where to go IL, WI, KY, IN, TN, MO

[romerun]

Helloo,

I'm living in chicago and usually drive around these states on my weekends, now I have no idea, where to go, especially during this winter. To give some idea, here're some places I can remember: IL:along the great river road,starved rock,galena,dubuque,morten abortum,cave in rock ; KY:mammoth cave ; IN:indianna dune; TN:smokey mountain,tail of the dragon; WI: kettle moraine, twin city, milwaukee.

If you know some places that matches my interest in these areas, plz let me know.

thanks
-kem

[AZBuck]

Welcome back. It looks to me like you enjoy natural and scenic wonders, so here are just a few in your neighborhood that you didn't mention. In Michigan, Sleeping Bear Dunes on the northeastern shore of Lake Michigan is a relatively short drive from Chicago while Isle Royale National Park in Lake Superior is a bit farther afield and can only be reached by passenger ferry.(and pets are not allowed). Door County, Wisconsin can be a year-round destination. And finally, not that much farther than some of your other trips is New River Gorge in West Virginia.

AZBuck

[RoadDog]

Just a short jaunt up Rand Road, US 12, you can visit the great cars at Chicago Muscle Cars in Wauconda, or the huge car collection at Volo, Il. There are several antique stores there as well. A stop at Bobby's Barrel Inn or Fratello's for a great hotdog would be in order.

Further up the road is Fox Lake, the center of the Chain of Lakes. This town used to boast the largest number of bars per capita of anywhere in the US. For a great and cheap meal, half pound burgers for $2.50 and 30 cent shrimp all the time can be found at Freddie's Famous Roadhouse. Big specials are a 10 ounce NY Strip for $5.99 on Mondays and that half pound burger is 99 cents on Wednesdays. You'll love the decor, and it overlooks Pistakee Lake.

Also Docker's is right on the water, and features a great salad bar. Another great water view can be found at the historic Mineola Hotel, dating back to the 1880s. Think the Grand Hotel in Mackinac, only smaller, and not in as good of a shape. There is a great restaurant with an out-of-sight fish fry and salad bar on Fridays.

From Fox Lake to Richmond, US 12 has to be ranked right up there as one of the scenic drives in the US.

In Spring Grove, there is a small park used mostly for canoe launches, but it has a plaque dedicated to Fred Hatch who invented the modern silo. A right hand turn on Wilmot Road going North will bring you to one of the crown jewels of Illinois' state park system, the Chain of Lakes State Park.

Back on US 12, you'll enter the antiques village of Richmond.

Keep on Down that Two Lane Road and Cruise US 12. -- RoadDog

[Midwest Michael]

Further up the road is Fox Lake, the center of the Chain of Lakes. This town used to boast the largest number of bars per capita of anywhere in the US.

This may be the most sought after record in the Upper Midwest. I know of at least 4 Wisconsin towns that claim that same title. Milwaukee and LaCrosse both say they have the record, and there are two smaller towns whose names I can't remember right now who've also staked a claim.

I actually tried to research this once, but I could never find a definative answer.

[Midwest Michael]

If you enjoy checking out caves, you could explore Niagra Cave in Southwest Minnesota or Cave of the Mounds about 30 miles from Madison, WI.

Speaking of Mounds, There's Effigy Mounds National Monument in Northest Iowa and if you're heading there, I'd recommend checking out the Original Pikes Peak just a few miles away.

Further North, in addition to the idea's AZ Buck has already provided, there is also the Apostle Islands in Northern WI, The Macinaw Island and the Macinaw Bridge, as well as a shipwreck museum in Sault St. Marie.

If you enjoy exploring waterfalls, Northern Wisconsin and the U.P. have more of them than just about any place in the world. At the end of last summer, I spend the day in Marinette County, and didn't have time to see all the falls on their Waterfalls Tour.

[romerun]

Yes ! what an informative suggestion ! The only two places that I've heard and are in my must-visit-list are isle royale and apostle islands, others sounds very exciting because I've never seen them in any tour guide or web ads, that's what I like, small name, but impressive.

If the time permits, I'll explore them all and review what they're like.

thx.
kem.