These are five places we have not written about yet, and each one pairs naturally with a spot we have already covered, so think of this as a way to build out a bigger summer itinerary instead of a one-off list.

None of these require an overnight stay. You can leave Chicago in the morning and be home in time for dinner, which makes them easy to slot into a random free Saturday once the kids are out of school.

1. Raging Waves Waterpark, Yorkville, Illinois

If you want an easy water day without driving all the way to Wisconsin Dells, Raging Waves in Yorkville is the closest option. It is Illinois’ largest outdoor waterpark, sitting on 58 acres about 45 minutes southwest of the Loop, with 32 waterslides, a wave pool, a quarter mile lazy river, and three separate kiddie areas for younger children.

Address: 4000 N. Bridge St., Yorkville, IL 60560

Season: Opens for the year in late May and runs through Labor Day weekend Hours: Vary by date, so check the official calendar before you drive out

Cost: Online ticket pricing changes with the date, generally in the $30 to $55 range for a single day pass, with steep drops for kids under 48 inches

From Chicago: About 45 minutes to an hour depending on traffic

Tip: Arrive close to opening if you want good seating and shorter lines, and skip the cooler since outside food and drinks are not allowed inside.

This is the kind of trip that works well as a stand-alone day, or as a cooling-off stop if you are also spending time in the western suburbs.

Visit their website here: Raging Waves Waterpark

2. Warren Dunes State Park, Sawyer, Michigan

For actual sand dunes and a real beach day on Lake Michigan, Warren Dunes is hard to beat. The park covers almost 2,000 acres along three miles of Lake Michigan shoreline, with dunes that rise 260 feet above the water. It has six miles of hiking trails that wind through the dunes and forest, plenty of open beach for swimming, and a dog beach if you are bringing a pet along.

Address: 12032 Red Arrow Highway, Sawyer, MI 49125

Hours: Open daily, 8 a.m. to 10 p.m., year-round

Cost: Michigan Recreation Passport required for entry. Non-residents can buy a day pass at the gate for around $9 per vehicle.

From Chicago: Roughly 1.5 to 2 hours depending on traffic around the Indiana border

Tip: Bring proper shoes for climbing the dunes, since the sand is deep enough to be a workout, and pack an umbrella since shade is limited near the beach.

This pairs well with a Michigan fall colors trip later in the year, since it is in the same part of the state and gives you a reason to return once the leaves change.

Visite their website here: Warren Dunes State Park

3. Matthiessen State Park, Utica, Illinois

If you have already done Starved Rock, Matthiessen is the trip we would send you on next. It sits just a few miles south of Starved Rock in LaSalle County and has its own canyons, waterfalls, and dells that get compared to a smaller, quieter version of its more famous neighbor. The Dells area has an upper and lower loop with a handful of waterfalls, including Cascade Falls, where the canyon drops 45 feet.

Address: Dells Area, off IL-178, about 4 miles south of Utica, IL

Hours: Open daily, roughly 7 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.

Cost: Free

From Chicago: About 1.5 to 2 hours

Tip: The parking lot for the Dells area fills up on weekends and closes to new visitors once it hits capacity, usually mid-morning in summer, so plan to arrive early. Trail conditions can also change quickly after storms, since parts of the park sit right along the Vermilion River, so check current trail closures on the Illinois DNR site before you go.

Since it is so close to Starved Rock, this is an easy add-on if you are already planning that trip, or a lower-key alternative if Starved Rock’s crowds are not your thing.

Check out our complete guide on Starved Rock here.

4. Illinois Prairie Path, Western Suburbs

For a bike day that does not require a full road trip, the Illinois Prairie Path is one of the best options in the Chicago area. It was the first rail-to-trail conversion in the country, built on the old Chicago, Aurora and Elgin Railroad line, and it now stretches around 61 miles through DuPage, Kane, and Cook counties. The crushed limestone surface is easy on tires, and the trail connects small downtowns like Wheaton, Glen Ellyn, Elmhurst, Geneva, and Batavia, so you can ride between towns and stop for lunch along the way.

Main trailhead: 300 S. Carlton Ave., Wheaton, IL

Hours: Open dawn to dusk, no fee

From Chicago: Most trailheads are 30 to 45 minutes from downtown

Tip: Pick a segment instead of trying to ride the whole thing in one day. Wheaton to Geneva along the Elgin Branch and Geneva Spur is a nice half day ride with a good mix of neighborhoods, wetlands, and small downtown stops.

This one is easy to treat as a repeat visit, since you can ride a different branch every summer without covering the same ground twice.

5. Lake Geneva Shore Path, Lake Geneva, Wisconsin

Lake Geneva has been a summer escape for Chicago families since the 1870s, and the Shore Path is the reason why. It winds about 21 miles around the entire lake, passing historic mansions, small public beaches, and wooded stretches of shoreline. You do not need to walk the whole loop. Public access points in downtown Lake Geneva, Fontana, Williams Bay, and Big Foot Beach State Park let you pick a shorter stretch and turn around whenever you are ready.

Suggested starting point: Riviera Beach, Lake Geneva, WI 53147

Hours: Open all seasons, no fee to walk the path itself

From Chicago: About 1.5 hours, roughly 80 miles

Tip: Start at the Lake Geneva Public Library downtown for the easiest, most stroller-friendly stretch of the path, or head to Big Foot Beach State Park if swimming is the main goal for the day.

Pair this with Cave of the Mounds or the Mid-Continent Railway Museum, since both are within reach if you want to turn the day into a longer Wisconsin loop.

Learn more at Visit Lake Geneva.

Tips From Us

• All five of these are doable as day trips, but Warren Dunes and Lake Geneva both work just as well as an overnight if you want to slow the pace down.
• Summer weekends get crowded fast at Matthiessen and Raging Waves specifically, so if your schedule is flexible, a weekday visit will save you a lot of waiting.
• For any of the longer drives, especially Warren Dunes or Lake Geneva, we mapped our stops using Roadtrippers, which we use for pretty much every trip at this point. Use code BTR5QTP for $5 off Roadtrippers Plus.
• Pack a change of clothes for the water stops. Nobody wants a two hour drive home in a wet swimsuit.

Want More Ideas Like This?

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More Adventures

• Best Day Trips from Chicago
• Starved Rock State Park
• Cave of the Mounds Wisconsin

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the best summer day trips from Chicago?

Water parks, sand dunes, hiking trails, and lake towns all make great summer day trips within a couple of hours of Chicago. Raging Waves, Warren Dunes State Park, Matthiessen State Park, the Illinois Prairie Path, and Lake Geneva are five solid options that cover different types of summer activities.

What is the closest water park to Chicago?

Raging Waves Waterpark in Yorkville, Illinois is about 45 minutes from downtown Chicago and is the largest outdoor waterpark in the state.

Are there sand dunes near Chicago?

Yes. Warren Dunes State Park in Sawyer, Michigan has dunes that rise 260 feet above Lake Michigan and sits about 1.5 to 2 hours from Chicago. Indiana Dunes National Park is another option closer to the Illinois border.

Is Matthiessen State Park better than Starved Rock?

They are different experiences rather than one being better. Matthiessen sits a few miles from Starved Rock and has its own canyons and waterfalls, generally with smaller crowds. Many visitors combine both parks into one trip since they are so close together.

How long is the Illinois Prairie Path?

The full trail system runs about 61 miles through Cook, DuPage, and Kane counties. Most riders pick a single branch, such as Wheaton to Geneva, rather than attempting the entire trail in one day.

How far is Lake Geneva from Chicago?

Lake Geneva, Wisconsin is about 80 miles from Chicago, or roughly 1.5 hours by car, making it a common weekend and day trip destination for Chicago families.

Do you need a park pass for Warren Dunes State Park?

Yes. Michigan requires a Recreation Passport for vehicle entry into state parks. Non-Michigan residents can purchase a day pass at the gate for around $9 per vehicle.

Are these day trips good for families with young kids?

Raging Waves has dedicated kiddie areas, the Illinois Prairie Path has flat, easy sections near Wheaton, and the Lake Geneva Shore Path has a paved, stroller-friendly stretch near the downtown library. Matthiessen’s dells trails involve rock hopping and stream crossings, so they work better for older kids who are steady on their feet.

Is Matthiessen State Park currently open?

Parts of the park have experienced trail and waterfall area closures due to storm water and rising river levels in recent weeks. Check the Illinois DNR website for current conditions before planning your visit.

The post Best Summer Day Trips from Chicago 2026: 5 New Spots to Add to Your List appeared first on Lesser Known Adventures.

That’s not exactly how it went. Between the walking tour, the pizza on the fourth floor, and a midnight investigation in the basement morgue that kept us up until 1:30 in the morning, this turned into one of the more memorable overnight stays we have had as a family. We came away with a full appreciation for the history of the place, a few unexplained camera moments, and sore legs from the trails the next morning.

If you are trying to decide whether to book a room at the Crescent Hotel in Eureka Springs (spoiler: DO IT), here is exactly what our stay looked like, along with the practical details you will want before you go.

What Is the Crescent Hotel?

The Crescent Hotel and Spa is an 1886 stone hotel that sits at the top of West Mountain in Eureka Springs, Arkansas. It was built by the Eureka Springs Improvement Company and the Frisco Railroad as a luxury resort for wealthy travelers who came to the area for the natural spring water, and it opened in May of 1886 to a lot of fanfare. Local Irish stonemasons cut and hauled the limestone up the mountain by wagon, and the finished building cost close to $294,000, an enormous sum for the time.

The hotel did not stay a luxury resort forever. In 1902 it became Crescent College, a school for young women that ran through 1934. Then in 1937 came the strangest chapter in its history. A man named Norman Baker bought the building and turned it into a cancer hospital, where he claimed to have a cure made from corn silk and watermelon seeds. He had no medical background and no real cure. Patients died under his care, and he was eventually arrested and imprisoned for mail fraud. In 2019, construction crews found bottles of Baker’s serum and preserved medical specimens buried on the property, which only added to the hotel’s reputation.

The building sat empty and crumbling for stretches of the 20th century before a string of owners tried to bring it back. In 1997, Marty and Elise Roenigk bought the hotel and spent years restoring it room by room, rebuilding the fifth floor that had burned in a 1967 fire and uncovering pieces of the original architecture along the way. Elise still owns the hotel today, and it is now known nationally as America’s Most Haunted Hotel, featured on shows like Ghost Hunters and Ghost Adventures. Walking the halls, you can feel both sides of that history: the elegant Victorian resort and the darker years that followed.

Location and Address

Address: 75 Prospect Avenue, Eureka Springs, AR 72632

Phone: (855) 725-5720

From Chicago: About 590 miles, roughly 9.5 to 10 hours of driving depending on your route through St. Louis and Springfield, Missouri

Nearest town center: The hotel sits above downtown Eureka Springs, close enough to walk down into town but far enough up the mountain that you get views over the whole area

We treated this as a weekend trip rather than a quick day stop, and that is the way to do it. Between the drive, the hotel itself, and the town below, this is not something you rush.

Practical Information

Check-in: 4:00 p.m.

Check-out: 11:00 a.m.

Parking: Free self-parking is available on site, and the lot fills up fast on weekends, so plan to arrive close to check-in time if you can.

Cost: Room rates shift with the season and the room type. Expect somewhere in the $150 to $350 per night range, with rooms tied to ghost stories, like Room 218, sometimes booked out months ahead.

How long to allow: We would build in at least one full day and two nights if your schedule allows it. One night is enough to see the hotel and do a ghost tour, but you will be tired the next day if you also want to hike or explore the town, which we found out firsthand.

Best for: Couples and older kids or teens who can handle a late night and some seriously spooky stories. The Midnight Investigation is not built for young children, though the hotel does run a shorter kids’ ghost tour earlier in the evening for families with younger ones.

Checking In and Settling On the Second Floor

We pulled into the parking lot in the late afternoon and the building does exactly what you hope it will do the moment you see it. The stone exterior, the wraparound porches, and the mountain views make it obvious why this was the fanciest address in Arkansas back in 1886. Walking into the lobby, the original stone fireplace and the wood paneling make it clear the hotel has held onto its Victorian bones even through all the years it spent as a school and a hospital.

Our room was on the second floor, directly across the hall from Room 218. If you know anything about the Crescent, you know that room’s reputation. It is said to be haunted by a young Irish stonemason named Michael, one of the workers who built the hotel in the 1880s. The story goes that he fell from the roof during construction and died in the spot that is now Room 218. Guests over the years have reported flickering lights, doors opening on their own, and a presence that seems to favor women in particular. We did not stay in 218 itself, but being right across the hall meant we walked past that door every single time we came back to our room, which added a little extra edge to an otherwise normal hallway.

Our room itself was comfortable and clearly cared for, with high ceilings and windows that let in a lot of light before the sun went down. We also had one of the balcony rooms, which was nice. We were able to step out at night, and have a cup of coffee in the morning sun.

Nothing about the room felt gimmicky or overly themed. It felt like a real old hotel that has been kept up well, which made the ghost stories land harder later that night.

Dinner at the Top of the Hotel

Once we got settled, we headed up to the fourth floor for dinner at Skybar Gourmet Pizza, the hotel’s rooftop pizza restaurant. The space used to be Dr. Baker’s private apartment and later a bistro before it became Skybar, and it now has an easy, casual feel with both indoor seating and a balcony that looks out over Eureka Springs and the surrounding hills.

We split a couple of specialty pizzas and an order of wings, and everything came out hot and fresh with a crust that held its own against any pizza place we have tried on our travels. The wings were a solid order too, crispy with a good char. If the weather cooperates, ask for a spot on the balcony. Watching the sun go down over the Ozarks while you eat pizza on top of a 19th century hotel is a pretty good way to kick off a night that is about to get considerably stranger.

The Self Guided Walking Tour

After dinner we wandered the halls on our own using the hotel’s self guided historical tour, which starts along the fourth floor hallway and winds through different parts of the building. Small plaques and photos along the way tell the story of the hotel’s different chapters, from the original resort days through the college years and the Baker era.

This part of the evening is easy to underestimate. It is quiet, it is not scheduled, and you can take as long as you want. We found ourselves stopping at old photographs comparing them to what the room or hallway looks like today, and it gave us a much better sense of the building’s layout before our ghost investigation later that night. If you only have time for one free activity at the hotel, this is the one we would point you toward. It costs nothing and it sets up everything else you will do there.

The Midnight Investigation

This was the centerpiece of our trip, and it is different from the standard ghost tour that runs earlier in the evening. Instead of walking through the hotel while a guide tells stories, the Midnight Investigation is led by a paranormal investigator from the Eureka Springs Paranormal Team, and it puts real ghost hunting equipment in your hands.

We met our guide close to midnight and spent the first part of the session hearing the history behind the hotel’s most talked about spirits, including Michael in Room 218 and Theodora, a former cancer patient who is said to still tidy up rooms and search for her keys near Room 419. From there we headed down into the basement, where Norman Baker once ran his fraudulent cancer clinic. The basement still holds the old morgue, complete with the original autopsy table and the walk in cooler that was used to store bodies during the hospital years.

Standing in that room at one in the morning with EMF meters and recording equipment is a different experience than a normal walking tour. Our guide showed us how to use the equipment and let us take turns asking questions into the dark, waiting to see if anything registered. We will not tell you we walked away with undeniable proof of ghosts, because we did not. What we will tell you is that the room is cold in a way that felt different from the rest of the building, the history is heavy once you know what actually happened down there, and by 1:30 a.m. when we finally climbed back up to our room, none of us wanted to be the last one in the hallway.

If you are the kind of family that likes a real scare on a trip rather than a cheesy one, this is worth staying up for.

Breakfast in the Ballroom

We slept later than planned after a 1:30 a.m. finish, but we still made it down for breakfast in the hotel’s dining room, which sits inside what was once the Crystal Ballroom. Sunlight pours in through tall windows and the room still carries the grand feel of the hotel’s original resort days, which made for a nice contrast after a night spent in the basement.

Breakfast covered the classics done well: eggs, biscuits, fresh fruit, and coffee that we needed more than usual that particular morning. After the intensity of the night before, sitting in that bright, elegant room felt like the right way to close out the haunted side of our visit before switching gears to the outdoors.

Hiking the Trails Around the Hotel

The Crescent Hotel sits on 15 acres at the top of the mountain, and there are walking trails right on the property that loop through the wooded grounds. After breakfast we laced up and got out for a hike, which was a good way to shake off the late night and get some fresh Ozark air before heading into town.

The trails are not difficult, more of an easy to moderate walk through trees with some nice overlooks, and they are a good option if you have kids or a dog with you and want to burn off some energy before a long drive home. The hotel also has a dog park on site if you are traveling with a pet.

Exploring Downtown Eureka Springs

We wrapped up our stay with a walk through downtown Eureka Springs, which is an easy stroll down the hill from the hotel. The town itself is worth building extra time for. It is full of Victorian buildings, art galleries, small shops, and winding streets that follow the natural curves of the mountain instead of a normal grid. We poked into a few shops, grabbed coffee, and took in the town before starting the long drive back to Illinois.

If your schedule allows, Eureka Springs alone could fill another full day, so do not feel like you have to rush this part just because checkout is looming.

Tips From Our Visit

• Book Room 218 or a room near it early if you want the haunted history factor. Rooms tied to the ghost stories fill up fast, especially in October.
• The Midnight Investigation runs late, from around midnight to 1:30 a.m., so plan your next day accordingly. We were not exactly sharp the following morning.
• Skybar Gourmet Pizza does not take a lot of reservations, so put your name in early if you are hoping to eat during a busy weekend.
• Bring a light jacket even in warmer months. Both the basement and the hallways can run cooler than you expect, ghosts or no ghosts.
• If you are driving in from the Chicago area like we did, plan for a two day drive with a stop around St. Louis or Springfield, Missouri rather than trying to do it in one push.
• Since we road tripped down, we mapped out gas and food stops using Roadtrippers, which we use for pretty much every long drive at this point. Use code BTR5QTP for $5 off Roadtrippers Plus if you want the upgraded route planning.

Where to Eat

Skybar Gourmet Pizza on the fourth floor is the easiest option since it is inside the hotel, and we would order from there again without hesitation. The hotel’s Crystal Dining Room handles breakfast and is worth planning around, especially if you want to see the old ballroom in daylight. Down in town, Eureka Springs has a good number of small, independent restaurants within walking distance if you want to get off the mountain for a meal.

Before You Go, Grab Our Midwest Hidden Gems Guide

If road trips like this one are your thing, sign up for our newsletter and we will send you our free Casey, Illinois eBook along with our general guide to Midwest hidden gems. It is the same kind of planning we use ourselves before we head out on a trip like this one.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Crescent Hotel in Eureka Springs really haunted?

The hotel is widely known as America’s Most Haunted Hotel, and it has a long documented history of paranormal reports from guests and staff. Whether you believe in ghosts or not, the hotel’s dark history as a fraudulent cancer hospital in the 1930s gives the stories real weight.

What makes Room 218 so haunted?

Room 218 is tied to the story of Michael, an Irish stonemason who is said to have fallen to his death near that spot during the hotel’s construction in the 1880s. Guests have reported flickering lights, doors opening on their own, and an unseen presence in the room ever since.

Can you request to stay in Room 218?

Yes, guests can request Room 218 when booking, though it tends to fill up well ahead of time, especially around Halloween. We stayed across the hall instead, which still put us close enough to feel the history of the space.

What is the Midnight Investigation ghost tour?

It is a late night paranormal event led by a member of the Eureka Springs Paranormal Team. Guests learn the history of the hotel’s ghost stories and then use real investigation equipment in areas like the basement morgue. Ours ran from midnight to 1:30 a.m.

Is the Crescent Hotel good for families with young kids?

It depends on the activity. The hotel itself and the self guided walking tour work fine for families. The regular evening ghost tour and the Midnight Investigation are more intense, and the hotel offers a separate kids’ ghost tour designed for children ages 5 to 12 with an adult.

What is there to eat at the Crescent Hotel?

Skybar Gourmet Pizza on the fourth floor serves pizza, wings, salads, and drinks with a view over Eureka Springs. The hotel’s Crystal Dining Room handles breakfast inside the old ballroom, and downtown Eureka Springs has plenty of restaurants within walking distance.

How far is the Crescent Hotel from Chicago?

It is about 590 miles from the Chicago area, which comes out to roughly 9.5 to 10 hours of driving. We treated it as a two day drive each way with a stop around St. Louis or Springfield, Missouri.

Are there hiking trails at the Crescent Hotel?

Yes, the property sits on 15 acres at the top of West Mountain with walking trails through the grounds. It is a good, easy hike to do the morning after a late night at the hotel.

What is downtown Eureka Springs like?

It is a small Victorian town built into the side of a mountain, with winding streets, art galleries, and shops within an easy walk of the hotel. It is worth setting aside extra time beyond your hotel stay.

What time is check-in and check-out at the Crescent Hotel?

Check-in is at 4:00 p.m. and check-out is at 11:00 a.m. Parking fills up on weekends, so we would recommend arriving close to check-in time if your schedule allows it.

The post The Crescent Hotel and Spa: A Haunted Night in Eureka Springs, Arkansas appeared first on Lesser Known Adventures.

We have hiked it in the heat of summer, watched the fall colors come in over the bluffs, and done the trails after a rainstorm when every waterfall was running full and our boots came back covered in mud. We have taken our dog out there more times than we can count. It is one of those parks that just works for a day trip no matter what you are in the mood for.

This is everything you need to know before you visit, including current trail closures that are in effect right now for summer 2026.

Want to check out more summer trip ideas around Illinois? Be sure to check out part one of our top picks for family summer fun!

Where Is Starved Rock State Park?

Starved Rock is located in Utica, Illinois in LaSalle County, about 100 miles southwest of Chicago. The park address is 2668 E. 950th Road, Oglesby, IL 61348.

From Chicago take I-80 West to Route 178 South. The drive runs about 1.5 to 2 hours depending on traffic. It is a very easy highway drive with a straightforward exit right to the park entrance.

If you are planning to visit Matthiessen State Park on the same trip, which we highly recommend, it is only about 10 minutes from Starved Rock. More on that below.

Is Starved Rock State Park Free?

Yes. Starved Rock State Park is free to enter. There is no admission fee and no parking fee. You just show up, park, and start hiking. For a destination this good, that is hard to believe.

Important: Trail Closures for Summer 2026

Before you go, know that several trails are currently closed for construction and will be through June 2026. Here is what is unavailable right now:

French Canyon access from the visitor center and Lodge parking lot is closed. The Brown Bluff Trail directly above French Canyon is closed. The Campanula Trail between the bluffs of French and Wildcat Canyons is closed. Tonti Canyon and Tonti Bridge remain closed. The west side trail from LaSalle Canyon to Tonti Canyon is closed.

French Canyon is one of the most popular spots in the park so this is worth knowing before you arrive. You can still access the west side of the park including St. Louis Canyon by using the St. Louis Canyon parking lot off Route 178, directly across from Grand Bear Lodge.

Check the current trail conditions at the Illinois DNR website before your visit since closures can change. The Visitor Center also posts current trail status.

The Canyons: What to Expect

The main draw at Starved Rock is the canyon system. There are 18 canyons carved out over millions of years by glacial meltwater. Each one has its own character and no two look alike. Most involve hiking down into a canyon, walking along the canyon floor, and then climbing back out. That means stairs. A lot of stairs in some cases. Wear shoes with good grip because after any rainfall the wooden boardwalks and stone steps get slippery fast.

Our boots were basically unrecognizable after one particular visit following a rainstorm. Worth it though. The waterfalls after a good rain are on a completely different level than what you see on a dry day.

St. Louis Canyon

One of the most scenic and most accessible canyons in the park. The trail leads through narrow canyon walls to a beautiful seasonal waterfall. Under two miles round trip and rated moderate. This is accessible right now even with the current French Canyon closure since it has its own parking lot off Route 178.

Wildcat Canyon

Home to the tallest waterfall in the park, which drops over 100 feet from the sandstone cliffs above. Wildcat Canyon is one of the highlights of any Starved Rock visit. In winter, ice climbers come here to scale the frozen falls which is a wild thing to watch.

LaSalle Canyon

One of the larger canyons with a beautiful waterfall at the back. The hike in is relatively straightforward and the payoff at the end is worth it. Good option if you want a canyon that feels a little less crowded than some of the ones closer to the main visitor center.

Starved Rock Overlook

The park’s namesake overlook sits atop a 125-foot sandstone butte above the Illinois River. The view from the top looking out over the river valley is one of the best in the whole park. It is also a good spot for bald eagle watching in winter when the eagles congregate along the river.

Lover’s Leap Overlook and Eagle Cliff Overlook

Both of these are on the same bluff loop and one set of stairs gets you to both. Lover’s Leap has panoramic river views and is tied to a Native American legend. Eagle Cliff is one of the best bald eagle viewing spots in the park. Do both on the same hike.

Trails at Starved Rock

The park has over 13 miles of hiking trails spread across three color-coded trail systems. Brown markers, green markers, and red markers make navigation pretty straightforward. Download the trail map from the Illinois DNR website before you leave home since cell service inside the canyons is unreliable.

Trail difficulty ranges from easy paved loops to moderate canyon hikes with significant stair sections. Most visitors can handle the moderate trails with decent footwear. The trails are suitable for kids of various ages as long as they are comfortable with stairs and uneven terrain.

A few things to keep in mind on the trails. The sandstone is fragile and cliff edges are unstable so stay on designated paths. Rock climbing is prohibited on all formations. Swimming is not allowed in any canyons or waterfalls. Dogs are welcome on all trails but must be on a leash at all times.

Starved Rock with Dogs

Our dog has been to Starved Rock more times than we can count and he always has a great time. Dogs are allowed on all trails as long as they are leashed. Most of the terrain is manageable for dogs though the canyon stairs can be a bit tricky for older dogs or very small ones. Bring water for your dog since the canyon hiking is more demanding than it looks. Dogs are not allowed in the lodge or visitor center but they can hang out outside.

Best Time to Visit Starved Rock

Every season at Starved Rock has something going for it and we have been in most of them.

Spring (March through May) is when the waterfalls are at their absolute best. Snowmelt and spring rain keep the falls running hard and the canyons feel alive. Wildflowers start coming in by late April. This is our favorite time to go if we can make it work. The crowds are lighter than summer and the temperatures are comfortable for hiking.

Summer (June through August) is peak season and for good reason. The park is fully open, the trails are green, and the Illinois River is beautiful from the bluff overlooks. Weekends get crowded, especially July. Go early in the morning to beat the crowds and get the best parking. Weekday visits in summer are a completely different experience from weekend ones. The waterfalls can slow down significantly in dry summer stretches but after any rain they come back strong. We have had some of our best Starved Rock days in summer.

Fall (September through November) is the second best time to visit. The foliage from the bluff overlooks in October is one of the best fall color views in Illinois. The trails thin out a bit compared to summer and the temperatures are perfect for longer hikes. Early October is the sweet spot.

Winter is the one season we have not done at Starved Rock but it apparently has its own appeal. Bald eagles concentrate along the Illinois River from December through February and eagle watching from the bluffs is a popular winter activity. The frozen waterfalls in the canyons are also something people talk about. The wooden boardwalks can be icy so microspikes or good traction footwear are important.

What to Bring

Good hiking shoes are non-negotiable. The canyon trails have uneven terrain, rocky sections, and wooden boardwalks that get slick when wet. We have done it in regular sneakers and it is fine on dry days, but after any rain you want something with real grip. Our boots after a post-rainstorm visit were genuinely impressive in terms of mud coverage.

Bring water and more of it than you think you need. The canyon hiking is more physical than it looks on the map and there are no water sources along most of the trails.

Download the trail map before you leave. Cell service in the canyons is unreliable and you do not want to be navigating by memory at the bottom of a sandstone canyon.

Layers in spring and fall. The canyon floors are cooler than the bluff tops and the temperature can feel different depending on where you are in the park.

If you are bringing kids, bring snacks. The trails require more energy than they look and a hungry kid in the middle of a canyon hike is not a fun situation.

Starved Rock Lodge

We have never stayed overnight at Starved Rock Lodge but it is absolutely on our list. The lodge is a beautiful historic building right inside the park, originally built by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930s. It has guest rooms, cabins, and a full restaurant and bar with views of the park.

The restaurant is worth a stop even if you are just there for the day. The lodge dining room serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner and has the kind of classic Midwest lodge feel that matches the park perfectly. Many visitors make a point of starting their Starved Rock day with breakfast at the lodge before hitting the trails.

The lodge is one of the most booked properties in Illinois on fall and spring weekends so if you want to stay you need to plan ahead. Check availability and rates at starvedrocklodge.com.

Matthiessen State Park: The Hidden Gem Next Door

If you are making the drive to Starved Rock, do not skip Matthiessen State Park. It is about 10 minutes away and in some ways we like it even more than Starved Rock. It is less crowded, it has its own canyon and waterfall system, and it has a completely different feel from Starved Rock despite being so close.

The thing everyone remembers about Matthiessen is the stairs. To get down into the canyon area you descend a significant number of stairs and it can feel like a lot on the way in. Read any review of Matthiessen and someone will mention the stairs. Once you are down there though it is absolutely worth it. Emerald green water, dramatic rock walls, and a quiet that you do not get at busier spots in the Starved Rock area.

Matthiessen is also free to enter. The parking lot is small so arrive early on weekends.

We almost always try to visit both in the same day. Do Starved Rock in the morning, grab lunch, then head to Matthiessen in the afternoon for a different kind of experience. It makes for a full and very satisfying day trip.

Where to Eat Near Starved Rock

Starved Rock Lodge Restaurant is inside the park and the most convenient option. Great for breakfast before a morning hike or lunch in the middle of the day.

Big Basin Brewing in Utica is a local brewery with good food and a relaxed atmosphere. Worth a stop for a post-hike meal.

Duffy’s Tavern in Utica is a local institution for burgers and bar food. Very much a Utica tradition after a day at the park.

Utica is a small town right outside the park entrance and has a handful of good local restaurants and shops worth exploring after your hike.

Practical Information

Address: 2668 E. 950th Road, Oglesby, IL 61348

Admission: Free

Parking: Free, multiple lots throughout the park

Visitor Center hours: 9 am to 4 pm daily

Drive from Chicago: About 1.5 to 2 hours via I-80 West to Route 178 South

Dogs: Allowed on all trails, must be leashed

Swimming: Not permitted in canyons or waterfalls

Cell service: Limited inside canyons, download trail map before you go

Tips From Our Visits

Go early on weekends. The main parking lots fill up on summer and fall weekends by mid-morning. Arriving by 8 or 9 am makes a significant difference in both parking and how crowded the trails feel.

Check the weather and go after rain. The waterfalls at Starved Rock are fed by rainfall and after a good storm they are on a completely different level. One of our most memorable visits was right after a rainstorm. The canyons were running full, the waterfalls were loud, and the whole park felt alive. Just wear the right shoes.

Visit Matthiessen on the same trip. It takes maybe 10 extra minutes of driving and doubles what you see in a day. The stairs are worth it.

Bring a printed or downloaded trail map. Cell service disappears in the canyons and the trail junctions can get confusing without a reference.

Use Roadtrippers to plan your stops along the route. There are some great spots in the area beyond the park that are worth knowing about. Use code BTR5QTP for $5 off the premium subscription.

More Illinois Adventures

Starved Rock is our most-visited park in Illinois, but the state has a lot more worth exploring. If you are looking for other great day trips from Chicago, check out our complete guide to the best day trips from Chicago.

For more quirky and off-the-beaten-path Illinois destinations, the Casey Illinois Big Things Small Town guide is one of our favorites.

And if you want to keep exploring the Midwest, browse our full Illinois adventures archive for everything we have covered.

Looking for more Illinois adventures? Browse our full collection of Illinois travel guides for more hidden gems and day trips across the state.

Starved Rock is one of the best Midwest day trips you can make from Chicago — under two hours each way with a full day of canyon hiking waiting for you.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Starved Rock State Park free?

Yes. Starved Rock State Park is completely free to enter and there is no parking fee. It is one of the best free day trips available within a few hours of Chicago.

How far is Starved Rock from Chicago?

About 100 miles southwest of Chicago, which works out to roughly 1.5 to 2 hours by car via I-80 West to Route 178 South. It is a very easy and straightforward drive.

Are dogs allowed at Starved Rock State Park?

Yes. Dogs are welcome on all trails at Starved Rock State Park as long as they are kept on a leash at all times. We have taken our dog there many times, and he loves it. Bring water for your dog since the canyon hiking is more demanding than it looks.

What is the best time to visit Starved Rock?

Spring is the best time to see the waterfalls at full force since they are fed by snowmelt and rain. Fall is excellent for the foliage views from the bluff overlooks. Summer is peak season with full trail access and warm temperatures, just go early on weekends to beat the crowds. All seasons have something worth seeing.

Are there waterfalls at Starved Rock?

Yes. Each of the 18 canyons has a seasonal waterfall. They are most active in spring after snowmelt and after rainfall in any season. In dry summer stretches some of the smaller falls slow down considerably, but after any significant rain they come back strong. Wildcat Canyon has the tallest waterfall in the park at over 100 feet.

How long does it take to hike Starved Rock?

It depends entirely on how many canyons you want to see. A quick visit to two or three canyons near the main visitor center takes about 2 hours. A full day covering multiple canyon loops and both bluff overlooks can take 5 to 6 hours. Most families plan on 3 to 4 hours as a comfortable middle ground.

Can you swim at Starved Rock?

No. Swimming is not permitted in any of the canyons or waterfalls at Starved Rock State Park.

Is Matthiessen State Park near Starved Rock?

Yes. Matthiessen State Park is about 10 minutes from Starved Rock and has its own canyon and waterfall system. It is less crowded than Starved Rock and a great add-on to any visit. The hike down into the canyon involves a significant number of stairs, but the scenery at the bottom makes it worth it. It is also free to enter.

The post Starved Rock State Park: Complete Visitor Guide appeared first on Lesser Known Adventures.

The best part? All of these Halloween events are just a short drive away, making it easy to dive into the spooky spirit without venturing too far from home.

From Nightmare on Chicago Street in Elgin, where the entire downtown transforms into a massive zombie-themed block party, to Six Flags Fright Fest, packed with haunted attractions and scream-inducing roller coasters, there are Halloween events near Chicago that cater to every kind of thrill-seeker. You can also explore House on the Rock: The Dark Side, an eerie twist on a quirky Wisconsin landmark, or check out the Volo Auto Museum Halloween Experience, which combines classic cars with spooky Halloween decor for a one-of-a-kind experience. And if you’re in the mood for a good scare, don’t miss our roundup of some of the top haunted houses in the area, guaranteed to make your heart race.

These five Halloween events near Chicago offer the perfect mix of thrills, chills, and fun for everyone. So, if you’re ready to make the most of the Halloween season, keep reading for all the details on these must-visit spooky destinations that Chicago residents are raving about this year!

If you want a real life haunted experience, check out our stay at one of the most haunted hotels in America, the Crescent Hotel and Spa in Eureka Springs Arkansas.

1. Nightmare on Chicago Street (Elgin, IL)

If you’re searching for one of the most immersive Halloween events near Chicago, Nightmare on Chicago Street is an absolute must. Held on October 19, 2024, from 6 PM to 11 PM, this annual event transforms downtown Elgin into a post-apocalyptic nightmare zone filled with zombies, survivors, and epic chaos.

Imagine walking through streets filled with barricades, crashed cars, and fog, while costumed actors—some as zombies, others as rogue survivors—create an eerie atmosphere that feels like you’ve stepped into a horror movie.

The event offers multiple stages of live music, performances, and themed bars. You’ll also find interactive areas, street performers, and incredible photo opportunities at every turn. Whether you’re entering the costume contests or simply taking in the electrifying sights, Nightmare on Chicago Street is the perfect blend of fun and frights.

Why You Should Go:
It’s one of the largest Halloween festivals near Chicago, offering an unparalleled atmosphere. The event’s interactive, immersive nature makes it perfect for those who love getting lost in a full-scale Halloween experience.

Distance from Chicago: ~45 minutes
Date: October 19, 2024, from 6 PM to 11 PM
Website: Nightmare on Chicago Street

2. Six Flags Great America – Fright Fest (Gurnee, IL)

Among the biggest Halloween events Chicago locals can attend is Fright Fest at Six Flags Great America. During the day, the park offers family-friendly fun, but at night, it transforms into a haunting experience filled with chilling attractions. This year, Fright Fest boasts newly licensed haunted houses based on some of the most famous horror franchises:

• Stranger Things: Explore the Upside Down and try to escape the Demogorgon’s terrifying lair.
• Saw: Experience Jigsaw’s gruesome games and survive deadly traps.
• Texas Chainsaw Massacre: Step into Leatherface’s twisted world, where chainsaws roar and horrors lurk around every corner.

In addition to these new licensed haunts, two original mazes return for Fright Fest:

• Big Top Terror: A twisted circus experience where clowns and other carnival freaks emerge from the shadows to terrify anyone who dares enter their tent.
• The Estate at Wretched Meadows: This haunted mansion attraction is filled with ghoulish spirits, creepy antiques, and cursed secrets waiting to be uncovered in its haunted halls.

Why You Should Go:
Fright Fest combines world-class roller coasters with thrilling haunted attractions. With the addition of new licensed houses from popular horror franchises, this year promises even more intense scares.

Distance from Chicago: ~1 hour
Dates: September 14 – November 3 Weekends
Website: Six Flags Great America Fright Fest

See more Fright Fest here.

3. The House on the Rock – The Dark Side (Spring Green, WI)

The House on the Rock is one of the most unique Halloween events near Chicago. It takes on a terrifying twist during the Halloween season with The Dark Side. This sprawling attraction is already known for its bizarre collection of artifacts. It becomes even more unsettling as dim lighting, creepy sound effects, and eerie actors add to the experience.

Visitors wander through themed sections that become progressively more disturbing, with mechanical creatures and strange, haunted displays around every corner. From the giant indoor carousel to rooms filled with oddities, The Dark Side creates an unsettling yet captivating atmosphere for those who enjoy a more surreal Halloween adventure.

Why You Should Go:
It’s not your typical haunted house—The House on the Rock mixes surrealism with horror for a one-of-a-kind experience that’s both artistic and chilling.

Distance from Chicago: ~3 hours
Dates: Select Nights Through October
Website: House on the Rock Dark Side

See more of The House on the Rock here.

4. Volo Auto Museum – Halloween Experience Trolley Tour (Volo, IL)

For a more family-friendly Halloween event near Chicago, Volo Auto Museum’s Halloween Experience Trolley Tour is a fun and spooky adventure. The trolley ride takes visitors around the museum’s grounds, sharing ghost stories and eerie legends. While this tour provides just the right amount of Halloween spirit for families, it still delivers a spooky experience with haunted exhibits and festive decorations.

Inside the museum, vintage cars and Hollywood props get a seasonal makeover, with exhibits that include famous cars from horror movies. The haunted barn and other ghostly spots add an extra layer of spookiness without being too intense for younger visitors.

Why You Should Go:
This is a great option for families and history enthusiasts who want to enjoy the Halloween season without the extreme scares of other haunted attractions.

Distance from Chicago: ~1 hour
Dates: Select Dates September 20th – November 3rd
Website: Volo Auto Museum Halloween Experience

See more on the Volo Museum here.

5. Haunted Houses Around Chicago

For those seeking intense scares, Halloween events near Chicago wouldn’t be complete without visiting one of the area’s top haunted houses. Here are five of the best haunted house attractions within an hour of the city:

• 13th Floor Haunted House (Schiller Park, IL): Famous for its cutting-edge special effects and immersive themes like Lycan’s Curse and Alien Autopsy.
  Website
  
• HellsGate Haunted House (Lockport, IL): Set in the woods, this haunted mansion features secret passages, a basement slide, and a terrifying zombie-infested cemetery.
  Website
  
• Dungeon of Doom (Zion, IL): A 60-minute haunt filled with disturbing rooms like Dead Clown Alley and The Sanctuary.
  Website
  
• Old Joliet Haunted Prison (Joliet, IL): Set inside a real abandoned prison, this haunted house offers an authentic eerie experience with attractions like Cell Block 13 and Inmates Row.
  Website
  
• Midnight Terror Haunted House (Oak Lawn, IL): Spanning 26,000 square feet, this haunted house features intense scenes and plenty of jump scares for a nightmarish adventure.
  Website
  

Why You Should Go:
These haunted houses are some of the scariest Halloween events in Chicago and beyond. With elaborate sets, live actors, and terrifying themes, they offer the ultimate Halloween adrenaline rush.

Distance from Chicago: ~30-60 minutes
(Best time to visit: Mid-September through early November)

Plan Your Spooky Day Trip for Halloween Events in Chicago

From immersive haunted festivals to spine-chilling haunted houses, these Halloween events near Chicago promise unforgettable thrills. Whether you’re seeking heart-pounding scares or family-friendly fun, these destinations are the perfect way to celebrate Halloween.

And remember to be sure to check out our post of the haunted Crescent Hotel and Spa in Eureka Springs Arkansas next!

The post 5 Best Halloween Events Near Chicago That Locals Love appeared first on Lesser Known Adventures.

Let’s dive into five offbeat museums you’ve never heard of, but absolutely need to visit!

1. The International Clown Hall of Fame and Research Center – Baraboo, Wisconsin

A Unique Midwest Destination

Nestled in Baraboo, Wisconsin, once the winter home of the Ringling Brothers Circus, the International Clown Hall of Fame and Research Center is a tribute to the timeless art of clowning.

Step into this museum and be transported through a century of costumes, props, and photos that highlight the evolution of clowns in popular culture. The museum also honors legendary clowns like Emmett Kelly and Red Skelton with personal memorabilia and heartwarming stories of their careers.

Why It’s a Must-See:

This museum doesn’t just celebrate clowns; it’s a celebration of circus history. The bright and colorful exhibits offer a fascinating insight into a form of entertainment that has been making people laugh for centuries. It’s perfect for families or anyone with an appreciation for performance art.

While You’re There:

Don’t miss the Circus World Museum, another hidden gem that dives deeper into circus history with performances, exhibits, and restored wagons. Baraboo’s charming small-town atmosphere also makes it an ideal weekend getaway.

Learn more about the International Clown of Hall of Fame here.

2. SPAM Museum – Austin, Minnesota

A Fun Stop in Minnesota

Dedicated to the iconic canned meat product, the SPAM Museum in Austin, Minnesota, is a destination unlike any other. The museum’s lighthearted approach to telling the story of SPAM makes it a fun and interactive experience.

You’ll explore SPAM’s role in World War II, its rise to fame in Hawaii, and its current global reach. The museum also features cooking demonstrations, hands-on exhibits, and—of course—SPAM tastings.

Why It’s a Must-See:

SPAM has transcended its humble beginnings to become a cultural icon. The museum is quirky, fun, and full of interesting trivia about one of America’s most unusual foods. Whether you love it or hate it, the SPAM Museum is sure to leave a lasting impression.

While You’re There:

Explore Austin’s charming downtown, where local shops and cafes serve up SPAM dishes. Consider extending your stay with a visit to the Jay C. Hormel Nature Center, a beautiful spot for hiking and bird watching.

Learn more about the Spam Museum here.

3. American Sign Museum – Cincinnati, Ohio

A Nostalgic Stop in Ohio

Located in the heart of Cincinnati, the American Sign Museum is a nostalgic journey through America’s advertising history.

This 20,000-square-foot museum showcases neon signs, hand-painted billboards, and lightbulb-studded advertisements that once adorned Main Streets across the country. From gas stations to motels, the collection spans the evolution of American signage from the late 1800s to the present day.

Why It’s a Must-See:

The sheer visual appeal of the museum is what makes it so special. Walking through its neon-lit aisles feels like stepping back in time. It’s not just for graphic designers or history buffs—anyone will appreciate the artistry and craftsmanship behind these signs.

While You’re There:

Make a day of it by visiting Cincinnati’s Over-the-Rhine district. Known for its 19th-century architecture, vibrant arts scene, and local breweries, it’s a great place to soak in the city’s culture after your museum visit.

Learn more about the American Sign Museum here.

4. National Mustard Museum – Middleton, Wisconsin

Hidden Gem for Foodies

Mustard might seem like an unlikely subject for a museum, but the National Mustard Museum in Middleton, Wisconsin, turns this humble condiment into a fascinating attraction.

With over 6,000 jars of mustard from all over the world, it’s a testament to the global love for this zesty condiment. The museum also has a tasting bar, where you can try mustards ranging from classic yellow to exotic fruit-infused varieties.

Why It’s a Must-See:

Few museums offer the opportunity to laugh, learn, and taste at the same time. The National Mustard Museum’s quirky exhibits are both educational and humorous, making it a surprisingly delightful stop for foodies and curious travelers alike.

While You’re There:

After sampling some mustards, take a stroll through Middleton’s downtown area, where you’ll find artisan shops and cafes. For nature lovers, the nearby Pheasant Branch Conservancy offers beautiful walking trails and wildlife viewing.

Learn more about the National Mustard Museum here.

5. The House on the Rock – Spring Green, Wisconsin

A Truly Unusual Travel Destination

Arguably one of the most unusual travel destinations in the Midwest, The House on the Rock is part museum, part architectural wonder, and part fantasy world.

Built by Alex Jordan in the 1940s, this sprawling, eccentric attraction houses bizarre collections, including a room filled with automated musical instruments, a massive carousel, and a life-sized replica of a whale fighting a giant squid. Each room reveals something more bizarre than the last, making it a truly unique experience.

Why It’s a Must-See:

There’s nothing quite like The House on the Rock. It’s a surreal adventure through the mind of an eccentric collector, with every room offering something more unusual and unexpected. The carousel alone—filled with hundreds of figures—is worth the visit.

While You’re There:

Spring Green is also home to Frank Lloyd Wright’s Taliesin, which contrasts sharply with The House on the Rock’s chaotic design. A visit to both attractions offers a fascinating study in architectural styles. Don’t forget to explore the scenic Driftless Area, known for its rolling hills and picturesque landscapes.

Learn more about the House on the Rock here.

You can also watch our videos from our visit to the House on the Rock.

They also decorate for the holiday season with Christmas at The House on the Rock. It’s packed to the brim with 1000s of Santa’s and more, and a must-see for the holiday enthusiast.

Be sure to check out our full post on our visit to the House on the Rock here.

Why Explore Unusual Travel Destinations?

Visiting offbeat museums like these offers a fresh perspective on the Midwest and provides travel experiences that go beyond the typical tourist stops.

These quirky attractions let you discover niche histories and local cultures, making your journey as memorable as the destinations themselves.

If you’re someone who loves the weird and wonderful, these unusual travel destinations in the Midwest should definitely be on your radar.

Book Recommendations*

We pick up as many books as possible to throw in the car when we’re out traveling around. Like we’ve said in the past, we love to pick a direction and go. Sometimes we’ll drive 10 hours in any random direction. You’ll find a lot of cool stuff this way. But having one of these books will help you find some cool spots you may have missed.

1. Weird Illinois

“Your Travel Guide to Illinois’ Local Legends and Best Kept Secrets.” Part of the Weird U.S. series, this book was one of our first and favorites.

Pick up Weird Illinois here.

Find the rest of the Weird U.S. books here.

2. Oddball Illinois

“A Guide to 450 Really Strange Places.” Another one of our favorites, and again part of the larger Oddball series. We own a copy of each of the states around us here in Illinois. A little more family friendly.

You can pick up the Illinois edition here.

Other versions available:
Oddball Wisconsin
Oddball Iowa
Oddball Minnesota
Oddball Michigan

3. Midwest Road Trip Adventures

“Exploring America’s Heartland, One Scenic Drive at a Time; Road Trip Book and Unique Travel Destinations.” Another great Midwest road trip book.

Check it out here.

4. Midwest Road Trip Adventures

We picked this up from the last Travel and Adventure Show here in Chicago, and glad we did. It’s a fun book with more ideas and stories written by several authors.

You can pick it up here.

“Midwest Road Trip Adventures takes travelers along some of the most storied highways and byways in this unique and spectacular region of the United States. There’s so much more to the Midwest than you might have imagined, so let our authors guide you on your journey through America’s heartland.”

5. Secret Chicago

One last one, Secret Chicago. This is again part of a larger series of books, so there may be one closer to you. “A Guide to the Weird, Wonderful, and Obscure”

Pick up the Chicago version here.

Find the rest of the series here.

* All of these links are Amazon Affiliates, and help us in a small way find and create new content. We truly appreciate any support. If any of these books seem like something you’d like to check out, that’d be awesome. We own the ones I’ve highlighted (and a lot more), and love them.

The post 5 Unusual Travel Destinations In The Midwest You’ve Never Heard Of appeared first on Lesser Known Adventures.

Exploring Chicago and Beyond

When most people think of Chicago, the usual suspects come to mind. Navy Pier, Millennium Park, the Magnificent Mile.

And sure, those are great. But Chicago and the surrounding area have a whole other side that most visitors never see.

We’ve been exploring the Windy City and its suburbs for years and have put together this list of hidden gems, underrated day trips, and lesser known spots that are absolutely worth your time.

Whether you’re a local or planning a visit, here are some things to do in Chicago and its nearby areas that often fly under the radar:

Ricobene’s Famous Breaded Steak Sandwich

Before heading out of town, make sure to stop by Ricobene’s for their legendary breaded steak sandwich. A true Chicago classic, this hearty sandwich is packed with perfectly breaded steak, marinara sauce, and melted cheese, all wrapped up in a fresh roll.

Known as one of the best sandwiches in Chicago, Ricobene’s has been serving up this local favorite for decades. Whether you’re grabbing a bite before your next adventure or capping off a day of exploring, a visit to Ricobene’s is a must!

Volo Auto Museum — Volo, Illinois

About an hour north of Chicago in Volo, Illinois, the Volo Auto Museum is one of the most underrated family destinations in the entire Midwest.

The museum houses a massive collection of antique cars, vintage motorcycles, and actual movie and TV cars you will recognize immediately. It’s endlessly fun for car enthusiasts and casual visitors alike and the whole family will find something to love.

You can check out one of a few videos we’ve made on the Volo Museum on our YouTube channel here.

Six Flags Great America — Gurnee, Illinois

Thrill-seekers will love visiting Six Flags Great America, a massive theme park situated just a short drive north of Chicago. With adrenaline-pumping roller coasters, family-friendly rides, and a water park, it’s a fantastic day trip for families and adventure lovers alike.

Check out our video on Six Flags Fright Fest here.

Route 66 — Start Your Road Trip in Chicago

One of the most iconic road trips in America starts right here in Chicago. Route 66 offers a nostalgic drive through charming small towns and historic landmarks. Whether you’re planning a cross-country journey or just taking a short trip down memory lane, it’s a hidden treasure that shouldn’t be overlooked.

Check out our trip on Route 66 here. It was one of the best road trips we’ve ever taken, and what kicked off wanting to build this page of ours!

Discover More Hidden Gems

From secret gardens tucked away in the city to quirky museums, there’s no shortage of things to do in Chicago that many people don’t know about. These hidden gems add an extra layer of charm and wonder to an already fascinating city.

Check out the recent ApartmentGuide article we were featured in:

While Chicago has plenty of icons that draw travelers from near and far, true Chicagoans know exactly where to find unique adventures that will help you get to know the real Windy City. Maybe you are looking for a rental house in Chicago to test the waters, or you want to buy a home near the heart of the city, or maybe your goal is to find an apartment overlooking Lake Michigan. Regardless of what you are looking for, these 16 hidden gems in Chicago are bound to make you feel home.

Read the full article here: 16 Hidden Gems in Chicago, IL | ApartmentGuide.com

Book Recommendations*

We pick up as many books as possible to throw in the car when we’re out traveling around. Like we’ve said in the past, we love to pick a direction and go. Sometimes we’ll drive 10 hours in any random direction. You’ll find a lot of cool stuff this way. But having one of these books will help you find some cool spots you may have missed.

1. Weird Illinois

“Your Travel Guide to Illinois’ Local Legends and Best Kept Secrets.” Part of the Weird U.S. series, this book was one of our first and favorites.

Pick up Weird Illinois here.

Find the rest of the Weird U.S. books here.

2. Oddball Illinois

“A Guide to 450 Really Strange Places.” Another one of our favorites, and again part of the larger Oddball series. We own a copy of each of the states around us here in Illinois. A little more family friendly.

You can pick up the Illinois edition here.

Other versions available:
Oddball Wisconsin
Oddball Iowa
Oddball Minnesota
Oddball Michigan

3. Midwest Road Trip Adventures

“Exploring America’s Heartland, One Scenic Drive at a Time; Road Trip Book and Unique Travel Destinations.” Another great Midwest road trip book.

Check it out here.

4. Midwest Road Trip Adventures

We picked this up from the last Travel and Adventure Show here in Chicago, and glad we did. It’s a fun book with more ideas and stories written by several authors.

You can pick it up here.

“Midwest Road Trip Adventures takes travelers along some of the most storied highways and byways in this unique and spectacular region of the United States. There’s so much more to the Midwest than you might have imagined, so let our authors guide you on your journey through America’s heartland.”

5. Secret Chicago

One last one, Secret Chicago. This is again part of a larger series of books, so there may be one closer to you. “A Guide to the Weird, Wonderful, and Obscure”

Pick up the Chicago version here.

Find the rest of the series here.

* All of these links are Amazon Affiliates, and help us in a small way find and create new content. We truly appreciate any support. If any of these books seem like something you’d like to check out, that’d be awesome. We own the ones I’ve highlighted (and a lot more), and love them.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the best hidden gems in Chicago? Some of our favorites include Ricobene’s for the best sandwich in the city, the Volo Auto Museum just outside the city, the start of Route 66, and the lesser known neighborhoods on the south and west sides that most tourists never explore.

What is there to do near Chicago that most tourists don’t know about? The suburbs around Chicago are packed with underrated destinations. The Volo Auto Museum, Six Flags Great America, the Illinois stretch of Route 66, Cave of the Mounds in Wisconsin, and the Mid-Continent Railway Museum are all within a few hours and rarely overcrowded.

Is the Volo Auto Museum worth visiting? Yes, absolutely. It is one of the most unique museums in the Midwest and great for all ages. Budget at least two to three hours and bring your camera.

What is the best day trip from Chicago? It depends on what you are into. For car lovers it is the Volo Museum. For history buffs it is the Route 66 corridor through Springfield. For families it is Six Flags or Cave of the Mounds in Wisconsin. We have guides for all of them on the site.

Keep Exploring

There is no shortage of hidden gems around Chicago and across the Midwest. We add new destinations regularly so bookmark this page and check back often.

And if you want the best finds delivered straight to your inbox, sign up for our upcoming monthly newsletter.

The post Hidden Gems of Chicago: Underrated Spots Most Tourists Miss appeared first on Lesser Known Adventures.

The House on the Rock is open for the Christmas Experience from mid-November to December. During this time the complex is transformed into a Santa wonderland for the Christmas season. Featuring twinkling lights, garland, and there are over 6,000 collectible Santas to see. 

As you walk through you will hear Christmas songs and they even have holiday scents.  

This is a self-guided tour. You will need at least 3 hours to get through Sections 1 and 2. Section 3 is closed for the Christmas Experience. 

Want to see a video walk through? Link to our video walkthrough at the bottom. You will enjoy it!

Made by hand, some call it House of the Rock, rock house, either way, I hope these House on the Rock photos help with your decision to visit. It truly is a remarkable place.  

House on the Rock Location and Hours

House on the Rock Location

It will take about 3 hours to get here from Chicago and 2 from Milwaukee.
Address:
House on the Rock
5754 WI-23
Spring Green, WI 53588

House on the Rock Christmas Hours

Open: Thursday – Monday from 9 AM to 5 PM 
Closed: Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day 
Last tickets sold at 3:30 PM 

House on the Rock Christmas Ticket prices

Regular Admission (Ages 18+)…$29.95 
Child Admission (Ages 7-17)…$16.95 
Children 6 and under…$3.95 
Senior Admission (Ages 65 and up)…$27.95 

What you need to know

Useful Information:   

1. Tickets – Your House on the Rock Christmas Experience tickets can be purchased online or at the door. Discounted tickets are available online. When you get to the Welcome Center, go to a ticket kiosks or the ticket counter to get your tickets. You can easily print out your pre purchased tickets at these kiosks.

2. Tokens – Make sure to grab some tokens, you will want them throughout the house for different coin operated machines and music machines. You will be able to use them on some antique coin machines and hydraulic orchestras. I suggest getting at least 10 tokens.

3. Time – They say you can get through sections 1 and 2 in 2 hours, but don’t. You will not be able to appreciate or even get close to seeing everything. We have been there a couple times and I see something new each time. You can easily spend the whole day here.

4. Clothing/Shoes/Backpack/Purse – The house is heated, but since it’s fall/winter, they will have the heated turned down generally in anticipation of you wearing a coat. You do have to travel outside between buildings, and it is a bit of a walk. Wear good walking shoes, there is a lot of uneven ground and stairs.  

5. Food/Picnic – The concession area has pizza, hot dogs, nachos, and veggies. Prices are ok. It is open 10-3PM. Plenty of tables and chairs are available. 

6. Pets – No pets are allowed. Daycare is available in Dodgeville and Spring Green a few miles away.  

7. Accessibility – Handicap parking is available. Because of the design and the fact that this was originally built as Alex Jordan’s home, some areas of the house are not accessible by wheelchair. Other places have uneven ground. Section 2 does have a lift and they try to accommodate as much as possible.  

8. Babies – Changing tables are available.  Strollers will have some difficulty and wagons are not allowed. There are some tights turns and plenty of stairs. 

9. Parking – Plenty of free parking is available on the hill above the visitor center. RV and bus parking is available as well. There is room for everyone.  At the entrance of the RV parking there is a porta-potty and picnic tables.

10. Food/Drink – Outside food and drink are not allowed inside. Water is ok to bring in, there are a couple water fountains with the bottle refill option if you do bring your own bottle.   

Sections

Here is an overview of the sections that are open and you will be going through during the Christmas Experience.

Welcome Center

Here is where you will pick up your tickets and map and use the bathroom if needed. The bathrooms are also decorated with the Christmas theme. There are ticket kiosks here where you can print out purchased tickets (you HAVE TO have printed tickets) or purchase new ones. When the tour is over, you will also exit through the Welcome Center.   

Token machines are located here as well. A new machine was just added that takes credit card. I did not see any more of these machines in the house, so if you do not have cash, make sure to get a couple dollars’ worth of tokens while in the Welcome Center. If you do have cash, there are cash token machines thought the house. Also, if you have any left over tokens at the end, you can cash them back in. 

You will start your tour through the left side of the Welcome Center. Hold onto your tickets until you get to the Gate House.  

Alex Jordan Center

This is where you will learn all about the Man who started it all, Alex Jordan. You will wind around and do a loop back around to almost where you started. There you will head down the Santa hallway. Christmas Santas line both sides of your walk. At the end you will need to show your tickets. 

Then you will be able to enter the Gate House on the Right. 

Bathrooms are located here. 

The Gate House

Here is where the Christmas experience really starts. Alex Jordan’s unique designs are first mainly showcased here, giving you a glimpse of what to expect in the Original House. 

You will get to hear and see the first music machine.  

Once you exit you will go to the right next to the Buddah (rub his tummy for good luck) and then up the long ramp to the Original House. 

The Gate House is not wheelchair or stroller accessible and there is no restroom. 

The Original House

When you get here there are two doors, you will enter on the left. The door on the right is where you will be exiting. The Original House, a house of rocks, consists of 13 rooms.   

The Original House and the Infinity Room are not wheelchair or stroller accessible and does not have a bathroom.

Infinity Room

Part of the Original House, it juts out over the valley 218 feet and is full of glass. No Santas to see here, just a great view.

Mill House

Going back down the ramp you took to get to the Original House you will pass the exterior of Gate House and enter back into the original hallway where you showed your tickets. You will head right, go outside once again and into the Mill House and through to the Streets of Yesterday. 

There are bathrooms here and it is wheelchair accessible. 

The Streets of Yesterday

A recreation of a 19^th Century Street. Peek into the shops decorated with Christmas lights and garland and make your way down to the Gladiator. The Gladiator is one of Alex Jordan’s large music machines. 

On the left you will continue to the Heritage of the Sea.  

Heritage of the Sea

A three-level walk around featuring a giant whale fighting with an octopus and over 200 model ships. Here there is a 12-foot Christmas tree, to show you the scale of the whale.  Can you see it in the background?

You will head up the ramp, try to make it here before 2:00, that is when they close off the top level. Once you are done staring into the mouth of the 200-foot-tall whale, you will head back down the ramp to the second level and into the Tribute to Nostalgia.  

Tribute to Nostalgia

Head down the ramp and through other store fronts. You will also see vintage automobiles. Through the Atrium if the concessions area. Have a quick bit to each before heading off towards the end of the seating area to get to the Music of Yesterday.  

There are restrooms just to the right of the concessions.   

Music of Yesterday

Heading into the Music of Yesterday you are going need those tokens. There are many music machines and hydraulic powered instruments in here that you will want to listen to. The one in the Red Room plays the Nutcracker, getting you even more into the Christmas spirit.  

Spirit of Aviation

Around the corner is the Spirit of Aviation. The sky is full of model planes and there is a café display. Next is the last stop of the Christmas Experience, the Carousel Room, one of the most talked about features.  

Restrooms can also be found here as well as a water fountain. 

Carousel Room

You will be in awe when you walk into the Carousel Room. Right in front of you is the world’s largest carousel featuring 269 unique animals and characters. 

You will exit to the top right and take the winding ramp to the gift shop. In the gift shop is where you can exchange any unused tokens. When you exit the gift shop, you will have to head around the back corner to another ramp that will take you to the back of the Welcome Center. And that concludes your tour of the House on the Rock Christmas Experience. 

To read more about this unique attraction and to see a more in-depth walkthrough, use this link: House on the Rock in Spring Green, Wisconsin  

Watch our Video Walk through HERE

The information is courtesy of The House on the Rocks website and personal experience. www.thehouseontherock.com

Thanks for reading, glad you were here! 

The post House on the Rock Christmas Experience: Is It Worth It? appeared first on Lesser Known Adventures.

Visiting the Nashville Parthenon

Explore the Nashville Parthenon with art and history in the world’s only full-scale replica of the Parthenon in Athens. Inside you will learn the history of Centennial Park, Greek Mythology and experience a full art gallery.

Just outside of downtown Nashville, in the middle of Centennial Park, sits a Parthenon. We went for the first time on a Sunday morning in July. It was hot and the park was already busy. Unfortunately, the Nashville Parthenon opens later on Sundays, so we were not able to go in since we were on a schedule. But it gave us a little time to explore the park and the pond.  

The park surrounding the Parthenon is a nice place for a walk or a bike ride. There were educational stops along the path for the kids as well as a story walk. Benches (one even dedicated to Taylor Swift) are placed around so you could sit and enjoy the scenery and there’s plenty of open space to throw a Frisbee.

On our way back home we made a point to come back to Nashville. I am glad we did as the interior just adds a whole new level to the experience of the Parthenon’s art and history.  

Nashville Parthenon Location and Hours

The Parthenon – Located in Centennial Park 
2500 West End Ave 
Nashville, TN 37203 

Open daily, hours vary and is open year round.

Admission prices:  
Regular Admission (Ages 18-61)…$10.00 
Child Admission (Ages 4-17)…$8.00 
Senior Admission (Ages 62+)…$8.00 

A few things you will see:   

Centennial Park where the Parthenon sits is a nicely manicured park. There is a bench dedicated to Taylor Swift, kids playground, walking trials, pond, variety of trees, the private art collection of James M. Cowan, other rotating art exhibits, a statue of Athena over 40 feet tall and more.  

Useful Information:   

• Entrance – The entrance is located at the North West side.  Below the building, not through the huge bronze doors.  
• Tickets – Tickets can be purchased inside. 
• Time – This is a self-guided tour that takes at least an hour. An hour on the grounds at minimum is also recommended.
• Clothing/Shoes/Backpack/Purse – There is only walking so decent walking shoes are recommended. You are in Nashville, so it is HOT, check the weather and dress accordingly. 
• Food/Picnic – No food or drinks are allowed inside the Nashville Parthenon.  There is no restaurant on the grounds but there was a hot dog vendor outside when we were there.  If you have a picnic blanket there is plenty of space.
• Pets – No pets, aside from service animals, are allowed in the building. 
• Bikes – Bike racks are available. 
• Accessibility – Handicap ramps are inside the building as well as an elevator 
• Wi-Fi – Available  
• Bathrooms – Located inside the building.  

Brief History

Constructed for the Tennessee Centennial Exposition in 1897, this iconic landmark closely emulates its Greek counterpart. Since at the time Nashville was nicknamed the “Athens of the South”, it was very fitting.  

The Nashville Parthenon was only meant to last 6 months.  But it kept standing for 20 years until its sculptures began to decay.  

Renovations over the years have been done since it sat empty for some time.  In 1931, it was reopened to the public.  More work has gone into it since.  Most notably is the addition of Athena in the 1980s. 

A towering 42-foot replica of the Greek goddess Athena stands in the upper gallery, while the first level serves as an art gallery, housing a collection of American paintings. Situated in Centennial Park, the Nashville Parthenon remains a cultural attraction and educational venue, offering insight into ancient Greek mythology, culture and history. 

There is so much to learn about Nashville’s Parthenon’s art and history. Along the way you will get a chance to learn more about Athen and her shield.

Nashville Parthenon Art Exhibits

On the first level, the Parthenon’s art exhibit will feature different artists throughout the year. Displaying a variety of media and styles, including paintings, sculptures and photography.

When we were there, London Amara was the featured artist and photographer. She has permanent displays other places. You can learn more about her at www.londonamara.com

Some other artist who have had their work displayed here are photographer Emily Dorio and artist Karen Elson, Painter Lakesha Moore, sculptor Desmond Lewis, and photographer Houston Cofield.

Art Collection

The Cowan Collection in the Nashville Parthenon is a permanent art exhibit also on the first level consisting of over 60 pieces. These feature American art. These were all donated by James M. Cowan in 1927 to the city of Nashville.

The collection includes art from the 19th and 20th centuries. Some artist you will see here are Emil Carlsen, William Merritt Chase and Georgia O’Keeffe to name a few.

You can ready more about Cowan and his collection at the museum.

The Nashville Parthenon’s art exhibits offer something for just about everyone to enjoy. Whether you are a fan of architecture, classical art, American art, or contemporary art, you are sure to find something to appreciate at the Parthenon.

Nashville Parthenon Greek architecture

Learn about Greek architecture in the Role of a Replica gallery. This is a hands-on exhibit that explorers ancient Greek art and architecture. This is a place to investigate how replicas help us learn and see the latest Parthenon discoveries.

You can also learn how artists and historians worked together to recreate the lost 42-foot statue of Athena. There are many different puzzles and fun learning interactives.

What to Expect at the Nashville Parthenon

Location

The Parthenon is located in the center of Centennial Park just outside of downtown Nashville.  

Nashville Parthenon Hours

Open daily, hours vary.  

Sun-Mon 12:30 PM – 4:30 PM 
Tues-Thurs 9:00 AM – 7:00 PM 
Fri-Sat 9:00 AM – 4:30 PM 

Closed: New Years Day, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, President’s Day, Juneteenth, Fourth of July, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day 

Check their website for updates as they do also host events and partner with schools 

Nashville Parthenon Tickets

Ticket options are: 

CPC members are Free https://www.nashvilleparthenon.com/membership 

Regular Admission (Ages 18-61)…$10.00 
Child Admission (Ages 4-17)…$8.00 
Senior Admission (Ages 62+)…$8.00 

Under the age of 4 are Free.  Active-duty military and their families are Free Memorial Day through Labor Day. 

Discounts are available for educators, military and college students. 

Parking at the Parthenon

Parking is located next to the building and is free  

Food/Where to Eat

In Nashville the food choices are endless! While we were here, we ate at Hattie B’s Chicken and Caney Fork. 

Caney Fork has a large menu featuring southern food and wild game like elk, venison, alligator and frog legs. This place was pretty cool with its lodge style atmosphere and live music.  The catfish was great.  For the price I thought the portions were a bit small but there was enough food.  I was not a fan of the deep-fried corn on the cob though.  

Mimi’s is an ice cream shop and coffee shoppe attached. You can get some specialty flavor ice creams like oatmeal cream pie and southern blackberry cobbler.  I tried the oatmeal cream pie flavor, and I was not disappointed.   

Caney Fork River Valley Grille
2400 Music Valley Dr
Nashville, TN 37214

Hattie B’s Hot Chicken has a line out the door for people waiting to get in for this sought after chicken.  Do not be intimidated by the line, it moves at a decent pace.  The chicken has many spice levels to choose from, and there are many different side options and highly recommended banana pudding.  I had the chicken sandwich, potato salad and banana pudding.  This was one of the best lunches I have had.   

There are 4 locations in Nashville but this one is the closest to the Parthenon.  There is not a lot of parking out front but there is parking available down the street. 

If you cannot get in to Hattie B’s try out Red’s Hot Chicken. It is just south of Centennial Park and this place has rave reviews. On my list for the next time we are in town since we did not get a chance this time.

Hattie B’s Hot Chicken
112 19th Ave S 
Nashville, TN 37203 
hattieb.com

More places to eat in Nashville

Elliston Place Soda Shop, I wish we had time to stop here.  Next time we are in Nashville this place is on my list!  The homemade fresh pies are piled high and the old fashioned atmosphere looks so fun.  It is a soda fountain that also serves food. Like fried green tomatoes, fried catfish and hushpuppies. If you visit their website (website link here), you can see a quick video of the inside and a glimpse of those pies! 

Elliston Place Soda Shop 
2105 Elliston Pl. 
Nashville, TN 37203 
www.ellistonplacesodashop.com
 

The Local Nashville is a bar and music venue.  They serve local/regional brews and partner with some local farmers to source some ingredients for their food menu. 

The Local Nashville 
110 28th Ave N. 
Nashville, TN 37203 
www.localnash.com

Some other close places are: 

Martin’s Bar-B-Que Joint 
2400 Elliston Pl. 
Nashville, TN 37203 

Swett’s 
Sounthern cooking cafeteria style 
2725 Clifton Ave. 
Nashville, TN 37209 

 
Not near the Parthenon but over by the Grand Ole Opry is Aquarium Restaurant.  It is located inside the mall and gets very busy so you will want to get a reservation if you go.  Here they have indoor fish tanks around the tables.  They even have live mermaids at certain times.  We tried to get in but they were booked for the evening.  Looks neat from the pictures I saw.  

Aquarium Restaurant  
516 Opry Mills Dr 
Nashville, TN 37214 
www.aquariumrestaurants.com
 

Where to stay near the Parthenon

Once again, there are so many places to choose from but here are some of the closest ones with good reviews. Vanderbilt University is right there so be aware of the school’s schedule.

Hampton Inn & Suites Nashville-Vanderbilt-Elliston Place
2330 Elliston Pl.
Nashville, TN 37203
www.hilton.com
Free Breakfast, pool and pet friendly

Holiday Inn Nashville-Vanderbilt (Dwtn), an IHG Hotel
2613 West End Ave.
Nashville, TN 37203
www.ihg.com
Pool and pet friendly

Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott Nashville Near Vanderbilt
109 29th Ave N.
Nashville, TN 37203
www.marriott.com
Free breakfast, pool and pet friendly

Here are some other places to stay with some character if you are looking for something a little different.

The Dive Motel
This place is adult only but pet friendly. Has a neat retro style and 23 themed rooms.
1414 Dickerson Pike.
Nashville, TN 37207
thedivemotel.com

Urban Cowboy
8 Unique suites located in a Victorian mansion for ages 21+
1603 Woodland St.
Nashville, TN 37206
www.urbancowboy.com

The Timothy Demonbreun House
A B&B with free breakfast, pool, kids pool, playground and bike rentals
746 Benton Ave.
Nashville, TN 37204-2208
(615)398-1780
Book through Trip Advisor

Nearby Attractions and other things to do in Nashville

Climb Nashville West 
Rock climbing gym 
3600 Charlotte Ave. 
Nashville, TN 37209 
theclimbgyms.com

Belmont Mansion 
The largest house built in Tennessee prior to the Civil War 

Belmont University campus corner of Acklen Avenue & Belmont Blvd – behind Freeman Hall, 1901 15th Ave S, Nashville, TN 37212 
www.belmontmansion.com

Nashville Zoo at Grassmere 
3777 Nolensville Pk 
Nashville, TN 37211 
www.nashvillezoo.org

Vanderbilt University Fine Arts Gallery 
Considered to be a “hidden gem”.  This free art gallery makes a nice quick stop.  Some say the entrance is a bit hard to find 

Hall Cohen Memorial 
1220 21st Ave S 
Nashville, TN 37203 
https://www.library.vanderbilt.edu/gallery/ 

And of course there are the famous stops like: 

Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum 
222 Rep. John Lewis Way S. 
Nashville, TN 37203 
https://countrymusichalloffame.org/

Johnny Cash Museum 
119 3rd Ave S 
Nashville, TN 37201 
http://www.johnnycashmuseum.com/ 

National Museum of African American Music 
510 Broadway 
Nashville, TN 37203 
https://www.nmaam.org/ 

Tips and Advice

Tips and Advice: Do not rely on the port a potties near the playground.  They were awful!  I did not see any other restrooms outside, but I may have just missed them.  Bathrooms are inside the Parthenon if you get a chance to go in. They are right inside the entrance so you should be able to use them for free. 

As a mom and a person who drinks a lot of water and coffee, the bathroom situation is always on my radar.  

You can spend most of the day here if you are looking for a place to slow down for the day. Try to save time to learn all about Nashville’s Parthenon’s art and history.

If you are in a hurry and do not have to go in, it is at least worth a drive by.

Also, there is a dog park across the street. It is still considered Centennial Park. You can find more info on that here at www.nashville.gov

The information is courtesy of The Parthenon’s website (www.nashvilleparthenon.com) and personal experience. All info was accurate the time of writing this and will keep as updated as possible.

Thanks for reading and safe travels! 

The Parthenon is just one reason Nashville is worth the trip. Browse our Tennessee travel guides for more destinations across the state.

Nashville makes a great extended weekend. Check out our Midwest weekend getaways for more overnight trip ideas worth planning.

The post Nashville Parthenon: Hours, Tickets, and What to Expect Inside appeared first on Lesser Known Adventures.

The cave sits about two and a half hours northwest of Chicago and just west of Madison, making it an easy drive for families across Illinois and Wisconsin. Whether you are looking for things to do near Madison, a Wisconsin day trip idea, or just a unique family adventure off the beaten path, Cave of the Mounds is worth every mile of the drive.

Inside the cave you can explore 400-million-year-old limestone formations, sluice for fossils and gems, crack open geodes, bird watch on the grounds, and walk some of the most beautiful nature trails in southern Wisconsin. It was designated a National Natural Landmark in 1988 and it earns that title.

We recently traveled back to Cave of the Mounds for the first time in a few years. It holds up. The caves are a great way to spend the day and the grounds and gardens are beautiful for a walk afterward.

If you live anywhere near Blue Mounds you should make the trip, or work it into your next family vacation. We live near Chicago and it is only a couple hours away. The Cave of the Mounds is the perfect lesser known adventure.

We first found it a few years ago while on a day trip to the Mid-Continent Railway Museum in North Freedom. We drove by a billboard on the way back and decided to check it out.

I’m glad we saw that sign since I’m not sure we would have ever thought about searching for caves in Wisconsin. 

Here is everything you need to know before you go — tickets, hours, what to wear, what to expect inside the cave, and the special events they run.

Cave of the Mounds – a brief history

A little history of the Cave of the Mounds.

The Brigham family had been living on the land for about 112 years before the cave was discovered.

In 1903, part of the farm began being used as a limestone quarry.

In 1939, a new contractor leased the quarry to supply crushed stone to the highway department. They drilled a hole and found it went deeper than expected.

They blasted the drilled holes, only to find a massive cave entrance. Shortly after, a small group decided to enter the cave and explore the incredible caverns that had never been seen by any other living person.

They explored and worked for a year after that, and on May 30, 1940, just before Memorial Day, the Cave of the Mounds was first opened to the public.

Over the next several weeks, over 58,000 people traveled to see the Cave of the Mounds. Today it is still a beautiful and incredible place to visit that draws a ton of people from all over the world.

In 1988, the Cave of the Mounds was designated a National Natural Landmark by the Department of the Interior and the National Park Service.

Cave of the Mounds Location and Hours

The address to the Cave of the Mounds is –
2975 Cave of the Mounds Road
Blue Mounds, WI 53517

The hours are –
Open daily from 9 AM to 5 PM
Depart Frequently starting at 10:00 AM
Weekday entries are hourly
Last entry at 4 PM

Cave admission prices –
Regular Admission (Ages 13+)…$21.99
Child Admission (Ages 4-12)…$12.99
Tot Admission (Ages 3 and under)…Free

The Cave of the Mounds is open year-round.

Cave of the Mounds useful Information

Things to keep in mind before heading to Cave of the Mounds: 

• Tickets – Tickets can be purchased online. Physical tickets are to be picked up at the visitor center. Tickets are time sensitive. 
• Time – Cave of the Mounds opens at 9 AM and the first tour is generally at 10 AM. Tours take about an hour. 
• Clothing/Shoes/Backpack – The cave stays about 50 degrees and is damp and wet. Closed toe shoes are recommended. Only smaller backpacks/bags are allowed.  
• Food/Picnic – There is no restaurant on the grounds but there are snacks and drinks. Tables are available near the parking lot and down by the cave entrance. 
• Pets – No pets, aside from service animals, are allowed in the cave, on the trails, or in the buildings.  
• Bikes – Bike racks are located at the bottom of the service drive and by the butterfly garden. 
• Accessibility – Handicap parking is located at the bottom of the service drive.  
• Babies – Changing tables are available. Strollers/wagons cannot be taken into the cave. 
• Smoking – Smoking and e-cigarettes are not allowed in buildings or in the cave.  
• Firearms – Firearms must be kept locked in your vehicle. This includes people who do have a concealed/carry license.

What to Expect During Your Visit

Parking

The parking lot is located just off the highway. Gates to the parking lot are open daily from 9 AM to 5:15 PM. Even though the parking lot does not look large, it winds around and fits quite a few vehicles. If you are driving an RV or hauling a large trailer, then you would need to go to the Barn Discovery Center.  

Grounds

The grounds around the parking lot have many trees and beautiful flowers to see. As you walk around you will notice educational signs and boxes. There is a lot to learn above and below.    

Visitor Center

You will go down the hill to the Visitor center to grab your tickets. Here you can find local drinks and snacks. There is a penny machine so make sure to bring some cash. I did not so we did not get to add this penny to our daughter’s penny book.  

Bathrooms and a water fountain with a bottle refill is at the back.  

Wi-Fi is available near the visitor center and the gift shop. While you wait in the ticket line you can check out the historical pictures on the wall. 

Ticket Collection and Cave entrance

Once you get your tickets, which are timed, you will need to head towards the gift shop. There you should see a sign letting you know where to stand. This is located near the rock sluice and the large geode. 

Once they call your time and color you will enter through the gift shop. There you can check your bag size. A staff member will then take your ticket and direct you to the waiting area.  

A staff member will go over the rules with you before you start the tour. You will start with a wall that describes the different formations you will see in the cave. Next you will go down the stairs to the picture taker. Your photo will be available at the end of the tour if you want it. 

Inside the Cave

As you go through the cave, staff members and signs are there to provide more information about the cave. Since this is a self-paced tour you can move at your own pace. Read all the signs and listen to what the staff has to say, you have time. You may even get the chance to go through the cave twice. 

The cave has many stairs with railings. You will also come across tight spaces and it can be dark. It may be fun to wear something that is glow in the dark. 

The cave exit is located next to where you entered. Take the stairs to exit through the gift shop. 

The gift shop has many rocks great souvenirs to choose from. Here you can buy a rock sluice bag or bucket. They have different options of sizes and what you can sluice for, like gems and fossils. 

If you do not have time to stay and sluice you can grab yourself a “sluice to go” bag. Which I think is a pretty neat idea, could also make a great gift. I probably should have grabbed a couple. Next time.   

Around the grounds there are some nice trails and gardens. At the top of the hill you will see a red barn. The barn has a small fossil hunt. You can hunt for the fossils hidden in the wall.  

Below is for those who want to go a bit more in depth. 

Ticket Options

There are a couple of ticket options for you: Regular Daily Tours, VIP Tours and Memberships. 

Regular Daily Tours

Regular Daily Tours are self-paced. You choose how long your tour is. Tickets can be bought online or in person at the visitor center. If you choose to purchase online you will still need to pick up physical tickets once you arrive. That is how you get your tour time. 

An upgrade option is the black light flashlight. There are a few different prices and size flashlight options. You can take the flashlight into the cave and use it while exploring. 

When we went, the tickets were $21.99 each for us and $12.99 for our daughter who is under 12. 13 and over get adult prices 3 and under are free. We just bought tickets there. With the blacklight flashlight added on of course. 

VIP Tours

VIP Tours are for groups of 10 and need to be booked 48 hours in advance. You cannot buy these online, you would need to call 608-437-3038. These tours are privately guided for you and your group. 

There are different packages to choose from and can include gem or fossil mining, geodes and fluorescence.  

Special Events

Cave of the Mounds has events happening all year round and some for the holidays. Here are a few options:

Guided Black Light Tour

Experience the Cave of the Mounds by Black Light. You will learn about ultraviolet light, fluorescence, and see the speleothems GLOW!

Lantern Tours

Discover the cave cave using only lanterns and flashlights. Feel as though you are one of the first people to ever see the cave.

Easter EGGstravaganza

Pathways are lit with hundreds of GLOWING eggs! Watch the glow from the eggs and see the cave in a whole new light. With the purchase of an Easter Rock Hunt bag, you get rock and fossil treasures underground at stations inside Cave of the Mounds! There are many events and activities to make this and EGGciting event.

HOLLOW-een 

For the month of October, costumes are encouraged! Enjoy this sugar-less trick-or-treat experience throughout the cave. Trick-or-treaters will receive a mix of rocks and fossils at stations in the cave.

Light in the Cave

Lights decorate parts of the cave in December for the holidays. You will see twinkly lights draping downward for the perfect holiday photo! You will have the opportunity to experience this on every tour all month long.

There are more events being added so be sure to check out what is going on occasionally.
www.caveofthemounds.com/events/upcoming-events/

Membership

Memberships are good for a year and can be purchased in person when you get your tickets at the Visitor Center. The Membership was a 6.99 upgrade. If we lived closer we would have went with the Membership. With your membership you will get unlimited Cave Tour admissions. 

What to wear

Bring a light jacket, the cave stays around 50 degrees. Closed toe or tennis shoes are reccommended. The cave is constantly dripping with water making everything, including the floor, damp, wet and a bit slippery in spots. 

Large backpacks or bags are not allowed. Neither are strollers, wagons or framed carriers. These items if taken into the cave may do damage. There are some very, very tight spots in the cave and these items may get caught on the cave. 

Inside the giftshop there is a box to check the size of your bag. If it fits in the box it is allowed in the cave.   

Food and picnic areas

We brought lunch with us on our trip. There are picnic tables near the parking lot area. I also noticed that there was an outdoor grill but did not get a chance to check it out. You may be able to bring some charcoal and hot dogs too.  

The tables were all placed under trees which made most of them shaded. There are plenty of trash/recycling bins around too.  

Near the gift shop/cave entrance there is a place to get some food and drinks. You can find local drinks and snacks inside the visitor center.  

Pets

The only pets allowed on the trails, in the buildings or in the cave are service animals. If you are traveling and have your dogs with you there are kennels available across the street. They are free to use and you can get the key from the visitor center in exchange for your photo id. 

For more information on their pet policy you can CLICK HERE.  

Accessibility

Handicap parking is available at the bottom of the service drive. The cave is not handicap accessible, some trials, the visitor center and restrooms are all accessible.  

In the cave there are quite a few stairs. There are handrails because the stairs are a bit steep and wet. Throughout the cave the path can be uneven and slippery. There is a point in the cave that does get quite narrow.

For more information, check out their website at –

www.CaveoftheMounds.com

Thanks for reading! If you ever get a chance to visit the Cave of the Mounds, do it. It’s an incredible place to visit.

If you have time, I recommend visiting The House on the Rock, it is about 30 minutes away and incredible!

And if you are coming from the Chicago area, we put together a list of our favorite day trips from Chicago worth checking out.

Please like and subscribe to our YouTube channel, and keep a look out for more places we visit in the future!

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Looking for more Wisconsin adventures? Browse our full collection of Wisconsin travel guides for more hidden gems across the state.

Cave of the Mounds pairs perfectly with a night in the area. Check out our Midwest weekend getaways for more trips worth an overnight stay.

Frequently Asked Questions About Cave of the Mounds

How much do Cave of the Mounds tickets cost? Adult tickets (ages 13+) are $21.99. Kids ages 4-12 are $12.99. Children 3 and under are free. A black light flashlight add-on is available and worth it. Memberships are $6.99 for unlimited visits for a year.

How long does a visit take? The cave tour itself is about an hour. Most families spend two to three hours total once you factor in the grounds, rock sluice, and barn fossil hunt.

How cold is it inside? 50 degrees year round. Bring a light jacket no matter what time of year you go.

Is it good for kids? Yes. The tour is engaging for all ages and the rock sluice and fossil hunt are big hits with younger kids. Strollers and wagons cannot go into the cave.

How far is Cave of the Mounds from Chicago? About two and a half hours. It pairs well with House on the Rock which is only 30 minutes away. We have a full House on the Rock visitor guide here.

The post Cave of the Mounds Wisconsin appeared first on Lesser Known Adventures.

Route 66 Family Road Trip Vlog Fun Places Illinois to New Mexico

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A couple of years ago we packed up the car, loaded the dog, strapped in our five year old daughter, and drove the old historic Route 66 from Chicago, Illinois all the way to Albuquerque, New Mexico. It was one of the best trips we have ever taken as a family, and honestly one we still talk about to this day.

We tried to hit every major stop along the way. Roadside landmarks, historic points of interest, quirky museums, classic diners. If it was on Route 66 and worth stopping for, we wanted to see it.

This post is part road trip guide, part trip diary. We want to share the stops we made, the resources we used to plan, and the tips we picked up along the way so you can do the same thing with your own family.

How We Planned (Or Didn’t Plan) the Trip

Here is the honest truth about how we planned this trip: we barely planned it at all. We had a rough idea of the route obviously, but beyond that we kept things pretty loose. We never booked hotels in advance. Every day we would drive until we felt like stopping and then figure out where to stay from there. It sounds stressful but it was actually the best decision we made.

Because we were flexible, we found so many places we never would have stopped at if we had a rigid itinerary. A random antique shop here, a weird roadside statue there, a classic diner that looked too good to pass up. That is the whole spirit of Route 66 anyway. The road is supposed to surprise you.

Since then we have done a couple more long road trips and we always do them the same way. Never set a plan in stone. Go out and find your adventure.

The Books and Apps We Used

Even with a loose plan we still needed some guidance, especially for finding the smaller and lesser known stops. Here are the resources we actually used and can genuinely recommend.

EZ66 Guide – https://amzn.to/3VeXgBR
This was a great book that covered a lot of stops and things to check out. (Amazon affiliate link, helps us out a ton! Thank you!)

Here It Is! Route 66 Map Series – https://amzn.to/3wE2de5
This was another map series we picked up for our trip. It included some more info the book missed and is formatted as a cool map pamphlet. (Amazon affiliate link, helps us out a ton! Thank you!)

Roadtrippers Route 66 – https://amzn.to/4aCl9Ye
We love Roadtrippers! We use their app on pretty much every road trip we take, short or long. You can check it out here, and if you sign up you’ll get $5 off the premium subscription which is what we use.
The Route 66 book was a must-have for us. (Amazon affiliate link, helps us out a ton! Thank you!)

We never booked hotels until halfway through the day. We didn’t know how far we’d make it each day, or what we’d find. So we played it by ear. It was the best way to do it. We found so many random amazing places and had a great time. Since then, we’ve done a couple more longer road trips, and have done them the same way. Never set a plan in stone. Go out and find your adventure.

This video isn’t so much of an educational or informative video, but more of a montage of our trip. I love filming everything and everywhere we go and love to edit. Hopefully, everyone likes it as much as we do.

If you ever have a chance to take the Route 66 road trip, DO IT!

Thanks for watching! If you like this type of content, it’d be awesome if you could subscribe and maybe even share the videos. We’re having a blast making these videos, and have a lot of stuff planned coming soon.

Maps and Roadtrippers

Below is a map of stops along Route 66 to check out. It’s from Roadtrippers, an app that WE LOVE and have been using for a long time now. Whether on longer trips like this, or just day trips where we only drive a few hours in any direction, we use Roadtrippers to help find stops along the way. We highly recommend it.

We do have an affiliate link if you want to try it out. If you subscribe to the premium version which we use, you’ll get $5 off. Use the promo code BTR5QTP, or you can sign up through this link – https://roadtrippers.com/plus?via=andrew25.

The top things to do on a Route 66 road trip on Roadtrippers

https://roadtrippers.com/the-ultimate-guide-route-66

Every Stop We Made on Route 66

We covered a lot of ground on this trip. Here is a rundown of every stop we made, roughly in order from Chicago to Albuquerque. Some were planned, most were spontaneous, and a few were complete surprises we stumbled onto.

Illinois

The Launching Pad and the Gemini Giant, Wilmington, IL

This was one of our first stops out of Chicago and it set the tone for the whole trip perfectly. The Gemini Giant is a massive fiberglass spaceman holding a rocket ship, standing outside the Launching Pad drive-in. He is over 28 feet tall and absolutely impossible to miss. He is also one of the most iconic Route 66 roadside attractions in the whole state. Pull over, take the photo, get a burger. You will not regret it.

Dwight, Illinois

Dwight is a small town with a surprising amount of Route 66 history packed into it. The old Ambler Becker Texaco Station is one of the best preserved gas stations from the Route 66 era and worth a quick stop and a few photos.

Pontiac, Illinois and the Vermilion River

Pontiac was a highlight of the Illinois stretch. The town has fully embraced its Route 66 identity with murals, a dedicated Route 66 museum, and a really charming downtown area. The Vermilion River runs through town and makes for a nice spot to stretch your legs if you have been driving a while.

Oak Ridge Cemetery and the Lincoln Tomb, Springfield, IL

Oak Ridge Cemetery is the final resting place of Abraham Lincoln and his family. It is one of the most visited cemeteries in the country and honestly a pretty moving experience. The tomb itself is impressive and the grounds are beautiful. Worth at least an hour of your time.

Downtown Springfield, IL

Springfield as a whole is worth spending some time in. Beyond the Lincoln sites there is a great historic downtown area with good food, independent shops, and a lot of Route 66 character. We walked around for a while and really enjoyed it.

Cozy Dog Drive In, Springfield, IL

You cannot drive through Springfield without stopping at the Cozy Dog. It is the birthplace of the corn dog on a stick and has been a Route 66 institution since 1949. The interior is covered in corn dog memorabilia and the walls are full of photos and history. It is exactly the kind of quirky stop that makes Route 66 so much fun.

Twistee Treat Diner and Antiques, Livingston, IL

This was one of those spontaneous stops that ended up being one of our favorites. A classic ice cream shop combined with an antiques store in a tiny town. Our daughter loved the ice cream and we spent way too long looking at old stuff inside. Highly recommend.

Missouri

Totem Pole Trading Post, Rolla, MO

Rolla has a small but well known replica of Stonehenge on the campus of Missouri University of Science and Technology, but the Totem Pole Trading Post is the classic Route 66 stop here. It has been around since the 1940s and sells all kinds of Native American art, jewelry, and souvenirs. A classic roadside shop experience.

Uranus Fudge Factory, Saint Robert, MO

Yes, the name is exactly what you think it is and they lean into it completely. The Uranus Fudge Factory is one of the most fun roadside stops on the entire route. The fudge is genuinely delicious, the gift shop is hilarious, and the whole place has a great sense of humor about itself. If you have kids this is an absolute must stop. We actually went back and did a full blog post on this one, you can read it here.

Steak n Shake, Springfield, MO

Sometimes the best stops are the simple ones. After a long day of driving we pulled into a classic Steak n Shake in Springfield and it hit the spot perfectly. There is something very road trip appropriate about a good Steak n Shake.

Spencer Garage, Spencer, MO

Spencer is a tiny town with not much left to it, but the old Spencer Garage is a great example of the ghost town energy you find in a lot of these small Route 66 communities. It is the kind of stop that makes you think about what this road used to be like when it was the main highway across the country.

Red Oak, Carthage, MO

Red Oak is a fascinating stop. Artist Lowell Davis relocated an entire ghost town to his property outside Carthage and restored it. It is basically a recreated 1930s Missouri village including a full blacksmith shop, general store, and filling station. Totally unexpected and really cool.

Oklahoma

The Blue Whale, Catoosa, OK

The Blue Whale of Catoosa is one of the most beloved and recognizable Route 66 roadside attractions in the whole country. It is a giant blue whale sculpture sitting in a pond that was built in the 1970s as a private anniversary gift and later opened to the public. You can walk right up to it, climb on it, and take as many photos as you want. It is completely free and absolutely worth the stop.

Tulsa, Oklahoma

Tulsa is a great city to spend a night in if you are making this drive. The Art Deco architecture downtown is stunning, the food scene is really good, and there are a handful of solid Route 66 stops right in the city including the Golden Driller statue and the Circle Cinema.

Skyliner Motel

We stayed at the Skyliner Motel on this stretch and it was a great experience. Old school Route 66 motel vibes with a neon sign and everything. Exactly the kind of place you want to stay when you are doing this drive.

Rock Cafe, Stroud, OK

The Rock Cafe has been serving travelers on Route 66 since 1939 and is one of the most authentic stops on the entire route. The building is made from sandstone that was blasted out of the roadbed when Route 66 was originally built. The food is great and the history is even better.

Oklahoma City, OK

Oklahoma City is another great city stop on the route. The Oklahoma City National Memorial is a powerful and important place to visit. Beyond that the Bricktown area has great restaurants and the stockyards district is a genuinely unique experience.

Roberts Grill Onion Burger, El Reno, OK

El Reno is famous for the onion burger, a style of smash burger where thin sliced onions are pressed directly into the patty while it cooks. Roberts Grill is one of the classic spots to get one and it did not disappoint. If you like burgers this is a legitimate must stop.

Texas

Texola, OK and U Drop Inn, Shamrock, TX

Texola is a near ghost town right on the Oklahoma-Texas border with just a handful of buildings left standing. It has a real end of the world feeling to it that is worth experiencing even if you just slow down and drive through. Just across the border in Shamrock, the U Drop Inn is one of the most architecturally impressive buildings on all of Route 66. The Art Deco design is incredible and it is now a visitor center and museum.

Jericho Cemetery, TX

This is the kind of stop that Route 66 is full of if you know to look for it. A small, old, windswept cemetery in the middle of the Texas panhandle. Easy to miss but worth a moment if you are into that kind of history and reflection.

Clarendon, Texas

Clarendon has a classic small town Texas feel to it. We stopped to stretch and get gas and ended up spending more time than expected just walking around and taking it all in.

Palo Duro Canyon, Canyon, TX

Palo Duro Canyon is one of the most underrated natural wonders in the entire country and one of the highlights of our whole trip. It is the second largest canyon in the United States, just behind the Grand Canyon, and most people have never heard of it. The colors of the rock walls are stunning and there is great hiking available at all levels. If you are making this drive, do not skip this one.

New Mexico and Colorado

Clayton, Springer, Maxwell, and Abbott, New Mexico

The stretch through northeastern New Mexico has a different energy than anything you will experience earlier in the drive. The landscape opens up dramatically and these small towns feel genuinely remote and historic. We stopped in each one briefly just to take it all in.

Garden of the Gods, Colorado Springs, CO

We made a detour into Colorado to see Garden of the Gods and it was absolutely worth it. The massive red sandstone formations are unlike anything we had ever seen. It is free to enter, has great hiking, and the scenery is just extraordinary. One of our favorite stops of the whole trip.

Pony Express Trail and Santa Fe Trail, Colorado

Driving through this stretch of Colorado you are literally following the same paths that the Pony Express and Santa Fe Trail used in the 1800s. There are historical markers along the way and it gives the drive a really incredible sense of history and perspective.

Tips for Doing Route 66 with Kids

Taking a five year old on a multi-week road trip might sound ambitious but honestly it was one of the best things we have ever done as a family. A few things that helped us make it work.

Keep things flexible. Do not over-plan. Kids get tired, they want to stop at random things, and that is actually perfect for a Route 66 trip. The more spontaneous you can be the better time everyone will have.

Use a great trip planning app. Roadtrippers was invaluable for us. Being able to search for interesting stops within a certain distance of our route meant we always had something to look forward to. Try Roadtrippers here and use code BTR5QTP for five dollars off premium.

Do not skip the weird stuff. The Gemini Giant, the Blue Whale, the Uranus Fudge Factory. Kids absolutely love this stuff and so do adults. That is the whole point of Route 66.

Build in canyon and nature stops. Palo Duro Canyon was one of the best decisions we made. Kids need to run around and burn energy, and stopping at a spectacular natural landmark is a great way to do that and see something incredible at the same time.

Do not book hotels in advance. We know this sounds counterintuitive, especially with kids, but it genuinely worked for us. We always found a place to stay and the flexibility let us go wherever the day took us.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does a Route 66 road trip take?

The full Route 66 from Chicago to Santa Monica, California is about 2,400 miles. Most people allow two to four weeks to do it properly. We drove from Chicago to Albuquerque which is roughly the first two thirds of the route, and that took us about ten days at a relaxed pace with lots of stops.

Is Route 66 a good road trip for families with kids?

Yes, absolutely. There are so many weird, fun, and interesting stops along the route that kids genuinely love. The key is keeping things flexible and not trying to stick to a rigid schedule. Let the kids decide some of the stops and make it an adventure for everyone.

What is the best stretch of Route 66?

Honestly every section has something great to offer, but if we had to pick a highlight the stretch through Oklahoma and the Texas panhandle surprised us the most. The Blue Whale, the onion burgers in El Reno, and Palo Duro Canyon alone make that section worth the drive.

What is the best time of year to drive Route 66?

Spring and fall are the sweet spots. Summer can be extremely hot especially through Oklahoma, Texas, and New Mexico. September and October are particularly great because the weather is mild and the crowds are smaller than in peak summer.

Do you need a special map for Route 66?

We really recommend picking up the EZ66 Guide and the Here It Is! Route 66 Map Series before you go. Both are excellent and between the two of them they cover pretty much every major stop. The Roadtrippers app is also invaluable for finding stops in real time while you are on the road.

Should You Do the Route 66 Road Trip?

Yes. One hundred percent yes. If you have ever thought about doing this trip, stop thinking about it and start planning it. It is one of the great American road trips for a reason and doing it with your family makes it even better.

We went in with a loose plan and a full tank of gas and came home with memories we are still talking about years later. Our daughter was five years old and she still remembers the Blue Whale, the Gemini Giant, and the fudge factory. That says everything.

If you end up doing this trip we would love to hear about it. Drop a comment below and tell us your favorite stop. And if you want to see more of what we found along the way, check out our YouTube video at the top of this post.

Thanks for reading. Now go find your adventure.

The post Route 66 Family Road Trip: Illinois to New Mexico appeared first on Lesser Known Adventures.

Southern Michigan has its own version of fall worth seeing. Lake country, farm roads, and tree lines that light up just as much as anything up north, just a little later in the season.

We filmed this aerial drone video driving through the Hillsdale area of southern Michigan in early fall. Lake country, winding farm roads, and the kind of color you find when you just pick a direction and drive. Watch it first and then keep reading for our complete guide to where to go and when to go across the whole state.

Whether you are planning a quick day trip from Chicago, a weekend in northern Michigan, or a full fall road trip across the state, this guide covers everything you need to know about Michigan fall foliage from south to north.

When Do Michigan Fall Colors Peak?

Michigan is a big state and fall color does not hit all at once. It moves from north to south over the course of several weeks, which actually works in your favor, if you time it right you can chase the color across the state and catch it at its best in multiple places.

Here is the general timing by region:

Upper Peninsula: Peak color arrives first, typically the first week of October. The UP is consistently one of the best places in the entire country to see fall foliage. USA Today ranked it the best in the nation, citing its 7 million acres of forest.

Northern Lower Michigan (Gaylord, Traverse City, Petoskey area): Peak color follows shortly after, typically early to mid-October. This is the sweet spot for most Michigan fall trips, the color is spectacular and the infrastructure for visitors is much better than the UP.

West Michigan (Holland, Saugatuck, Grand Rapids area): Mid to late October. Lake Michigan shoreline towns hold onto their color longer than inland areas, which is a bonus.

Southern Michigan (Hillsdale, Jackson, Ann Arbor area): Late October through early November. Southern Michigan is the last to peak but the colors are still worth seeing, especially along the lake roads and farm country. It is also the easiest for day trippers from Chicago and northern Indiana.

The best resource for tracking real-time fall color in Michigan is explorefall.com which updates regularly with reports from across the state. Check it before you leave so you know exactly where the color is right now.

Southern Michigan Fall Colors — Hillsdale and Lake Country

This is our home turf. We grew up in the Hillsdale area and when we come back to visit family in the fall, we always take a drive through the lake and farm country around town. It is the kind of fall color that does not make the travel magazines but absolutely should.

Southern Michigan is a patchwork of small lakes, working farms, and country roads lined with oak and maple trees. When the color turns in late October it hits all at once and the combination of red and orange tree lines reflecting off the lakes is hard to beat. The best way to see it is to just drive. Pick a county road heading north or east out of Hillsdale and see where it takes you. Lake Lavine, Baw Beese Lake, and the roads around Camden and Montgomery are particularly good for color and very few people make the trip specifically for fall foliage down here.

If you are coming from Chicago, Hillsdale is about three and a half hours east. Pair a fall color drive with a Saturday morning at the Hillsdale Auction and you have a full day worth making the drive for.

Best time to visit: Late October to early November
Drive time from Chicago: About 3.5 hours
What to look for: Farm roads, lake reflections, small town downtowns

Ann Arbor and Southeast Michigan Fall Colors

Ann Arbor and the surrounding Washtenaw County area have some underrated fall color drives that not many people talk about. Huron River Drive between Mast Road and US-23 is one of the best color drives in southeast Michigan, a winding road that follows the river through dense forest and turns into something special in mid to late October. North Territorial Road between US-23 and M-52 is another one worth putting in your maps.

The Nichols Arboretum on the University of Michigan campus is also a great spot for fall color in the city itself, free to visit and beautiful for a walk when the leaves are at peak.

Best time to visit: Mid to late October
Drive time from Chicago: About 4 hours
What to look for: River drives, university town atmosphere, arboretum walks

West Michigan Fall Colors — Holland, Saugatuck, and the Lakeshore

West Michigan is one of the most underrated fall color destinations in the entire Midwest. The combination of Lake Michigan dunes, small harbor towns, and dense hardwood forests makes for a fall road trip that looks nothing like anywhere else.

Holland State Park and the Lake Macatawa shoreline are particularly good spots for fall color in mid-October. The dunes at Saugatuck overlook Lake Michigan with fall foliage surrounding them on both sides. It is genuinely one of the most photogenic fall scenes in the state. Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore further north has Pierce Stocking Drive, a 7.4-mile scenic loop that is a must-do fall color route with sweeping views of Lake Michigan surrounded by color.

The small towns along the lakeshore, Saugatuck, Douglas, South Haven, Holland, are all worth stopping in. Good food, independent shops, and the lake right there. Lake Michigan shoreline towns also tend to hold their color longer than inland areas thanks to the moderating effect of the lake on temperatures.

Best time to visit: Mid to late October
Drive time from Chicago: About 2.5 to 3 hours
What to look for: Dune overlooks, lakeshore drives, harbor towns

Northern Lower Michigan Fall Colors — Traverse City, Petoskey, and Gaylord

This is where most people think of when they think Michigan fall color and for good reason. Northern Lower Michigan hits peak color in early to mid-October and the combination of inland lakes, hardwood forests, and Great Lakes shoreline makes it one of the best fall road trip destinations in the country.

The Tunnel of Trees along M-119 between Harbor Springs and Cross Village is 22 miles of some of the most famous fall color in Michigan. The road is narrow and winding, the tree canopy closes overhead, and in early October the whole thing turns gold and red. Go on a weekday if you can because it gets crowded on fall weekends.

Traverse City is a great base for a fall weekend. The Leelanau Peninsula and Old Mission Peninsula both offer excellent fall color drives with the bonus of winery stops along the way. Sleeping Bear Dunes is about 45 minutes from Traverse City and worth the trip for the combination of dune views and fall foliage.

Gaylord is the geographic center of the northern Lower Peninsula and sits right in the heart of some of the best hardwood forest in the state. The drives in any direction from Gaylord in early October are worth it on their own.

Best time to visit: Early to mid-October
Drive time from Chicago: About 4.5 to 5 hours
What to look for: Tunnel of Trees, Sleeping Bear Dunes, Leelanau Peninsula, winery stops

Upper Peninsula Fall Colors — The Best in the State

If you have the time and the drive does not scare you, the Upper Peninsula in early October is worth it. The UP has more forest than any other region of Michigan and the fall color is on a completely different scale than anything in the Lower Peninsula.

Tahquamenon Falls surrounded by fall foliage is one of those places that stops you in your tracks. The Porcupine Mountains in the western UP offer sweeping overlooks of Lake of the Clouds with the full color change visible across the entire basin, one of the most photographed fall scenes in the Midwest. Ocqueoc Falls in the northeastern Lower Peninsula, just south of the UP, is the largest waterfall in the Lower Peninsula and completely off the radar for most visitors.

The UP peaks the first week of October so you need to plan ahead. It is a long drive from Chicago, about 6 to 7 hours to Tahquamenon depending on your route, but the people who make it never say it was not worth it.

Best time to visit: First two weeks of October
Drive time from Chicago: 6 to 7 hours
What to look for: Tahquamenon Falls, Porcupine Mountains, Lake of the Clouds overlook

Tips for Your Michigan Fall Color Trip

Go on weekdays if you can. Fall weekends in northern Michigan especially are crowded. The Tunnel of Trees and Sleeping Bear Dunes in particular get very busy on October weekends. A Tuesday or Wednesday visit in peak color week will be a totally different experience.

Track the color before you go. Check explorefall.com or the Michigan DNR fall color report before you leave. Color timing varies by a week or two depending on the year and knowing where the color is right now saves you from arriving a week early or a week late.

Book accommodations early. Northern Michigan in October is popular. If you are planning a weekend trip in early to mid-October, book your hotel or Airbnb at least a month in advance. Places fill up fast.

Bring a camera and get up early. The best fall color light is in the morning when the sun is low. If you are driving for photos, aim to be on the road by 7 or 8 am. The color looks completely different than it does at midday.

Use Roadtrippers to find stops along the way. We use the Roadtrippers app on every road trip we take. It is great for finding scenic overlooks, historic stops, and interesting places you would never think to look for on your own. Try it here and use code BTR5QTP for five dollars off the premium subscription.

Southern Michigan is underrated. If you are coming from Chicago and cannot make the full drive north, southern Michigan farm and lake country in late October has its own version of fall worth seeing. It is quieter, less crowded, and a much easier day trip. Drive through the Hillsdale area on a late October Saturday and you will not be disappointed.

Michigan has some of the best fall scenery in the country. Browse our full Michigan travel guides for more destinations across the state.

A fall color drive through Michigan is one of the best Midwest road trips you can plan — windows down, leaves turning, no itinerary required.

Frequently Asked Questions

When is peak fall color in Michigan?

It depends on where in Michigan you are going. The Upper Peninsula peaks first, typically the first week of October. Northern Lower Michigan peaks in early to mid-October. West Michigan and southern Michigan peak in mid to late October and can hold color into early November in good years. Check explorefall.com for real-time tracking before your trip.

Where is the best place to see fall colors in Michigan?

The Tunnel of Trees along M-119 in northern Michigan is one of the most famous fall color drives in the state. Sleeping Bear Dunes, the Porcupine Mountains in the UP, and the Lake Michigan shoreline towns of Saugatuck and Holland are all excellent. For a less crowded option, the lake and farm country around Hillsdale in southern Michigan is worth the drive in late October.

How long does fall color last in Michigan?

The full fall color season in Michigan runs from late September through early November, moving from north to south. Any individual location is typically at peak color for one to two weeks. If you time your visit right you can catch multiple regions at peak by planning a longer road trip from north to south through the season.

Is Michigan good for fall color road trips?

Yes, it is one of the best states in the country for it. The combination of Great Lakes shoreline, dunes, inland lakes, and dense hardwood forest gives you a variety of fall scenery that other states cannot match. The Tunnel of Trees, Sleeping Bear Dunes, and the UP are all legitimate bucket list fall color experiences.

What is the best fall color drive in southern Michigan?

The lake and farm country roads around Hillsdale in late October are consistently beautiful and almost completely off the tourist radar. Drive north or east out of Hillsdale on any county road and you will find it. The combination of lake reflections and tree-lined farm roads makes for a fall drive that feels completely different from anything up north.

Can you see Michigan fall colors as a day trip from Chicago?

Yes. Southern Michigan, the Hillsdale area and the Lake Michigan shoreline towns like Saugatuck and St. Joseph, are all within two and a half to three hours of Chicago. You can easily leave Saturday morning, spend the day driving through fall color, and be home by evening. For northern Michigan destinations you will want a full weekend.

More Michigan Adventures

Michigan has a lot more worth exploring beyond the fall season. We have been to the Hillsdale area many times and always find something new. Check out our guide to the Hillsdale Auction if you want to combine your fall color drive with a Saturday morning worth waking up early for. And if you are looking for more Midwest road trip ideas, check out our full list of best day trips from Chicago.

The post Michigan Fall Colors: Best Drives and When to See Peak Foliage appeared first on Lesser Known Adventures.

Hillsdale, Michigan is the town where we grew up, and the Hillsdale Auction is one of those places we have memories tied to from childhood. Catie’s dad would take her on Saturday mornings, breakfast at Spanglers, a walk through the animals, a wander around the flea market. It was just what you did on a Saturday in Hillsdale.

Now when we visit family, we still stop by. We grab breakfast, walk the grounds, see what is for sale, and catch up with the energy of a place that has been doing the same thing every single Saturday since at least 1913. Some things you just do not mess with.

If you have never been to a real working auction in a small Michigan town, the Hillsdale Auction is the place to go. It is unlike anything else we cover on this site and it is one of those experiences that feels completely removed from the usual tourist trail.

What Is the Hillsdale Auction?

The Hillsdale Auction is a weekly livestock auction and flea market held every Saturday at the Hillsdale County Fairgrounds in Hillsdale, Michigan. It has been running continuously since at least 1913, and some documents suggest it may go back as far as 1905. That makes it over 100 years of the same community gathering in the same place to buy, sell, and trade.

It is known as the Working Person’s Auction and that name fits perfectly. This is not an antique fair or a curated market. It is farmers, local vendors, families, and deal hunters all in one place doing what small town Michigan has always done on a Saturday morning.

Current owners Guy and Deb Russell took over the auction in 2016, having first started working there in 2013. The auction runs multiple rings simultaneously which means on any given Saturday you might have four or five auctioneers calling bids at the same time in different parts of the grounds. It is loud, busy, and worth every minute.

Location and Address

Hillsdale County Fairgrounds 115 S Broad Street Hillsdale, MI 49242

Phone: 517-437-2424

Hillsdale is in southern Michigan near the Indiana and Ohio borders, about two hours southwest of Detroit and roughly three hours from Chicago. It is a genuine small town and the fairgrounds sit right at the heart of it.

Hours and Schedule

The flea market opens at 7 am and runs until 2 pm. The auctions run throughout the morning on a set schedule:

9:00 am — Miscellaneous auction. Up to four or five auctioneers running simultaneously. This is where you find tools, household goods, collectibles, and just about anything else you can imagine.

10:00 am — Small animals. Poultry, rabbits, and more.

11:30 am — Hay and feeder pigs.

1:00 pm — Large animals. Cattle, goats, sheep, horses, and more.

The auction runs 50 weeks a year, rain or shine. The only Saturdays it does not run are the two Saturdays during the Hillsdale County Fair at the end of September. Every other Saturday of the year, it is happening.

What to Expect

The flea market is set up throughout the fairgrounds and changes week to week. Some vendors are regulars, some are one-time sellers clearing out a garage or a barn. You never know what you will find. We have walked through and spotted everything from farm equipment to vintage signs to fresh produce to handmade crafts. Budget time to wander because that is where the fun is.

The animal auctions are a whole experience on their own. If you have never watched a live livestock auction, it is worth seeing at least once. The pace is fast, the auctioneers are good, and the barn fills up with locals who know exactly what they are doing. Even if you are not buying, just watching is interesting.

The atmosphere is what makes this place. People are friendly. You will find yourself in conversations with strangers, hearing stories about farms and families and things for sale. It has the feeling of a community gathering that has been happening so long it is just part of the rhythm of the town.

Breakfast at Spanglers Stock Yard Restaurant

Do not skip breakfast. Spanglers Stock Yard Family Restaurant on the auction grounds has been a Saturday morning tradition for families in Hillsdale for decades.

Home cooked meals, local crowd, exactly the kind of breakfast spot that does not exist in cities anymore. Catie has been going since she was a kid and it has not changed.

Get there early because it fills up fast on Saturday mornings.

Tips Before You Go

Bring cash. Most vendors and the auction itself operate on cash. There may be card options available but do not count on it.

Go early. The flea market opens at 7 am and the best stuff goes fast. If you want to browse before the crowds show up, aim to be there by 8.

Wear comfortable shoes. The fairgrounds are spread out and you will be on your feet for a while, including some unpaved areas.

Check Facebook first. The Hillsdale Auction posts pictures on Fridays showing items coming in for Saturday’s sale. It is a good way to see what is going to be there before you make the drive.

If you want to sell, flea market spots can be purchased at the auction office starting at 7 am on the day of the auction. No advance reservation needed.

Frequently Asked Questions

What time does the Hillsdale Auction start? The flea market opens at 7 am. The miscellaneous auction starts at 9 am, small animals at 10 am, hay and feeder pigs at 11:30 am, and large animals at 1 pm. Plan to be there early if you want the full experience.

Is the Hillsdale Auction open year round? Yes, with two exceptions. The auction runs every Saturday of the year except for the two Saturdays during the Hillsdale County Fair at the end of September. That is 50 Saturdays a year, rain or shine.

Is there food at the Hillsdale Auction? Yes. Spanglers Stock Yard Family Restaurant is on the grounds and serves breakfast on Saturday mornings. It is a local institution and gets busy. Go early.

How much does it cost to get in? Getting in to browse the flea market and watch the auctions is free. You only pay if you buy something or want to set up as a vendor.

Can you sell at the Hillsdale Auction? Yes. Flea market vendor spots can be purchased at the auction office starting at 7 am on Saturday morning. For consigning animals or other items in the formal auction, call the office at 517-437-2424 in advance.

Where is the Hillsdale Auction located? At the Hillsdale County Fairgrounds, 115 S Broad Street, Hillsdale, MI 49242. Phone: 517-437-2424.

More Michigan Adventures

If you are making the drive to Hillsdale, it is worth looking at what else is nearby. Hillsdale College is a well known institution right in town and the downtown area has some good spots to walk around. Michigan has a lot of underrated small towns and Hillsdale is one of them.

If you’re in the area in the fall, you should take a few drives around and take in the fall colors.

For more Midwest hidden gems worth the drive, check out our full adventures archive or browse our Michigan guides for more ideas.

References:

http://www.hillsdaleauction.com/

https://www.facebook.com/Hillsdale-Auction-160827797601990/

https://www.hillsdalecountyfair.org/saturday-auction

https://www.spanglerfamilyrestaurants.com/

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