Vacation ideas near the route from Louisiana to Chicago? (AR, TN, MO, IN, etc.)

[GoofyGirl75]

Hi! I am looking for some non-Disney vacation ideas for this summer. My family (2 adults, 2 teens) plans to visit Chicago this summer (we have theater and symphony tickets), but I was hoping to find a cool destination that isn't too far off our route to round out our vacation. We will be driving from Baton Rouge to Chicago... any suggestions for a cool vacation spot in western Tennessee, western Indiana, northeastern Arkansas, southeastern Missouri, etc.?
(We've already been to Memphis, and we're considering Nashville, but we might save that for another trip.) My son would like to do something "nature-y."

I'd also love any ideas for fun stops along the route, or things to do in Chicago. Thanks for any help you might have!

 

[Southernmiss]

Our family of DH and myself and 5 young adults had a great time around St Louis summer of 2019.

Lots of outdoor activities and indoor activities, too.

We stayed in a KOA cabin in Eureka and zip lined, toured a cave, went to the City Museum (an adult maze and jungle gym to get lost in), hiked nature trails, visited the Cohoma Indian mounds, went up in the arch, did the zoo, visited the St Louis Basilica, ate,ate, ate at at least 2 Guy Fieri dives featured on his show. Went to a Cardinals baseball game, toured the art museum, Grant's Farm, Budweiser brewery tour, toured the botanical gardens, toured Wash U- kids looking at colleges and more.

So much more we did not do that we would have loved to do.

Lots to do in middle Tennessee near Nashville, too.

 

[Kathryn Merteuil]

You can pass right through western Indiana without seeing anything interesting. Actually though, Parke County does have covered bridges.That is more of a fall thing, but they don't go away during the summer though.

 

[momz]

Western Indiana. Check out Turkey Run State park. it's beautiful and a lot of fun, especially if you like hiking. Can also go canoeing on Sugar Creek. But, you won't find a hotel near there, and will likely need to drive to Crawfordsville or stay at the park inn. There are some other quick stops along the western side of Indiana. Vincennes has some historical sites, but it's not a much of a destination, just a place to get out the car is all. Further north is the Fair Oaks Farm that can be fun for a partial day. And of course the Dunes. Indiana Dunes has a national park and a state park, plus you can get on the train to downtown Chicago there. The lake is nice and unspoiled.

Nashville, TN is good for a day or two.

And don't rule out a stop at Mammoth Cave National park in Kentucky, but be sure to reserve cave tour tickets ahead of time.

 

[bsmcneil]

Hi! I am looking for some non-Disney vacation ideas for this summer. My family (2 adults, 2 teens) plans to visit Chicago this summer (we have theater and symphony tickets), but I was hoping to find a cool destination that isn't too far off our route to round out our vacation. We will be driving from Baton Rouge to Chicago... any suggestions for a cool vacation spot in western Tennessee, western Indiana, northeastern Arkansas, southeastern Missouri, etc.?
(We've already been to Memphis, and we're considering Nashville, but we might save that for another trip.) My son would like to do something "nature-y."

I'd also love any ideas for fun stops along the route, or things to do in Chicago. Thanks for any help you might have!

There's some low-key vacation-y (definitely nature-y) stuff in/near Mammoth Cave, KY (I live in so. Indiana - the kids and I did some KOA stuff there over the past couple of summers, and then onto Louisville/Lexington).

 

[Travel60]

The straight shot up 55 and 57 is pretty boring, especially if you eliminate Memphis. Cotton, rice and soybean fields in the south and corn fields further north.
If you are willing to swing west a bit through Little Rock then Eureka Springs, the Ozarks are beautiful and lots of things to do around Eureka Springs. Then up to Branson then St. Louis and on up to Chicago.
Or, swing east a bit through Nashville then Land Between the Lakes (Tenn/Kentucky), then on up.
Lots of neat stuff in Chicago....Navy Pier, Museum of Science and Industry, boat tour on the lake.
Have fun!

 

[bsmcneil]

I will add that - obviously everyone's perspectives are different. As someone who has (especially in the past few years) felt my travel preferences shift away from big cities (I lived in Chicago for a while and eventually it felt too small - I would've loved to live in Manhattan) to more nature, Nashville isn't a great fit right now. It's very built up and, IMO, very bright, fake, and tourist-y (that said, if something like Navy Pier is your thing - and it totally has been my thing at times - I think Nashville would be a good fit as it's similar).

My example is that juuuuust before covid (like, literally, the week before things shut down), I had flown out to Hawaii. I had a few days planned on the Big Island (which is pretty nature-based and generally rural). I had a few days planned on Oahu, at Aulani and I knew that I wanted to just be at Aulani for the resort as I needed to decompress and feel pampered - so, after I landed in Honolulu, I rented a car and decided to visit Waikiki before making my way up North and then West to Aulani. That was a giant mistake. I had no sense of the culture shock I would have going from a very low-key, basically camping experience near Hilo to famous, tourist-y Waikiki. I imagine it's a fantastic place - but I was there for about 15 minutes before I just couldn't stand it. I went straight up to the North Shore and had a great time at the beach and then went to Aulani.

So all of that is to say that if your style/vibe is considerably more nature/relaxed than urban/busy - maybe not Nashville (or, maybe not Nashville proper - but find something just outside the city that sounds cool). It's a great city to go to, especially when you're in that mood.

 

[Aurora79]

Elephant Rocks in MO if you want some nature off the beaten path. https://mostateparks.com/park/elephant-rocks-state-park

 

[GoofyGirl75]

Thanks for the suggestions, everyone! I will check them out.

I will add that - obviously everyone's perspectives are different. As someone who has (especially in the past few years) felt my travel preferences shift away from big cities (I lived in Chicago for a while and eventually it felt too small - I would've loved to live in Manhattan) to more nature, Nashville isn't a great fit right now. It's very built up and, IMO, very bright, fake, and tourist-y (that said, if something like Navy Pier is your thing - and it totally has been my thing at times - I think Nashville would be a good fit as it's similar).

I totally get what you mean. My daughter and I spent a day in Nashville last summer, and we do want to get back there with the family eventually since we are country music fans.

We have also been to the Smokies and the Ozarks a couple of times each, and have enjoyed both, so I was just hoping there was something in-between that would be fun, and different scenery than what we're used to. I will check out all of the suggestions given. Maybe we'll do Kentucky (never been there), or maybe Nashville, and some nature stuff between there and Chattanooga.

 

[RangerPooh]

I know that you said that you're not interested in Memphis, but we do have a few good state parks within an hour an half. Meeman Shelby Forest State Park, Big Hill Pond, and Natchez Trace State Parks all have decent hiking and kayaking for the region. Within Memphis proper there's our largest city park Shelby Farms which offers Zip lining and kayaking. Plus we have a great zoo. If you're into Civil War history then you can check out Fort Pillow State Park or drive a bit further to Shilo National Battlefield (and just south Corinth, MS). There's also Pinson Archeological mounds near Jackson TN/ There's more archeological sites just across the Mississippi Rover in Arkansas.

 

[BrianL]

There's some low-key vacation-y (definitely nature-y) stuff in/near Mammoth Cave, KY (I live in so. Indiana - the kids and I did some KOA stuff there over the past couple of summers, and then onto Louisville/Lexington).

I will agree with Mammoth Cave or if you are passing near the Ozarks, Blanchard Springs Caverns near Mountain View, AR. Caving is super cool and they have different tours. I recommend the "Wild Cave Tours" where they take you off the paths into the deep parts of the cave. There may be age requirements on that, but it's great and "nature-y" too. Both are very worthwhile stops!

 

[Kathryn Merteuil]

Western Indiana. Check out Turkey Run State park. it's beautiful and a lot of fun, especially if you like hiking. Can also go canoeing on Sugar Creek. But, you won't find a hotel near there, and will likely need to drive to Crawfordsville or stay at the park inn. There are some other quick stops along the western side of Indiana. Vincennes has some historical sites, but it's not a much of a destination, just a place to get out the car is all. Further north is the Fair Oaks Farm that can be fun for a partial day. And of course the Dunes. Indiana Dunes has a national park and a state park, plus you can get on the train to downtown Chicago there. The lake is nice and unspoiled.

Nashville, TN is good for a day or two.

And don't rule out a stop at Mammoth Cave National park in Kentucky, but be sure to reserve cave tour tickets ahead of time.

When you say "western Indiana" I immediately think of just the area around Terrible Haute. I didn't even think about Indiana Dunes being in western Indiana... I was pretty much just considering that part of Chicago. Indiana Dunes is absolutely wonderful. The water is not all that warm, but at least you do not have to worry about sharks or jellyfish. I loved it.

Further south, New Harmony is a really cool little town...very historic and quaint. They also have a state park out there too. However, I am not sure it would be worth wandering off the beaten path to see. It is kind of out in the middle of nowhere. If your son wants something "nature-y" though... that area fits the bill.

You might also think about southern Illinois. There is a place called "Garden of the Gods". I grew up in southern Indiana and a lot of people liked to go over there. Garden of the Gods is about as "back to nature" as it gets.

I am not sure what path you are taking, but I would almost think you will be passing through southern Illinois at some point along the trip. It is between southeast Missouri and western Indiana.

 

[momz]

When you say "western Indiana" I immediately think of just the area around Terrible Haute. I didn't even think about Indiana Dunes being in western Indiana... I was pretty much just considering that part of Chicago. Indiana Dunes is absolutely wonderful. The water is not all that warm, but at least you do not have to worry about sharks or jellyfish. I loved it.

Further south, New Harmony is a really cool little town...very historic and quaint. They also have a state park out there too. However, I am not sure it would be worth wandering off the beaten path to see. It is kind of out in the middle of nowhere. If your son wants something "nature-y" though... that area fits the bill.

You might also think about southern Illinois. There is a place called "Garden of the Gods". I grew up in southern Indiana and a lot of people liked to go over there. Garden of the Gods is about as "back to nature" as it gets.

I am not sure what path you are taking, but I would almost think you will be passing through southern Illinois at some point along the trip. It is between southeast Missouri and western Indiana.

lol. Yes, Terre Haute would not be on my list for vacation destination. Although they are getting a casino soon. Still lots of better places to go for that. In it's defense, the people there are not the problem.

I will be checking out Garden of the Gods on your recommendation.