Best Midwest Vacation Spots To Visit This Summer for Family Fun

ByJessica
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Looking to see some of the best midwest vacation spots for the family to visit this summer? You’ve come to the right place! The family will love these vacation spots in midwest areas!

Since we have vowed to travel more, I’ve been gathering a few ideas on places to visit and sightsee this summer. We live in a small town in the Midwest and we can travel in all directions to find some pretty cool places to visit.

To plan for the trip, we have been saving money in different ways. We saved some extra cash for Thanksgiving last year and have learned how to stock our pantry on a budget. Pretty soon, I’ll share some of our other tricks on how we save money so that we can enjoy some family outings.

Plus, traveling has many benefits. We can spend more fun time together as a family and get away from our tiny little town to go out and see the world. As we are traveling, each place we visit is a learning opportunity for the kids. It’s also a great way to get the kids interested in different things and experiences.

You may wanna grab this printable itinerary and daily travel schedule to help you stay on track as you hit these vacation spots in midwest areas.

Best Midwest Vacation Spots for Families

Luckily, no matter what kind of experience you are looking for, there are some fun outdoor activities and budget-friendly places to visit in the Midwest. The same applies to indoor activities if you’re not much of an outdoorsy kind of person.

Be sure to grab these road trip printables before you set out on the Best Midwest Vacation Spots so the kids have something fun to do while traveling!

Best Midwest Vacations for Families

Best Midwest Vacations for Families

Vacationing in the Midwest – Best Midwest Travel Spots

Illinois – Illinois has a lot to offer when it comes to vacationing in the midwest. From historic places and new science museums and family attractions, there is a wide variety of destinations to visit. Here are a few of the Best Midwest Vacation Spots in Illinois.

Chicago, Illinois

If you start out in Chicago, you will have the opportunity to drive on one of the most famous highways, Route 66. Route 66 starts in Chicago and goes all the way to Los Angeles, California so you can plan your trip accordingly if you choose to.

Chicago is home to deep-dish pizza and the city offers a variety of different attractions and experiences to see.

  • Music Festivals. From blues to rock, Chicago has some of the best music festivals to see while vacationing in the midwest. No matter what your taste in music is. These festivals are held throughout the summer and have become a popular reason to visit Chicago.
  • Shopping. Michigan Avenue is a popular shopping location because it boasts one of the most lavish malls with a long list of shops. You’ll find 7 floors of shops and boutiques and you may even have special guests playing the piano for you when you visit.
  • Experience a street fair. Street fairs are popular in Chicago. In fact, you’ll find a street fair just about every week of the summer giving you the opportunity to experience some fun.
  • Exquisite dining experiences. Enjoy the sunset as you dine in one of the many outdoor or patio restaurants. For lunch, dinner, or breakfast, the city offers plenty of different restaurants that will impress.
  • Lincoln Park. When you are visiting Chicago, a must-see destination is Lincoln Park. Not only does the park have tranquil ponds and beautiful greenery to see, but you can also find a Saturday morning market with fresh fruits and food. For the kiddos, Lincoln Park Zoo is a great stop.
  • Wrigleyville. Baseball fans will appreciate the trip to Wrigleyville. The area is home to many different restaurants, attractions, the Chicago Cubs, and family-friendly experiences.

Springfield – Best Midwest Vacation Spots for Historic Value

Just a few hours from Chicago, you will find Springfield, the capital of Illinois. Springfield has made the list of one of the best Midwest vacation spots because of its rich history.

If you have history buffs in the family, Springfield is a wonderful historic location to visit. It was home to Abraham Lincoln so you can find a lot of attractions and historic monuments tied into Lincoln. You can visit the Lincoln Home as well as the Lincoln Tomb, and the Presidential Library and Museum.

St. Louis, Missouri – One of the Best Midwest Vacation Spots for Families

Probably one of the most well-known and often visited vacation spots in midwest areas. Following along Route 66, our next stop is St. Louis, Missouri. Home of the Gateway Arch and the St. Louis Zoo. The zoo is one of the top-rated zoos in the U.S. If offers a variety of different animals for the family to see.

St. Louis is a charming town that you can spend the week at and still never see all of the fun attractions the city has to offer. One of the most iconic places for locals, is The Magic House. It is a fun and educational visit for kids and adults alike. It even has a whopping 3-story slide to go down!

Another great attraction you won’t want to miss is the St. Louis Science Center. This is right up the road from the zoo. It always has amazing exhibits for both adults and kids to experience.

When you are looking to dine out, Blueberry Hill offers a family-friendly atmosphere, at least during the day. As you enjoy your meal you can check out all of the cool pop culture memorabilia. Once you’ve enjoyed a tasty lunch, head on over the Fitz’s Root Beer Factory to experience root beer as you’ve never seen.

Branson, Missouri – Best Places in Midwest to Visit If You Love Scenery

Full of charm, Branson is a family-friendly vacation spot in midwest areas that everyone can enjoy. From the mountains to fun family theme parks, it has a little bit of everything.

  • Silver Dollar City. A theme park that is fun for all ages, Silver Dollar City is a fun family park you need to visit at least once. The park has more than 40 different rides and attracions, award-winning restaurants, and various stages to see live entertainment.
  • Titanic Museum. Whether you are a history fan or just a fan of the movie, this attraction has a collection of historical artifacts and educational information about the Titanic.
  • Ancient Ozarks Natural History Museum. Another destination for history lovers, the Ozarks Museum is a 35,000-square-foot treasure trove of Ozarks history. You will find interactive exhibits, impressive artifacts, and more.
  • Promised Land Zoo. A park full of interactive adventure, everyone will get a kick out of seeing the animals. The zoo even offers you the opportunity to feed some of them!

North Dakota – Midwest Travel Destinations

North Dakota is also known as the claimed Geographic Center of North America. Not only is this a very scenic area, but it’s educational and full of family fun.

Mount Rushmore is a must-see area when you are visiting North Dakota. Home to the iconic faces of our Founding Fathers, the beautiful destination is worth taking a trip to. While you can throw in some educational history and facts, it’s amazing to just be able to view the iconic faces.

Deadwood is another great city to visit in North Dakota. The area has a rich history and ties to the one and only Wild Bill Hickok. Full of historic events, fun activities, and destinations throughout the year, history buffs will love seeing the area.

If you want to experience life outdoors, you will want to check out some of North Dakota’s National and State Parks. Each offers a variety of activities like hiking, biking, fishing, camping, kayaking, and more.

Wisconsin

Wisconsin Dells – Probably one of the most recognized Best Midwest Vacation Spots in Wisconsin, the Dells is certainly worth taking a trip to. The area gives you the opportunity to visit both indoor and outdoor parks. The Dells off a variety of different things the family can do.

For those who want to enjoy nature, there are wonderful areas where you can enjoy the outdoors. You can also take part in outdoor sports. If you are looking for a thrill, head over to Mt. Olympus Water and Theme Park. Take a trip down the water slides or roller coasters with the family.

Racine, Wisconsin is a family-friendly place we have always wanted to visit but haven’t had the chance to yet. It is full of kid-friendly activities and attractions that even adults can have fun with. The first place we plan to visit when we do go is the zoo. Next on our list of adventures will be to see the lighthouses, the beach, a show at one of the local theaters.

Don’t worry, if you are looking to be more adventurous, Racine offers plenty of outdoor activities and attractions to experience.

Vacation Spots in Midwest

The midwest is full of hidden gems that are fun and family-friendly. These are only just a few of the best vacation spots in midwest areas.

If you have a favorite place in the midwest to visit, we would love to hear all about it!

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Best Midwest Vacation Spots

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