Kentucky might only provide about a twenty-degree warm-up, but during the super cold times, those twenty degrees can feel like heaven. With fast lifts, extensive ski runs and stunning views, you'll probably want to spend most of your time here on the slopes. Our highlights: There might not be snow and ice on the ground, but Savannah manages to fill the holiday season with its very own brand of festive charm. Then, take I-40 from Knoxville to Asheville then join I-26 south passing Spartanburg and Columbia. Follow this road all the way across Illinois to Davenport, where you'll cross over the Mississippi River which forms the border between Illinois and Iowa. How to get there: This is a really simple trip just follow I-90 all the way from Chicago. Then, check out the Christmas Village or the Made in Philadelphia Holiday Market. Sundays have a free Jazz Brunch outdoor concert series along the scenic Riverwalk. From here, follow I-196 further around the lake shore. From here, pick up I-76 and follow it straight down to Denver. Skate beneath the massive Christmas tree at the famous Rockefeller Ice Rink, before heading up to the Top of the Rock to take in the view of New York in the snow. 10 hours 10 minutes from Chicago (660 miles). 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. Why you should visit: As its name suggests, Granite Peak is a fabulous and long-established ski destination with some top-class runs and luxurious resort choices. You can easily fill a weekend here with fun and varied runs. 24 Top Weekend Getaways From Chicago - US News & World Report Alternatively, tour the galleries and independent shops in the city's downtown area, which showcase the work of the thriving local arts community. Where to Stay. Our highlights: As you'd expect, the main draw of Muskegon in winter is Muskegon Luge Adventure Sports Park. You can also enjoy a number of holiday markets, to really get you into the festive spirit. Nicknamed the Forest City due to the area's verdant woods and rivers, Rockford is also known as the Screw Capital of the World. After a rapid period of growth through the first two thirds of the 20th century, Detroit suffered an economic collapse and a massive decline since the 70s. Key stops include Minneapolis, Sacramento, Albuquerque, Las Vegas and Monterey, plus the Grand Canyon, Mojave National Preserve, Lake Tahoe and Yellowstone National Park. 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. How to get there: Join I-57 and follow it south all the way to Cairo, on the Illinois/Missouri border. After taking I-90 E towards the edge of the city, turn onto I-65 and follow the interstate south, driving past Indianapolis and right the way across Indiana until you reach Louisville, Kentucky. You can get a tour of the mansion and explore the vast grounds which include 620 feet of shoreline. Went to New York (which was fun) so that is covered. You can easily visit for a day or stay the night to see more of the local sights and museums. 14 most adorable direct flights from Chicago - Time Out Chicago Then, follow the Christmas Parade, which makes its way through the city's streets and squares in early December. Your email will not be provided to third parties. Asheville is packed full of history, but the modern city has a distinctly creative vibe that makes it really unique. Back in town, tour the River Arts District on foot to meet artists at work in their studios. It's called - you guessed it - the Cheese Country Trail System (no, really)! Exhibits are very interactive and fun for the whole family. Also, although this isn't a ski destination like some of the other trips, you can still enjoy some winter sports in Elkhart Lake. This leads you south to join I-76, which you'll then follow past Pittsburgh, all the way across Pennsylvania. Little Orleans Campground. Why you should visit: Mild weather and weeks of flamboyant parades makes New Orleans the perfect contrast to snowy Chicago. PC . You must try the Glarner Stube restaurant in town. 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. From Chicago To Driving Time: Lake Geneva, WI: 1 hour and 30 minutes: Galena, IL: 2 hours 45 minutes: Kohler, WI: 2 hours and 20 minutes . Weather at the end of March can be iffy. Weekend Getaways from Chicago: Market Street Inn - 3 hours . If there's one reason to visit Milwaukee, it is to see for yourself what the beer capital of the United States really looks like! Our travel tips: Visit the Luge in the evenings and you can warm up by a bonfire after your slide down the track. Although there's the regular rush hour traffic that might slow you down a little, the city doesn't experience significant congestion. Here you can join in with the 9-day Winter Festival (late January). Then there's dozens of amazing natural parks to explore, especially towards the northern tip of the lake. If that gets your creative juices flowing it's also possible to take a one-day art workshop or a longer summer school in the city. It's the perfect way to enjoy the snowy conditions, and there are ski runs here to suit many different abilities. But is it worth a daytrip to an obscure Chicago suburb? You won't need any previous experience or equipment, as your entrance to the track includes a lesson and all the equipment you'll need to enjoy your visit safely. Take a magical horse-drawn carriage ride, check out entries for the Gingerbread House competition, and enjoy endless festive lights. Why you should visit: You can see the Nation's Christmas Tree, a century-old tradition in the city - it's illuminated from early December in a popular ceremony that for many marks the start of the holiday season. A lot of these are built indoors so you can enjoy a weekend swimming, relaxing and going down crazy slides when everything outside is frozen! If you're not visiting for the Derby, it's best to avoid going in May as hundreds of thousands come for the event and prices go sky high. The main reason to go to Lake Forest now is a weekend away at the 57-room Deer Path Inn ( from $329 per night ), a fabulous, little-known gem that puts you in arm's reach of the . The Windy City also boasts a stellar location, just a drive away from fascinating landmarks, charming small towns, scenic lakes and iconic cities if you'd like to venture out to explore. 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. Here you can see works by some of the great European artists as well as a wide collection of American art. Snow in the city often isn't much fun, so head out to one of the mountains or lakes for a one-day road trip that lets you enjoy the winter weather at its best. The main attractions are the two major parks - the Starved Rock State Park and the Matthiessen State Park. This idyllic shoreline in Michigan's southwestern corner stretches from the Indiana border to the town of Sawyer. As well as being able to see the famous memorial in person, this is a great road trip that takes you from one side of the Great Plains to the other via some interesting and varied cities. Places to visit about 9 hours from Chicago - Within Hours 2 hours 20 minutes from Chicago (145 miles). There are also scenic boat rides out to historic Toledo Lighthouse, where tours are available make sure to climb to the top for great views along the shoreline. Other activities include spending the day at Kalapaki or Po'ipu beaches, setting. The city's popular Longwood Gardens is transformed with amazing lights and live music, so it makes a great place to spend some time after the sun goes down (which happens early in winter!). After crossing the border into Canada, the road becomes ON-401. 2 hours 50 minutes from Chicago (150 miles). 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. Why you should visit: Wisconsin's state capital has all the cultural and foodie delights that you'd expect in a big city, with added snow that opens up a whole range of other activities to enjoy. 1 week road trip within 10 hours or so of Chicago - Tripadvisor While you're in town you can take a magical snowy hike through the trees at Madison Arboretum, then round off your day with outdoor dining - several Madison restaurants have heated outdoor domes so you can enjoy snowy views while dining al fresco. Our highlights: Just outside the city at Cascade Mountain and Devils Head Resort you'll find some exhilarating downhill skiing as well as snowtubing and sledding. Our travel tips: This is a really popular ski area, and lift passes can sell out during the busiest periods. Then, soon after crossing the Mississippi River, change onto I-55 and follow it south. Next, pick up I-40 which winds through a section of the Appalachian Mountains on its way to your destination, Asheville. With many travelers heading to Asheville to see the stunning display of foliage in the fall, we'd recommend booking ahead to guarantee your choice of accommodation at this time of year. St Louis, MO Driving time from Chicago: 4 hrs 30 min While beer, blues and BBQ are likely on the top of your St Louis bucket list (and rightfuly. The theme parks of Orlando are popular year-round, but during the winter you get to experience them all dressed up for the holiday season, and without the heat and humidity that can be a feature at other times of the year. Canada produces a significant proportion of the world's Icewine, a dessert wine created from grapes left on the vine to freeze before being harvested. Roadtrips to do in 3 days from Chicago 8-9 hours driving max This waterfront city is the only destination on this list that takes you to another of the Great Lakes. With no cars on the island and a super relaxed vibe, you can take strolls, visit lighthouses and hike to see the Arch Rock on the east side of the island. Denver also has a host of fabulous cultural attractions, so don't overlook the city itself on your way up to the mountains. 2 hours 45 minutes from Chicago (186 miles). The same road takes you right into Philadelphia. The biggest ski area in the state is perfectly set up for skiers, with fast lifts and dozens of trails to follow. How to get there: Head east out of Chicago and join Interstate 90, then just keep going! In the evenings from May to September there's also a 45-minute ranger talk which ends with the lighting ceremony. The 10 Cheapest Flights from Chicago | Hopper Rib Mountain, part of the ski area here, is Wisconsin's tallest mountain so you'll find plenty of downhill runs here to suit all abilities. So if you are already in Chicago then you should explore these 12 best road trips from Chicago. The area is also home to a number of very decent wineries. Spring Break Family Destinations Near Chicago - Chicago Parent Why you should visit: New York City puts on an amazing display for the holidays from festive lights to Christmas trees and fabulous window displays throughout the city, all with a thick covering of snow. From wherever you're starting in Chicago, pick up I-90 E and follow it out of the city then right the way across Indiana passing La Porte and Shipshewana. Time in the air: 3 hours. Everything here is about cheese. Back in town, the Ice Castles at Geneva National Resort & Club are a must-see. Starved Rock State Park is just 100 miles southwest of Chicago, offering an ideal spot to enjoy nature with more than a dozen sandstone canyons along with beautiful waterfalls that are especially powerful in the spring. You should definitely visit New York in winter so you can say you've experienced them all first-hand. A Little History. The smell is so bad, the United States Postal Service banned the posting of Limburger because of the stench. Winters are bitterly cold and very snowy - that drive from Chicago might not be the best idea in the middle of February! Like Chicago, Saugatuck is also located on the Lake Michigan shore, but it couldn't be more different. LazyTrips is a trading name of Uncle Bob Media Ltd. A little further north from Chicago than Milwaukee is the town of Cedarburg. Chicago is a fantastic city, known for its stunning lakeside location, the Magnificent Mile, and its world-class museums and galleries. Record-breaking April 13: Chicago snaps 136-year-old warm weather Hot Springs (Arkansas) Distance: 650 miles. Best Weekend Getaways From Chicago: Road Trips & Itineraries - Thrillist The town transported a 250-year old windmill from the Netherlands to Holland and placed it on its very own island that is now called the Windmill Island. 2 hours 40 minutes from Chicago (150 miles). Best attractions: The Museum of the Rockies, which has the largest collection of dinosaur bones in the U.S. Also, just a 90-minute drive . If you're coming for the World of Winter Festival, remember to wrap up warm. You might consider day trips from Chicago to Milwaukee on the train. It was founded by a group of Swiss settlers from the Swiss canton of Glarus in 1845. Next, turn onto I-80 and head west past Des Moines and Omaha. You'll learn about the many faces of Lake Erie, from the Underground Railroad which ferried slaves to safety across the lake, to prohibition bootleggers. Change your settings: from RV campgrounds 300 miles from Chicago 299 miles north of Chicago: Mowe Lake - Manistique Rapid River Dispersed 297 miles northeast of Chicago: Aloha State Park 300 miles east of Chicago: Orchard View Park Cuyahoga County Fairgrounds 301 miles southeast of Chicago: The laid-back, pretense-free. Bonus: These days you usually need to take a ferry across from Manhattan to Staten Island, but back in 1780 the entire harbour froze so hard that it was possible to walk all the way across the river. You can also tour a museum ship to get a feel for the history of the lakes. The city is famous for Mardi Gras, which takes place in late February, but warm-up events actually start in January, so you can enjoy week after week of enjoyment. There are a number of museums to explore - some of the main ones located along the Museum Row. It's not all about the outdoors though. You will pass by some imposing homes and quiet lakeside neighborhoods with picturesque cafes. The first week of December is particularly busy, but many travellers report that the crowds and prices calm down a little mid-month. Traffic in Denver is heavy at rush hours as you might expect, but the Friday peak is a little earlier than other days so factor this in if you're trying to beat the crowds. 25 Best Road Trips From Chicago - LazyTrips Plus, you can fill yourself with festive cheer with a visit to the traditional market at Love Park's Christmas Village, or a stroll through streets filled with fabulous Christmas lights. When it's time to warm up, head back into town to Old Sugar Distillery, a small local spirits producer, for a warming taster. Our travel tips: Pack layers, as even Florida can experience cooler days, but rest assured that with heated pools and plenty of daytime sunshine, you can enjoy yourself outdoors right through the winter. The cheese fondue is right up there on our list of the best foods in the world! Highlights include the cities of Indianapolis, Dayton and Columbus; as well as Wayne National Forest, Seneca Rocks, Shenandah National Park and Monongahela National Forest. If you want to test your senses, the Limburger cheese holds the title of the world's worst smelling cheese and is only made in Monroe. For summer fun during the winter months, Grizzly Jack's Grand Bear Resort is the place to be. 489 miles northeast of Chicago: Lake Bernard Park. 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. The fast ferries will take under 20 minutes to get you there. The Cinco de Mayo festival is one of the biggest in the country, with parades, live music and dozens of food stalls to choose from. Here you will find a great white sand beach and stroll along the boardwalk, watch local boats go by or explore the shops along the docks. 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. The village represents a historic view of Dutch settlements and you can even visit a wooden clog (shoe) making factory. 605 S. Prospect St., Galena IL, 800-717-2317. 25 Best Weekend Getaways from Chicago - VacationIdea How to get there: Head east out of Chicago on I-90, keeping Lake Michigan on your left, then continue on I-94 as far as Lake Joseph. Whether you want to hike, climb, bike, ski, snowshoe or simply follow miles of scenic drives to mountaintop lookouts, take your pick in this stunning national park and the surrounding winter sports resorts.