The most beautiful places in the Midwest
This region has a little bit of everything, from charming small towns and sophisticated cities to wooded mountains and wide-open plains. Start with a photo tour of Michigan, above, then scroll through galleries for (Michigan), Minnesota, Wisconsin, Missouri, Ohio, Illinois, Indiana and Iowa below.
Michigan- Big Bay Point Lighthouse
Minnesota - Voyaguers National Park
Wisconsin - Apostle Islands
Missouri - Gateway Arch
Ohio- Lakeview Park in Lorian, Ohio
Illinois - Chicago Skyline
Indiana - Amish Country
Iowa - The Corn Belt
http://www.usatoday.com/story/travel/destinations/2015/06/26/midwest-beautiful-photos/29283303/
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These are all right in our back yard (so to speak) and the wife and I are planning to get to all these states this summer - a week to ten days will allow us to visit friends in the Midwest and see the beauty these states have to offer.
I truly hope that you and your wife will get to see all ofthe beautiful sights. Amazing scenery!
Great photos of flyover country. Lot's of beauty here. Hope you have a great trip this summer RIO. If you in southern Missouri, Ozark Country give me a shout.
Our oldest son lives in Missouri and with that as a destination we will be able to see some of the states on the way there and the rest on the way home.
She is also putting together a list of restaurants from Diners, Drive-ins and Dives to stop at along the way as well, we will plan out route accordingly
Thanks for the feedback
Kavika
Appreciate the feedback
I will drop you a note if we make there
Where in Missouri does your son live RIO?
Kavika
In rural (read middle of absolutely nowhere) Barton County, Mo
Have you been to Hocking Hills in Ohio, RiO ?
Here's another nice one from Michigan RIO.
Taquomonen Falls in the Eastern UP near Whitefish Point.
The Whitefish Point Lighthouse is more of a modern design and not as picturesque as Big Bay, but it does house the Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum (definitely a must see). Among other items, the Museum has the ship's bell from the Edmund Fitzgerald.
Minnesota's lake country is tremendous and in the summer time Heaven on Earth...
For me it's the old world charm of Mackinac Island. No motorized vehicles allowed on the Island(expect for emergency ones of course). You walk, bicycle or hire a horse and carriage. It's a small island, barely 5 miles around and it has many things to see, like the old Fort, the Grand Hotel (built in 1887) or the Governor's mansion. Yes,there a summer mansion for the governor. Except for some properties that were Grandfathered in, it's all controlled as a State Park.
The movie "Somewhere in Time" with the late Christopher Reeve, was filmed there. The Hotel in it isthe Grand Hotel. The Grand has 390 rooms and every one of them is decorated differently. Some are named after the Presidentsand celebrities who have stayed there.I have beento the island6 or 7 times and it's on mybucket list of places to go back and see again. And this time I'll stay at the Grand! Besides, there are a couple of fudge and candymaker stores in the "downtown" area that sell the greatest fudge in the world! IN THE WORLD!!
Love Mackinac Island! We had the absolute best oysters ever there,,,they have a lot of great places there to eat and visit.Go in the fall after the season and its a lot cheaper and less crowded. But get there before freeze or you'll need a snowmobile to get back home.
:~)
Do they play Gord Lightfoot singing The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald there? It would add to the eerieness, and emotion:
I'm sorry to say I have never had the opportunity to visit the midwest . These pics are gorgeous !
My 2nd wife and myself would often go in early June. The rates were not jacked up yet, but you did need a warm jacket for late night walks. One summer she surprised me with a trip to the island for my birthday and man was it expensive! She had talked to my boss behind my back to get me the vacation time off. We got there the day after the yearly yacht race and our room was at I believe the Chippewa Hotel and overlooked the marina, which was still filled with some of the beautiful yacht. I was sitting having a drink on the outdoor eating and sitting placewhen a yacht came into the marina like I hade never seen. It looked exactly likean old three mast ship! He was going to tie up to the deck of he hotet (which I assume he'd pre-arranged and I was there to catch the rope and tie the front of it off.
Turns out he was from Boston and had powered trough the locks and sailed some of the Great Lakes already. He planned to sail in each of them. He had his family with him and they were all great people. I had a scotch with him later in the evening. I asked him where he could buy a ship really, instead of a yacht , like that and he told me they had to be commissioned andwere individually built to your own specifications. I can't imagine how much that cost!
It was one of the greatest birthday presents I ever had. Of course it all went on both of our credit cards, sowe both paid for it, but it's the thought that counts.
Petey
Appreciate the feedback
I have lived and worked in most parts of the U.S. (in and out of the military), but the Midwest is home and I always came back, including now that I am retired.
Larry
Now you have let out the secret we locals tray not to share
It is indeed beautiful and there are such places in the U P
Thanks for the feedback
T G D
Sounds like a great vacation and adventure
pat
I have never been to Hocking Hills itself, but I know where it is and have been nearby in the Wayne National Forest a time or two.
Is it worth a three or four hour drive to see?
TTGA
Beautiful place
Thanks for the info and the pictures
Buzz
One of my favorite Lightfoot songs, those words take me back to my younger days.
Larry
What a beautiful setting
Thanks for sharing
T G D
The grand hotel sounds like a great place to stay
Kavika
Thanks for sharing this wonder
It is hard to find words to describe the beauty
I think so.
pat
Then it goes on our "local exploring" list
Thanks for the tip
Kavika
I could enjoy ending my day with a cup of coffee watching that sunsetevery day
Thanks for sharing
I have heard of Table Rock Lake, but never been there
It a beautiful lake RIO, and well protected by the Corp of Engineers. A lot of restrictions on building near the lake and it's a no no to take trees down that are on the shoreline. The corp has complete authority on that, even if you own the property. The lake is also very very clear, again due to the Corp.
KAvika
Sounds wonderful, the ACE has done some good things over the years.
FLY
I Lived in Mequon (north of Milwaukee) for a while and am familiar with the Wind Point area
Great picture