If you need a day trip from Chicago or a weekend getaway from the gigantic city, you don’t have to go far. These escapes – including Amish Country, Indiana; Galena, Illinois; and Lake Geneva, Wisconsin – are within one to three hours’ drive and offer a variety of activities to supercharge your life.
Indiana Dunes: 57 miles southeast of Chicago
This stretch of Lake Michigan shoreline offers wide sandy beaches, towering dunes, great bird watching, uncomplicated biking trails, and engaging history. Head to neighboring Chesterton for artistic burgers at the restaurant Octave grill and have a nice night at Dunes Walk Inn, restored residence from 1881.
Lake Geneva, Wisconsin: 80 miles northwest of Chicago
This resort with 7,600 inhabitants offers summer and winter attractions. Hotels, resorts and restaurants are located on the shores of the lake. Most tourists relax on the beach or swim in the lake in the summer, but the warmth of winter can also be experienced in January and February during the annual Winter festival.
Southwestern Michigan: 70 to 250 miles east of Chicago
Blaine Moat
Cities like New Buffalo, St. Joseph, Benton Harbor, Holland, Saugatuck and Grand Haven offer pristine beaches, great shopping, lakeside dining and front-row views of Lake Michigan sunsets. The most accessible part of this shore extends from the Indiana line 275 miles north to Ludington. How far you go is up to you – each city has its own personality. Ride the carousel in St. Joe, visit a working windmill in the Netherlands or just relax on the beach – preferably with a view of the lighthouse.
Galena, Illinois: 263 miles west of Chicago
Shops and restaurants housed in century-old buildings have long attracted visitors to this city of 3,500 inhabitants. But take some time to hike, cruise on the river or ski the slopes, sip local wines, taste beer and… shop.
Mount Morris, Illinois: 100 miles northwest of Chicago
With rolling terrain, state parks and preserves traversed by the mighty Rick and Mississippi Rivers, and hiking and biking trails crisscrossing the area, the Blackhawk Waterways region of northwestern Illinois offers outdoor recreation bliss. The region also helped shape the childhood of our 40th president, whose children’s home opens its doors to visitors.
Cedarburg, Wisconsin: 180 km north of Chicago
Courtesy of Edmunds Studios
Cedarburg is a great weekend destination for shopping and history buffs alike. Cedarburg has a Main Street listed on the National Register of Historic Places and dozens of limestone buildings that house more than 70 boutiques, chocolate shops and restaurants. Learn about the city’s history on the website General Store Museum and the Kuhefuss House Museum and admire the handicrafts in Wisconsin Quilt and Textile Arts Museum.
Bloomington-Normal, Illinois: 200 km southwest of Chicago
For theater lovers, summer means outdoor Shakespeare. But in lower Illinois, it’s taking a fresh modern form. Want to improvise Shakespeare? Sing Shakespeare? Or maybe just a performance of his classics? Starting in June and ending in mid-August Illinois Shakespeare Festival at Bloomington-Normal discovers his ode to the Bard. Other area attractions: Bloomington’s restored 19th-century buildings house restaurants, shops and live music venues. The three-story courthouse houses a museum showcasing the area’s historic treasures.
Madison, Wisconsin: 230 km northwest of Chicago
This city embraces quirky and elegant art, museums, shops, restaurants and outdoor activities. Even the local farmers’ market is a Czech rhapsody of local products, entertainment, art and political activity in the capital square. Hike the paths and trails on Botanical Garden in Olbrich or University of Wisconsin Arboretum; admire art on Chazen Art Museum or Madison Museum of Contemporary Art; take a leisurely cruise on Lake Mendota or Menonie; and don’t forget to whet your appetite – over 600 restaurants in Madison offer something for every taste.
Rockford, Illinois: 90 miles west of Chicago
Bob Steve
Illinois’ third-largest city has watched travelers zip along Interstate 90 for years on their way east to Chicago. Now, with a revitalized downtown, an emerging culinary scene, modern cultural attractions and stunning public gardens, the word is spreading: it would be crazy not to stop. Calm Anderson’s Japanese Gardens this is just one of the attractions of this area.
Fox River Valley, Illinois: 60 miles west of Chicago
An hour west of Chicago’s Loop, the Fox River provides a soothing backdrop to cities filled with gourmet dining, historic home shopping, and chic accommodations. Three towns along a winding river offer relaxing entertainment with a nod to history: catch a celebrated name while playing historic theater Arcada St. Karol, or just 5 miles south, discover Geneva’s shopping district, where boutiques fill preserved storefronts. Just minutes from Oswego’s quaint Main Street – complete with brick sidewalks – sits a family-owned winery.
Milwaukee: 93 miles north of Chicago
KEVIN J. MIYAZAKI
Art, music and culinary festivals fill the calendar, and the compact city center offers an equally diverse offer. Watch Milwaukee Art Museum the striking Quadracci pavilion opens and closes its “wings”; catch the Milwaukee Brewers Miller Park; to go sightseeing Pabst Manor; or take a simulated motorcycle ride through the Harley-Davidson Museum.
Amish country in Indiana: 180 km east of Chicago
In petite Nappanee, an Amish man parks his cart at the gas pump, a living metaphor for the coexistence of modern and antique in northern Indiana. Some come here for the classic Amish Country: 31 types of cake for Dutchman from Essenhaushand-sewn gifts and homemade jellies at ul Little Helpers Quilt Shoptreasure hunting in Shipshewana Flea Market. But towns like Goshen, Middlebury, and Elkhart are also up-to-date communities.
Starved Rock State Park, Illinois: 100 miles southwest of Chicago
Starved Rock State Park is a remarkable area along the Illinois River, containing 18 sandstone canyons and 14 waterfalls; prosperous nature and birds; Belle of the Rock rowboat tours; and guided tours, special events and interpretive programs. Spend the night in rooms or cottages (and eat a hearty meal) at Hungry Rock Lodge, built in the 1930s by the Civilian Conservation Corps. If you feel like exploring more, visit the neighboring ones as well Matthiessen State Parkwhere 5-kilometer trails cut into a kilometer-long canyon, passing rocks, waterfalls and stunning, sometimes dizzying viewpoints.
South Bend, Indiana: 95 miles east of Chicago
Although it is home to the Fighting Irish, South Bend is not all about football. River St. St. Joseph is a great place to enjoy water sports and provides the perfect backdrop for weekend shopping and dining in the hometown of the University of Notre Dame.
Turkey Run Inn, Indiana: 250 miles south of Chicago
Bob Steve
Sitting in a rocking chair on the porch at the Turkey Run State Park Inn in Indiana gives you the surprising feeling of taking refuge in the depths of the forest. The only sounds? The wind rustles through the trees. Owls hooting. Squirrels are talking. Brooks slurs. Maybe that’s why peaceful types flock here – bird watchers, hikers and history buffs looking to explore Parke County and its covered bridges.
Lake Mills, Wisconsin: 200 km northwest of Chicago
Known for Efraim’s pottery studio and galleryAND trip to Lake Mills also offers plenty of outdoor recreation opportunities at Rock Lake, Zeloski Swamp, and the Glacial Drumlin Bike Trail, as well as a cozy Arts and Crafts-style B&B. Eat crackers and drink wine Lewis Station Winery, and don’t miss James J’s old-fashioned chocolate shop.
Glencoe, Illinois: 25 miles north of Chicago
Glencoe is one of the few cities bordering Chicago on Lake Michigan. North Shore communities seem removed from the hustle and bustle of downtown thanks to the abundance of green spaces, including: Chicago Botanical Garden. Be sure to visit Grosse Point Lighthouse during the Evanston sunset and take a walk on the Green Bay Trail between Winnetka and Highland Park.
Apple River Canyon State Park, Illinois: 230 km west of Chicago
Every day, hundreds of drivers cross the US-20 exit Apple River Canyon State Park, heading for trips to Galena. These travelers admire the view from their car, not realizing that if they want to catch a glimpse of one of the area’s few remaining secrets, they should turn north on Canyon Park Road west of Stockton and drive just 7 miles. The 297-acre Apple River Canyon State Park offers tranquility among the forests along the Apple River. Roam the bluffs. Look for fossils. Listen to wildlife. Fish the river and let the others go to Galena.
Beloit, Wisconsin: 150 km northwest of Chicago
The area is celebrated for its supper clubs that serve nostalgic and generous portions. All this easily goes away with an old-fashioned drink.
Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie: 60 miles southwest of Chicago
Marvel at the landscape that once rolled across the Midwest like an ocean on this restored prairie. Birdwatch, listen to frogs, hike and bike, view wildflowers and relax on 19,000 acres of grounds Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie.
Woodstock, Illinois: 60 miles northwest of Chicago
It’s just a train ride from Chicago, but Woodstock doesn’t feel suburban. The historic town square (celebrated for, among others, groundhog day) is charming, with great home decor shops and a cozy bookstore. Come to summer or annual classes Groundhog Day Festival in the beggining of February.
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