Cruising the Great Lakes

We made the trek from Ontario, to Erie, then to Huron, and finally into Michigan last season.
It's an outstanding venture. There are really endless stops and journeys along the way, and depending on your cruising preference you can take your time in getting from Michigan to Huron or hustle from point a to b.

Weather is always a consideration, depending on the time of year in which you plan your travel, however the summer months are generally mild. Indian summers to present some challenges here and there, but overall, it's not too bad.

Don't pass up Superior either. From the Straits of Mackinac there are many fantastic areas for laying over for a night, weekend, or slow travel depending on again, your schedule and preference. Mackinac Island is an obvious stop.

A favorite spot of ours is up in the Northern Channel where you could spend a week or two without a worry.

Cruising Guide to the Great Lakes has some good reading:
http://www.amazon.com/Cruising-Guide-Great-Connecting-Waterways/dp/0809254158

Lakeland's Boating Guides are probably the best $40 spent on reading / reference material for each of the lakes.
http://www.lakelandboating.com/cruise_guide.cfm

The only other thing I'd probably recommend is updated NOAA charts, and obviously good paper charts.

I have.......It's a very easy run through upper lake michigan and down Lake Huron to the Detroit river and that to the Erie is a no brainer. There are good stops. macinaw Island is a must see. I just got back from running a 56' From Deleware to Toledo. But have also done the entire trip to Chicago and down the river system.