Flyover Country, no more! The Midwestern United States may not be as flashy as their high-profile East or West Coast counterparts, but they’re packed with fun attractions and experiences – often at a fraction of the price of their headline-grabbing neighbors.
Pack a bag and get ready for a warm welcome, stunning landscapes, exciting towns and cities, and a whole lot of fun. Here are 12 fantastic Midwest destinations you might want to consider for your next getaway in America’s Heartland.
1. Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Best city for live music
Are you ready to rock? Multi-faceted Milwaukee is home to the world’s largest outdoor music festival. It also holds 88Nine Radio Milwaukee live studio sessions, a notable club scene and the historic Pabst and Riverside Theaters.
Summerfest comes to town for two weeks each June and July, attracting 800,000 attendees. There are more than a dozen stages, 800 performers and big-name headliners spanning a gamut of genres.
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Music of a different tune, the throaty roar of Harley-Davidson motorcycles, is an iconic part of Milwaukee’s cultural soundtrack. Catch live musical performances during the Bike Nights summer concert series at the Harley-Davidson Museum.
2. Columbus, Ohio
Best city for fashion and style
Ohio’s trendy capital city has emerged as a fashion hub in recent years thanks to cutting-edge design schools, flashy showcase events, chic boutiques and major retail headquarters. Fun fact: Columbus is home to more resident fashion designers (including several Project Runway contestants) than any other city in the United States except New York and Los Angeles.
Open-air Easton Town Center is populated with high-end retailers, sophisticated restaurants and upscale entertainment venues and the eclectic Short North Arts District has fun boutiques and vintage shops to browse.
3. Traverse City, Michigan
Best for sweet delights
Traverse City’s bread-and-butter crop, sweet and tart cherries, pops up at farm stands across the Up North region through late summer. You can also find then in Traverse City Whiskey Co. cocktails, Grand Traverse Pie Company slices of pie, and sweet and savory Cherry Republic products all year.
Acres of idyllic wineries and orchards dot the rolling hills of the Leelanau and Old Mission peninsulas, perfectly paired with the gorgeous Lake Michigan vistas from nearby Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore.
Summer is high season, but the region also boasts enviable skiing terrain, fat-tire bike trails and snowmobile routes, making it a great option for a winter getaway.
4. Wichita, Kansas
Best for aviation innovation
Wichita boasts a proud aviation heritage, producing 35 percent of the world’s general aircraft and home to one of just two known airworthy B-29s left in the world. The Kansas Aviation Museum educates and entertains with B-47 and B-52 jet bombers on display, flight simulators and interactive exhibits. The Wichita-Sedgwick County Historical Museum offers a deep dive into the lives of local flight innovators.
Make a detour to nearby Benton for sustenance at Stearman Airfield Field Bar & Grill and enjoy Southern-style fare while private planes take off and land on a runway 20 yards away.
5. Fort Wayne, Indiana
Best city for families with kids
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The second-largest city in Indiana brims with year-round family fun. Housed in the historic former City Light and Power Plant, STEM-based Science Central features more than 200 interactive displays and touring exhibits for visitors of all ages to get their hands on.
The awe-inspiring Fort Wayne Children’s Zoo wows with exotic animals enjoying recreated African, Indonesian rainforest and Australian habitats. Meanwhile, the expansive new Promenade Park on the downtown riverfront boasts water activities, a tree canopy trail and an amphitheater for outdoor shows.
After researching your family tree at the Allen County Public Library’s Genealogy Center, feast along the Fall Apple Trail (this is Johnny Appleseed territory, after all). Or treat yourself to gourmet truffles, caramels and creams at DeBrand Fine Chocolates any time of the year.
6. Iowa City, Iowa
Best city for a literary tour
Bookworms, writers and literary types gravitate to Iowa’s original state capital, which was awarded a UNESCO City of Literature designation in 2008. The University of Iowa (go Hawkeyes!) has hosted the prestigious Iowa Writers’ Workshop residency program for over 80 years and has produced numerous award-winning authors.
You might spy the resulting tomes on the shelves at Prairie Lights Bookstore, famous for its author appearances, in-store readings and expansive inventory. Read about 49 different Iowa-connected writers with a leisurely self-guided tour of the ground-level bronze panels comprising the downtown Literary Walk.
7. Casey, Illinois
Best town for quirky charm
This tiny town just off I-70, halfway between Indianapolis and St Louis, makes a big impression on pit-stoppers. Populated with a handful of Guinness-certified “World’s Largest” items – wind chimes, a rocking chair, a (working) mailbox, knitting needles, wooden shoes, a pitchfork and a golf tee. Along with many other supersized features, including a pencil, a yardstick, a spinning top and an ear of corn, Casey serves up a fantastic free-to-visit collection of photo ops. A local business owner devised the promotion to encourage visitors to pull off the highway and explore the town. Mission accomplished for this Midwest vacation spot.
8. Kansas City, Missouri
Best city for museums
Straddling the state line where Missouri meets Kansas, the City of Fountains commemorates history, art and culture with a diverse assembly of museums to discover.
A respected local landmark since the Great Depression, the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art displays a comprehensive collection spanning over 34,000 pieces and 5000 years.
The National WWI Museum and Memorial is a moving repository for personal objects, documents and stories of the brave American soldiers who fought in this global conflict. The Negro Leagues Baseball Museum offers a meaningful multimedia examination of the African-American baseball experience throughout the league’s lifespan from the Civil War era through 1960.
Newly renovated, the Harry S. Truman Presidential Library and Museum honors the life and legacy of the only American President to hail from Missouri.
9. Rapid City, South Dakota
Best city for US history
Rapid City is a launching pad for adventure both within and beyond. Mount Rushmore and Crazy Horse, two historic memorials, are less than an hour’s drive away. The Badlands National Park is also only a 60-minute drive.
Affectionately known as the ‘City of Presidents’, the city includes 43 life-size bronze statues of past US presidents in the walkable downtown area. No visit is complete without a walk down Art Alley, an ever-changing laneway filled with graffiti representing creative expression and freedom of speech.
Custer State Park, the state’s largest park, is also only a 30-minute drive away. Known for its scenic drives, Needles Highway is a wildlife wonderland – up to 1400 bison roam freely here, so watch for the stoic creatures as you pass through.
During Indigenous People’s Day in the fall, you can glimpse one of the nation’s most significant cultural celebrations, the Black Hills Pow Wow. Combined with an impressive local bar and restaurant scene, Rapid City is quickly becoming one of the “coolest” cities in the Midwest.
10. Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin
Best city for outdoor adventures
Known as the “Waterpark Capital of the World,” Wisconsin Dells offers fun and adventure for kids and the young at heart. Visit Noah’s Ark, the largest outdoor waterpark in the US, or Kalahari Resorts and Convention when the weather takes a turn. For those who want the best of both worlds, The Wilderness Resort offers the largest indoor-outdoor combination.
Sail through the air and see Wisconsin Dells from above at Bigfoot Ziplining or take to the water on a tour with The Original Wisconsin Ducks to get your adrenaline pumping. Less than a 30-minute drive outside town is Devil’s Lake State Park, with 29 miles of breathtaking hiking and 6 miles of off-road biking trails.
After all that adventure-seeking, book a relaxed sunset cruise with Dells Boat Tours or check into Sundara Spa, a top-rated adult-only retreat that offers day passes. For maximum zen, don’t skip the purifying bath ritual.
11. Mackinac Island, Michigan
Best place to unplug from the world
No cars? No problem. Mackinac Island is only accessible by ferry or plane, and vehicles are not allowed on the island itself. To get around, visitors can take a horse-drawn carriage, rent a bike from the Mackinac Island Bike Shop, walk or go on horseback.
Nature enthusiasts will love Mackinac Island State Park, which covers 80% of the island. Arch Rock, the most famous rock formation on the island, promises breathtaking views of Lake Huron. After all that exploration on foot, visit one of the island’s famous fudge shops to refuel. Joann’s Fudge has been churning out delicious sweets since 1969.
12. North Shore, Minnesota
Best place for fall colors
If you want to the landscape ignite from mid-to-late September, head a few hours north of the Twin Cities to the North Shore, the stretch between Duluth and Grand Portage. As the season progresses, check the DNR’s Fall Color Finder for the best time to visit this region. Hike along the Superior Hiking Trail, with over 300 miles of footpaths and 50 trailheads. The 2.3-mile Oberg Mountain and 6.6-mile Bean and Bear Loop are two of the most popular hikes in the area.
For a unique experience, those on a budget can camp along one of the 94 backcountry campsites – make a reservation at one of the seven state parks along that stretch. If you’d prefer a little more luxury after a day’s hiking, check out Grand Superior Lodge, Bluefin Bay or Chateau LeVeaux for stunning views of Lake Superior.