Time for another Road Trip.... a new start point this time.

After more than a year without visiting the USA (due mainly to an increase in work and buying a new house) I've decided it's time for another road trip.

This time I'm starting and finishing in Chicago and I have 13 days from Sept 21st to Oct 4th.
Looking at the map I'm thinking of heading up the western side of the lake before crossing into Michigan and heading down to Kentucky and Indiana.

Any thoughts / suggestions of what to see would be appreciated.

As always I'll be blogging the entire trip (with plenty of photos) on this site.

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Originally Posted by dangermouse

After more than a year without visiting the USA (due mainly to an increase in work and buying a new house) I've decided it's time for another road trip.

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I know that feeling, I am starting to get an itch that needs scratching !!

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This time I'm starting and finishing in Chicago

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Any thoughts / suggestions of what to see would be appreciated.

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I can't help in this area, but I am sure you would have done some digging around the site, any ideas ?

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As always I'll be blogging the entire trip (with plenty of photos) on this site.

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Will look forward to another top notch report !

If you're thinking about heading up along Lake Michigan anyway, I'd think about spending all of your time doing a loop around 2 or three of the Great Lakes.

You could go up along the western edge of Lake Michigan, loop around Lake Superior or Lake Huron, and then come back along the east edge of Michigan. 2 weeks would be a very nice time to make the trip, see lots of things, without being too rushed.

Another plus, is that in Late September, the fall colors should be at or near peak for much of this area meaning the views will be that much more spectacular.

Chicago is a place I have visited but, not to date, included in a loop road trip. But like a good boy scout – be prepared – it is on my list of to do trips and I have a basic route already mapped out ready. It will be fine tuned if/when the day arrives.

Chicago – Wisconsin Dells – La Crosse: Pass through the state capital, Madison, the circus city of Baraboo, to Wisconsin Dells - boats take visitors to the scenic bluffs of the Upper/Lower Dells of the Wisconsin River.

La Crosse – Winona – Red Wing – Minneapolis - Saint Paul: A scenic drive follows the Mississippi River. Views of the Mississippi River from the top of the bluffs near Winona, a busy steamboat landing years ago. Red Wing, a scenic river town brimming with Victorian architectural. Summit Avenue, the longest avenue of Victorian mansions in USA. Cathedral of St. Paul. In Bloomington, Mall of America is the largest shopping entertainment complex in the United States - tax-free on clothes. Underwater Adventures Aquarium, restaurants, cinemas and night life.

Minneapolis/Saint Paul – Duluth: Duluth on the shores of Lake Superior. Lakeside Canal Park, with restaurants, nightclubs, shops, sightseeing cruises. The lakeside village of Bayfield. Pristine Apostles Islands. Take an excursion boat or take a short ferry ride to Madeline Island to tour Big Bay State Park.

Duluth – Keweenaw Peninsula – Marquette: Explore the picturesque Keweenaw Peninsula, historic Fort Wilkins and Delaware Copper Mine before continuing by the L’Anse Indian Reservation to Marquette.

Marquette – Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore – St. Ignace: Follow scenic State Route 28 to Munising. Cruise boats go past the Pictured Rocks celebrated in Longfellow’s “Song of Hiawatha.” This stunning area is revered as the nucleus of the Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore. Continue past the two striking Tahquamenon Falls to St. Ignace. Take the ferry to the timeless resort island of Mackinac, no cars and bicycles and horse-drawn carriages rule the roads. Visit Fort Mackinac, perched overlooking the harbour, and visit the magnificent old Grand Hotel.

St. Ignace – Colonial Fort Michilimackinac – Cherry Orchard Drive – Traverse City: Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. One of the world’s largest cherry growing regions - large sand dunes along Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive.

Traverse City - Nappanee: Indiana Amish Country. Sample the cultures of the Amish folk.

Nappanee to ?

There is also Cleveland - scenic route 6 alongside Lake Erie - and Pittsburgh as possible stops. Personally don’t like to spread out a trip too much but gain the best from where I go.

What route places do you have in mind?

I visit the Lake superiors north shore every year and its worth the trip. Duluth to the minnesota/ canada border is a great scenic route! State parks the whole way up :)

Wow, that's some set of suggestions there, thanks a lot.
I'm in the office without my US road atlas at the moment, but will check out your suggestions when I get home.
At that point I'll also post up my initial thoughts on a route.

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Originally Posted by dangermouse

As always I'll be blogging the entire trip (with plenty of photos) on this site.

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Very, very cool -- Looking forward to seeing that report!

Mark

Thanks Mark, I've become quite addicted to blogging my holidays, it's a great way of keeping family and friends in touch and I enjoy reading back over my trips months later.

If you haven't been to Chicago before, be sure to allow yourself a couple of days there either at the beginning or end of your trip. It's an awesome city with a lot of cool things to see. I was just there for the last stop on a road trip in July, and I absolutely fell in love with Chicago. Some activities I'd recommend:

The Chicago Architecture Foundation does a really great boat tour of the city along the Chicago River. You learn a lot about the history of the city and its many beautiful buildings. It was a really great way to see the city. The tour lasts 90 minutes, tickets are about $30, and the boat docks near Michigan Avenue & Wacker Drive. Well worth the time and money.

The Art Institute of Chicago, in Millennium Park, is a fantastic museum. Admission is $18 (free if you're a teacher), and the collection includes all kinds of great pieces (for example, American Gothic, Picasso's Old Guitarist, and Hopper's Nighthawks). Plus, Millennium Park is a must-see spot with great sculptures throughout and a really beautiful music pavilion.

Wrigley Field is obviously an American icon, and the Cubs are in town at the start of your trip (playing the Giants, then the Cardinals). We didn't catch a game during our visit (the Cubs were on the road), but my baseball-loving boyfriend did insist on a pilgrimage to the field anyway.

For an awesome view of the city from 96 stories up, have a drink at the Signature Lounge in the John Hancock Building. The view is spectacular.

Sadly I think that Eris' route is a little too long for the 13 days that we have so here's what I've come up with so far

3 days Chicago
Madison
Oshkosh
Manitowoc
ferry across lake
Grand Rapids
Lansing
Toledo
Columbus
Lexington
Indianapolis
Chicago

This is only a rough guide as there are any number of small towns and National / State Parks that we want to see en-route

Thanks for the Chicago suggestions "Aminiandamap" some of them I already had, some more I have added along with the great tip for theJH building, any more suggestions for any of the other locations / route well received.

Look forward to following your road trip dangermouse. Not seen any Chicago loop trip report on here before, probably missed them, so your findings will be new to me. The route 66 road trips from Chicago goes south with no info with the Great Lakes.

Have a great trip.