We made that trip several times when we went to Lake Of The Woods from CT. If you have never been there before it is worth the trip. It is very wooded but flat. After a while it was pretty boring, no mtns until you get west of Ontario. The provincial parks were nice. I think there is a lot more to see just south of the border the UP of Mich is nice as well as the North shore of Minn. From Ottawa you could cross Canada to Sault St Marie through Sudsbury on the Trans Canada Hwy and travel through the wooded area and see a good part of Ontario then enter the US and see the UP and North shore. You will also bypass Chicago this way. Just fill you gas or diesel tanks before entering Canada because fuel is much more expensive. From Minn you could go up to Thunder Bay and on to Winnipeg or stay in the us and visit Voyagers NP in Minn then cross into Canada at international Falls then up to Winnipeg. If you like to fish, Lake of the woods at Sioux Narrows is the place for Walleye and big Pike. Good Luck on your trip.