Our highlights: Just outside the city at Cascade Mountain and Devils Head Resort you'll find some exhilarating downhill skiing as well as snowtubing and sledding. If you're wondering how the town got its name, it's as simple as it sounds it's because the lake is shaped like an Elk's heart. There are also several events to mark Dia de los Muertos in late October and early November. How to get there: Follow I-90 out of Chicago then merge onto US-41 at the southern tip of Lake Michigan and continue south past Terre Haute and Vincennes. Also running from Thanksgiving right up to New Years Day is Celebration in the Oaks. In Milwaukee, switch onto I-43 and continue north, before leaving the interstate just after Saukville. Whatever kind of winter road trip you're interested in, we've put together some of the key facts for a whole host of fabulous destinations. It's also a popular LGBTQ destination. If it's your first time in Toronto, you'll probably want to see some of the city's sights while you're in town too. However, it's also famous for its harsh winters, so there might be times you want to head out of the city during the coldest months of the year. Sept. 2, 2022, at 12:30 p.m. 24 Top Weekend Getaways From Chicago. The event runs in late Jan or early Feb, and hundreds of the city's restaurants showcase their best meals at reasonable prices - the perfect way to brighten up a long, cold winter. Only an hour away from downtown Chicago, Indiana Dunes became the newest National Park in the United States in 2019. Road Trip From Chicago To Washington DC - LazyTrips In Wasau, the nearest town to Granite Peak, there are some great food and drink options for the essential apres-ski part of the day! Or if you're here a little earlier in winter, you can get yourself into the holiday spirit with a snowy visit to the Sculpture Gardens or enjoy some exhilarating winter sports. Add in beautiful beaches all over, some big sand dunes, including the Indiana Dunes National Park and the pretty towns of Harbor Country. If you're visiting later in the season, check out Winter Restaurant Week. Our highlights: As you'd expect, the main draw of Muskegon in winter is Muskegon Luge Adventure Sports Park. If you want to strike out a little further and explore, you can go horseback riding or cross-country skiing through the woodlands or try out snow biking for something new. By joining our email list, you give LazyTrips permission to use your email for sending you newsletters, emails and updates including for marketing purposes. From mid-January you can see parades and events starting up, then the main event, Mardi Gras, starts on Shrove Tuesday and carries on for two weeks. Getting to St Louis is easy - the I-55 will take you all the way to the Gateway City. Through the rest of the season, winter sports fans will love to ski at Wilmot Mountain, a popular ski resort with over 20 ski runs suitable for a wide range of abilities. Car production moved to other cities in the US, factories in Asia and Mexico and large blocks of Detroit became ghosts of their own past. Our travel tips: Timed tickets are needed for some of Philadelphia's winter attractions, including Longwood Gardens and Dickens Village. From here, turn onto Route 31 which takes you on to Muskegon. Hot Springs (Arkansas) Distance: 650 miles. Traffic in Denver is heavy at rush hours as you might expect, but the Friday peak is a little earlier than other days so factor this in if you're trying to beat the crowds. You can join the river at Savanna or a little further down at Clinton depending on the route you take. The Dells Boat Tours will take you through the narrow river passages - these Dells are gorges through layered rock formations that become small tall islands as the river widens. Our highlights: The World of Winter Festival usually starts in the first week of January, and as well as ice sculptures you can see interactive installations from artists all over the world, with walking tours taking you through some of the outdoor art highlights. Don't forget to check out some of the Smithsonian museums too they're free to enter so you can visit one or many, and enjoy some of the more popular sites without the crowds, especially if you're visiting after the holiday period. (866) 399-3866. www.grizzlyjacksresort.com. Indiana Dunes, Indiana 1 hour from Chicago (50 miles) You can also enjoy a number of holiday markets, to really get you into the festive spirit. Two different types of ski lifts were invented here - so when you ski here in modern times you'll be following the lead of some of the country's ski pioneers. This means you probably won't see the grape harvest unless you're out in the vineyards at night - pickers tend to work by hand to make sure of the most perfect harvest possible. You might not have thought of Minneapolis as a city break destination from Chicago, but Minnesota's largest city is an amazing mix of culture, music, awesome food and the outdoors which you really have to visit. The classic town of Ann Arbor is a great stop on your way - this university town has classic architecture, art galleries and great small coffee shops for you to relax or grab some lunch. The parade brings together dragons and lions dancing through DC's streets, as well as drummers, dance troupes and firecrackers - it's a real feast for the senses. Wrap up warm and walk out towards Muskegon South Breakwater Lighthouse a really stunning sight or take a walk on the lake's frozen beaches. From jazz to soul, St Louis has been one of the most prominent musical cities in the US - Tina Turner and Scott Joplin started their careers here among others. Note that to enjoy all the attractions Niagara Falls has to offer, you might need to factor in crossing the US/Canada border so make sure you have any paperwork you need (dependent on nationality). 4 hours 20 minutes from Chicago (290 miles). One interesting place to visit is Frank Lloyd Wright's Laurent House. Back in the city, entry to the world-class Toledo Museum of Art is free all year round. 1. If you want to head across the border to visit Niagara-on-the-Lake make sure to pack the required travel documentation, and allow extra time to make the border crossing, especially if you're heading across Rainbow International Bridge. About 12,000 acres of lakes, sand dunes and oak savannas are wide open for exploration, including ice fishing, skating, sand dune sledding, fat tire biking and snowman building. The Indian Museum of North America is nearby too. Also, although this isn't a ski destination like some of the other trips, you can still enjoy some winter sports in Elkhart Lake. The lake freezes over right through the winter, so you can head out with a guide for a unique ice-fishing experience. You should definitely visit New York in winter so you can say you've experienced them all first-hand. The high temperatures that hit Chicago Thursday broke a record that stretched all the way back to 1887, according to the National Weather Service. Saugatuck, which sits at the center of the state's Art Coast, has been voted the Midwest's Best Beach Town, and its gently sloping sandy beach is the perfect place to spend an afternoon. 2 hours 20 minutes from Chicago (140 miles). Once Christmas and New Year are behind you, the party season in New Orleans really gets going. Our highlights: Roll back 100 years and one of the biggest draws of Lake Geneva, WI, wasn't its snow, but the ice! also, you have the option of taking the ss badger car ferry across Lake Michigan to avoid traffic around the bottom of the Lake and to add an Visit in early February when the Winter Carnival comes to town and you can see firework displays or catch a fun ride on one of the resort's snow groomers. It makes sense to book ahead if you're planning on visiting between Christmas day and New Year, or weekends during January and February. Places to visit about 300 miles from Chicago - Within Hours You might consider day trips from Chicago to Milwaukee on the train. Any suggestions fellas? Why you should visit: Seeing the famous falls cascading through the snowy ground is a truly magical experience and one that's different to any other trip you might take. You can easily visit on a short day road trip from Chicago, but if you want to explore the different trails and get away from it all, a weekend trip might work better despite being so close. 25 Best Road Trips From Chicago - LazyTrips The route then follows the river north - you can cross in and out of Iowa and then Minnesota from Illinois and Wisconsin as the river continues to be the state border along the length of this drive. Our travel tips: Winter weather in Savannah is changeable, but the year-round humidity can make even warm days feel chilly when you're outdoors for a while. Here you will find a great white sand beach and stroll along the boardwalk, watch local boats go by or explore the shops along the docks. If you're here to relax, escape the hustle and bustle with a stroll around Toledo Botanical Gardens or head out to Wildwood Preserve Metropark to follow its many trails on foot or 2 wheels. There are plenty of places to stop and a lot of parks and trails if you want to get out of the car. Everything from cow's milk to goat and sheep milk is used and there are imitations of European cheeses and unique local flavors available. You should ride to the top of it to get unbelievable views of the city below - tickets are $14 for adults and $11 for children with discounts outside weekends. These will carry you up to a quarter of a mile across the resort's valleys, giving you a bird's eye view of your stunning surroundings. Where's the warmest, sunniest place in Chicago during the winter months? 1 hour 30 minutes from Chicago (100 miles). Our travel tips: Parts of the city get extremely crowded in December, and accommodation prices rise accordingly. The self proclaimed moniker comes from the factories in the city that supply the rest of the country with various kinds of fasteners, screws, nuts and bolts. There's a real art to making Icewine and the conditions have to be just right to freeze the grapes for long enough on the vine. 8 hours 40 minutes from Chicago (530 miles). After Gainesville, join the Florida Turnpike which takes you the last stretch of the drive into Orlando. Galleries, restaurants and local businesses come together to bring some warmth and cheer to the new year, with a legendary chilli cook-off, Soup-A-Thon and ice sculptures dotted around town. Next, turn onto I-80 and head west past Des Moines and Omaha. It will satisfy a wide range of abilities, and you can also try out snow tubing and snowshoeing here. Best Weekend Getaways From Chicago | Cond Nast Traveler Images by Dr. Alan Lipkin/Shutterstock.com, Road Trip From Chicago To Mackinac Island, Road Trip From Chicago To Yellowstone National Park, 22. Ice sculptors spend nearly 2 months creating spectacular icy towers and turrets which are especially beautiful when they're illuminated at night. For added romantic charm, put your skates on and have laps on one of the city's many ice rinks - there are over 50 to choose from. Take a magical horse-drawn carriage ride, check out entries for the Gingerbread House competition, and enjoy endless festive lights. A particular highlight in Muskegon is its Luge track, which is open to the public. Our highlights: There might not be snow and ice on the ground, but Savannah manages to fill the holiday season with its very own brand of festive charm. Top tips for finding a cheap flight out of Chicago Book at least 2 weeks before departure in order to get a below-average price. As well as Mardi Gras, New Orleans is also a vibrant city where you can enjoy live music, fabulous food and warm winter weather - perhaps the closest you can get to a trip overseas without needing a passport! You can also find out more about the site at the Lincoln Borglum Visitor Center, or visit the Sculptor's Studio to find out more about how the monument was created. 17 hours 30 minutes from Chicago (1,130 miles). Places to visit about 500 miles from Chicago - Within Hours Further afield, the city is packed full of other shopping districts, including the West Village, Bleeker Street, Union Square and the Meatpacking District to name just a few. The local skiing may be limited, but there is a lot to see and do around Lake Geneva. 8 hours 20 minutes from Chicago (550 miles). Time in the air: 3 hours. How to get there: Follow I-90 east across Indiana. Cool down in warmer weather by riding the natural waterslide at Sliding Rock. St Louis, MO Driving time from Chicago: 4 hrs 30 min While beer, blues and BBQ are likely on the top of your St Louis bucket list (and rightfuly. To make the most of the trip, take a couple of weeks and make a lot of stops along the way. 489 miles northeast of Chicago: Lake Bernard Park. " There's also an "Amethyst Room," whirlpools infused with jasmine and weirdly good organic fried chicken. Don't worry about missing out on too much of that winter snow either - your drive will take you through the Appalachians so you can take in some stunning views as you make your way south to Georgia. San Diego San Diego boasts 260 sunny days a year, miles of rugged beachside and barking seals. There are only 3 other Luge tracks in the whole of the United States, so if you've always fancied trying out this exhilarating sport, this is probably your best chance. The long rows of vines stand out proudly in the snow and make a beautiful backdrop while you're learning about Icewine production or, more importantly, tasting a glass or two. Towns like New Buffalo, St. Joseph, Benton Harbor, Holland, Saugatuck and Grand Haven provide pristine beaches, great shopping, lakeside restaurants and front-row view of sunsets over Lake Michigan. 4 hours 30 minutes from Chicago (280 miles). It's a tiny city with less than 1000 residents but its white-boarded houses, scenic sand dunes and fabulous beach make it a popular place to come to escape the city. You can also delve into the natural wilderness of Pisgah and Nantahala National Forests where you'll find more hiking opportunities, mountain biking routes, and the North Carolina Arboretum. Remember that Minneapolis can get cold, and even feel cool in the summer. (Disney Enterprises . Oglesby and its neighbor Utica lie nestled into a curve of the Vermilion River and is perfect for exploring some of the best outdoors in Illinois. 20 Best Weekend Getaways From Chicago - Time Out Chicago Within a short distance of the city you can ski, skate, snow tube and sled, sometimes with beautiful views across Lake Mendota. Best Warm Weather Destinations For Winter - CBS Chicago Morning departure is around 5% cheaper than an evening flight, on average*. If you're looking for unique and often hand-made gifts for family and friends, you'll find plenty of choice here. Outside of the theme parks, you can enjoy the Winter Park Christmas Parade, a long-standing Florida tradition, with dozens of troupes followed by Santa. How to get there: Follow the interstate east out of Chicago and then continue north, keeping Lake Michigan on your left. Follow the Great River Road as it twists and turns and you will be rewarded with great views the entire way. Nicknamed the Forest City due to the area's verdant woods and rivers, Rockford is also known as the Screw Capital of the World. Then, check out the Christmas Village or the Made in Philadelphia Holiday Market. The 10 Cheapest Flights from Chicago | Hopper The city was offered up to President Lincoln as a Christmas Gift during the Civil War. Our travel tips: This is a really popular ski area, and lift passes can sell out during the busiest periods. Although this is a long drive, it's a really straightforward one. There are a few museums and sights to see - the Grand Rapids Public Museum and the Art Museum are both worth going to. Then head quickly back into the warmth of your hotel to warm up. Head to Macy's, Bloomingdale's or Saks Fifth Avenue for wall-to-wall shopping opportunities, or take a walk along Fifth Avenue to indulge in designer brands. Bonus: After Christmas, a free maze is built on the lake shore out of the branches of discarded Christmas trees, a custom that has become firmly cemented in Madison's holiday traditions now. You also don't have to book attractions weeks in advance, and you can find reasonably priced accommodation in the downtown area. The dunes stretch along a 15-mile stretch of Lake Michigan and the National Park borders the State Park of the same name. A Little History. Then, for a unique and romantic end to your trip, you can even take a horse-drawn sleigh ride through the city. You have a few to choose from, including the outdoor Downtown DC Holiday Market, the Swedish Christmas Bazaar in Georgetown, and the Heurich House Museum Christkindlmarkt. You can't take your car with you to Mackinac - you'll have to park it at one of the designated ferry parking lots and make your way across. Muskegon Farmers Market operates indoors on Saturdays through the winter so you can warm up and stock up on some fabulous local produce. For summer fun during the winter months, Grizzly Jack's Grand Bear Resort is the place to be. Savannah is a great place to visit all year round but come in winter to enjoy this fabulous city without the summer crowds or humidity. Whether you're looking for an active break or a peaceful boat trip, there are plenty of opportunities to get out onto the water. Back outdoors, visit DC's largest outdoor ice rink at Washington Harbour, for views out across the waterfront, or see the Holiday Boat Parade, which includes fireworks and live music as well as festively decorated boats parading down the Potomac River. Bonus: Right through January you can enjoy the Icewine Festival, which celebrates this delicious local tipple. Then, follow the Christmas Parade, which makes its way through the city's streets and squares in early December. 8. Restaurants like the Grove and Terra serve locally sourced ingredients which means the menu changes throughout the year. You will be forgiven for thinking you were teleported to central Europe the moment you get to New Glarus. Highlights include the cities of Indianapolis, Dayton and Columbus; as well as Wayne National Forest, Seneca Rocks, Shenandah National Park and Monongahela National Forest. Visitors and locals alike flock to the Macy's Light Show, running for over half a century, and the charming Dickens Village, also found at the store. So, pack up your skis and look out for your skates - but don't worry if you're not the biggest fan of the slopes, since you'll also find great restaurants, beautiful views and stunning spas at these weekend destinations. This waterfront city is the only destination on this list that takes you to another of the Great Lakes. If you have time to head out of town, make your way to Tampa to see Christmas Town at Busch Gardens. Head up the CN Tower for great views of the city and Lake Ontario, which is particularly stunning when it starts to freeze over through the winter. Our highlights: Boyne Mountain is primarily a ski resort, so take to the slopes and explore more than 415 acres of ski runs. Chicago is a fantastic city, known for its stunning lakeside location, the Magnificent Mile, and its world-class museums and galleries. Continue along the interstate then, after skirting the west side of Lake Pontchartrain, merge onto I-10 which takes you into the center of New Orleans. The small town of Oglesby, home to 3,600 people, is renowned for its natural beauty. This tradition has grown into thriving arts scene, making Toledo a great place to visit if you like exploring street art, outdoor sculpture or a trip to the theatre or concert hall. Alexander Molony as Peter Pan, Ever Anderson as Wendy, Joshua Pickering as John Darling and Jacobi Jupe as Michael Darling in "Peter Pan & Wendy," directed by David Lowery. A complete circle of Lake Michigan to Mackinac Island, READ MORE - Road trip from Chicago To Mackinac Island, Asheville is the perfect gateway to the Blue Ridge Mountains, READ MORE - Road trip from Chicago to Asheville, READ MORE - Road trip from Chicago to Mount Rushmore, Denver is the gateway to Rocky Mountain National Park, READ MORE - Road trip from Chicago to Denver, Road trip from Chicago to Yellowstone National Park. Still under construction, this monument is dedicated to the Lakota leader who fought against the federal government to try and protect Native American land from being seized. For the perfect post-ski wind down, visit the Spa at Boyne Mountain before you head home. Roadtrips to 5/6 days from Chicago 8-9 hrs driving max You can even ride across the river on the Chain Ferry, one of the last remaining in America. The 2,470-mile road trip from Chicago to San Francisco takes 38 hours to drive. A lot of these are built indoors so you can enjoy a weekend swimming, relaxing and going down crazy slides when everything outside is frozen! Or if you're feeling more active, there are sledding slopes in the park too. Fly from Chicago to Columbus, Ohio, for $167 round trip The most costly of our cheapest air fares from Chicago's O'Hare International Airport still comes in at an attractive $167 round trip, meaning it's now easier than ever for Illinois locals to make the quick 1.25-hour hop straight across the heartlands of the Midwest. Follow this road all the way across Illinois to Davenport, where you'll cross over the Mississippi River which forms the border between Illinois and Iowa. This award-winning, community-focused gallery always has something new to see, and with sculptures and exhibits inspired by nature, it makes the perfect complement to a day enjoying the views out on the mountain. The best thing about Grand Rapids, however, is the food and the drink. Our travel tips: Although temperatures are at or below freezing through most of the winter, you're not always guaranteed snow in Toronto, so be prepared that you might miss out on the insta-perfect images of this particular winter road trip. Ride down the Kalamazoo River on a paddle steamer, explore the lakeshore and river in a kayak, or charter a yacht. This is a trip that will show off the best of what Lake Michigan has to offer - a complete circle of the lake, heading to Mackinac Island on the opposite corner before making the return trip. Denver is the gateway to Rocky Mountain National Park, as well as being a great place to head to in winter if you want to ski or snowboard on nearby slopes. Overnight on the California Zephyr gets you to Denver where the weather is just as cold as Chicago but you'd be in a cosmopolitan city. The Warmest Place in Chicago This Winter - L Stop Tours Cities 9 hours from Chicago 9 hours: Ely, MN 8 hr 56 min: State College, PA 8 hr 55 min: Huntsville, AL 8 hr 51 min: Pigeon Forge, TN 8 hr 46 min: Lutsen, MN 8 hr 46 min: Fergus Falls, MN 8 hr 41 min: Joplin, MO 8 hr 35 min: Niagara Falls, NY 8 hr 32 min: Topeka, KS 8 hr 31 min: Grand Rapids, MN 8 hr 27 min: Tunica, MS 8 hr 24 min: Hibbing, MN 24 Top Weekend Getaways From Chicago - US News & World Report 1 hour 30 minutes from Chicago (93 miles). After taking I-90 E towards the edge of the city, turn onto I-65 and follow the interstate south, driving past Indianapolis and right the way across Indiana until you reach Louisville, Kentucky. Alternative options are the Frederik Meijer Sculpture Park and the Fish Ladder Park. Make sure you visit the Slugger Museum and Factory - this baseball bat manufacturer has tours where you can see the whole process and the side of the building has an exact scale replica of the Babe Ruth's Louisville Slugger bat, albeit a little larger at a length of 120 feet. The capitol building and a few great museums are definitely worth seeing - the Madison Museum of Contemporary Art and the Chazen Art Museum both have huge collections spanning different styles and time periods. Our highlights: The highlight of most people's visit to Niagara Falls is to see the mighty waterfalls up close, but if you visit in winter you can also marvel at the massive icicles that form right by the viewing platform on the Journey Behind the Falls. The Anheuser-Busch Brewery and Biergarten are the home of Budweiser but there are loads of small local breweries where you will get a more authentic experience. For a more magical festive feel, head to Frederick Meijer Sculpture Gardens. The key message is to wrap up warm and be prepared for whatever weather the city throws at you - pretty standard for DC! Located 90 . Hemlock Hideaway Campground. The route up to La Crosse will pass a few great stop off points - check out the steel Black Hawk Bridge over the Mississippi at Lansing and the Nelson Dewey State Park has some of the best panoramic views of the river and surrounding forests. But that's just the welcome mat to this SoCal haven. Sundays have a free Jazz Brunch outdoor concert series along the scenic Riverwalk. If you're crossing over the Canadian border to visit Niagara-on-the-Lake, the Icewine vineyards and wineries are probably the first thing that will get your attention. As you make your way from Chicago to Philadelphia, make sure to fit in a visit to Bethlehem, PA, too. A new report shows the most dangerous cities in the USand the safest places. 11 hours 10 minutes from Chicago (700 miles). Located right by Lake Ontario, you can enjoy frosty views out across the water, then head back into the city to indulge yourself in some culture or plain old festive cheer. Absolutely. 25 Best Weekend Getaways from Chicago - VacationIdea Winter Getaways From Chicago | USA Today It runs parallel to Lake Erie, so if you have a little longer to make your trip then you might like to pause along the way to admire views across the lake. Little Orleans Campground. Why you should visit: As its name suggests, Granite Peak is a fabulous and long-established ski destination with some top-class runs and luxurious resort choices. With no cars on the island and a super relaxed vibe, you can take strolls, visit lighthouses and hike to see the Arch Rock on the east side of the island. Everything here is about cheese. Skate beneath the massive Christmas tree at the famous Rockefeller Ice Rink, before heading up to the Top of the Rock to take in the view of New York in the snow. You can easily do a day trip from Chicago, but if you decide to come for the weekend, you can stay over at the Starved Rock State Park Lodge that comes complete with a pool and spa to unwind after your hiking. The cheapest month to fly from Chicago is January. Treat your group to an exhilarating zip line adventure with Shawnee Bluffs Canopy Tour. How to get there: Join I-57 and follow it south all the way to Cairo, on the Illinois/Missouri border. St Julian Winery or Lemon Creek are great to visit and well located just off the interstate. As well as being a relaxed and varied city, Asheville is the perfect gateway to the Blue Ridge Mountains, so a trip here offers a great combination of city vibes and the great outdoors. ETA: 10+ hours with couple of short breaks. If you're in the city for Christmas itself, head out along River Road on Christmas Eve, where you'll see bonfires lit on the night of the 24th so that Papa Noel can find his way from Baton Rouge to New Orleans. Just before Cleveland, merge onto I-80 and follow this all the way across Ohio, Pennsylvania and New Jersey before crossing into Manhattan via George Washington Bridge. The same road takes you right into Philadelphia. The detour will add around two and a half hours so bake that into your planning and consider stops along the way. The theme parks of Orlando are popular year-round, but during the winter you get to experience them all dressed up for the holiday season, and without the heat and humidity that can be a feature at other times of the year. In the evenings from May to September there's also a 45-minute ranger talk which ends with the lighting ceremony. 15 Best Winter Road Trips from Chicago - LazyTrips With art, culture, caf patios and waterfront dining, Toledo is a great short trip if you want a change of scene from Chicago. It was founded by a group of Swiss settlers from the Swiss canton of Glarus in 1845. It is the only working Dutch windmill in the United States and it is beautiful in May when the weather gets good and the thousands of tulips flower. Exhibits are very interactive and fun for the whole family. 506 miles east of Chicago: Upper - Kettle Creek State Park. Then, take I-40 from Knoxville to Asheville then join I-26 south passing Spartanburg and Columbia. It features more than 100,000 lights and is the largest pipe organ in the world. A wide selection of breweries includes European-style beers and the pizza-serving Harmony.
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