The Midwestern states are where traditional small-town America is going strong: You can still find small towns centered around a Main Street; family farms; as well as modern urban metropolises, offering top lodging, dining, and culture.

The ideal small town still exists, and as you travel through the region, you'll find that people often seem more open, friendly, and down-to-earth -- even the cities have a sense of community. Sports are a way of life here, from rooting for your baseball or basketball team -- national or local -- to hiking, boating, or biking in gently rolling landscape or rugged terrain. And history is everywhere, reflecting the Midwest's Native American legacy and its immigrant heritage, the pioneers of every nationality who first came to settle this land.