My husband and I are trying to figure out what our big trip of the year will be. We know we want to drive from our home in Chicago to wherever we go and would like to take a trip that's about nine to
My husband and I are trying to figure out what our big trip of the year will be. We know we want to drive from our home in Chicago to wherever we go and would like to take a trip that's about nine to 12 days. We don't want to take too long to get to our destination, so the west coast is out (I would say nothing longer than two day's driving).
Part of the problem is we've both already been to so many places - Las Vegas (and drove through Utah to get there), Arizona, New Orleans, St. Louis, Washington D.C., Charlotte and the Smoky Mountains, Charleston. I can think of lots of ideas for a short trip, but nothing that seems worthwhile for a big trip.
The best I can come up with is Walt Disney World, but I'm not sold on that (do I really want to spend my vacation time surrounded with kids?) Any suggestions?
We like a mix of activites - we like things like going to wineries, good museums, good views, beaches. We like to be active and like a mix of the city and the outdoors.
We drove around Ireland last year and loved visiting Dublin, the Dingle Peninsula, going to the whiskey distillery, etc. My husband likes to gamble, although I wouldn't want it to be the focus of our trip. We loved New Orleans and seeing all the culture there. Any suggestions? Oh, I'm open to Canada, too.
Since you are open to Canada, I suggest a circle trip.
Head for Niagara Falls first - your farthest point. Overnight there, see the falls, then drive (under two hours) to Toronto. Google Toronto for sights to see, cultural events, and the like. Make your base in Toronto. Toronto will keep you busy for several days, with much to see and do.
There are many day trips possible from Toronto, and the drive back to Chicago is 518 miles, so you could plan on additional stops along the way back, with an overnight closer to home. Perhaps, London (two excellent theaters there) and Kitchener (the big draw there is the Farmer's market).
I will leave it to you to fill in details, and perhaps other readers can make some specific suggestions.
You could also spend a couple of days in the Finger Lakes area of New York State on your way to or from Toronto as we are only a few hours south. We have MANY award winning wineries and some great museums in Buffalo and Rochester. Most of our wineries are located on one of the Finger Lakes....Seneca, Cayuga, Keuka and Canandaigua. Each lake has it's own wine trail. Many of the tasting rooms have beautiful views of the lake they are on. Another attraction worth checking out is Sonnenberg Gardens and Mansion in Canandaigua...(www.sonnenberg.org) and the Finger Lakes Wine Center which is on the Sonnenberg property. They have wines from over 40 wineries available for tasting (not all at the same time but a good selection each day). Also, lots of scenic state parks to hike in, especially in the Ithaca area, which is at the south end of Cayuga Lake.
I would like to recommend a city which was one of the top 10 of this year cited by Frommers as a place to visit. Kansas City has most of the things that you mentioned that you enjoy. There are two major art museums, the Nelson and the Kemper, the latter featuring contemporary art and both offering free admission. There are also numerous private galleries as well. If you like historical sites, there is the WWI Memorial and Museum (perhaps the only one dedicated to that war in the US), Union Station across the stree from the Memorial which often has traveling exhibits of historical and cultural significance, all of the sites related to Harry Truman in nearby Independence, and the Steamboat Arabia Museum which resulted from one family's huge effort of excavating and restoring a sunken steamboat and salvaging all of the cargo on it. There are several casinos there to satisfy your husband's interest in gambling. Kansas City is notably lacking major beaches, but there are several lakes nearby and two quite large lakes with beaches, boating, etc. within easy driving distance--The Lake of the Ozarks and Table Rock Lake with quite lovely scenery along the way. There are wineries within 30 to 60 minutes in practically every direction from KC as well. There are great restaurants in the city, too.
I absolutely agree with Topwoman that Toronto is your choice! There are award-winning wineries where you can visit (and stay!) between Niagara Falls (where there's a casino) and Toronto (another casino an hour north). We have great museums and galleries, world-class theatre, hundreds of restaurants ... even islands and beaches! 90 minutes from Niagara Falls, 2 hours from beautiful cottage country (you might stay a couple of nights at a resort in Muskoka for your 'outdoor' fix ... all less than 2 days' drive from Chicago. Look no further! Come to Toronto!
Buffalo, NY would fit the bill perfectly. Museums, beaches and wineries! Buffalo has stellar art and stunning architecture, Lake Erie beaches, and numerous near-by wineries. Plus great restaurants, friendly people and fun shopping. A wonderful park system designed by Olmsted, and a series of State Parks as well, for all kinds of outdoor activities. Niagara Falls is right next door, too. Take a look here for all kinds of info: http://www.visitbuffaloniagara.com/
Just remember that a trip to Canada requires a passport. For New Yorkers, an "enchanced" driver's license will also suffice - you could check what would be OK for your state.
May be too far but I recently pursued my "bucket list" to see the US and felt the Teton-Yellowstone-Glacier National Park trip was the most beautiful (Banff to Jasper in Canada is a must too for another trip). Better than the Grand Canyon or Yosemite IMHO. Loved Jackson Hole as a base for several days of outdoor activity and some interesting night life. Of course it depends on the time of year you intend to go. I have been to Toronto and really enjoyed it although it is an expensive city. China Town in Toronto is a must see if you choose to go there.
I agree with jaylow. Kansas City is great. But, first drive down from Chicago to Nauvoo, IL then to Hannibal, MO Depending on the time of year you are traveling, Hannibal could take 2 days of tours, museums, the historic district and some great funky restaurants. Homemade Root Beer at Mark Twain Dinnette plus great onion rings and sandwiches. Cross the state of Missouri on hwy 36, now 4 lanes, and drive to KC. Stop in Liberty, MO and see many historic sites, such as the first day time bank robbery, by Jesse James. The bank is still there and fun to see. A really great restaurant on Liberty Square, was once a hardware store with fun atmosphere and great food. Once in KC you can search google for several days of museums, historic sites, ball games, some of the best B-B-Que, etc. Be sure and check across the stateline into Kansas, for raceways.
Well, you certainly have some great ideas so far-- so here are a few more to add to the mix. Western South Dakota has a lot to offer- Custer State Park, Badlands, and continuing on into Wyoming-- Tetons Yellowstone, or Rocky Mountains. Or you could go east to Philly, NY, Boston- if you prefer more of a city type vacation. Philly is about a 12 hour drive from Chicago. Or do a leisurley circle tour of Lake Michigan-- check out Door County WI, Iron Mountain MI, Isle Royal, or Picture Rocks, Sault St Marie and the locks, Mackinack Island, Sleeping Bear Dunes, Traverse City is a great wine region and down along the lake shore are wonderful beaches. There are some casinos around Mackinack and Traverse City. The hardest part of all the ideas is deciding where to go, they all sound good. Enjoy your planning.
How about Minnesota? There are wineries along the St. Croix River, first rate museums in both Mpls and St. Paul, and obviously with 10,000+ lakes we have beaches. I'd suggest June/July timeframe. (Probably don't want to come right now for the beaches...) And it's a close drive from Chicago. You could spend a few days in the Twin Cities, then head north through Duluth and do the circle tour of Lake Superior. Beautiful scenery.
Traverse City, the Leelanau Pennisula and Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, all up the west shoreline in Michigan. I've been all over the country and this area is some of the most diverse and beautiful. The Leelanau Pennisula remined me of driving in Hawaii and has vineyards and wine as good as Napa California. The Sleeping Bear N.L. is so beautiful and is like being on another planet. A veiw from high upon a dune looking over Lake Michigan, you can't believe it's the same lake as you see in Chicago, it's like a million miles away! The Cherry Festival in Traver's City is the week after the 4th of July; lots of small cherry farms to pick cherries and lots of partying. On the way there or back Ludington Michigan has a beach as good as any in Florida, a lighthouse and State Park and Saugatuck is a great little Art community. Holland Mich has their tulip festival May 5-12 which is also a great time, cool town, car show and great restaurants.
I have got to agree with AnneRingash - her suggestion of Niagara-on-the-Lake was going to be my suggestion. After a few days in Niagara Falls, spend a few more north of the city in a very cute little town that is surrounded by lots of wineries, has a very charming walkable downtown filled with shops, and lots of historical sites to tour. My wife and I will definitely be heading back there some day as we discovered it on a day trip with our family out from Niagara Falls -- it deserves a few days on a long romantic weekend to really soak it all in. Maybe add this to your itinteray on the way between the falls and Toronto.
Northern Minnesota is an awesome place for a vacation. In Duluth, you'll find the Karpeles Manuscript Museum (free) with historical documents on display (they're rotated from 5 or 6 other Karpeles Museums). You'll find a rather extensive railroad museum in the historic Depot - along with a few other special museums. Down along the waterfront in Canal Park you'll find the Marine Museum (free) and you can watch ships from around the world enter the harbor under the Aerial Lift Bridge. Maybe you'll time your vacation when the tall ships appear (July). And we have a wonderful sand beach at the end of Park Point - a sand bar from which the canal was dug. Also, the best B&B according to trip advisor is in Duluth. That's just for starters. 65 miles west of Duluth is Grand Rapids, home of Judy Garland and the Judy Garland Museum. You'll find the headwaters of the Mississippi River at Lake Itasca near Bemidji. And the largest open pit mine in the world is in Hibbing - home of Bob Dylan (who also lived in Duluth), An awesome trip is along the North Shore of Lake Superior to Thunder Bay Ontario. Or you can continue on and do the circle tour of Lake Superior. And you will find small wineries in Minnesota, too. There's more to explore in Minnesota....give it serious thought.
I agree with Bigranch....the Leelanua Penninsula in Michigan looks like Northern California or even Italy. It has dramatic scenery, great history, charming towns,and gorgeous beaches. Rent a cottage around one of the Glen Lakes and take day trips. You'll go back every year.
When living in West Lafayette IN, 1 1/2 hr. from Chicago, we always vacationed at Jekyll Island GA or Destin FL, bot reachable in a day and a half for us. Check out Jekyll Island, formerly owned by a group of millionaires. Their "cottages" can be toured. Great beach, just north of the island where JFK JR. married. Neighboring Jekyll is St. Simon's Island with many historical sites, incl a large golf course with a long lane bordered by large oaks, formerly a plantation, with some of the buildings still standing. Also, a fantastically builit Methodist Church on the way to Ft. Fredrica, a wonderfully beautiful historic site. And by all means, take a drive up the main street of Sea Isle off St. Simon's. viewing the massive "cottages" and also The Cloisters, where many famous people vacation. All these are included in the "Golden Isles," just east of Brunswick GA, with easy access off the interstate, or for a more pictuesque drive south from Savannah, take hwy. 17. We've been to DisneyWorld a few times, and this is BETTER.
I think you should head West. Visit South Dakota; Badlands/Custer SP/Mt. Rushmore/Deadwood(has casinos). Continue to head west and visit Devils Tower and Cody, WY, ending in Yellowstone and Grand Teton NPs. Stay within the parks, then visit Jackson, WY. Have a drink at the Million Dollar Saloon and check out the town. That should give you a spectacular road trip. If you think Yellowstone is too far than there is still plenty to do in the South Dakota area. Drive slow and enjoy the view. Regards, Susan
