Ohio / Ontario / Michigan

Sounds like a great itinerary! As for Day 7, staying at Niagara-by-the-Lake, I’d definitely want to see that lake. Wow, Ontario!

As for the museum on Day 3, I guess there’s the answer to that timeless question:

Q: How do you get into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame?
A#1: Be in a popular/sucessful band.
A#2: Go to Cleveland, and pay 50 bucks.

If you would like a suggestion for Detroit after your morning at the DIA, consider either the Motown music museum https://www.motownmuseum.org/ or a tour of the newly renovated Michigan Central train station https://michigancentral.com/visit/. Both are closer to DIA than Henry Ford. And Henry Ford can easily consume a whole day just on its own.

Night in Amherst. Day 6: Tour Mark Twain House in Hartford in the morning, then drive to Buffalo NY. Night in Buffalo.

I'm trying to find the fun in that itinerary. To each his own...

I agree that the DIA and Henry Ford Museum are too much for one day. Rather than staying in Detroit itself, consider Ann Arbor, a very nice college town (small city actually), either for your second night in that area, or both. It’s pretty easy to get to and from the DIA from there, and after the DIA you can explore the beautiful U of Michigan campus. The U also has its own art museum, worthwhile but much smaller than DIA or Ford so you could probably fit that in also if you wanted. You don’t want to try to be in Ann Arbor on a home football weekend, but counting your days from Election Day looks like it would be during the week, and in any case Michigan is away on Nov 14, after a home game on the 7th. Your trip is quite a bit more driving than I would want to do in 10 days but it sounds interesting.

Near the Cleveland Museum of Art are the following that are all pretty nice: Crawford Auto- Aviation Museum, Natural History Museum, Botanical Gardens (like a mile away), and a Frank Gehry building-- Case's business school (setting is a bit cramped). Severance hall (home of the Cleveland Orchestra) is next there art museum but no concerts on Tuesdays. By the Rock Hall is the science museum-- good for kids more than adults though. Theater district -- around E 14th -- is great if you like plays but Tuesday there are only couple choices. Have fun!

Hey Toby,
Will you visit Niagara Falls on the Canadian side as well? It’s much more grand, larger and majestic than the US side.

Dave: I’ve 2 free nights at a Marriott, thinking of the Hotel Cleveland? Parking is $49/day but I thought the location and character experience would be worth it.

Tinka: Yes to seeing both sides. I’ve been there before but at least 60 years ago (gasp).

Thanks Slate and Laurie Ann for the Detroit ideas. Now just need no snow or freezing drizzle. Also the BC drive was a lot farther in a similar amount of time.

I’d definitely want to see that lake. Wow, Ontario!

Cyn: I’ve seen Lake Ontario (and Toronto) from the air, a NYC >> Minneapolis flight detoured slightly north to avoid thunderstorms. But this would be my fifth and final Great Lake seen from the ground.

If we cross into Michigan At Sarnia and take I-94 to Detroit, then will be able to say we have driven I-94 end to end. If we cross at Detroit then can take the new Gordie Howe Bridge.

Downtown Marriott is a nice hotel. We were at wedding there earlier this year and yes it's close to public square, the stadiums and so on. There is a little night life in the flats (you'd want to drive-- a fair number of choices down there by river), on east 4th (walkable but not super close and not as interesting as the flats), ohio city or Tremont (you'd want to drive-- but some decent options and character). 49 bucks for parking is kinda par for the course in that area, 50 bucks for rock hall, wow, a bit steep for what you get if ask me but it's good architecture and if you haven't been, well, it's The Rock hall.

If you ever saw the movie the Deer Hunter, the Ukrainian church filmed there-- it is quite striking -- in Tremont. Also walkable from the Marriott is the warehouse district-- a couple good restaurants there too.

Wade oval -- by the museums and Case-- is nice but it's at least 5 miles from downtown. Dining options less compelling out that way unless you stray into little Italy up mayfield.

Happy travels

I'm trying to find the fun in that itinerary. To each his own...

After threading through throngs and throngs of Americans in Ireland to see IMHO mediocre sights and scenery (a true “Emperor Has No Clothes” country), this will be a refreshing and probably more rewarding trip.

Whoa! I love Ohio, Ontario and Michigan. Ah, the wineries in Ontario by the Shaw Festival, the dunes in Michigan, the polkas bands of Ohio! All fantastic!. But I also love Ireland. Sure, they have no coliseum or Eiffel Tower, And what sort of country doesn’t have a tim horton’s or a cheese cake factory around every bend. But they have the Irish! (Between you and me, Ohioans aka buckeyes can be a little annoying. A little of me, for example, goes a long way!)

Happy travels!