A great American ROAD TRIP

The area of the US around North America’s five Great Lakes is perfect for exploration by car

Minneapolis is home to America’s largest shopping centre

As our tour boat glides through the waters of the Mississippi, dappled in afternoon sunlight and flanked by lush green banks, a huge bird flies past, lands high in a tree and gazes down. With its distinctive yellow beak, white head and creamy tail feathers, there is no mistaking America’s national symbol, the bald eagle. We gasp and reach for our cameras.

We’re in Minnesota, which has long been a wintering area for the imposing birds. Even when they were threatened, this was one of the few places where sightings were virtually guaranteed. We learn more about the avian icons at Wabasha’s fascinating National Eagle Center, which provides a permanent home to injured birds that can’t be released back into the wild. The visit is one of many high spots on our trip to the Midwest region known as Great Lakes USA.

Around the size of continental Europe, this part of America includes the states of Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio and Wisconsin. With wide-open highways, a fly-drive trip is the best way to take it in.

Take in Route 66