A vacation doesn't get much more American than a classic road trip to South Dakota's Black Hills. Even kids too young to know any presidents…

Located about 10 miles south of downtown Minneapolis, Bloomington lies along the banks of the Minnesota River and is home to the Mall of America.…

Ahh, Kentucky, home of the Kentucky Derby, bourbon, the Corvette, and Bowling Green, Kentucky's third largest city that still boasts the charm of a small…

Midwest skiing? You're kidding, right? That's the reaction most people have at the thought of downhill skiing in the Midwest. True, Midwest mountains are more…

Minnesota dubs itself the Land of 10,000 Lakes, and in the Brainerd area alone you'll find close to 450 of them. That helps explain why…

Almost a century before J.K. Rowling became the world's best-selling author and Harry Potter a household name, another writer named Harold Bell Wright brought to…

Originally opened in 1870, Cedar Point prides itself on being "a worldwide vacation destination for all ages." And with so many offerings, it's not hard…

When you think of great skiing, you probably don’t think of the Midwest. The heartland is mostly flat, which is not the best setting for…

For families, Chicago's charm is obvious. The mix of lush parks, Lake Michigan, slick skyscrapers and world-class cultural offerings makes it an all-ages playground for…

Early residents regarded Cincinnati as the “Queen City” and the “Queen of the West” because of the city’s impressive growth and other admirable attributes, and…

Famous as the home of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Cleveland can boogie with the best of the big cities. It boasts a…

As the home to the University of Missouri, it’s not surprising that many families head to this college town to enjoy all the tailgating festivities…

Detroit is known as Motown, the Motor City and Hockeytown because two very important American icons were born in Detroit and because the city is…

If Norman Rockwell was still alive and painting scenes of idyllic American life, he would certainly choose Door County for the setting of "Perfect Family…

As Minnesota travelers northbound on Interstate 35 crest the hill Duluth, the St. Louis River Valley unfurls below and Lake Superior -- grand dame of…

DO call it a comeback. Eau Claire, Wisconsin, is not the same place it was a decade ago. The second-largest city in Wisconsin is on…

Just a short jaunt from Milwaukee, Green Bay and Chicago, the lakeside village of Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin is a rejuvenating escape with a colorful history.…

Scandinavian heritage, deep agricultural roots, the energy of a college town and a welcoming Midwest spirit run through Fargo, North Dakota, which sprawls along the…

This Midwest town, located about two hours north of Indianapolis, gives off a quintessential Midwest vibe. The people are friendly, the food is delicious and…

Equidistant between Chicago and Detroit, the hidden gem of Grand Rapids, Michigan, is ready for its close up. Once only in the news regarding native…

Most American families have probably never heard of Holland, Michigan and while that's unfortunate for the town itself, it could be an incredible vacation win…

Perhaps it is the basic Midwestern practicality and friendly, common-sense nature of its residents, but few places in this country are more all-American and family-centered…

What city could be more family friendly than the place that gave birth to Mickey Mouse's first cousin and McDonald's Happy Meal? Yes, they both…

Kelleys Island, Ohio, is one of the Lake Erie Islands and is situated across from Put-In-Bay and across Lake Erie to Cedar Point Amusement Park…

Following the Great Chicago Fire in 1871, many Chicagoans settled in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, about two hours away. Visit with your family and you'll see…

Who needs an ocean for your family vacation when you have Missouri's Lake of the Ozarks? With more miles of shoreline than the Pacific Coast…

Yes, Iowa has lakes—some of the best in the Midwest, in fact. Among them are West Lake Okoboji and East Okoboji Lake, both part of…

Some call the shores of Lake Superior "America's Fourth Coast." Small wonder. As the world's largest freshwater lake, it could easily be an inland sea.…

The summer destinations of Lakeside and Marblehead, Ohio are situated along the Lake Erie shores and across from the Lake Erie Islands. Both towns are…

More than two million LEGO blocks in one location! What more could an imaginative child want, except lessons from master builders, games and rides made…

With over 500 horse farms, Lexington, Kentucky is known as the “Horse Capital of the World,” and is the best place for horse lovers to…

Located almost exactly in the center of the country, Lincoln is the capital of Nebraska. As part of America’s Heartland, you’ll find true Midwestern friendliness…

Sitting pretty on the banks of the Ohio River, Louisville lies in north-central Kentucky, peering right over the water into neighboring Indiana. Named for King…

Pronounced "mack-in-aw" island, this Upper Peninsula Michigan island has been entertaining families as a summer retreat for more than a century, yet its appeal is…

Madison is a must-visit for any family -- and not just because it's the capitol of Wisconsin. The quirky college town has a lot to…

If you want to boggle your kids' minds, toss them a few statistics from the world's largest shopping mall. How big is it? It's large…

Stop by a few festivals, throw in a splash of beer, maybe a baseball game, some amazing art and culture, and you have the recipe…

Minneapolis is a clean, green and modern metropolis -- a place where families can take a city vacation without all the smog, the angry taxi…

Packed into a thin strip of land surrounded by lake, downtown Minocqua has everything family vacationers crave -- the heady scent of fudge shops and…

The Lake Erie Shores and Islands offer so many different atmospheres and things to do in each town that it makes for an ideal family…

Located almost exactly in the center of the country, Omaha is part of America’s Heartland. In true Midwestern fashion, it’s teeming with friendliness and hospitality.…

Located 18 minutes from downtown Kansas City, Overland Park -- the second largest city in Kansas -- welcomes families to spend their vacation exploring the great outdoors,…

About a century ago, the writer Ernest Hemingway knew what we know now: Michigan’s cottage country “up north” offers a bounty of things to do…

Port Clinton, Ohio, is situated on the Lake Erie Peninsula and is about 30 minutes away from Cedar Point Amusement Park. Lake Erie lines the…

The town with the funny name is located on South Bass Island, which is one of the Ohio Lake Erie islands across from Cedar Point…

Sandusky, the Roller Coaster Capital of the World, is most famous for Cedar Point, home to some of the most thrilling rides in the country,…

Located in Southern Indiana, Santa Claus started out as a small town known as Santa Fee with just 65 residents. Today, approximately 2,500 residents call…

Saugatuck, Michigan is a quaint beach town tucked in-between and straddling a river and a great lake, along the picture perfect western ‘art coast’ of…

If you come to Silver Dollar City in Branson, and you think you are bringing your children to a family-friendly theme park filled with fun…

The Great Plains can be sneaky. Just when you think it’s all flatness and farm fields, you find gems such as the rocky and spectacular…

After slogging up a 110-foot high mountain of sand and conquering the Dune Climb, even adults give into their inner 6-year-old. They joyfully race downhill,…

The historical port city of South Haven was a tourist boomtown in the mid-1800’s and remains a charming destination for a family vacation, thanks to…

Springfield, Illinois is known as “Lincoln Land” and visitors will find a wealth of attractions dedicated to President Abraham Lincoln. From Lincoln’s home to his…

Located in southwest Missouri in the midst of the beautiful Ozarks, Springfield is a destination that is all about the family and the outdoors. The…

St. Louis simply oozes classic Americana. Legend has it hot dogs, hamburgers and the ice cream cone were introduced here during the 1904 St. Louis…

Listen closely on summer days, and you may catch the sound of a cannon booming from historic Fort Snelling and echoing across the bluffs where…

Chalk it up to geography. At the northern cusp of the continental U.S. and surrounded by wide-open prairie and grasslands, Theodore Roosevelt National Park gets…

With sugar-sand beaches, towering dunes and Caribbean blue water, Michigan's Traverse City area feels like an ocean vacation without leaving the Midwest. In many ways…

You have to step off land and glide across the water to best enjoy this 218,000-acre park along the border of Canada and the northern…

Wichita, Kansas is filled with family-friendly attractions and activities all families will love. Interestingly enough, this “big city” started as a trading post/meeting spot for…

At first glance, you wouldn't think a 19-square-mile city in central Wisconsin with a population of just over 5,000 would garner much attention. But the…