12 Super Road Trip Destinations from Chicago for Spring Break

 

12 Super Road Trip Destinations from Chicago Perfect for Your Next Adventure

With warmer days hopefully upon us soon, time is here to think about road trips! I am sharing a few of my favorites within a range of distances.  Happy trekking!

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Nahant Marsh in Davenport, Iowa

Nahant Marsh in Davenport, Iowa is an ecological success story. Once the site of a sportsman's club, the area had been contaminated with lead due to skeet shooting. The site was declared a Superfund Site. After the lead was cleaned up, the marsh was designated as a nature preserve. Today, we can all witness the amazing recovery of the marsh. The marsh is now the home to over 150 species of birds, over 400 species of plants, some mammals, fish, reptiles, amphibians and insects. The preserve provides for a tranquil nature adventure that most of us are not treated to everyday!

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Isabel Bloom Studio and Tour in Davenport, Iowa: Creativity in Action

While exploring the Quad Cities, we experienced the live production of Davenport's own Isabel Bloom sculptures. Isabel Bloom sculptures are a mixture of heartwarming, inspirational, sentimental and whimsical pieces. All Isabel Bloom pieces are incredibly beautiful and the care in crafting them is evident. Heart goes into every one!

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Hiking in Ohio's Hocking Hills State Park

After a few days in the Shenandoah Valley, we headed to the Hocking Hills in Ohio for more hiking. Hocking Hills served as an intriguing contrast to our Shenandoah adventure. Much of our hiking in the Hocking Hills threaded through canyons, gorges and caves instead of high up in the mountains. The geology of Hocking Hills State Park is incredibly breathtaking no matter which section you hike.

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Hiking Nachusa Grasslands in Illinois

Nachusa Grasslands near Franklin Grove, Illinois is one of the Nature Conservancy's most successful restoration stories. The conservation organization began its Nachusa journey with purchasing 130 acres of land to restore in August of 1986. Over the past 30+ years, Nachusa has expanded from 130 acres to over 4,000 acres. In addition, a herd of bison was welcomed to the prairie in 2014 returning the majestic beasts to the lands in Illinois where they once roamed.

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Open House Racine County May 6, 2017

Earthcare Suri Alpacas image courtesy of  Real Racine

Open House Racine County in Wisconsin provides explorers with a unique opportunity to explore 60 local treasures and iconic structures some of which are not often available to the public. The event features a build your own itinerary using the website to compile a list of sites that pique your interest. Interesting Racine County places will include historic sites, creative spaces, insightful museums and more.

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Hikes and Waterfalls at Cuyahoga Valley National Park in Ohio

Last week, we drove out to New Jersey to visit my family and on the way we uncovered the stunning Cuyahoga Valley National Park. The park features the Cuyahoga River winding through a varied landscape providing the perfect natural respite.

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Our Family Day Trip to Kenosha, Wisconsin

Kenosha is just a short drive from the Chicago area--only about an hour from our home in Arlington Heights. So, the city provides a nice little day trip escape making it easier to fit into your schedule. During our recent day trip, we had a very well-rounded experience but quickly noted there is a lot to experience in Kenosha. Our proximity will certainly make it easy for us to return and enjoy more that is truly Kenosa!

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U.S. Grant Home in Galena, IL

Galena was home to nine Civil War generals including Commanding General of the Union Army Ulysses S. Grant. Being a Civil War buff, I jumped at the chance to visit the Ulysses S. Grant Home while on a recent weekend trip to Galena.

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Spring Break Road Trips from Chicago

View of the Indiana Capitol Building from atop the Soldiers' and Sailors' Monument.

Spring Break is around the corner! If you are having a hard time picking a destination that is fun for families but not too far away, here are my picks for Spring Break road trips this year. I did find some special events going on in some of the destinations, so be sure to check those out as well. Easter does fall during this year's Spring Break in our neck of the woods, so be sure to account for that because it may add additional closed days to some attractions.

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Beach Time in Grand Haven {Michigan}

When I first moved to the Chicago area, I had no idea about the beauty of the nearby Michigan beaches and beach communities. I am originally from New Jersey, so that longing for the ocean quickly kicked in. So, before I knew it--we were exploring beaches along Lake Michigan and quickly fell in love with beaches in Michigan! So many stunning finds and the adjoining communities reminded me of home. During our visit to Grand Rapids, we spent a little time visiting Grand Haven and discovered a wonderful community for a little family rest and relaxation!

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Family Weekend in Grand Rapids, Michigan

This past weekend we headed up to Grand Rapids, Michigan for a little summer exploration. Grand Rapids is about 3.5 - 4 hours from the Chicago area making it great for a long weekend. As the second largest city in Michigan, you can imagine there is a lot to experience in the city! This week, we will be talking about our Grand Rapids discoveries as well as our fun at nearby Grand Haven for a little beach time.

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Walking on the Wild Side at the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium {Ohio}

**Disclosure: No compensation was received for this post. All opinions are 100% my own.

Many of us have childhood memories of Jack Hanna introducing us to a variety of wildlife--both common and uncommon--on television. He always seems to have a calm yet knowledgeable demeanor about him. To many of us, Jack Hanna is familiar--almost like a friend. So, the chance to visit the zoo that he directed is a welcome experience. The Columbus Zoo and Aquarium in Ohio so happens to be the zoo that Jack directed and of which he remains Director Emeritus. Of course, we had it on our Columbus to-do list! With eager kids in toe, we were happy to visit.

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A Stroll Through German Village {Columbus, Ohio}

Last weekend we seized the opportunity for a road trip and met up with my brother and his family in Columbus, Ohio. None of us had visited before, so we were pretty excited about our little adventure. Now that we are back, I am happy to say that we had a great time and would not hesitate to return!

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8 Fall Road Trip Ideas from Chicago

We do have a couple of more weeks of summer to enjoy---and, boy, I will be enjoying them! Yet, fall is right around the corner so you may want to look ahead and plan those fall road trips! Here are a few ideas for a fall getaway!

Spring Grove and McHenry, Illinois

Two of my FAVORITE fall destinations can be found not too far off of 12 as you head north to Wisconsin. Stade's Shades of Autumn Festival is such an old fashioned good time! A fun petting zoo, corn cannons, pumpkin cannon, corn maze, pedal cars, zipline and more will keep your kids busy and smiling! I love that Stade's sells a bracelet for unlimited attractions (with the exception of two). This is great for younger kids!

Spring Grove is home to Richardson Adventure Farm--famous for the World's Largest Corn Maze! The Corn Maze features different designs each year and is a total work of art to behold! Of course, running it is fun and there are different challenges you can accept! There are plenty of exits, so worry not! The Farm is more than the Corn Maze though--all sorts of amusements including my daughter's favorite--the ziplines will make for a wonderful family day!

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