Suggest a good stopping point half-way between Chicago and DC?

[Anonymous]

Hi all,

I'm driving myself from Chicago to DC in a couple of weeks and am looking for a cute, nice, safe place to stay about mid-way through the trip. I've done the drive several times before and just usually stop wherever I'm tired but now that I'm married and a mom - my DH is encouraging me to be a little bit more intentional (and safer) about it. Figured I might as well use this time to see a cute town, get a massage and eat some good food

Thanks!

[Anonymous]

Anyone, anyone? Bueller?

[Anonymous]

How about Cleveland. I understand they are known for their chilli and, of course, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

[Anonymous]

The Coventry neightborhood in Cleveland is really cute. Lots of independent shops, boutiques, and restaurants. I highly recommend Tommy's in Coventry; it's a vegetarian restaurant and even this non-vegetarian thinks their food is AMAZING! http://www.tommyscoventry.com/

[Anonymous]

22:03 here. Actually, maybe it's Cincinnati that is known for chili??

[Anonymous]

Yes, its Cincinnati that is known for Chili. What way are you going, OP?

[Anonymous]

There really isn't anything, unless you make it all the way to Ann Arbor, which isn't halfway (more like 3/4 way). Pittsburgh isn't halfway, and Cleveland is going to add a couple of hours to your trip because it's not fully on route (assuming you're going DC to 270 to 70 to 76 to 80 to 75 to 94 to Chicago).

[Anonymous]

If you were going through Cincinnati, I would say you could stop in Lawrenceville, Indiana to see the riverboat gambling, and then drive to Metamora, Indiana where they have a historic canal area that is nice for visitors. The town of Aurora, Indiana, which is next to Lawrenceville, is cute but very small and old-time America-ish. Otherwise, Richmond, Indiana off of I-70 has the pretty Earlham College campus and a walkable downtown promenade with a few shops. I like Morgantown, West Virginia a lot but it is too close probably for an overnight stop. I don't know much around Columbus/Dayton OH except the Wright Brothers Museum in Dayton, which might entertain you for a couple hours.

[Anonymous]

Pittsburgh.

[Anonymous]

I have driven to Chicago several times and have always gone "through" Cleveland. Plenty of places to stay there and things to do (Auto Museum, Art Museum, Rock and Roll HOF etc);

Oberlin is a cute town about 45 minutes west, but off the Interstate a bit.

[Anonymous]

Western PA, visit Fallingwater, Frank Lloyd Wright house. You can stay nearby, trying Farmington, PA, or Confluence, PA or Ohiopyle, PA or Uniontown, PA.
Uniontown and Farmington are the biggest places around.

Or try Pittsburgh if you want a city.