 60 days of departure are subject to 100% cancellation penalties.

Insurance: Audubon Nature Odysseys strongly recommends purchasing travel insurance. Travelex Insurance Services, 1-800-228-9792 (use Audubon's Location Number 32-6098).

Itinerary: The itinerary, accommodations, and arrangements are subject to change at the discretion of Travel Dynamics International.

Responsibility: Please read carefully the following terms and conditions, which constitute the sole, legally enforceable agreements between the passenger and Travel Dynamics International and the tour’s sponsoring organization. The passenger is also advised to review his/her separate ticket passage contract with the vessel’s owner/operator, which will constitute the sole, legally enforceable terms of carriage for this tour and is available on request from Travel Dynamics International. Travel Dynamics International and the tour’s sponsoring organization act solely as agents for the passenger with respect to all transportation, hotel and other tour arrangements. In that capacity, we exercise all reasonable care possible to ensure the passenger’s safety and satisfaction, but, we neither assume nor bear any responsibility or liability for any injury, death, damage, loss, accident, delay or irregularity arising in connection with the services of any ship, airplane, train, automobile, motor coach, carriage or other conveyance, or the actions of any third-party, involved in carrying the passenger or in affecting these tours. We are not responsible for damages, additional expenses, or any other losses due to cancellation, delay or other changes in air or other services, sickness, weather, strike, war, civil disturbances, acts or threats of terrorism, travel warnings or bans, termination or suspension of war risks or other carrier insurance, quarantine, acts of God or other causes beyond our control. All such losses must be borne by the passenger, and tour rates provide for arrangements only for the time stated. In the event of cancellation, delay or rescheduling mandated by any of the aforesaid causes beyond our control, the passenger shall have the option of accepting in lieu of the original tour such rescheduled tour or other substituted tour(s) as may be offered by us, or else, receiving a refund of as much of such advance tour expenditures as we are able to recover on the passenger’s behalf from carriers, third-party tour vendors, etc., but, we shall not have any obligation or liability to the passenger beyond the foregoing. We reserve the right to make alterations to the tour’s itinerary and to substitute hotels, ships, or lecturers if this is required. We reserve the right to cancel, delay, or reschedule any tour prior to departure, and, so long as this is not due to any of the aforesaid causes beyond our control, the passenger shall be entitled to a full refund of all monies paid to that point if he/she so desires. No refund shall be made for any unused portion of any tour. By forwarding their deposit(s), the passenger certifies that he/she and/or their dependents, minors or others covered thereby do not have any mental, physical or other condition of disability that could create a hazard for them or other passengers. We reserve the right to decline to accept or to decline to retain any person as a member of any tour should such person’s health, condition or actions adversely affect or threaten the welfare or safety of other passengers or impede the tour. Baggage or valuables brought on the tour shall be transported, handled or stored at the passenger’s risk entirely, and, we shall bear no liability or responsibility for any damage or other loss thereto. Passenger tickets are not transferable and are not subject to alteration by the passenger. No suit shall be maintainable against the carrier, or vessel, for any losses, accidents, damages to person, property, personal injury (including death or other types of bodily injury) of the passengers, unless written notice of the claim, with full particulars, is delivered to the carrier or its agents at its office at the port of sailing or at the port of termination within six months from the day when such incident occurred. In no event shall any such suit or any claim against the carrier or vessel for any losses, accidents, damages to person, property, personal injury (including death or other types of bodily injury) of the passenger be maintainable unless such suit is commenced within one year from the day when the incident causing such losses, accidents, damages to person, property, personal injury (including death or other types of bodily injury) of the passenger occurs, notwithstanding any provision of law of any state or country to the contrary. Resolution of any disputes arising hereunder shall be brought within the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, pursuant to the applicable general maritime law, and applying the applicable general maritime law and Federal maritime statutes.

Rates: Tour costs are based upon current airfares, tariffs, and currency values. While we do everything possible to maintain the listed prices, they are subject to change.

Fuel Supplement: Travel Dynamics International reserves the right to charge a fuel supplement, without prior notice, if the NYMEX oil price exceeds $85 per barrel. This supplement may be charged even if the cruise fare has been paid in full.

Ship’s Registry: USA