Lauren Monitz | The Down Lo

From the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the Pro Football Hall of Fame to national parks aplenty, enjoy music, the arts, and foodie finds in these surprising sleeper cities that are great for a weekend getaway or road trip. Downtown is home to a free art museum, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, the Pro Football Hall of Fame, and arguably the prettiest grocery store ever (Heinen’s inside the Cleveland Trust Rotunda). Where to Stay in Omaha Like Cleveland, Milwaukee is about as coastal as the Midwest gets, with beautiful Lake Michigan beaches lining the city (spoiler: it still feels like an ocean because you can’t see the other side). You may know Columbus for its college football dynasty, but the city wants you to know it for its cultural phenoms such as LEGOLAND, Short North Arts District, German Village, and the National Veterans Memorial and Museum, the only place in America which honors all veterans.

As the first stop off the Mayflower, it’s also laden with American history, A lot of distinguished people have made Cape Cod their home at one point or another, but Henry David Thoreau was the only one to write about it, saying “ There are plenty of great hotels on Cape Cod, but to get the full experience, you may want to check out the inns, B&Bs, or houses on the beach as there’s nothing better than the New England seaside aesthetic. The primetime to visit Cape Cod is between Memorial Day and Labor Day, as that’s when the weather is the most optimal for a beach day. Some of the national parks’ best spots are Race Point Beach (at the very tip of the peninsula) for an incredible sunset and Marconi Beach for its immense forty-foot sand cliff.

Filled with thriving craft breweries and beautiful natural landscapes just an hour north of Denver, Fort Collins is an amazing option for a short weekend away to experience another amazing Colorado town or a quick stopover if you’re on your way north to Wyoming. As a matter of fact, it’s so beautiful that it’s the only nationally designated Wild and Scenic River. the Craft Brewery Capital of Colorado Fort Collins is home to more than 20 breweries, which collectively produce nearly 70 percent of Colorado’s craft beer and 7 percent of the nation’s rations, which is an insane amount of alcohol if you think about it. Today, you can take advantage of amazing amenities like the supreme spa and Ace Gillet’s cocktail lounge before retreating to a thoughtfully appointed room that’s a little friendlier on the wallet (read: good for a budget).

Whenever you’re looking for a quick trip out of the Windy City, here are the best road trips from Chicago. If you’re looking for a short day trip from Chicago, Lake Geneva is one of the best beach towns in the Midwest without fighting the throngs of people at North Avenue or along the Gold Coast, where you can spread out and breathe. Explore the new Union Station and see the city from the Wheel, experience the brand-new virtual reality ride at the St. Louis Aquarium, tour the insane architectural wonder that is City Museum, stop and smell the roses at the Missouri Botanical Garden, explore the 1,300 acres of St. Louis’ Forest Park, and admire the Cathedral Basilica of St. Louis. To make your visit to St. Louis one of the best road trips from Chicago, you can add a few stops on your way like Peoria and Springfield, which are part of the iconic Route 66.