Dear Erin, what are the best places to visit on spring break? It needs to be within a four-hour drive from home.

Dear Aspiring Traveler, 

What an exciting question! Luckily, we are situated in the heart of the midwest, allowing us to be a short drive away from cities, beaches, and quaint little towns scattered throughout the region. Below is a compiled list of locations you can visit during spring break that are within a four-hour drive from Chesterton, Indiana.

• Milwaukee, WI (2 hr 24 min)

Milwaukee offers a lot and is in close proximity to Chesterton. A few fun things to do in the city include a visit to the Milwaukee Art Museum, Mitchell Park Horticultural Conservatory, a trip to the Public Market, or strolling through Brady Street. If time allows, be sure to check out other southern Wisconsin towns such as Lake Geneva (51 min from Milwaukee) and Madison (1 hr 18 min from Milwaukee).

• Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin (3 hr 43 min)

Wisconsin Dells is a beloved destination, and lucky for us it is about three and a half hours away. There are a number of resort waterparks to stay at including Kalahari Resort Waterparks, Chula Vista Resort Waterparks, Mt. Olympus Water & Theme Park, Noah’s Ark Waterpark, and Wilderness Resort Waterpark. While at Wisconsin Dells, visitors can race with ADare Go Carts. If you’re feeling adventurous, you can try out the BigFoot Ropes Course and Zipline Tours. Perhaps nature is more your speed. In that case, the Dells has the Woodside Ranch Riding Stables and Dells Army Duck Tours.

• Southern Michigan Towns (furthest location being about 1 hr and 37 min)

Southern Michigan has a plethora of charming towns. Many towns make for great day trips and can be fun to explore. Three notable Southern Michigan Towns are Holland, Saugatuck, and New Buffalo. Holland is the farthest away from Chesterton and is roughly an hour and a half away. However, if you’re looking for a low-key road trip, be sure to check out these towns on Lake Michigan’s coast. Holland boasts beautiful trails, a Dutch village, and Holland State Park. Saugatuck on the other hand offers a picturesque downtown and thrilling Dune rides. Another small town along the way is New Buffalo. New Buffalo has delectable eateries and interesting shops. Don’t miss a visit to Oink’s Dutch Treat while in New Buffalo!

• Chicago, IL (1 hr)

This location may be a little obvious, but there is always something going on in Chicago. Of course, you can visit the Art Institute of Chicago or the Field Museum, which makes for a great in-city adventure. However, consider adding the Oriental Institute Museum located at the University of Chicago. Admission is free, and visitors can see up-close astounding archaeological findings. An added bonus is that there are no crowds of people, thus allowing you to enjoy the museum a little more. Chicago also offers different tours for visitors to appreciate architecture, history, and/or the Chicago scenery. A few tours include: a segway tour, helicopter tour, architecture tour along the Chicago River, as well as a gangster tour, detailing the rich Prohibition-era history. Chicago also has many ethnic neighborhoods worth visiting during your trip.

There is one additional location that is a little over two hours away from Chesterton, that is a considerable mention:

• Cincinnati, OH (4 hr 11 min)

Although Cincinnati is a little over a four-hour drive, those who do visit the city can look forward to wandering the downtown, crossing the Ohio River with BB Riverboats, and absorbing history at Cincinnati History Museum. Although it is a 30-minute drive from the city, Kings Island, an amusement and water park, can be a fun addition to your trip. If you do get around to visiting this city, be sure to grab a bite to eat at Tom & Chee, a local chain that serves soups, salads, and grilled cheese sandwiches.

These are only a few locations that are within the desired driving distance. Wherever you choose to go, remember to be safe, sensible, and have fun. The Sandscript wishes everyone a good spring break!