24 High Weekend Getaways From Chicago

Often called the birthplace of the skyscraper, Chicago is house to award-winning eating places, high sports activities groups and prized cultural treasures. However once you want a break from the thrill of the nation’s third largest metropolis, there are numerous getaways inside straightforward driving distance. You may discover rural Illinois or get pleasure from neighboring Indiana, Wisconsin, Iowa or Michigan all inside a weekend. Whether or not you are planning a romantic getaway to a small-town bed-and-breakfast or a family-friendly journey to a water park resort, these close by Midwest locations will relieve the stress of huge metropolis life.

(Observe: A number of the following actions, points of interest and areas could also be affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. New insurance policies could also be in place, together with capability restrictions, reservation necessities or masks mandates. Test with the Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention, the U.S. Division of State and native tourism boards earlier than touring.)

Situated alongside the picturesque Fox River on the western outskirts of Chicago lie the small cities that make up Illinois’ Fox River Valley. Stretching from the village of Antioch within the north to Ottawa – the gateway to Starved Rock State Park – within the south, this space is a perfect daytrip from the Windy Metropolis. Go biking, mountain climbing and cross-country snowboarding alongside the 32-mile Fox River Path or lease a kayak for paddling on the Fox River. Along with out of doors pursuits, distinctive cultural points of interest abound, together with Broadway productions and musical occasions in Aurora’s historic and superbly restored Paramount Theatre. Guests rave about its beautiful decor and top-notch performances, applauding the Paramount for providing Broadway-caliber performances at Primary Avenue costs. When you select to in a single day within the Fox River Valley, the Herrington Inn & Spa, which overlooks the Fox River within the small city of Geneva, would make for a romantic getaway.

New York has the Hamptons; Boston has Cape Cod. The summer time playground for Chicagoans consists of eight glistening lakeshore cities dotting the shoreline of southwest Michigan, collectively generally known as Harbor Nation. Right here you will discover seashores, orchards and loads of out of doors actions. On the southern finish of Harbor Nation, simply over the Michigan-Indiana state line and about 70 miles from Chicago’s downtown loop, New Buffalo lures Chicagoans with its informal seashore vibe and proximity. Households line up for burgers at The Stray Canine, however solely adults can head as much as the rooftop bar and patio. Patrons reward The Neighborhood Lodge Grand Seaside for its trendy design mixed with cozy widespread areas, fireplace pits, ping pong tables and board video games; in addition they recognize the brief stroll to the seashore and the heated pool.

Households will need to make the scenic 25-mile drive from New Buffalo north by the Harbor Nation cities of Union Pier and Lakeside, previous grand lakefront estates and bucolic farms, to St. Joseph, generally referred to as St. Joe’s. The family-friendly Silver Seaside Pizza is housed in St. Joe’s former practice depot, with diners saying it is effectively price what generally is a half hour look ahead to the superb pizza. Throughout the road is the restored 1910 Silver Seaside Carousel, a terrific possibility for passing the time whereas ready in your desk should you’ve obtained children alongside. St. Joe’s gives guests the possibility to step again in time with a seashore, pedestrian-friendly downtown, boutiques and old style chocolate retailers. One in every of St. Joe’s extra distinctive retailers is Third Coast Surf, the place you’ll be able to lease a surfboard and join browsing or sandboarding classes. Not anticipating a surf store within the Midwest? Guests are sometimes stunned after they first see Lake Michigan, identified to Midwesterners because the Third Coast: It resembles an ocean greater than a lake.

Situated about 80 miles north of Chicago on Lake Michigan is the Brew Metropolis of Milwaukee, which boasts greater than 200 breweries, museums, festivals and the Harley-Davidson Museum. As this metropolis is house of the Milwaukee Brewers baseball workforce, no journey is full with out getting a style for Milwaukee’s beer heritage. Guests give Lakefront Brewery excursions excessive marks for entertaining guides, intensive choice, riverfront views and its standard Beer Corridor restaurant with reside music on Fridays. Households will benefit from the lakefront museum campus, which incorporates the Discovery World science museum and Betty Brinn Kids’s Museum, whereas tradition lovers can go to the architecturally beautiful Milwaukee Artwork Museum when the constructing’s “wings” open and shut a number of instances a day. Bike fanatics will likely be in hog heaven on the trendy steel-and-glass Harley Davidson Museum, which celebrates the machine invented in Milwaukee that is come to represent the liberty of America and the open street.

Winters are harsh, so summer time is one countless celebration, with a mess of neighborhood festivals, out of doors concert events and ethnic celebrations – take a look at German Fest on the finish of July, honoring the town’s largest immigrant group. Summer season pleasure reaches a crescendo on the finish of June with Summerfest, the world’s largest music competition. After a day of sightseeing or revelry, a high lodging alternative is Milwaukee’s stately grand dame, the historic Pfister Lodge, providing Gilded Age class alongside Twenty first-century facilities like a pool with panoramic metropolis views and a well-liked top-floor cocktail bar.

South Haven is a fun-loving seashore city with a inhabitants that swells in the summertime – particularly in August for the Nationwide Blueberry Competition, since this Michigan vacation spot claims to be the blueberry capital of the U.S. About 110 miles from Chicago, you will hear a whole lot of Jimmy Buffett enjoying within the bars and eating places of this laid-back boating city the place the harbors take middle stage. Kick off your go to by studying in regards to the space’s wealthy Nice Lakes boating historical past on the Michigan Maritime Museum. (Observe: The museum and campus are presently underneath development and slated to reopen July 2022).

Together with its seven public seashores – among the greatest seashores in Michigan – and iconic crimson lighthouse, South Haven additionally has a pedestrian-friendly downtown crammed with distinctive retailers and eating places. Climb aboard the stationary Loafer Riverboat, the place informal eating combines with world-class waterfront views. Clementine’s is one other native favourite, as is Captain Lou’s, which serves contemporary perch and reside music on the weekends. For a romantic getaway, think about Inn on the Park, a bed-and-breakfast one block from Lake Michigan: Friends reward the gorgeous decor and luxurious breakfasts, utilizing regionally grown blueberries. Vacationers additionally love Yelton Manor Boutique Lodge for its manicured gardens, spectacular sundown views of Lake Michigan and proximity to city.

On the lookout for an lively journey? Solely about 100 miles southwest of Chicago, this wilderness identified for its deep sandstone canyons and waterfalls is ideal for daytrips – although with 18 canyons to hike, there’s loads to maintain you busy for an entire weekend. Strolling alongside bluffs that result in scenic lookouts over the Illinois River makes guests really feel instantly transported out of the flat Midwest heartland. Starved Rock State Park generally is a weekend escape any time of yr, however spectacular fall foliage makes it a favourite getaway for autumn specifically.

Starved Rock State Park has its personal historic lodge with top-notch cabins, however children might desire going throughout the road to the family-friendly Grizzly Jack’s Grand Bear Resort, with its huge water park, mini-golf, indoor arcade and Northwoods decor. Camp Aramoni is a superb alternative for a romantic getaway, with luxurious glamping in safari tents outfitted with hardwood flooring, air con and heating, and full bogs with showers. Nightly stays embody chef-prepared farm-to-table dinner and breakfast utilizing produce grown in on-site gardens that company are welcome to go to. Finish your day at Camp Aramoni’s repurposed Airstream trailer that is been became a bar.

On the lookout for high-adrenaline household enjoyable? About 35 miles north of Chicago, simply south of the Wisconsin border, lies the village of Gurnee, house to the Six Flags Nice America amusement park. Thrill-seekers will love the 17 heart-stopping curler coasters, however dozens of different rides imply you will additionally discover loads for youthful children. Reluctant riders who need to steer away from high-speed coasters and intense drop rides also can benefit from the park’s exhibits and different leisure. On a sizzling day, plunge down steep waterslides or splash across the wave pool at Six Flags’ 20-acre Hurricane Harbor water park. When it will get chilly, a favourite native pastime is a stroll round Gurnee Mills, an outlet mall housing greater than 170 shops.

Proceed your Gurnee journey with a keep on the Northwoods-themed Nice Wolf Lodge, probably the most family-friendly lodge possibility on this vacation spot. Friends say this water park resort makes even adults really feel like children once more and rave in regards to the countless family-friendly facilities, which embody bowling, mini-golf, a ropes course and arcade – and, in fact, the large water park.

Since 1938 Wilmot Mountain has drawn guests searching for wintertime leisure within the Midwest. About 25 miles northwest of Gurnee, simply over Wisconsin’s state line, Wilmot Mountain Ski Resort makes for a terrific cold-weather attraction when Six Flags is closed. The large-name Vail Resorts bought Wisconsin’s little ski hill in 2016 and rolled out loads of upgrades, from enhancing terrain parks and snowmaking to including chairlifts and elevating the eating expertise. Get pleasure from winter sports activities over quite a lot of terrain at this alpine vacation spot, whether or not you are seeking to ski, snowboard or snow tube. There is not any on-site lodging, however Gurnee’s Nice Wolf Lodge continues to be a comparatively brief drive away.

This Wisconsin resort metropolis makes for an idyllic weekend or daytrip. About 70 miles northwest of Chicago, Lake Geneva is described because the “Newport of the Midwest” due to its opulent lakefront mansions. You may come surprisingly shut to those spectacular residences by ambling alongside the Geneva Lakeshore Path, a country 25-mile walkway that encircles the lake, reducing proper by the backyards of magnificent mansions and second properties. Amazingly, there are not any “No Trespassing” indicators to scare away walkers; simply beware the trail isn’t meant for strollers, curler blades or bikes, since you will must maneuver previous steps and different obstructions. Whenever you’ve completed your stroll, a lakefront cruise is one other enjoyable option to get pleasure from this metropolis. Guests give Lake Geneva Cruise Line glorious evaluations for being informative and entertaining. A wide range of day by day cruises are provided, however one of the crucial distinctive is the mail supply cruise. As Lake Geneva is without doubt one of the few remaining locations within the U.S. the place mail continues to be delivered by boat, about 75 lakefront properties obtain their U.S. mail service through boat – and passengers are invited to return alongside for the journey.

Contemplate a keep on the Abbey Resort, the one full-service resort immediately on the shores of Lake Geneva, throughout a summer time go to. This lodging possibility gives complimentary grownup and children bikes, best to be used on the Lake Geneva Bike Path, which connects lots of the resort city’s facilities. The path has 5 distinctive, color-coded segments, making it straightforward to seek out your manner round. Issues cool down a bit within the fall, when the colourful autumn colours set a serene scene.

Vacationers descend on Lake Geneva’s charming downtown retailers and eating places in the summertime, however the city has loads to do year-round. The most effective winter points of interest on this metropolis is the Grand Geneva Resort & Spa, whose modest ski hill has three chair lifts, 20 runs and a terrain park. Grand Geneva Resort additionally has entry to five miles of wooded trails for cross-country snowboarding and gives a restricted variety of ski leases. Youngsters will love overnighting at Grand Geneva’s family-friendly Timber Ridge Lodge and Waterpark for indoor aquatic enjoyable whereas adults loosen up on the spa. Time your winter go to to coincide with Lake Geneva’s Winterfest so you’ll be able to observe one of many nation’s largest snow sculpting competitions.

Turkey Run State Park is the crown jewel of Parke County and one of many Hoosier State’s oldest and hottest state parks. Eleven trails starting from a half-mile to 2 miles wind by rugged ravines surrounded by the park’s signature sandstone cliffs – offering Midwest mountain climbing at its greatest. Turkey Run Inn, a well-liked lodging possibility located throughout the park, is appreciated by company for its pleasant employees and comfy ambiance. There’s an indoor pool and loads of public sitting areas with fireplaces, whether or not you need to play a board recreation or learn a e-book. Select from rooms throughout the historic lodge or the adjoining cabins. Even should you don’t remain at Turkey Run Inn, you’ll be able to nonetheless get pleasure from its restaurant, The Narrows, which diners advocate for the catfish dinners in addition to the fried biscuits and sizzling apple butter.

Most have by no means heard of this tiny city 140 miles north of Chicago, however Kohler is house to Wisconsin’s solely lodge to obtain AAA’s highest 5 diamond ranking. The American Membership Resort Lodge – a part of the Vacation spot Kohler Resort – continues to be owned by the household who constructed it: The Kohlers are greatest identified for high-end plumbing and toilet fixtures. The American Membership’s luxurious Kohler Waters Spa focuses on hydrotherapy, giving company an opportunity to expertise all of the legendary bathtub and bathe merchandise Kohler is thought for. Do you have to need to recreate that luxurious spa expertise in your individual lavatory at house, just a few steps away from the spa is the modern, multistory Kohler Design Middle, crammed with mannequin bogs and design concepts certain to offer most of us lavatory envy. Amid your self-care ventures in Kohler, get pleasure from loads of out of doors actions. Fall brings a boisterous bounty of shade to this rural space, whereas winter experiences at The American Membership embody ice skating, curling, snowshoeing and cross-country snowboarding throughout miles of trails that wind by woodlands and meadows.

Ten miles from American Membership Resort Lodge sits the Kohler-owned Whistling Straits Golf Course, which some golfers describe as paying homage to the legendary Pebble Seaside. Whistling Straits ranks among the many high public programs within the nation and has hosted 2021’s Ryder Cup and three PGA championships. The 2 Pete Dye-designed programs at Whistling Straits provide beautiful views of Lake Michigan or rolling inexperienced hills. Golfers will really feel transported to Eire’s tranquil grassland or its rugged shoreline as this course winds its manner alongside the bluffs and dunes overlooking Lake Michigan.

It is simple to see why Saugatuck is without doubt one of the greatest locations to go to in Michigan. Nicknamed the Artwork Coast of Michigan, this hip resort city about 130 miles from Chicago is stocked with galleries, boutiques, glorious eating and seashores. Maybe surprisingly for a city of lower than a thousand individuals, Saugatuck can be identified for its full of life nightlife and for being an LGBTQ-friendly vacation spot. Sit down on the counter of the century-old Saugatuck Drug Retailer and you will get a style of the city’s extra conventional facet, served up through a traditional malt or ice cream soda. Guests are in for one more nostalgia journey once you board the chain ferry: Working since 1838, it claims to be the one remaining chain-driven ferry within the U.S., transporting passengers throughout the Kalamazoo River between downtown and Oval Seaside. After disembarking on Oval Seaside, lively beachgoers love climbing the 302 steps to the highest of Mount Baldhead – generally known as Mt. Baldy – and getting a chicken’s eye view of the realm. Overlooking Lake Michigan, Saugatuck’s Lake Shore Resort is applauded by patrons for its breathtaking views and plenty of complimentary facilities, together with bikes, kayaks, yoga and a heated pool.

About 190 miles northwest of Chicago is the last word Midwest household getaway: the “Waterpark Capital of the World.” If touring with children to Wisconsin Dells, keep at one of many immensely standard water park resorts, such because the flagship property of Nice Wolf Lodge. Friends recognize the unique Nice Wolf Lodge for its signature Northwoods decor, countless facilities and the sensation of being in a tropical paradise year-round.

Past its myriad indoor and out of doors water parks, Wisconsin Dells boasts all kinds of kid-friendly leisure choices, from zip strains to animal parks. Catch a efficiency on the Palace Theater, which gives every little thing from concert events to comedy exhibits to youngsters’s performs and Broadway-style productions; some theatergoers swear there is not a nasty seat in the home. Extra enjoyable for the entire household will be discovered on the Rick Wilcox Magic Theater exhibits, which wow audiences with each humor and illusions that maintain you guessing. Need to escape the indoor points of interest for a pure one? Head over to Mirror Lake State Park for a scenic hike alongside a tranquil, no-wake lake set amongst sandstone bluffs. Pontoon boats, kayaks and stand-up paddleboards can be found to lease right here.

Billing itself because the coated bridge capital of the world, Parke County, Indiana – about 160 miles south of Chicago – maintains 31 of those Instagram-worthy symbols of a bygone period. Guests descend on the realm each October for the Parke County Coated Bridges Competition, Indiana’s largest annual competition. The favored biker bar Thirty Six Saloon is a family-friendly roadhouse in Rockville, the city the place the favored fall competition is headquartered. Youngsters could also be mesmerized by Thirty Six Saloon’s huge assortment of taxidermy, with animals from the area mounted all through the restaurant. Diners praise every little thing from the burgers and ribs to the fish sandwiches and distinctive decor. One other standard culinary possibility is the tenderloin sandwich on the Mecca Tavern in Mecca. Parke County’s oldest tavern overlooks Mecca’s historic schoolhouse and coated bridge. Locals and guests alike say stopping by Wheelhouse Donuts is one other should: This lovable bakery permits you to design your individual doughnut.

About 150 miles west of Chicago, within the northwest nook of Illinois, the charming Mississippi River city of Galena usually makes nationwide lists of greatest small cities. Its elegant eating, historic websites, quaint retailers and bounty of bed-and-breakfasts make Galena a superb alternative for a romantic getaway. As a result of the glaciers that flattened a lot of the Midwest did not attain right here, the pastoral farmland is hillier, good for a Sunday drive. The Nineteenth-century buildings on this outdated mining city have been painstakingly preserved, with 85% on the Nationwide Register of Historic Locations – together with the Ulysses S. Grant Residence State Historic Web site, a residence gifted to the nation’s soon-to-be 18th president in 1865 by Galena residents.

One memorable in a single day possibility could be a keep on the former county jailhouse – now the luxurious Jail Hill Inn. For a extra romantic ambiance, the Goldmoor Inn is beloved by company for its beautiful views of the Mississippi River, in-room fireplaces and two-person sizzling tubs. Galena is beautiful any time of yr, with loads of vacationers drawn right here throughout harvest time for apple and pumpkin selecting amid the abundance of fall colours. Winter brings its personal appeal with retailers alongside Primary Avenue resembling one thing out of a Norman Rockwell portray. The small city additionally homes a well-liked old-school ski resort: Friends say Chestnut Mountain Resort’s decor and facilities are a bit dated, however its 19 ski runs present scenic views of the river under.

Head 170 hundred miles west of Chicago, cross the Mississippi River, and you will be in Dubuque, Iowa. Get a really feel for the way necessary the river is right here by visiting the Nationwide Mississippi River Museum and Aquarium, or take a journey on a riverboat for one more scenic option to expertise the Mississippi. Guests give the Celebration Belle river cruise excessive marks for being enjoyable, informative and reasonably priced. One other must-see attraction is Fenelon Place Elevator, a steep funicular railway offering fabulous views of the encircling space. Historical past lives on on the elegant Lodge Julien Dubuque, which company praise for its appeal and pleasant service. Baseball followers will need to make the extra 25-mile drive west to the city of Dyersville to discover the Area of Desires, the most effective vacationer points of interest within the U.S. Play on the baseball diamond and tour the house the place the film “Area of Desires” was filmed.

About 230 miles northeast of Chicago, Ann Arbor is a quintessential faculty city, crammed with impartial bookstores and nice reside music. College of Michigan alumni are a proud bunch – and never simply on recreation days, after they march clad in blue and yellow to what’s generally known as The Large Home, the biggest sports activities stadium within the nation. Ann Arbor additionally scores an A on the subject of meals and tradition. The world-class College of Michigan Museum of Artwork shows works by Picasso, Monet and Warhol. A couple of blocks away on Liberty Avenue is the edgier public artwork canvas generally known as Graffiti Alley, simply steps from the historic Michigan Theater and State Theatre, which delight guests with movie screenings, festivals and reside music all year long (so long as you observe the theaters’ COVID-19 laws). A pastrami sandwich at Zingerman’s Deli is a 40-year custom, however should you’re hungry for a extra budget-friendly possibility head to Frita Batidos and sit at one of many communal tables for Cuban-inspired avenue meals. Hit the books at Literati, a beloved impartial bookstore. A enjoyable lodge alternative is Graduate Ann Arbor with its College of Michigan-themed decor.

About 140 miles northwest of Chicago, Madison is greater than only a cool faculty city: It is also the capital of Wisconsin. No journey right here is full with out visiting the gorgeous, white-domed Wisconsin state Capitol constructing; free excursions are given all through the day. Madison’s isthmus location on a slender strip of land between two lakes means waterfront biking and mountain climbing trails abound. Foodies can even get their fill at Fromagination, a cheese lover’s paradise standard with Wisconsin cheeseheads in addition to out-of-town guests. Situated throughout from the Capitol, this pleasant cheese store options dozens of one-of-a-kind artisanal Wisconsin varieties. If visiting Madison between April and November, head to Capitol Sq. on Saturday morning for the Dane County Farmers’ Market, the nation’s largest producer-only farmers market. The 72-room, collegiate-themed Graduate Madison lodge is a simple stroll to campus, eating, buying and nightlife. Adorned within the College of Wisconsin colours of crimson and white, the lodge will get excessive marks from company for its nostalgic decor and paintings, together with collages of political buttons, a nod to the city’s legacy of social activism.

Those that have extra time might go away the intense lights of Chicago for the serenity of Michigan’s Traverse Metropolis to go to Sleeping Bear Dunes Nationwide Lakeshore and its 64 miles of pristine shoreline and mountains of sand dunes. Traverse Metropolis is about 300 miles from Chicago, however you will be rewarded with breathtaking seashores, peaceable hikes, top-notch delicacies and the added perk of what is thought-about the “Napa Valley of the Midwest”: the 24 wineries of the Leelanau Peninsula Wine Path. When the temperatures drop and the snow arrives, a terrific winter weekend getaway entails cross-country snowboarding in Pere Marquette State Forest or the Leelanau Path, which runs from Traverse Metropolis to Suttons Bay. Traverse Metropolis and northern Michigan are additionally crammed with summer time lake resorts: High choices embody Lake Leelanau’s Fountain Level Resort, the upscale Homestead Resort and the all-inclusive White Birch Lodge in close by Elk Rapids. With White Birch identified for its water sports activities program, teenagers and tweens will love water-skiing, tubing and ending the day swapping adventures with new mates round a seashore bonfire.

Finest generally known as the situation of the Kentucky Derby, Louisville sits 300 miles south of Chicago and has an entire lot extra occurring than simply horse racing. About 95 p.c of the world’s bourbon is made in Kentucky; for a style of the state’s signature liquor, head to downtown Louisville’s historic Whiskey Row. Right here you will discover distilleries, distinctive eating places and reside music. Topping any sports activities lover’s itinerary must be a go to to the Louisville Slugger Museum and the Muhammad Ali Middle, which guests applaud for honoring the boxer’s life, religion and humanitarian service. Artwork lovers would get pleasure from staying on the 21C Museum Lodge Louisville, which homes its personal up to date artwork museum.

About 300 miles southwest of Chicago, simply over the Illinois border alongside the Mississippi River, sits this Missouri metropolis. St. Louis is effectively price a weekend journey for its plethora of eating places, breweries and cultural treasures. Nicknamed the Gateway Metropolis for its iconic Gateway Arch, St. Louis provides vacationers the possibility to take a tram journey to the highest of this engineering marvel. After getting a chicken’s-eye view of the encircling space, head over to the almost 1,300-acre Forest Park, website of the 1904 World’s Truthful, now house to the Saint Louis Zoo and several other museums. Music lovers cannot miss the Nationwide Blues Museum, which sings the praises of that melancholy American music type. If you end up in want of extra music classes, make your option to the Scott Joplin Home State Historic Web site, the place the king of Ragtime lived. After a busy day sightseeing, Drury Plaza Lodge St. Louis on the Arch makes a superb place to relaxation. Friends rave in regards to the unbeatable worth of the lodge’s free breakfast and comfortable hour with complimentary sizzling meals and drinks.

The Twin Cities of Minneapolis − St. Paul straddle the Mississippi River, about 450 miles northwest of Chicago, with Minneapolis as Minnesota’s most populous metropolis and St. Paul because the state capital. Minneapolis is named a metropolis of lakes, however guests additionally wish to stroll alongside the riverfront, taking within the magnificent Mississippi. Groundbreaking pop musician Prince was born in Minneapolis; now his legacy lives on at Paisley Park, a sprawling complicated within the close by city of Chanhassen that was as soon as the artist’s studio and residential. Thousands and thousands extra journey right here to go to the biggest mall within the Western hemisphere, Mall of America, positioned within the close by suburb of Bloomington. As a lot an leisure complicated as a retail middle, this mall homes the indoor amusement park Nickelodeon Universe, a spotlight for youths. Friends give Minneapolis’ Hewing Lodge stellar evaluations for its character, appeal and beautiful views from the rooftop lounge.