Travel advice needed!

[corilannam]

So my BFF chelseafrew and I are heading to Chicago next weekend for a Very Important Wedding. We've been meaning to take a leisurely roadtrip for years, and we've decided this is our opportunity!

We're leaving on Wednesday or Thursday of next week to meander from DC to Chicago by Friday afternoon. We're in Chicago Friday and Saturday for wedding activities, and then at some point we'll be leaving to drive up to Canada through either Wisconsin or (more likely) Michigan. From there we plan to drive around the Great Lakes to Toronto, then down through Niagra Falls and eventually home. We're allowing about a week and a half to do the whole thing.

I know a great number of you know live in these regions or know them much better than I do, so my questions:

* Along that route (more or less), what are the Must See Sights?

* Any advice on the best places to stay (or stay away from)?

* While in Canada, what and where must we eat?

* Anyone want to have coffee/dinner/world domination planning meetings?

This is, of course, all assuming that I can find my passport, which I put in a very safe place....

Comments

[dorinda]

Well, this doesn't cover the post-wedding main part of the drive, but I must say this: when I moved out here, my brother and I turned the drive from Chicago to DC into a relaxing road trip along Route 50.

It was right around this time of year, too. I found the drive pretty, restful, and so much less stressful than the big freeways/turnpikes. We'd stop sometimes in a little town and stroll around its main street/square or whatever, or we'd tour an underground river (Indiana), or (slightly off the track) take a ride on a sternwheeler (Ohio).

I know that part of the trip isn't your focus, but I figured I'd mention Route 50 just in case! Highly recommended.

[corilannam]

Actually, I was really hoping someone would give me some guidance on the DC-Chicago route, so that's awesome, thank you! Route 50 looks really cool. I kind of want to drive it all the way across country now.