Chicago
Who knew? Ben Franklin liked to be flogged, and Egypt’s Queen Hatshepsut had a foot fetish. The museum reveals this and more in its displays of leather,…
Must-see attractions in The Great Lakes
Chicago
Ping Tom stretches along the Chicago River and offers dramatic, bridge-strewn views of the skyline. Rent a kayak from the boathouse, or bring a picnic to…
Chicago
Named after the founders of Esquire magazine, who contributed the start-up money, this is the official fine-arts museum of the University of Chicago. The…
Chicago
What’s that giant phallic thing in the middle of the road, causing traffic to swerve every which way? Excellent question. Most locals have no idea. Turns…
Wisconsin
It's your one-stop shop for food, drink, memorabilia and historical information. The thick-stone building began brewing beer in 1852. Imbibe indoors amid…
Indianapolis
This questionably ambitious hidden green space lying off the Cultural Trail between Fletcher Place and Fountain Square might seem a tad strange, but you…
Michigan
An affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution, the museum features artifacts from well-known Arab Americans (like a typewriter from White House journalist…
Chicago
Curious about Chicago’s storied past? Multimedia displays at this museum cover it all, from the Great Fire to the 1968 Democratic Convention. President…
Cypress Creek National Wildlife Refuge
Illinois
You certainly don't expect to find a Southern-style swampland, complete with moss-draped cypress trees and croaking bullfrogs in Illinois. But it's here,…
Chicago
No discussion of famed Loop architecture is complete without mentioning the boxy, metal-and-glass style of Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, whose functional,…
Indiana
Fans of actor James Dean should head directly here to see the Hollywood icon's bongo drums and 1955 Triumph Trophy 500, among other artifacts.
Upper Peninsula
Miners Castle is one of the lakeshore’s most iconic rock formations. A short trail leads from the parking lot to an upper platform with great views…
Chicago
Winding along the Chicago River’s southern side next to Wacker Dr, this 1.25-mile-long promenade is a fine spot to escape the crowds and watch boats glide…
Nordhouse Dunes Wilderness Area
Gold Coast
Nordhouse Dunes, a 3450-acre plot within the Huron-Manistee National Forest, features perhaps the wildest stretch of Lake Michigan shoreline. Dunes rise…
Indianapolis
The expansive park, located at downtown's edge, contains several worthwhile sights. The adobe Eiteljorg Museum of American Indians & Western Art features…
Upper Peninsula
A relatively easy, 1.2-mile (one way) walk through woods rewards with views of the 60ft-high cascade. The trail winds by two viewing platforms: one at the…
Lanier Mansion State Historic Site
Indiana
It's easy to imagine grandiosity emitting from this 1844 Greek Revival mansion as passersby floated along the Ohio River back in the day. Commissioned by…
Chicago
Louis Sullivan designed this ornate building in 1899. For a century it was home to the Carson Pirie Scott & Co department store. Check out the superb…
Chicago
With its 16 stories of shimmering glass, framed by brilliant white terra-cotta details, Burnham & Root's 1895 Reliance Building is a breath of fresh air…
Upper Peninsula
Beyond the town of Paradise is this fascinating museum, where the intriguing displays include items trawled up from sunken ships. Dozens of vessels –…
Ohio
This shrine for gridiron-obsessed fans has great interactive exhibits and artifacts. See the football Peyton Manning threw for his record-breaking 509th…
Indiana
A few miles southeast of Nashville, Brown County is Indiana's largest state park. Trails stripe the 15,700-acre stand of oak, hickory and birch trees, and…
Illinois
Floating in the Mississippi River, Rock Island once held a Civil War–era arsenal and POW camp. It's now the site of the impressive Rock Island Arsenal…
Chicago
Among the handsome manors lining S Greenwood Ave is the redbrick Georgian-style home at number 5046, where Barack Obama and his family lived from 2005…
Chicago
Gupta represents contemporary, mid-career artists who work in various mediums, including painting, sculpture, collage and film. Intriguing new exhibitions…
Ohio
Heini's whips up more than 50 cheeses. Learn how Amish farmers hand-milk their cows and spring-cool (versus machine-refrigerate) the output before…
Gold Coast
Chinook Pier has a lot going on. There’s a seasonal mini-golf course (adult/child $3/2) and farmers market (8am to 1pm Wednesday and Saturday). Wet Mitten…
Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park
Michigan
The 158-acre gardens feature impressive blooms and hulking works by Auguste Rodin, Henry Moore and others. The sculpture park is star of the show,…
Chicago
This building has been an artists' haven for more than a century. You'll still hear opera voices and trumpet music drift out of the music studios, which…
Chicago
Pilsen's art galleries are known collectively as the Chicago Arts District. There are 20 or so studios, and they tend to be small, artist-run spaces with…
Illinois
It's a quintessential stop on Route 66, located in Wilmington. Here the Gemini Giant – a 28ft fiberglass spaceman – stands guard outside the Launching Pad…
Chicago
This 1893 neoclassical home designed by NYC architect Stanford White is a Gold Coast standout. Originally built for Elinor Patterson (who would later…
Cleveland
This wide swath of shore is a local hot spot. It has lifeguards, cabana rentals (per day $20), paddleboard rentals (per hour $20), pick-up volleyball…
Michigan
Renowned architect Zaha Hadid designed this wild-looking parallelogram of stainless steel and glass. It holds everything from Greek ceramics to Salvador…
Gold Coast
Fans of Ernest Hemingway will recall the store, with its 'high false front,' from his short story 'Up in Michigan.' As a youth, Hemingway used to hang out…
Chicago
Spanning N Michigan Ave between the river and Oak St, the 'Mag Mile' is Chicago's much-touted upscale shopping strip, where Bloomingdale's, Apple,…
Bill Monroe Music Park & Bluegrass Hall of Fame
Indiana
This museum, 5 miles north of Nashville, hails bluegrass hero Bill Monroe, who created the finger-picking musical style; it's also home to the Bluegrass…
Indiana
The state park is a 2100-acre, shoreside pocket within the national park; it’s located at the end of Hwy 49, near Chesterton. It has more amenities than…
Lincoln Home National Historic Site
Illinois
An entire four-block neighborhood has been preserved as part of the Lincoln Home National Historic Site. Visits begin at the National Park Service visitor…
Illinois
In case you're wondering, a Toby jug is a ceramic pitcher shaped like a chubby old guy wearing a tri-cornered hat and 18th-century garb. Or at least that…
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