Midwest Vacation Destinations

The Midwestern United States, popularly referred to as the 'Midwest', is the north central region of the United States, spread over 12 of the 50 American states. Also known as the 'Heartland' or the 'Breadbasket of America', Midwest has a lot to offer for vacationers. The sparkling urban landscape on one hand and the rugged mountain landscape on the other, make Midwest one of the most sought after vacation destinations in the US.

Best Vacation Destinations in the Midwest

Branson
One of the most popular Midwest vacation destinations, the city of Branson, in Missouri, boasts of around seven million visitors ever year. The city is most popular for its numerous state-of-the-art theaters which host a wide variety of shows, right from music and literature to magic and comedy. A theme park spanning over an area of 50 acres, the Silver Dollar City is yet another popular tourist destination in the Midwest. This theme park has a host of festivals lined up between April and December. Other attractions in Branson include the Titanic Museum, Table Rock Lake, Big Cedar Lodge etc.

South Dakota
The state of South Dakota, also referred to as the Coyote State or the Mount Rushmore State, is yet another tourist paradise in this region. The state is renowned for its amazing natural beauty, marked by places such as Black Hills and Mount Rushmore. In fact, one of the major attractions of this region is The Mount Rushmore National Memorial - a granite sculpture of the four US Presidents, George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln, and Theodore Roosevelt, that represents the first 150 years of the American history. Other than these, South Dakota also boasts of several national parks and memorials. And if you are not quite a history buff, you can resort to the lap of nature by exploring the various caves and hiking trails in this region. More importantly, don't miss the under-construction Crazy Horse Memorial which is supposed to be the largest memorial in the world.

Minneapolis
Minneapolis, nicknamed the city of lakes, is the largest city in the Midwestern state of Minnesota. It is also the home to the largest shopping mall in the United States - The Mall of America. Largest in terms of total enclosed floor area, The Mall of America has a range of recreational activities to its credit, which makes it one of the most popular Midwest family vacation destinations. One can also venture through the waters of the Underwater Adventures Aquarium to see the amazing creatures of the sea. Other parks in Minneapolis include the Nickelodeon Universe Theme Park and the Waterpark of America both of which are full of adventure rides and other such recreational activities for you.

Wisconsin Dells
Regarded as the 'Waterpark Capital of the World', the city of Wisconsin Dells in south-central Wisconsin is one of the most popular summer vacations destinations in the Midwest. It is home to the largest water park in the United States - the Noah's Ark Water Park. Other water parks here include the Kalahari Resort Water Park and the Lost Rios Water Park, both of which are a delight to visit. If you are planning an outing for the entire family, Pirate's Cove Family Fun Center and the Timber Falls Adventure Park are by far the best Midwest family vacation destinations you will ever come across. You can also engage in recreational activities such as kart racing and miniature golf in Wisconsin Dells.

Chicago
Chicago is not just the largest city in the Midwest, but also one of the most preferred destinations on the urban front. In Chicago, the most popular tourist destination is the Navy Pier - a thousand meter long pier on the shoreline of Lake Michigan. Among the other things you can't afford to miss here are Pier Park and the Amazing Chicago's Funhouse Maze. The city is also famous for its hordes of water parks, and also boasts of being home to the first indoor water park ever built - the CoCo Key Water Resort. Other things to watch out for in Chicago are the Lincoln Park Zoo, Architecture cruises and the view of the city from the 1,000 ft high Sears Tower.

While these destinations are amazing in themselves, Midwest vacation ideas don't just end there. There are a number of other places to visit in the Midwest, including the Traverse City, Mackinac Island Fort, Robinson State Park, Madison County, The Lake Erie Islands, etc., all of which promise to make your vacation a memorable affair.