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Things to do / Travel Guide
Illinois and Wisconsin Tourist Attractions
Chicago is middle America's metropolis, with world-class architecture, music, arts, and culture, yet still affordable and family-friendly. Milwaukee is more ethnic and working class, mixing beer and motorcycles with its cultural and artistic attractions. Madison is a scenic and quaint capital city and a vibrant college town. Mix in the rolling farmland and suburban areas and you've got a decent idea about this region.
In the Midwest, Illinois and Wisconsin included, sports are an integral part of living. Whether you're rooting for your local or national baseball or basketball team, or boating, fishing, swimming, hiking or biking through the Midwestern landscape, the spirit of activity in this region is strong.
That being said, the outdoor attractions in this region are some of the most popular. The Ice Age National Scenic Trail in Wisconsin is a popular hiking and biking trail through the land that was once home to the creatures of the Ice Age. Just over the Indiana border, not too far east of Chicago is the Chicago area hot spot for hiking, the Indiana Dunes State Park and National Lakeshore. This spot is great for biking, hiking, fishing, boating, and when the weather is nice, swimming.
Another popular activity in this region is rock climbing—indoor rock climbing that is. There are perhaps more indoor rock gyms in the Chicago-Milwaukee-Madison triangle than in the rest of the Midwest.
Chicago Tourist Attractions
Chicago is a world-class destination, best enjoyed between April and October (but Christmas is fun, too, especially if a White Christmas is your ideal). The city can reasonably claim that the skyscraper was invented here, though Burj Khalifa in Dubai stands 148 floors taller than Chicago's first skyscraper. But the Willis Tower (a.k.a. the Sears Tower) is still pretty impressive and great place to visit.
One of Chicago's top attractions is the Navy Pier. This 3,000 foot long pier was built during World War I and today includes a carnival, restaurants, a boat dock, and large crowds. There's also a concert stage, and IMAX theater, a winter garden, and an ice rink. The Smith Museum of Stained Glass Windows is located on the pier's ground floor.
Other special Chicago sites include the Frank Lloyd Wright Home and Studio, the Robie House (one of Frank Lloyd Wright's greatest creations), the John G. Shedd Aquarium (one of the top-ranked aquariums in the country), and the Chicago River Museum.
Chicago is an extremely walkable city that also boasts an amazing public transportation system, so it's easy to get around and just pop into museums and galleries as you pass them by. Just beware—it gets very chilly in the Chicago winter air!
Milwaukee, Wisconsin Tourist Attractions
The sports activity and the main tourist attraction in Milwaukee, Wisconsin is motorcycling. In 2008 the state opened its Harley-Davidson Museum to celebrate the state's love for the motored bike. There are numerous other bike clubs and sports events (including the Harley-Davidson Tour Center) that further celebrate the state's endearing love for the bike.
And if beer drinking were a sport, then Milwaukee would win the national championship, bottoms up. Take a tour of the Miller Brewing Company or Sprechter Brewing Company.
And you can't talk about Wisconsin's passions without mentioning cheese. A trip through cheese country is certainly in order if you're in Wisconsin. Drop by Carr Valley Cheese, Widmer's Cheese Cellars, and others. In between you'll likely drive by huge dairy farms.
Milwaukee, Wisconsin has the dubious distinction of being one of the most often misspelled city, state pair in the US. Yes, indeed, some people write Milwakee, Wisconson, but its not really their fault. It took the city fathers a while to decide on a spelling for the city and as for the state name – it is a French corruption of a Native American term. So, you are not the first to spell Milwaukee wrong.
Wisconsin Dells Vacation Spots
Close enough to the big cities for a weekend getaway, Wisconsin Dells is the world water park capital. Minus 10 wind blowing in from Lake Michigan? Grab the swimsuit and head up to an enclosed water park resort in Wisconsin Dells, a popular vacation spot for Wisconsin and Illinois residents.
Illinois and Wisconsin Road Trip Getaway Planner
Admire the work of Frank Lloyd Wright and Louis Sullivan in Chicago, spending 2-4 days there before moving on to Madison for another few days. Plan to stop between the two. Or follow a route along the shores of Lake Michigan for a short Chicago to Milwaukee roadtrip. Use the map of Illinois and Wisconsin on this page to find cool and fun attractions along the way.
Tourist Attractions and Highlights in Chicago, Illinois, Milwaukee, Wisconsin Dells, Madison
Tourist-Attractions-Highlights
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