MIDWEST
Hitchcock Nature Center, IA
14
GROUP TRAVEL DESTINATIONS
Photo courtesy of Travel Iowa
Full of hearty American cities, the Midwest is also awash with stunning natural landscapes that rival any in the country. A visit to northern Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, for example, will bring you up-close to more than 300 waterfalls, while winter enthusiasts can venture to smaller locales like Munising and Miner Falls for top-notch ice climbing. Speaking of chilly weather, Minnesota and Wisconsin are winter havens, but they are also spectacular states to visit when the temperature rises. Minnesota is home to more than 4,000 miles of paved bike trails, 11,000 lakes and 500 golf courses while Wisconsin’s scenic wonders include waterfalls, caves, towering cliffs and distinctive rock formations. Illinois’ nickname is the Prairie State, but a journey downstate to Shawnee National Forest, replete with sandstone cliffs and formations, shows the state’s landscape is far more complex. A brisk drive across the border to Missouri will land you in the Show-Me State, and it has plenty to show, including caves, waterfalls and, of course, the majestic Lake of the Ozarks, which features more than 1,100 miles of shoreline, more than the coast of California.
