look up post "three week holiday in michigan"

Plenty of things one can do in the Great Lakes area. Spending time in Buffalo shouldn't be one of them.

Presque Isle State Park in Erie Pa. is consistently rated as one of the best state parks in U.S. Great beaches and the only one of the Lakes actually warm enough for swimming.

The water will be cool, but we swim in Lake Michigan every summer. You will be pleasantly surprised at how clear the water is in Lake Michigan and Lake Superior. Lake Erie is not clear at all. I'm told it's because it has a mud bottom.

I don't know what part of Lake Erie has a mud bottom but I have been swimming in Lake Erie at the Buffalo end of it for many years and it has a sand bottom. There are some great beaches, especially along the Canadian shore. And Dan has obviously never been to Buffalo.

I forgot to mention something in my previous post (regarding Buffalo/Niagara Falls/follow southern side of Lake Ontario into Candada/Toronto). When you follow Lake Ontario and cross into Canada, you will do so around the 1,000 Islands area of the St. Lawrence Seaway - a must see. Spend at least a day there and then loop around to Toronto. P.S. Buffalo is a great city to visit (especially during the summer - try to ignore Dan).

I've been to and through Buffalo. Sorry, but I can't let someone who wants to visit this area go to Buffalo
without being warned. Let's be honest,
Buffalo is not a vacation destination for too many people. While I'm here, Erie PA should be scratched off the list too. As for the comment that Lake Erie is the only Great Lake warm enough for swimming, millions of Lake Michigan beach goers would be very surprised to hear that. Since the poster is flying into Madison or Chicago, Lake Erie ought to be skipped. Duluth, Chicago and Milwaukee are more interesting than Buffalo and Erie, if one desires a city visit.

Dan, I'm curious what you're trying to "warn" about Buffalo. You say not to go there but don't say why. How much time have you actually spent in Buffalo?

Dan, think outside the box!!! There are a lot of small cities like Buffalo that, although not tourist magnets, are worth a visit if you take the time to see what they offer. For someone who wants to experience a Great Lakes vacation, Buffalo would be a nice place to start it all off. P.S. Are you the Dan who, on an earlier post about the greatest sports fans, stated that Buffalo was a one team town??? (Not).

I've been to Buffalo on numerous occasions. I'm sure there are some nice things to do there, and I understand it has made some improvements in the arts. However, it's a somewhat bleak city that isn't that interesting. Maybe it can make a comeback like Cleveland has in the last 15 years, it seems to be on the way but a lot needs to be done. The poster is flying into Wisconsin or Illinois and has 8 days. Buffalo just isn't worth the drive. Just my opinion.

Hire the video "Somehwere in Time." If you like what you see, the hotel is the Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island... gorgeous island and a lovely old summer hotel.

Dan, I was only suggesting flying into Buffalo and spending ONE day checking out a good old Lake Erie city before moving on to Niagara Falls and around Lake Ontario. Re-read my post and the original post that said "considering" flying into Madison or Chicago. Yikes!

ttt