Things to do in the Midwest

Looking for interesting Places in Minnesota to visit this year?

Below it's our top three:

1. Minneapolis MN

If you are visiting Minnesota and are planning an urban-type vacation, Minneapolis MN boasts many attractions such as visiting museums, taking a segway tour of downtown Minneapolis MN and enjoying a bit of shopping at the Mall Of America, which is also a hotspot for finding nightlife in the city.

2. Duluth MN

If you are planning an affordable family vacation in Minnesota, Duluth MN is one of the most popular summer vacation spots in the Midwest for travelers looking to enjoy the outdoors.

Things to do for fun in Minnesota while on vacation

Apart from being surrounded by pristine forest scenery, Duluth MN is located by Lake Superior where you can find cabin rental opportunities and enjoy fun water activities by the Lake.

3. Rochester MN

Upper Midwest Tourist Attractions

Rochester MN is located on the southeastern part of the state near the border with Iowa and Wisconsin. Rochester MN is actually not far from Minneapolis MN, and it is a great destination if you’re looking to enjoy a city vacation in a more relaxed atmosphere. Apart from city attractions, Rochester MN has many urban parks and it is located near a couple of state parks and lakes where you can enjoy a bit of hiking and fishing.

See. Places to visit in the Twin Cities

Facts about Minnesota

These are three of the most interesting places in Minnesota this year. If you're traveling to the state for the first time, you want to check out some interesting facts about the state:

- Minnesota is commonly known as the ‘Land of 10,000 Lakes’ State and the ‘North Star State’

- Minnesotans is the name for residents in the state of Minnesota

- The name Minnesota comes from the Native American word ‘Mnisota’, which means ‘muddy water.’

- The highest mountain in the state is Eagle Mountain, standing at over seven hundred meters.

- Lake Superior is the largest and deepest lake in Minnesota.

- Minnesota is bordered by North Dakota and South Dakota in the west, Iowa in the south, Wisconsin in the east, and the Ontario Canada in the north.

- Minnesota is characterized by very cold winters and hot summers.

- The Mississippi River divides the cities of Minneapolis and St.Paul

- There are over seventy state parks and over fifty state forests in Minnesota

- Minnesota has a large population of German and Scandinavians outside of Europe

- Bloomington's Mall Of America is the largest shopping complex in the state

- There is no sales tax on clothing items

- The Minnesota State Fair is the second largest in the United States, after State Fair of Texas.

- Minnesota is home to the largest student-run newspaper in the US, named the Minnesota Daily.


- Minnesota has some of the most important high-tech companies in the US as well as medical facilities such as the Mayo Clinic

When to go

I hope you found these Minnesota facts interesting. I feel these facts really a good idea on what to expect when planning a vacation to the ‘Land of 10,000 Lakes’ State. If you are planning on doing outdoor pursuits such as hiking and biking, I would suggest traveling to Minnesota in early spring (March-April) and early fall (September-October), as weather is most pleasant.

For fishing and water pursuits, early summer is one of the best times to visit Minnesota for this, as the hot weather is not completely in full swing. There are many interesting places to visit in Minnesota but as mentioned above three of the most popular places to head for a vacation this are Minneapolis MN, Duluth MN and Rochester MN.

See. Interesting places to visit in Nebraska
Summer vacation spots in Wisconsin
things to do for fun while visiting Iowa
Top 10 Tourist Attractions in North Dakota
Top Canadian Tourist Attractions
Interesting places to visit in South Dakota

Summer vacation spots in Wisconsin

Janesville Wisconsin is located in the mid-section point between the borders of Illinois, Iowa and Michigan.

If you are traveling to Janesville Wisconsin for the first time, the city is home to a wealth of parks, greenbelts, lakes and open spaces where you can enjoy outdoor activities such as canoeing and picnicking.

There is really a lot of interesting things to do in Janesville Wisconsin and if you fancy exploring other nearby cities, Janesville is only a 50 minute drive from fun things to do in Madison WI.

If you’d like to explore the state of Illinois, the town of Galena and downtown Chicago attractions are only a couple of hours drive from Janesville's City Center.

Things to do in Janesville Wisconsin: Fun Activities

City Parks Activities

The city of Janesville Wisconsin is nicknamed the ‘City of Parks’. The city boast more than 50 parks, paved trails as well as open spaces offering plenty of recreational opportunities such as picnicking, canoeing and biking.

If you are planning to do canoeing, you can find a few boat launches at Kiwanis Pond and Lions Pond. However, the Janesville Parks Department only opens these between the warmer months (spring and summer).

Three of the largest parks in Janesville Wisconsin include:

* Rockport

* City of Janesville-Palmer Park

* Prairie Knoll Park

Fishing, Camping & Canoeing

If you are looking to enjoy camping, fishing and water activities in a more natural scenery, the Swenson Wet Prairie State offers miles of hiking trails and angling opportunities.

Sugar River Park also offers hiking opportunities as well as a boat ramp for launching canoes or boats.

For camping out, the popular Crazy Horse Campground is only located 20 minutes away by car from Sugar River Park.

Apart from camping, Crazy Horse Campground also offers hiking trails, canoe rentals and other camping amenities.

Cycling Tour

As mentioned earlier, the city of Janesville Wisconsin features miles of paved trails and parks where you can cycle at your leisure.

However, if you are planning on renting bikes or tour the area on bike, Wisconsin is home to the popular Brodhead-New Glarus Sugar River State Trail.

This paved trail spans 23 miles across the Sugar River and through a few prairie remnants where you can enjoy a bit of wildlife spotting.

Cheese Factory Tour

Taking a tour of a cheese factory is another of the popular things to do in Janesville Wisconsin, and it is definitely worth adding on your itinerary.

If you are planning on touring any cheese factory, most of these cheese factories are small run family businesses so it is worth calling in advance.

A couple of cheese factories that you can visit include:

* Wenger's Springbrook Cheese Inc, located near Sugar River Park (tel (815) 865-5612‎).
* Silver Lewis Cheese Factory, located near Albany (tel.(608) 938-4314‎)

Winery Tour

If you fancy sampling fine Wisconsin wine, you can add a winery tour to the list of things to do in Janesville Wisconsin.

Two of the nearest wineries to the City Center include:

* North Leaf Winery, located in the town of Milton, it’s north of the city center (around 10 minutes by car), and offers daily tastings.

* Staller Estate Vineyard, located in Delavan, it’s west of Janesville’s center and it is also a short drive by car (around 30 minutes).

Ice Skating

If you love ice skating, Janesville Wisconsin is home to the Janesville Ice Arena ice rink, which is opened all year around. It is located along Beloit Avenue (between Jeffries Park and Lions Park).

Things to do in Janesville Wisconsin: Places of Interest

Lincoln-Tallman Restorations

If you want to visit the house where President Lincoln spent a few days before he was elected president a year after, the Lincoln-Tallman Restorations is open for public viewing between October and December.

Rotary Botanical Gardens

If you love plants and flowers, the Rotary Botanical Gardens are a great place to stroll around exploring the immense variety of plant species. These gardens are located in Lions Park, adjacent Kiwanis Pond.

Milton Historic House

If you are interested in 19th century architecture, the nearby town of Milton is home to the fame Milton House, which was the first building in the USA to use grout to embed the rebars in the walls.

Things to do in Janesville Wisconsin: Shopping

The shopping scene in Janesville Wisconsin is varied and you’ll find a range of small shops and superstores such as the Wal-Mart Supercenter.

Janesville Wisconsin also has a few discount stores such as Big Lots and Dollar Tree Stores located along Milton Avenue.

For retail shopping, the Janesville Mall shopping center offers a great variety of shops and department stores.

Things to do in Janesville Wisconsin: Nightlife & Entertainment

Janesville Wisconsin is home to a myriad of pubs and bar/ clubs where you can enjoy a nice drink as well as some kind of live entertainment.

Downtown Janesville is where you will most of these bars. For instance, along N Main Street you can find bars such as the Main Street Saloon, Quotes Bar & Grill and Legends.

Things to do in Janesville Wisconsin: Events & Festivals

Southern Wisconsin AirFEST

If you are traveling to Janesville Wisconsin in late May, you can catch the popular the popular Southern Wisconsin AirFEST, which showcases jet plane acrobatics and demonstrations.

Rock County 4-H Fair

The Rock County 4-H Fair is the oldest in the USA and it is a great family-orientated event where everyone can have a good time. It happens in late July and features live entertainment, contests, and fun rides.

Tallman Arts Festival

The Tallman Arts Festival is another popular cultural event in the city and also happens in July. It features live entertainment and plenty of artistic exhibitions.


See. places to visit in Milwaukee
Top 10 Tourist Attractions in Wisconsin
Places To Visit In Door County
Places to visit in Oshkosh

Rochester Minnesota is located south of Minneapolis and west of the Minnesota-Wisconsin border. If you are traveling to Rochester Minnesota for the first time, the city is known for the Mayo Clinic, which is one of the best health care centers in the USA.

Places To Go In Minnesota

Due to the city’s conservative nature, Rochester is also known as a great family getaway destination. Apart from the many things to do in Rochester Minnesota, the city is just 60 minutes drive from fun things to do in Minneapolis, and a couple of hours drive from La Crosse WI and fun things to do in Madison WI.

Things to do for fun in Minnesota while on vacation

Things to do in Rochester Minnesota: Outdoor Activities

One of the highlights of a vacation in Rochester Minnesota it’s enjoying the natural scenery and fun outdoor activities at one of the urban parks or nearby state parks.

Urban Parks

Rochester Minnesota is home to over 20 urban parks scattered around the city so if you fancy an early morning jog or an afternoon picnic, you have plenty of parks to choose from.

Some of the biggest urban parks in Rochester Minnesota include Woodside Park, Hawthorne Hills Park and Aborglen Park, which are located north of the city center.

State Parks

Whitewater State Park

If you want to enjoy fun outdoor activities in a more natural scenario during your vacation in Rochester Minnesota, the city is just 20 miles west of Whitewater State Park (around 30 minutes along the US Route 14 East).

The state park features plenty of nature trails for hiking, camping areas and the Whitewater River where you can enjoy fishing and water activities such as canoeing and swimming.

Carley State Park

Carley State Park is a smaller than Whitewater State Park but it also offers plenty of outdoor opportunities such as hiking, fishing and camping.

This state park is also great for bird watching and if you travel here during the spring, you can catch beautiful wildflowers carpeting the state park.

Carley State Park is also nearby Rochester and can be quickly reached by car along the US Route 63.

Cycling & Fishing

If you love cycling and are looking for things to do with kids in Rochester Minnesota that doesn’t involve much driving, the city itself has over 50 miles of paved cycling and walking trails that you can ride along.

Alternatively, if you prefer to cycle along natural scenery, you can explore the Root River and Harmony-Preston Valley Trails, which run along the Root River.

For a bit of fishing, there are angling opportunities at the nearby Bamber Lake and Lake George, although Bamber Lake is privately owned so you’ll need the permission of the owners if you want fish there.

Lake George, in the other hand, is a public lake and it is perhaps the best place for angling opportunities, sport fishing and recreational activities such as boating.

Things to do in Rochester Minnesota: Places of Interest

History Center of Olmsted County

If you are a history buff, or simply want to learn more about the early beginnings of Rochester, the History Center of Olmsted County is an excellent place to visit.

This historic center features various rooms where you can marvel at 19th century old furniture, and kitchen utensils.

To reach Olmsted County, take the County Club Road South West, and drive past the Fox Valley Park.

Soldiers Field Veterans Memorial

If you are a war veteran or are interested in war history, the Soldiers Field Veterans Memorial is a beautiful war memorial where you can see the names of those who lost their lives, as well as the statue of a widow and her son and the statue of a nurse treating a wounded soldier.

Rochester Ear of Corn

The Rochester Ear of Corn is, undoubtedly, one of the most iconic landmarks in the city.

The Ear of Corn is basically a big water tower shaped and painted as a giant corn, which makes for an ideal picture-taking opportunity.

Chateau Theater

Chateau Theater is a 1930’s movie house, which is included on the National Register of historic Places.

The Chateau Theater is today a bookstore, and all that remains of this historic movie house are the railings and doorways to the restrooms, as well as the film projection booth.

Things to do in Rochester Minnesota: Shopping

The shopping scene in Rochester is concentrated in the downtown area, and it is here where you’ll find many specialty and boutique shops, as well as shopping malls.

For instance, Crossroads Sopping Center and TJ Maxx Plaza Shopping Center are both located near the popular Apache Mall, while Miracle Mile Shopping Center is found between Zumbro West Park and Kutzky Park.

Things to do in Rochester Minnesota: Nightlife & Entertainment

Rochester Minnesota has a decent nightlife and you can find a variety of bars, pubs and clubs to choose from.

For instance, Whiskey Bones Inc is a small bar/ club with a vibrant atmosphere where you can socialize with friends. It features live music and night specials every week.

Aquarius Club is also a popular nightclub located near the University Center Rochester, and it is a great place if you intend to dance as it features dancing areas.

Things to do in Rochester Minnesota: Events & Festivals

Olmsted County Fair

One of the best times to visit Rochester Minnesota is during one of summer events such as the Olmsted County Fair, which happens in August.

The Olmsted County Fair is a fun and family-friendly event that features plenty of live entertainment and yummy foods.

Down By the Riverside

Down By the Riverside is a popular music event held during the summer months at Mayo Park. The event itself is free and you can catch plenty of live music performed by local acts.

Orchestras

If you travel to Rochester Minnesota during the fall or spring, you can catch the Rochester Symphony Orchestra & Chorale performing monthly concerts.

The Southeast Minnesota Youth Orchestra is another popular orchestra that performs each week throughout the school year.

See. Places to visit in the Twin Cities
Interesting places to visit in Nebraska

Summer vacation spots in Wisconsin

If you are looking for fun things to do in Madison WI that involves the outdoors, you will be glad to know that the city is surrounded by lakes, wetlands, bluffs, prairies, woodlands and gorges, ideal for hiking.


If you are hiring a car during your vacation in Madison Wisconsin, exploring the nearby states of Minnesota and Iowa is a popular thing to do.

If you want to get close to nature and enjoy wildlife, the city of La Crescent in Minnesota sits on the banks of the Mississippi River and is surrounded by beautiful bluffs with spectacular views of the river.

During your trip in Madison WI, you can also take the popular two-hour scenic drive to the nearby state of Illinois and explore downtown Chicago attractions and things to do in Galena.

Madison travel during the summer is also a popular time as you can attend a Wisconsin State Fair, and other nearby summer events such as the popular SummerFest in Milwaukee (see places to visit in Milwaukee).

Fun Things to do in Madison WI: Places of Interest

Wisconsin State Capitol

Visiting the Wisconsin State Capitol is one of the most popular fun things to do in Madison WI. You can explore this beautiful government building on a guided tour, and then walk-up upstairs to the observation deck to get stunning views of downtown Madison WI and the city.

Aztalan State Park

Aztalan State Park is home to some of the most important archaeological sites in Wisconsin such as an ancient Middle-Mississippian village and ceremonial complex.

The park is also home to the Aztalan Museum, which features 19th century displays and buildings.

University of Wisconsin Arboretum

The University of Wisconsin Arboretum is another popular place of interest where you can enjoy a peaceful stroll and explore some wildlife.

Wineries

Taking a winery tour is one of the most popular fun things to do in Madison WI. Wollersheim Winery is only half hour drive from Madison WI and a great place learn about the wine making process and sample some tasty wines.

Fun Things to do in Madison WI: Outdoor Activities

* If you are looking to enjoy water activities closed-by Madison, the city of Madison is surrounded by four lakes where you can enjoy a myriad of water activities.

Lake Mendota is the largest of these lakes and offers sport facilities all year around. The lake also offers several boat launching sites and two major marinas, and during the summer time you can enjoy fishing, water-skiing, canoeing, and more. During the winter time, you can enjoy ice-boating, ice-skating, ice fishing, cross country skiing, ice hockey and more.

* For those of you who want to enjoy outdoor activities in a more natural setting, Devil’s Lake State Park is only an hour’s drive from Madison WI.

The state park, located along the Ice Age Trail, offers miles of hiking trails, sandy beaches, campsites, as well as stunning views from its foot cliffs.

* Exploring Wisconsin caves is one of the most popular fun things to do in Madison WI. For instance, the stunning Cave of the Mounds natural landmark is only 40 minutes drive from the city.

Inside the cave you enjoy an hour long guided tour which takes you through the caves passages. Once the tour is finished, the area outside the cave is home to picnic areas where you can enjoy a nice meal.

Fun Things to do in Madison WI: Festivals & Events

Gazebo Concerts

Gazebo Concerts, held at Village Green Gazebo in early June, is one of the many free summer concerts held in Madison which features a variety of artists such as the Madison Community Band.

The Polar Dash

The Polar Dash event is a fun family outdoor activity-event to keep kids active during the winter months. At the event kids get to play outside in the snow and eat healthy snacks, and then take a trip to the tropical Bolz Conservatory.

Rhythm & Booms

Rhythm & Booms, held at Warner Park on the 4th of July, is the biggest celebration extravaganza in the Midwest and features fun games for children, carnival parades, marching bands and Wisconsin Air National Guard military demonstrations.

The Rhythm & Booms also features a massive firework display extravaganza in the evening.

Forward Music Festival

Forward Music Festival, held in Madison in mid-September, is a popular local event that features many indie and up and coming local bands.

Fun Things to do in Madison WI: Nightlife& Entertainment

The main areas with nightlife in Madison WI include: Capitol Square, Union Terrace, State Street and Memorial Union.

At night, you can find many venues that offer live music every night of the week, spreading from the historic Barrymore Theater on the east side to the Annex on the west side.

In the downtown area, the High Noon Saloon is a popular place that features breaking indie rock and local acts.

If you are couple and want to enjoy a romantic getaway in Madison, a dinner cruise along Lake Mendota or Lake Monona is one of the best ways to enjoy a fun night out with your other half.

Fun Things to do in Madison WI: Shopping

One of the best places to enjoy some good-old shopping in Madison WI is at the Dane County Farmers’ Market, which is held at Capitol square on Saturdays and on Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd on Wednesdays.

At the market you can purchase local produce and home-made agricultural products, as well as arts and crafts items.

Fun Things to do in Madison WI: Sports

If you are sports fan, the University of Wisconsin is home to the Badgers athletic team that include football, hockey, basketball and many other teams which you can watch.



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