I’ve been all around the world. As such, when I hear the word “lake”, my ears perk up like a dog at the sound of sizzling bacon. But that’s because I’ve been fooled too many times growing up in Texas, where people tend to settle for brackish waters and oil-spilled marinas. The Midwest is a …

We all know Chicago makes its way on every ‘best Midwest’ listicle, but we had to push our eyeballs back in place when we saw what followed the “Windy City” on Midwest Living’s 2026 awards. The truth is the Midwest is more diverse than you might think — a far cry from desolate corn fields …

When it comes to the Midwest, enjoying your time here is often season-dependent. But what’s not up for debate are the region’s 2 most beautiful cities. No offense to Nebraska and Iowa, but you guys have some work to do… If a genie granted you 2 guesses, chances are you’d pick Chicago as one of them. The other? It’s a vibrant capital split between Lake Mendota and Lake Monona — and it’s a foodie’s dream. Who would ever turn down endless helpings of cheese? Not us… Amtrak may be the most reliable name for U.S. train travel, but there’s long been one glaring omission on its route map. That’s set to change with Amtrak’s latest announcement that these 2 gorgeous Midwest cities will now be directly connected, saving travelers from TSA headaches, annoying rail transfers, and a longer-than-necessary road trip with Chicago’s snail-paced traffic. Introducing Amtrak’s Most Exciting New Route In Years Flight routes come in hot and heavy, but train routes, especially stateside? Not so much. Despite train travel making an LL Cool J-sized comeback, America’s …

We all know how amazing Chicago is from its blue-water shores, towering luxe hotels, and array of vibrant neighborhoods in the Midwest’s sole metropolis. But there are many other places to discover if massive cities aren’t your jam. The Midwest can often be misrepresented. It’s not a boring hellscape with never-ending corn fields like cheesy …

Locals have long claimed “Midwest is best”, but the truth is when it comes time to book a vacation, many of us opt for swaying palms and vibrant coastline. While there’s obviously nothing wrong with taking a beach vacation, what’s missed is overlooking the Midwest as Snoozeville, USA. Many might think Chicago is the exception …

It might be surprising to hear, but Indiana has been placed in the wrong group with Midwest snoozers far too long. Oftentimes, travelers opt for vibrant cities such as Chicago, St. Louis or ever-so-trendy Columbus, but the proof is in the pudding (or St. Elmo’s famous cocktail sauce in this case) that Indiana is on …

Why visit one state when you can conquer two in a single weekend? Well, we can’t call it a classic “Texas two-fer”, but we can call it double dipping. That’s right — you can visit two states via one marvelous city that’s largely under-hyped as a top Midwest getaway. More known to the masses as …

You’d never guess where in the Midwest travel experts are raving about. Nope, it’s not Chicago, any charming town along Lake Michigan, or even record-breaking Indianapolis. Not even close — it’s arguably the prettiest region of Minnesota, don’tcha know? That’s right — Minnesota’s vibrant lakes are making waves in more ways than one this fall. …

Fall is quite literally a breath of fresh air. No matter if it’s apple orchards, wineries, rustic mountain towns, or lakeside hideaways popping with a rush of autumn colors, it’s a great time to enjoy the outdoors. Travel experts at Hilton have inserted themselves not just to promote their awesome properties, but rather showcase destinations …