The first week of December is particularly busy, but many travellers report that the crowds and prices calm down a little mid-month. If you want to head across the border to visit Niagara-on-the-Lake make sure to pack the required travel documentation, and allow extra time to make the border crossing, especially if you're heading across Rainbow International Bridge. It's the perfect way to enjoy the snowy conditions, and there are ski runs here to suit many different abilities. Some travellers prefer to make this journey on a longer route via the I-90, heading south near Mount Rushmore to reach Denver. Towns like New Buffalo, St. Joseph, Benton Harbor, Holland, Saugatuck and Grand Haven provide pristine beaches, great shopping, lakeside restaurants and front-row view of sunsets over Lake Michigan. Our travel tips: Don't go to DC expecting reliable snowfall daytime temperatures are milder than the more northern destinations (in the mid-40 degrees Fahrenheit and above), though it still gets pretty cold at night, and snow is likely but not guaranteed in January and February. If you're having issues using the site, please enable JavaScript and refresh your browser. Although this is a long drive, it's a really straightforward one. During the daytime, Saugatuck Interurban Transit Authority provides an on-demand bus service which takes you to your destination of choice within the local area for just $1. Cities 9 hours from Chicago 9 hours: Ely, MN 8 hr 56 min: State College, PA 8 hr 55 min: Huntsville, AL 8 hr 51 min: Pigeon Forge, TN 8 hr 46 min: Lutsen, MN 8 hr 46 min: Fergus Falls, MN 8 hr 41 min: Joplin, MO 8 hr 35 min: Niagara Falls, NY 8 hr 32 min: Topeka, KS 8 hr 31 min: Grand Rapids, MN 8 hr 27 min: Tunica, MS 8 hr 24 min: Hibbing, MN Little Orleans Campground. As Christmas gifts go, a whole city is one we wouldn't mind receiving! It makes sense to book ahead if you're planning on visiting between Christmas day and New Year, or weekends during January and February. To help you make the most of this great drive, we've set out the best routes and places to stop . It's also a great place to enjoy fabulous snow-based activities - the temperature usually sits around freezing and the area experiences heavy snowfall, so conditions are perfect. (Disney Enterprises . If you're in the city for Christmas itself, head out along River Road on Christmas Eve, where you'll see bonfires lit on the night of the 24th so that Papa Noel can find his way from Baton Rouge to New Orleans. Outside of the theme parks, you can enjoy the Winter Park Christmas Parade, a long-standing Florida tradition, with dozens of troupes followed by Santa. You can even ride across the river on the Chain Ferry, one of the last remaining in America. Follow the Great River Road as it twists and turns and you will be rewarded with great views the entire way. All things considered, it's easy to see why Niagara-on-the-Lake's Icewine is such a special product to try during your visit. Why you should visit: With festive lights, winter markets, a good chance of snow, and plenty of big city attractions, Toronto is a picture-perfect winter city trip. Motor City is the second largest city in the Midwest after Chicago and is worth making the drive for. Back in town, Denver has one of the largest Hispanic populations in the US, so the city's Museo de las Americas is well worth a visit, covering Hispanic culture and art. Just before Cleveland, merge onto I-80 and follow this all the way across Ohio, Pennsylvania and New Jersey before crossing into Manhattan via George Washington Bridge. A wide selection of breweries includes European-style beers and the pizza-serving Harmony. Just after London, the road merges with ON-403, which will take you right into the center of Toronto. Ice sculptors spend nearly 2 months creating spectacular icy towers and turrets which are especially beautiful when they're illuminated at night. Once you've arrived in Philadelphia, you can ice skate beside the Delaware River at Winterfest, then warm up with a hot chocolate - or something stronger - with a view out across Benjamin Franklin Bridge. 15 hours 10 minutes from Chicago (960 miles). The same road takes you right across Indiana and Ohio then along the whole length of Lake Erie, before you finally turn onto NY-5 through Buffalo around 5 miles before you reach your destination. Why you should visit: This beautiful little lakeside town hosts a magical Christmas market every year. You could . Originally a very rural part of Michigan with a few small towns and their corresponding harbors on the lake, the area has grown into a popular tourist destination. There's another dozen smaller lakes dotted around which breaks up the city into smaller neighborhoods and adds a lot of character. After heavy rainfall - this is also the perfect time for viewing colorful wildflowers. " There's also an "Amethyst Room," whirlpools infused with jasmine and weirdly good organic fried chicken. You can go on cheese tours, go to cheese tasting venues, explore local cheese producers and eat every cheese-based dish under the sun. If you're in Grand Rapids earlier in the season, you can enjoy some great skiing at Cannonsburg Ski Area. How to get there: After heading east out of Chicago on I-90, turn south onto I-65 and continue through Indianapolis and Louisville. It is more than 10-14 hours to get to a warm beach from Chicago. How to get there: Head north on I-90 out of Chicago then join I-94. 17 hours 30 minutes from Chicago (1,130 miles). With fast lifts, extensive ski runs and stunning views, you'll probably want to spend most of your time here on the slopes. With large distances to cover, some of the early pioneers of flight lived and worked in this part of the country and you can also find out about the former Air Force base where the museum is located. High season is considered to be June and July. ETA: 10+ hours with couple of short breaks. A little further north from Chicago than Milwaukee is the town of Cedarburg. Take I-290 W from Chicago's downtown, which leads you out onto I-88. There are a lot of activities for children - special rides and a petting zoo so bring the family and enjoy a great weekend out of the city! Alternatively, if you'd prefer to just relax and unwind, maybe after a tour round the Christmas market or some time on the ice rink, head to the luxurious Aspira Spa to round off your trip. How to get there: Follow I-90/I-94 north out of Chicago, then continue north on I-94 when the interstate divides. Westin St. Maarten Dawn Beach Resort & Spa is located on one of the island's best beaches, and offers a variety of family-friendly amenities. You can also find out more about the site at the Lincoln Borglum Visitor Center, or visit the Sculptor's Studio to find out more about how the monument was created. How to get there: Follow I-90 east towards Cleveland, switching onto I-80 just before you reach the city. About 12,000 acres of lakes, sand dunes and oak savannas are wide open for exploration, including ice fishing, skating, sand dune sledding, fat tire biking and snowman building. One interesting place to visit is Frank Lloyd Wright's Laurent House. Our travel tips: Timed tickets are needed for some of Philadelphia's winter attractions, including Longwood Gardens and Dickens Village. 1 hour 20 minutes from Chicago (80 miles). Many of the events and installations are outdoors, so, this being Michigan, chances are you'll be enjoying them in the snow. The Swiss Historical Village is a great live museum which has kept 14 buildings in the style of the original 19th century settlement. If you've had about enough of cheese, you can go on an ATV ride around the trail network around Monroe. Whether you want to enjoy the winter weather or escape from it, a winter road trip from Chicago can mean hitting the slopes at a ski resort, viewing iconic landmarks, taking a festive shopping trip or relaxing in the winter sun in the Southern states. Our travel tips: Parts of the city get extremely crowded in December, and accommodation prices rise accordingly. Still under construction, this monument is dedicated to the Lakota leader who fought against the federal government to try and protect Native American land from being seized. Distance from Chicago: 353 miles northeast, five-hour drive Why it made our list: Sprawling over 850 acres, the Midwest's largest ski resort offers everything from skiing and snowmobiling to. For a more magical festive feel, head to Frederick Meijer Sculpture Gardens. Go snowshoeing at Quit Qui Oc golf course or ice skate at June Vollrath Park. The cheapest month to fly from Chicago is January. Visit the theme parks in their holiday finest whether your first choice is Walt Disney World, Universal Orlando, SeaWorld or Legoland Florida, each one will be suitably festive with parades and events to match. A quick road trip from Chicago to Milwaukee will take you north along the I-94 to the point where three separate rivers (Milwaukee, Menomonee and the Kinnickinnic) merge and flow into Lake Michigan. also, you have the option of taking the ss badger car ferry across Lake Michigan to avoid traffic around the bottom of the Lake and to add an Here are several interesting options that make a great family road trip and all within easy driving distance of Chicago. The best thing about Madison, like many places in Wisconsin, is the food. This park is illuminated with amazing twinkling lights all through the holiday period and is a really popular local attraction. Whatever kind of winter road trip you're interested in, we've put together some of the key facts for a whole host of fabulous destinations. 10 hours 10 minutes from Chicago (660 miles). 11 hours 10 minutes from Chicago (700 miles). Our highlights: The highlight of most people's visit to Niagara Falls is to see the mighty waterfalls up close, but if you visit in winter you can also marvel at the massive icicles that form right by the viewing platform on the Journey Behind the Falls. Restaurants like the Grove and Terra serve locally sourced ingredients which means the menu changes throughout the year. The 2,470-mile road trip from Chicago to San Francisco takes 38 hours to drive. The long rows of vines stand out proudly in the snow and make a beautiful backdrop while you're learning about Icewine production or, more importantly, tasting a glass or two. Get into the festive spirit and enjoy the iconic holiday views of the city - if it feels familiar, it's probably because they've featured in so many films and TV shows over the years. Indiana Dunes, Indiana 1 hour from Chicago (50 miles) The smell is so bad, the United States Postal Service banned the posting of Limburger because of the stench. Although a lot of people will travel to Wisconsin Dells for the waterparks, don't forget to go on a tour down the Wisconsin River gorge. 2 hours 20 minutes from Chicago (145 miles). 3 hours 20 minutes from Chicago (190 miles). 2 hours 45 minutes from Chicago (186 miles). A Little History. Nicknamed the Forest City due to the area's verdant woods and rivers, Rockford is also known as the Screw Capital of the World. Weather at the end of March can be iffy. As a result, you will find some great restaurants and interesting art galleries and independent craft shops up and down the coast - New Buffalo is great for its boutiques and farm shops. Kentucky is only about seven hours from Chicago. It was an early adopter of snowmaking technology in the 1950s. The Blue Ridge Parkway starts in Asheville, and you can hop onto America's favorite drive to travel a section of this fabulous scenic route. Once a month the district comes to life with live music and guided tours, plus the chance to taste local wine. Seeing as you've travelled from one Great Lake to another, a visit to the National Museum of the Great Lakes seems like a good place to start when you arrive in Toledo. While both parks are not as large as some, there is plenty to explore with trails going through canyons and some amazing rock formations. If you're here to relax, escape the hustle and bustle with a stroll around Toledo Botanical Gardens or head out to Wildwood Preserve Metropark to follow its many trails on foot or 2 wheels. You should ride to the top of it to get unbelievable views of the city below - tickets are $14 for adults and $11 for children with discounts outside weekends. 2 hours 50 minutes from Chicago (180 miles). Join I-90 E to head out of Chicago then merge onto I-94 to continue to follow the shore of Lake Michigan. Combined with St Paul, the two merged metro areas are known as the Twin Cities and are one of the largest in the Midwest. Outside of the downtown Fennville, you'll find rolling fields and orchards that are both pretty and make some great food. Absolutely. The town of Holland sits along the length of Lake Macatawa that flows into Lake Michigan. 1 hour 35 minutes from Chicago (83 miles). There's a real art to making Icewine and the conditions have to be just right to freeze the grapes for long enough on the vine. For a different experience of New York in winter, skip the crowds and visit in January to enjoy NYC Winter Jazz Fest or NYC Restaurant Week, where restaurants put on their best fare at affordable prices. The event runs in late Jan or early Feb, and hundreds of the city's restaurants showcase their best meals at reasonable prices - the perfect way to brighten up a long, cold winter. Make sure you check out a few live music venues. Although there's the regular rush hour traffic that might slow you down a little, the city doesn't experience significant congestion. If you're in Philadelphia towards the end of the holiday season, you'll be able to watch the Mummers' Parade on New Year's Day. Back in town, the Ice Castles at Geneva National Resort & Club are a must-see. Then head quickly back into the warmth of your hotel to warm up. Bonus: The capital hosts a fabulous Lunar New Year Parade in January or February depending on when the new year begins. 2 hours 50 minutes from Chicago (150 miles). 1 hour 30 minutes from Chicago (100 miles). After Gainesville, join the Florida Turnpike which takes you the last stretch of the drive into Orlando. As well as being a relaxed and varied city, Asheville is the perfect gateway to the Blue Ridge Mountains, so a trip here offers a great combination of city vibes and the great outdoors. This is the place to come for a great resort experience, with lodges, bars and of course, slopes, all in one place. Why visit? A particular highlight in Muskegon is its Luge track, which is open to the public. Make sure you visit the Slugger Museum and Factory - this baseball bat manufacturer has tours where you can see the whole process and the side of the building has an exact scale replica of the Babe Ruth's Louisville Slugger bat, albeit a little larger at a length of 120 feet. 809 Civic Center Dr., Niles; 847-972-2540 or kingspa.com. Make sure you grab some food at the Root beer Stand. As with everywhere in Wisconsin, the food and drink scene takes center stage. From Louisville, I-64 takes you east to Lexington, then turn onto I-75 to make your way through Tennessee to Knoxville. Drive time: 2 hours from downtown.
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