Bob

So in the summer, we may or may not be heading that way for a wedding, it's been a on and off thing, so who knows.

But it's a 14 hour odd straight drive from here and the place is about an hour from Chicago.

So if you had a half day or a day to spend along the way, what would be the must stop location or route?

Also considering nipping up and over via Canada, but only seems to save a 100 miles or so, so not much.

Currently thinking, if we do this, that we'll break the trek up with a stop to check a place out on the way and another on the way back and possibly a day in Chicago.

So yeah, top recommendations for places to stop by or places to not bother with?

SarahG

If you go through Indianapolis you could check out the kids museum. My 2 small people loved it. We would spend hours there! 2 adults and 2 kids cost about $60.
I'm only really familiar with Central Indy.

Bob

Oh that's pretty good going as that's about the cost of 2 adults down this way

It might help if we knew exactly where the wedding is happening, but all we've been told is it'll be out there and an hour away ish from Chicago.

Family...what can you do

tonrob

Summer trip, so Ithaca? Nice little college town with a good vibe and outdoorsy stuff to do - picturesque little gorge thingy to do a small hike along (just a few miles, nice views and photogenic) and also the finger lakes are right there.

If you went the Canada route then Toronto and/or Niagara Falls?

jeffreyhy

I agree, the Children's Museum is a must see when visiting Indianapolis. (As is the zoo and Connor Prairie.) Thing is, if Bob's destination is in the Indiana suburbs of Chicago, going through Indy is a bit out of the way.

Regards, JEff

Bob

That's what I was thinking as a return journey. Been to Montreal a few times, ended up in the burbs of Toronto, but not actually making it into the city, so would be nice to actually drive through it and do Niagara from the Canadian side.

All depends on how much time we can afford to put into this...and one downside would be needing to spend extra money on getting the missus a passport renewed and the kids as I'm the only one with a valid passport right now, it would seem after checking

DexterBerkeley

just tied a trip to Niagara at the weekend with some meetings near Toronto. I think you can tick off most things worth doing in half a day in winter. The boats don't run then and most of the attractions aside from the Skylon tower are pretty tacky. In summer i guess a day wiht the boat and spending more time walkling around as you're not going to be freezinf your nads off.

If you go to Toronto be warned there is a shoe museum there, fortunately my wife was there while I was at a prospect when she found it, but it does contain a lot of shoes and she was there for hours!

Manc

spend a day at Cedar Point instead.

cxx

Ithaca and the surrounding area is beautiful - well worth a visit. There are masses of picturesque gorges, waterfalls, plus the lakes.

The Henry Ford is worth a look - http://www.thehenryford.org/

Would avoid driving into Canada as you will have to navigate 2 border crossings which could take a lot longer than driving the extra miles. Also Toronto traffic makes the M25 look like an empty country lane!

Bob

So it seems Huntington is the final destination, somewhere....

So is that realistically a decent drive to Chicago? Looks a bit further than anticipated, a couple of hours or so?

Also seems like a pretty straight shot around Lake Erie and then down a bit...so the lake worth driving around or just by pass it?

Hiro11

This would be my suggestion. Might be the best roller coaster park (dons Clarkson voice) in the world.

Hawkini

And after watching TG on BBCA last night - I had it instantly as Clarkson would say it - brilliant!

theOAP

If that destination is Huntington, Indiana, then you'll be pleased to know that you're about to visit the city that launched the career of one of America's most celebrated politicians. This was (is?) a man who was reported on, and quoted, almost daily in both the US and international press. He became a well known household name when he served as Vice President of the United States, and his fame was almost unrivaled. Such a chance to worship a political figure at the very location that catapulted him to such notoriety. Yes, what else is there to do in Huntington (aside from attending a wedding), than to pay homage to Dan Quayle!

Two hours to Chicago, maximum (in good weather).

Bob

That's actually what I'd like to do, but no one else seemed interested...oh well

Bob

That's really selling the city

Anyway, one possibility is to wing south a little and head through WV and KT rather than going just below Lake Erie...it only adds a couple hundred miles and that's really nothing on a 1.1K trip...might be for something on the way back.

If nothing else, it'll tick off a couple more states visited, even if only briefly