If you want to maximize your Swiss experience, then combine your road trip to New Glarus with a stop in Monroe - the Swiss Cheese Capital of the USA. If you are looking for cheap weekend getaways from Chicago, this is a good place to stay. The cheapest month to fly from Chicago is January. You can easily visit for a day or stay the night to see more of the local sights and museums. 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. In Milwaukee, switch onto I-43 and continue north, before leaving the interstate just after Saukville. Our highlights: Roll back 100 years and one of the biggest draws of Lake Geneva, WI, wasn't its snow, but the ice! Everything here is about cheese. Images by Dr. Alan Lipkin/Shutterstock.com, Road Trip From Chicago To Mackinac Island, Road Trip From Chicago To Yellowstone National Park, 22. The rinks are super-festive in the run up to the holidays, and you can relax with a hot chocolate or a local craft beer afterwards. Once you get to halfway point, you should spend a day or longer on Mackinac Island. Distance from Chicago: 353 miles northeast, five-hour drive Why it made our list: Sprawling over 850 acres, the Midwest's largest ski resort offers everything from skiing and snowmobiling to. The Windy City also boasts a stellar location, just a drive away from fascinating landmarks, charming small towns, scenic lakes and iconic cities if you'd like to venture out to explore. Just after London, the road merges with ON-403, which will take you right into the center of Toronto. Leave time to explore. 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. Here you can join in with the 9-day Winter Festival (late January). (866) 399-3866. www.grizzlyjacksresort.com. For something a little different, visit Wings Over the Rockies Air and Space Museum to see a large collection of planes, including many vintage models. 1 hour 30 minutes from Chicago (93 miles). The area is also home to a number of very decent wineries. Distance from Chicago: 150 miles north, 2.5-hour drive This charming little hideaway about 30 minutes west of Sheboygan is often overlooked but shouldn't be. 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. How to get there: Head east out of Chicago on I-90, keeping Lake Michigan on your left, then continue on I-94 as far as Lake Joseph. How to get there: Follow I-90/I-94 north out of Chicago, then continue north on I-94 when the interstate divides. Try the City Lights brewery tour - located in the renovated Milwaukee Gas Light Company buildings dating back to 1902, the brewery has a cool industrial vibe with its mix of old and new. Our highlights: For many visitors, the main draw is the Olde World Christmas Market, a 10-day festive spectacular bringing together Czech, German and Russian Christmas traditions. Back in town, Denver has one of the largest Hispanic populations in the US, so the city's Museo de las Americas is well worth a visit, covering Hispanic culture and art. Of course, there are two sides to every story, and a few miles from Mount Rushmore you can visit the Crazy Horse Memorial. After Gainesville, join the Florida Turnpike which takes you the last stretch of the drive into Orlando. 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. As you can see, there are still plenty of wintery attractions to enjoy in the city, just wrap up warm and see where your trip takes you. You can see Cinderella's Castle made even more magical at Walt Disney World, or visit EPCOT's International Festival of the Holidays to take a whistle-stop tour around the world's traditions. Tickets for guided tours at Wind Cave National Park often sell out, so advance booking is recommended, especially if you're travelling in the busier summer months or over holiday periods. 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. 4 hours 20 minutes from Chicago (300 miles). Plus, you can fill yourself with festive cheer with a visit to the traditional market at Love Park's Christmas Village, or a stroll through streets filled with fabulous Christmas lights. This after-dark spectacle sees City Park lit up with more than a million lights. 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. The interstate carries on across Nebraska and then splits just as you approach the northeast corner of Colorado. Around one-third of the city's population is Hispanic so as you might expect, there are some big festivals and celebrations that you don't see in other parts of the US. The 830-mile road trip from Chicago to Washington DC will take you around 14 hours to drive non-stop. Our travel tips: This is a really popular ski area, and lift passes can sell out during the busiest periods. It was an early adopter of snowmaking technology in the 1950s. No need to get on the flight. Greater . Or if you're in town with romantic intentions, a stroll through the Diamond District might go down well. (Getty Images) Known as . Our travel tips: Visit the Luge in the evenings and you can warm up by a bonfire after your slide down the track. 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. If your time is limited, take your sled and enjoy a free downhill ride at one of the several hilly public parks in the city. How to get there: After heading east out of Chicago on I-90, turn south onto I-65 and continue through Indianapolis and Louisville. Once you arrive at Mount Rushmore, you can also spend time exploring the stunning Black Hills and surrounding area. Ice sculptors spend nearly 2 months creating spectacular icy towers and turrets which are especially beautiful when they're illuminated at night. If an authentic windmill and fields of tulips is not Dutch enough, there is an entire Dutch Village to go to. 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. Our travel tips: Book in advance if you're visiting Winterfest, as the town gets really busy. Named after the tall cedar trees, it is particularly well known for its lush forests that cover the hills around Cedarburg. 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. A new report shows the most dangerous cities in the USand the safest places. This can be particularly handy if you're staying a little way out of town, or if you want to avoid a long walk back to your parking spot at the end of the day. For those who want to go on a longer road, trip, the options above may not quite cut it so here are some longer routes that you might like the sound of: By joining our email list, you give LazyTrips permission to use your email for sending you newsletters, emails and updates including for marketing purposes. Muskegon Farmers Market operates indoors on Saturdays through the winter so you can warm up and stock up on some fabulous local produce. The hip city has a lot of things to see and experience. 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. There are 4 large waterpark resorts (Kalahari, Great Wolf, Chula Vista and the Wilderness) and around 20 in total with more being constructed. The biggest ski area in the state is perfectly set up for skiers, with fast lifts and dozens of trails to follow. You might consider day trips from Chicago to Milwaukee on the train. When it's time to warm up, head back into town to Old Sugar Distillery, a small local spirits producer, for a warming taster. Rockford is the largest city in Illinois outside Chicagoland (the Chicago metropolitan area). Back on dry land, if you're still feeling energetic you can explore the trails of Saugatuck Dunes State Park, or follow the 300 steps to the top of Mount Baldhead to take in the lake view. 2 hours 30 minutes from Chicago (147 miles). 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. You could come to Cedarburg on a long day drive, but it's really perfect as a weekend getaway destination. Starved Rock State Park is just 100 miles southwest of Chicago, offering an ideal spot to enjoy nature with more than a dozen sandstone canyons along with beautiful waterfalls that are especially powerful in the spring. Though it was longer drive but not bad. Plus the views from the vineyard are sublime! Our travel tips: Pack layers, as even Florida can experience cooler days, but rest assured that with heated pools and plenty of daytime sunshine, you can enjoy yourself outdoors right through the winter. You can explore the spectacular underground rock formations on a guided tour, then spend some time looking for wildlife at the grass prairie which forms the overground part of the national park. Once you've arrived in Philadelphia, you can ice skate beside the Delaware River at Winterfest, then warm up with a hot chocolate - or something stronger - with a view out across Benjamin Franklin Bridge. With many travelers heading to Asheville to see the stunning display of foliage in the fall, we'd recommend booking ahead to guarantee your choice of accommodation at this time of year. Mount Rushmore is set on the edge of the Black Hills, so if you're spending longer in the area you can head out into the great outdoors to hike, bike and enjoy the scenic drive along the Needles Highway. Hike along Michigan's Sleeping Bear Dunes National Seashore on your next weekend getaway from Chicago. 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. 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. Of course, NYC is famous for its shops, so leave some space in your case for whatever gifts and treats you might pick up while you're in town. Our travel tips: Check ahead for dates of candle-lit snowshoe trails across the city. Rockford lives up to its main nickname with plenty of outdoor spaces to explore - the Anderson Japanese Gardens, Klehm Botanic Garden and the Rock Cut State Park are all within the metropolitan area. How to get there: Follow I-90 west out of Chicago, passing Rockford and Madison. The main attraction is a 21-mile loop around the lake with stunning forest scenery and great views of the water. If that gets your creative juices flowing it's also possible to take a one-day art workshop or a longer summer school in the city. Next, pick up I-40 which winds through a section of the Appalachian Mountains on its way to your destination, Asheville. Olympian Mark Grimmette trained on the Luge track here when he was young and went on to compete at five Winter Olympic Games, winning medals at two of them. Grand Rapids is the second largest city in Michigan after Detroit and has gained notoriety for its cool vibe and hipster feel over the recent years. If you want to encourage a little less screen time during the summer break, take your family to explore the great outdoors in a Budget rental. If you're travelling at this time of the year you can also stop off at New Hope, PA, as you make your way from Chicago to New York City. 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. All through the winter, you can also enjoy the shops and restaurants on fabulous River Street, the perfect place to spend some time whether you're looking for gifts to take home or just something special for yourself. 15 hours 10 minutes from Chicago (960 miles). 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. 2 hours 40 minutes from Chicago (145 miles). Keep reading to find out where you could go, how to get there, and our pick of what's waiting for you when you arrive. 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. The city was offered up to President Lincoln as a Christmas Gift during the Civil War. Everything here looks, feels, smells and tastes Swiss. It's also a great place to enjoy fabulous snow-based activities - the temperature usually sits around freezing and the area experiences heavy snowfall, so conditions are perfect. If you head further up the Michigan coast on a road trip around Lake Michigan from Chicago, you will get to Fennville - a small city in the Allegan County of Michigan's Agricultural Belt. One interesting place to visit is Frank Lloyd Wright's Laurent House. Then warm up in one of the city's fantastic museums, including the Royal Ontario Museum where you'll find a fascinating and diverse collection. Absolutely. The town of Holland sits along the length of Lake Macatawa that flows into Lake Michigan. One is the Forever Curious Children's Museum - a non-profit organization created to spark a love for learning in kids of all ages. 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! Bonus: As well as being known for its winter sports, Grand Rapids is famous for its many craft breweries - in fact, it's been given the title of Beer City USA! The Warmest Place in Chicago. Our highlights: The nation's capital is a fantastic place to visit during the holiday period. Not far away, Wind Cave is one of the world's longest. The smell is so bad, the United States Postal Service banned the posting of Limburger because of the stench. Aaron of L.A. Photography/Shutterstock.com, Sidra Monreal Photography/Shutterstock.com, Road Trip From Chicago To Mackinac Island, Road Trip From Chicago To Yellowstone National Park. Bonus: The capital hosts a fabulous Lunar New Year Parade in January or February depending on when the new year begins. 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. Our travel tips: Timed tickets are needed for some of Philadelphia's winter attractions, including Longwood Gardens and Dickens Village. How to get there: Follow I-90 out of the city then pick up I-94 and head east towards Detroit. The main attractions are the two major parks - the Starved Rock State Park and the Matthiessen State Park. With heavy snowfall possible, parts of the Blue Ridge Parkway and other smaller roads are likely to be closed at times in the winter, so check ahead if you're hoping to travel a particular route. 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. Our travel tips: Parts of the city get extremely crowded in December, and accommodation prices rise accordingly. As well as being beautiful, the crowds that flock to Niagara Falls are slightly less during winter. Check ahead to find details of live performances and special events that are taking place. The Swiss Historical Village is a great live museum which has kept 14 buildings in the style of the original 19th century settlement. 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. 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. The World of Winter Festival is the perfect post-holiday pick-me-up - the ideal way to brighten up the dark, cold months after Christmas. Remember that Minneapolis can get cold, and even feel cool in the summer. Alternatively, tour the galleries and independent shops in the city's downtown area, which showcase the work of the thriving local arts community. Next, turn onto I-80 and head west past Des Moines and Omaha. 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. 11 hours 10 minutes from Chicago (700 miles). The extensive and varied ski slopes here are great for a wide range of skiing abilities. 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. It's also a popular LGBTQ destination. Originally a very rural part of Michigan with a few small towns and their corresponding harbors on the lake, the area has grown into a popular tourist destination. The 2,470-mile road trip from Chicago to San Francisco takes 38 hours to drive. The temperatures surpassed the 136-year-old . It was founded by a group of Swiss settlers from the Swiss canton of Glarus in 1845. Whether you want to hike, climb, bike, ski, snowshoe or simply follow miles of scenic drives to mountaintop lookouts, take your pick in this stunning national park and the surrounding winter sports resorts. Follow the Great River Road as it twists and turns and you will be rewarded with great views the entire way. A quick road trip from Chicago to Milwaukee will take you north along the I-94 to the point where three separate rivers (Milwaukee, Menomonee and the Kinnickinnic) merge and flow into Lake Michigan. Located 90 . Kentucky might only provide about a twenty-degree warm-up, but during the super cold times, those twenty degrees can feel like heaven. The 3 tallest sand dunes are all in the State Park with the tallest, Mount Tom, standing at 192 ft. If you're having issues using the site, please enable JavaScript and refresh your browser. I am actually down for anything, just to get some fresh air and get out of the city. As well as the festive markets that take place across the city, where you can admire beautiful decorations and gifts or enjoy some fabulous food and drink, you can take in a carol concert at the National Cathedral. There's another dozen smaller lakes dotted around which breaks up the city into smaller neighborhoods and adds a lot of character. Other activities include spending the day at Kalapaki or Po'ipu beaches, setting. To get to Louisville from Chicago, you will need to drive the length of Indiana until you reach the Ohio River - St Louis is right across the John F. Kennedy Memorial Bridge. Change your settings: from RV campgrounds 300 miles from Chicago 299 miles north of Chicago: Mowe Lake - Manistique Rapid River Dispersed 297 miles northeast of Chicago: Aloha State Park 300 miles east of Chicago: Orchard View Park Cuyahoga County Fairgrounds 301 miles southeast of Chicago: To make the most of the trip, take a couple of weeks and make a lot of stops along the way. The forest includes a remarkable 289,000 acres of nature adventures to experience.
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