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Driving distance from Chicago - Where to go?
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Anonymous
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We're in Chicago and DH got a 3 nights for free at any Marriott in the country.
We're new here and want to explore the area driving. Where would you go? We can do up to 5 hours driving. DC is 14 months old. Thanks for the suggestions. |
Anonymous
| Chicago is a great city, why not hang out there? I guess I would drive up to Wisconsin and pick up some beer and cheese. Spotted Cow is my favorite and it's not exported out of Wisconsin. |
Anonymous
Oh I miss my spotted cow!! |
Anonymous
Me too. OP, go check out Madison. |
Anonymous
pp here, I second that! Great city (just moved from there), and go on a Saturday and check out the AMAZING farmer's market 
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Anonymous
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Why do you want to drive somewhere? Have you seen much of Chicago? It's a lovely city without a car!
Otherwise, Madison is a cool college town, Milwaukee is all right, St Louis is within the five-hour limit (I think). You can go fairly far in five hours in the Midwest. What type of things are you looking for? |
Anonymous
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OP here.
We're living in Chicago so we'll have plenty of time to get to know the city. We've been to a few farms in the burbs. DC is having so much fun this summer. DC loves the animals! The beach is also great! We're in love with the city. I love the beach, DH doesn't care about anything. Our kiddo does well if we drive at night so we were thinking to drive on a Thursday eve and spend Fri, Sat and Sun somewhere. We're going to Madison this weekend for a baby shower so that we're already checking out. I'll take a look at the other suggestions. Thanks a lot! |
Anonymous
| Lake Geneva is lovely, as is Long Grove. Both can be quick day trips. St. Charles is a lovely suburb (the Hotel Baker is beautiful). In the fall you can always head to South Bend for Notre Dame football! |
Anonymous
| I'd tour a brewery too while you are there. - http://www.newglarusbrewing.com/index.cfm/brewery/brewcrew |
Anonymous
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Oooh, go to Galena! It's a very cool, small artsy historic town. Not sure they have a Marriott though. . .
Also, you could go to New Buffalo Michigan, another quaint town on Lake Michigan. Oh, if you want something to do in Madison besides the baby shower, they just opened a new Children's museum and it is very cool. |
Anonymous
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If you can manage six hours in the car, Minneapolis/St Paul is great. Wonderful restaurants, great science and art museums, lots to see, great shopping, beautiful neighborhoods.
Harbor Country (New Buffalo north to Sawyer) is great, but no Marriott's there, I don't think. Mostly cute, small b&bs. Milwaukee has a nice science museum, great restaurants, probably more stuff to see if you look around. I've only been there once, and for a single day. If you can stand the drive, Door County is fantastic. http://www.doorcounty.com/plan-your-trip/visitor-guide |
Anonymous
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Betty Brin Children's Museum in Milwaukee is cool. It's also next to the beautiful art museum.
If you go to Madison, you could try to go visit Taliesin (but I think you may need advance tickets). It's a fascinating tour. Whatever you do in that area, stay away from the House on the Rock. |
Anonymous
I was going to suggest Galena as well. What about Carbondale? You can visit SIU and go take a dip in the Mississippi! |
Anonymous
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Milwaukee Zoo, and the natural history museum
Smith Bros. in Port Washington. Vintage auto races (or any auto races) at Road America in Elkart Lake Oshkosh when the experiment aircraft association is in town Illinois Railroad museum in Union, IL Circus World Museum and Mid-Continent Railroad museum in Baraboo, WI Wisconsin Dells Indiananpolis is as close as Minneapolis For other random things my Dad used to dig out the Mobil or AAA travel guides |