Road trip Illinois/Wisconsin/Minnesota/?? (Minneapolis: amusement park, parks, reviews)

[jennifat]

If you'll be driving through Wisconsin, a major detour from the freeway is worth it to check out The House on the Rock. It's one of the most amazing, beautiful, astonishingly bizarre attractions I've ever experienced.

It's also just a few miles away from Taliesin, one of Frank Lloyd Wright's residences he had built into the side of a hill in a scenic setting.

[GraniteStater]

There are also huge variations within the state of Wisconsin regarding landscape, terrain, tree types, and lakes. You might want to include the lake country of northern Wisconsin, west to Lake Superior and the North Shore of Minnesota. So many national forests, state forests, and lakes to see.

[CARas2020]

If coming from Chicago maybe do Route 66 for part of the drive. It may go too far out of your way but we are thinking of doing it.

[Bibledad50]

If you love nature go to Duluth on Lake Superior. It's about a three hour drive from Minneapolis. If you do go, stop in Hinckley at Tobies. It's just off the exit and directly on the right as you exit. It is a popular place for people to stop. They have ENORMUS cinnamon rolls, pecan rolls and other things. Super good.

My son and I went up to Duluth a few weeks ago. Hotels are a bit expensive, but depending on what you want, the best hotel in the city is by far the Inn on Lake Superior. It's on the waterfront and about $200 a night. We stayed across the bay in Superior, Wisconsin and paid about $130 at a Hampton Inn. Awesome view and even a lighthouse. Cool to see it at night.

Drive up to Betty's for pies (again, a must stop for everyone) and go to Split Rock lighthouse. There are trails that lead you down to the lake. Lots of history. My favorite is the Glensheen Mansion. It's from the 1920s or 30s I think. A famous murder happened there too.

Lots of beauty in Minnesota for the nature person, hiking etc.

[MsBall]

Originally Posted by Bibledad50

If you love nature go to Duluth on Lake Superior. It's about a three hour drive from Minneapolis. If you do go, stop in Hinckley at Tobies. It's just off the exit and directly on the right as you exit. It is a popular place for people to stop. They have ENORMUS cinnamon rolls, pecan rolls and other things. Super good.

My son and I went up to Duluth a few weeks ago. Hotels are a bit expensive, but depending on what you want, the best hotel in the city is by far the Inn on Lake Superior. It's on the waterfront and about $200 a night. We stayed across the bay in Superior, Wisconsin and paid about $130 at a Hampton Inn. Awesome view and even a lighthouse. Cool to see it at night.

Drive up to Betty's for pies (again, a must stop for everyone) and go to Split Rock lighthouse. There are trails that lead you down to the lake. Lots of history. My favorite is the Glensheen Mansion. It's from the 1920s or 30s I think. A famous murder happened there too.

Lots of beauty in Minnesota for the nature person, hiking etc.

The OP clearly stated in post #3 that they do not want to go to Duluth

[the_gruffalo]

I like the idea of driving on Route 66 part of the way, will look into that - thanks. I will look up House on the Rock as well, sounds interesting.

[the_gruffalo]

W.r.t. Wisconsin Dells - the funny thing is, I saw the river cruise with the interesting rock formations, and have wanted to see it for a while. I didn't even know that there were amusement parks there. We wouldn't want to go to an amusement park - any boat cruise recommendations?


The last time we came to Minnesota/Wisconsin, we stayed one night on a farm in Wisconsin and did a boat trip to see the caves on the Lake Superior shoreline - that was wonderful.

[demtion35]

Even though (you do not want to go to Duluth) the best boat cruise excursions, are on Lake Superior, especially the ones out of Duluth, going around the harbor and such, especially out on the lake itself. You could (maybe) Call and find out, take a boat cruise out to Madeline Island, you can take the car with you, or just bikes, that is over near Bayfield.

https://madferry.com/

Sometimes in the winter, you can drive your car out there, or ride a fat tire bike out there. Such fun. Or you can even walk out there.

[Okey Dokie]

Originally Posted by the_gruffalo

W.r.t. Wisconsin Dells - the funny thing is, I saw the river cruise with the interesting rock formations, and have wanted to see it for a while. I didn't even know that there were amusement parks there. We wouldn't want to go to an amusement park - any boat cruise recommendations?
.

Upper Dells Boat Tour

https://www.dellsboats.com/

[Shawn Ford]

Originally Posted by the_gruffalo

I've asked this on the travel forum, asking here as well since I might get more local information.

We have to travel to Minneapolis in June, and were thinking of combining this with a road trip, 4-5 days. I am looking for options from the West, Yellowstone onward - its about 5-6 hours of driving a day which we know we can do - we love long road trips.

However, I'm also trying to come up with options from the east, with Chicago as a planned stop. I saw there are some boat cruises in the Wisconsin Dells area which take you past some really interesting rock formations. If we want to visit Chicago, and slowly wind our way towards Minneapolis, what are some (or many) interesting places to visit in this area? We are flying from San Francisco, so we can start from anywhere (as long as I can buy airline tickets and rent a car!)

We like long drives, open spaces, hiking, boat rides, big cities, museums - and if a trip can mix up all of these, all the better.

Skip Wisconsin Dells, it's a trashy tourist trap.

Head due West from Chicago and hit Galena before following the Mississippi River jumping back and forth between Iowa, Wisconsin and Minnesota as it suits your fancy on your way to the TC.

Very little of Rt 66 exists in the Midwest and you will waste hours back-tracking, all for the experience of driving a few hundred feet of original Rt 66 roadway.

A better experience can be had on the older, longer, more preserved and more significant Lincoln Highway...https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lincol...and_dedication