Door County, Wisconsin. A beloved vacation destination for Mid-westerners, this pinkie-shaped peninsula jutting out into the pristine waters or Lake Michigan lives up to the nickname “Cape Cod of the Midwest.” Whether you ride a Harley, sail a yacht, camp, antique, scuba dive, kayak, or simply appreciate award-winning regional food and wine, Door Country truly has something for everyone all year round. On a budget and in the area for a short weekend, our family came to Door County with one main theme on our vacation itinerary—stones. Skipping stones, that is.

In Madison, Wisconsin the University of Wisconsin, Madison is a hub of family-friendly fun. From geology, space, physics, and ice cream, this post will get you planning your next day trip to campus.

What kid doesn’t enjoy a dangerous botanical or two? For a wicked garden road trip be sure to check out the display of Wicked Plants: Botanical Rogues and Assassins which opened this month at the Conservatory of Flowers in San Francisco, California.

The Pikes Peak region, which includes Colorado Springs and Manitou Springs, beckons to travelers. For many, Colorado Springs is what they expected to find in Denver—a city tucked into the foothills, right smack up against the mountains. We’ve divvied our itinerary, separating outdoor activities for sunny days from ways to escape nature’s fickle nature.

The city of Frankenmuth welcomes visitors to Michigan with Bavarian hospitality and an array of options for enjoyable family-friendly activities. Situated on the winding Cass River, this friendly little town boasts German heritage in its culture, cuisine, and architecture. It’s an easy 90 minute drive from Detroit, Lansing, or Port Huron.

Back in November, we made a weekend trek to Cleveland, one of the Midwest’s least sung treasures. Located on the mighty Cuyahoga River in northern Ohio, Cleveland is firmly planted in the country’s Rust Belt. But don’t let that stir in your mind images of burned-out warehouses and abandoned factories. Sure, there’s some of that, but the only thing my family had to say after a weekend of great food, music, and museums was “When can we go back?”

Great Lakes Road Trips: Michigan Kismet Moments. Following the tug of the steering wheel to places we normally wouldn’t have time or patience to go.

I strap myself in, wait for the “Start your engines” announcement. The lights tick down. Green! I hit the accelerator and roar onto the track in my first Daytona 500 race. Zooming around the famed …

Southern neighbor of Beloit, Wisconsin, Rockford, Illinois is about an hour and a half drive from Chicago, Milwaukee, or Madison. Home of the adorable sock monkey, Road Trips for Families ventured to Illinois for a weekend vacation. In the spirit of monkey business, here are some kid-friendly places to “hang out” the next time you are Rockford with kids.

Located just 80 miles from downtown Chicago and 50 miles from Milwaukee, Geneva Lake and the town of Lake Geneva is often called the Newport of the West. A vacation mecca for kids and their families, memories of lakeside fun are waiting in Wisconsin.

Just a couple of years ago, RVing was something that older folks did. Or maybe your camping addicted neighbors. But now, with the price of airline tickets and carry-on luggage rising, families are going back to the RV way of life. Especially for summer vacations. Last year on our road trip through Yellowstone there were dozens of RVs everywhere we stopped. Many rented. Families are going back to national parks and spending time together. But if you’ve never done much RVing, is there a place to learn more?

Grand Rapids, Michigan. Known for furniture and former president Gerald Ford, a city-wide revitalization project is slowly (but surely) transforming this city of nearly 200,000 into an urban destination for students, professionals, and families alike.
Spring …

List everything you really want in a spring vacation. The destination should be easy to get to, have something for everyone to enjoy (even if your kids range in age from 2-15), sun and affordable prices. A road trip to Paso Robles, California, is the perfect solution.

It was 40 years ago that someone from earth first set foot on another planet. We spent only about 2 1/2 hours on that planet (please don’t ask me what planet it was!!), but but they changed history forever. Our children have grown up with space travel as part of their lives. And, they should look back at how it began.

The Best Fireworks and 4th of July celebrations — all over the nation.

The members of the Save the Redwoods League have compiled a guide to “The Redwood Highway” that details suggested trips and sights in the redwoods as well as the history of how the League has helped protect the forests so you can visit with your children today.

I was just telling my daughter that mothers used to say, “Get outside and don’t come back until I call you for dinner.” Kids were supposed to entertain themselves (who has heard of this??) and not get in life-threatening danger, all on their own.

Just in time for Summer Road Trips, Kansas City has launched a summer-long savings promotion called “Sunsational KC.” Now through the end of August, visitors and residents can cash in on almost 200 special offers and discounts in Kansas City—including 2-for-1 attraction specials and hotel rates as low as $49.

If you’re traveling thru NW Indiana or SW Michigan this summer, check out this list of cheap activities from NWI.com.

This summer will be all about day tripping. Just because you’ve paid your share to bail out the banks doesn’t mean you want to forgoe a vacation. And, chances are, you’ve been so busy traveling around the world that you’ve forgotten what’s in your own back yard.