If you’re searching for a Midwest road trip from Texas that’s easy to plan, family-friendly, and packed with unique stops… this route delivers.
You’ll explore caves, walk onto a famous movie set, wander one of the most charming towns in the Midwest, and discover a hidden canyon most people don’t even know exists.
Even better? This entire trip can be done as a loop from Texas—no flights required.
Route Overview: Midwest Road Trip from Texas
Route: Texas → Iowa → Illinois → Wisconsin → Texas Trip Length: 5–7 days Best Time to Go: May–October
Our road tripping adventures have taken us to so many fascinating and educational places across the United States. Keep reading to learn more about our favorite museums across America the whole family will love!
One of the most recent new states we visited last summer was Massachusetts! We stayed in Boston and ventured to Plymouth and Salem during our stay. This area is a history buff’s dream! We learned so much about our country’s history during the trip and seeing the places that we discuss in school was so engaging. I highly recommend a visit to this area, there is so much to experience!
The teacher in me loved this living history museum in Plymouth, MA! It was like stepping back in time and experiencing life like the Pilgrims did in the 1600s. We walked along the dirt streets in the village, explored the inside of the homes, and experienced a Wampanoag site!
The Mayflower II is a full scale reproduction of the ship that the Pilgrims sailed to America on in the 1600s. It has been added to the National Register of Historic Places and is truly an amazing site to explore!
The Freedom Trail in Boston is a unique collection of museums, churches, homes, and buildings that tell the story of the American Revolution. What I enjoyed most about this 2.5 mile trail was the option to explore it all at our own pace.
The entire family really enjoyed our time at the Boston Tea Party Museum. Not only did we learn a lot, when you’re here you are experiencing a reenactment of the time period. We were given cards with a short biography about a key person involved in the Boston Tea Party and that was the role we played during our visit. We even got to throw tea overboard! It was a really fun experience for all of us, but our boys seemed to enjoy this one the most!
My favorite part of visiting Washington DC is the amount of FREE museums that are available! We’ve visited DC four times so far and haven’t even come close to seeing all of them. Below are my favorites!
You can spend all day at the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History and still not see everything this amazing museum has to offer! Highlights for us included the ancient Egypt exhibit, the Fossil Hall, the Hope diamond, and the Ocean Hall!
If you enjoy space and aviation, then you must check out the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum! We enjoyed the Destination Moon Exhibition and seeing the Apollo 11 Command Module Colombia and Neil Armstrong’s Apollo spacesuit in person.
Even if you’re not a history buff, this museum has a lot to offer with over three million historical objects in collection. My personal favorite is the actual Star-Spangled Banner, the flag that inspired our national anthem!
If you’re interested in seeing the Declaration of Independence in person, this is the place to visit! Of course, this museum holds a vast amount of national records, but seeing our founding documents really was the highlight of our visit!
While this museum is somewhat of a somber one, I highly recommend a visit if you’re in DC! Be sure to get tickets to the museum, the theatre, and the Petersen House (across the street). With these three tickets, you can take a self-guided tour of the museum, it even includes a blood stained pillow from the bed Lincoln passed away in. Don’t miss the Ranger Talk in the theatre upstairs. Here you can see the special balcony seats the Lincoln’s were in at the time of his assassination and a Park Ranger will retell events leading up to that fateful night. Across the street, you can visit the Petersen House, which is where Lincoln ultimately succumbed to his injury.
Your trip to DC isn’t complete without a visit to our President’s home and workplace. Here, you will enjoy a self-guided tour of the East Wing, which includes a few public rooms, the Red Room, Blue Room, Green Room, the state dining room, and a view of the White House Rose Garden. To learn more about securing your reservation, click here.
If you find yourself in Connecticut, a great museum to visit is the Mystic Seaport Museum. Here, you will be transported back to the New England whaling trade of the 19th century as you stroll along the recreated Seaport Village and climb onto boats and ships in the Shipyard.
There are over a hundred museums in New York City, so the few we visited are just a small glimpse of what this city has to offer! I hope we have the chance to return and add more to our list soon.
A trip to New York City is just not complete without seeing Lady Liberty in person! On your visit, you can get tickets to go inside either the pedestal or the crown of the Statue of Liberty and we highly recommend this! It’s a very cool experience. While there, don’t forget to check out the museum. We enjoyed learning more about the statue’s history and seeing the original torch which is located inside.
The 911 Memorial and Museum is near the Stature of Liberty, so you can easily check out both of these museums on the same day. This is a really somber place, but a site that I feel like everyone should see at least once. The museum is very informational and very sad, but they did a wonderful job with the memorial and the artifacts. Our boys were pretty young when we visited and had a lot of questions, but I feel like it’s a big part of our history and something we should never forget.
The Empire State Building is an iconic staple of New York City. We enjoyed going up to the top viewing deck, but we loved the inside even more! I’m not even sure if this one is considered a museum, but learning about the history of the building and the construction was really neat! Plus, there’s a lot of movie history inside and several different options for photo ops!
After visiting several Smithsonian Museums over the past few years, some museums just don’t compare. But the Museum of Natural History in New York is just as amazing! I’m not sure if you can even see it all in one day, but we definitely tried! From dinosaurs to gemstones, this place has it all. Plus, it’s near Central Park, so when you finish inside, there will be more to explore outdoors!
From beaches to mountains, and a ton of history in between, Virginia is one of those states that I will never tire of visiting! And here, you will find some of my favorite museums of all time!
Being a teacher, I have a great love for history and living history museums. Colonial Williamsburg was the first one I ever visited and since then, I’ve been hooked. I was totally in my element there! The entire area is just gorgeous, and it felt like we were actually walking around in the early colonial days! You’ll see colonial homes, businesses, streets, people in time-period clothing, horse drawn carriages, and more!
How cool is it to say that you’ve walked where Pocahontas did?! This is the neatest area full of history and artifacts that go back to the early days of exploration. If you enjoy history and learning more about this time period, then I recommend checking out this historic site!
The Jamestowne Settlement is probably my favorite living history museum that we’ve visited to date. Here, you will learn about life in a Native American village, a colonial village, and on a ship. You are encouraged to talk to the re-enactors to learn more about life in this time-period as they go about their daily chores. There are even different costumes for kids to dress in. It’s a really fun, interactive museum for the whole family!
My boys loved the battlefield at the American Revolution Museum in Yorktown. If you are near Williamsburg, Virginia be sure to check out the Historic Triangle and visit Colonial Williamsburg, Jamestowne, and Yorktown. Here, you’ll learn more about the Revolutionary War!
If you’re near DC, you should consider adding a day trip to visit George Washington’s home at Mount Vernon! You are allowed to take a guided tour of the home and then explore the entire grounds on your own. The house was very impressive, but we also saw his gravesite, slave quarters, barns, and more on our visit. The most exciting part for me was inside the museum. We got to see George Washington’s actual teeth!
I love visiting our Founding Father’s homes and Thomas Jefferson’s has probably been the most fascinating. He was responsible for many of Lewis & Clark’s adventures, so there are tons of artifacts from their exploration on display in his home. Because of this, we were not allowed to take photos inside the home, but trust me, it’s amazing! We also visited the slave quarters, learned more about Sally Hemings, and were able to explore the entire property and see his gravesite. If you are near Charlottesville, Virginia be sure to check out this historical site.
Philadelphia is one of my favorite cities to visit. The history of our country and Founding Fathers has always intrigued me, so there’s no better place for history buffs than a trip to Philly, the birthplace of our nation!
Take a step back in time to the late 1700s and learn more about our independence at Independence Hall in Philadelphia. We listened to a Park Ranger tell us more about the time period and how our Founding Fathers worked together inside of the rooms here to form our government. I may have cried a few times. It smelled like the 1700s and I am still amazed I stepped foot into the very room Ben Franklin and George Washington were in!
A trip to Philadelphia is not complete without seeing the Liberty Bell. This can be a quick stop, the Liberty Bell can be seen through a glass window. Otherwise, you can wait in a line (it does move very quickly) to view the bell in person, which is what I recommend. Before you get to the bell, you have the opportunity to walk through a small museum to learn more about its history. It’s set in a beautiful location with Independence Hall in the background!
We had such a fun time at the Betsy Ross House! We got to hear from Betsy herself, and the boys even learned how to make the same stars that were on our first flag. Touring the house was fun and informational, and it was great to see so many people re-enacting history in the area!
We love learning about our Founding Fathers and its one of my goals to visit all of their homes. Ben Franklin’s home is no longer standing, but there’s a museum and courtyard where his home used to be. You can see the structure of what his home looked like, there are some artifacts left of the original structure. You can also see his printing press and post office right outside of his home!
We spent a rainy afternoon at the Franklin Institute and had a great time! There’s so much to explore and most things are hands on. The boys really enjoyed the human body and the brain exhibits!
If you plan to visit Texas, museums are an excellent attraction to add to your list of activities to beat the heat! There are several across the Dallas metroplex and throughout the entire state.
I included the Dallas World Aquarium because its location is close to the Perot Museum and it is truly an amazing place. Here, you’ll walk through a rainforest ecosystem before moving down to the aquarium. It really is a special place that we have visited time and time again.
I recently visited the George W. Bush Presidential Center in Dallas and thoroughly enjoyed my time here. My boys loved the baseball collection and I was really impressed with Bush’s paintings that are displayed throughout the museum!
Sci-Tech in Frisco is such a fun, hands-on museum, especially for younger kiddos! My kids loved the tornado simulation and the bubble tables! This is a smaller museum, but there are so many activities for kids to explore!
The Thinkery in Austin has been one of my favorite museums in Texas! There are several hands-on activities here, both inside and outdoors. This place will keep you entertained and engaged for hours!
You can’t visit San Antonio without a stop at The Alamo! Here, you can step inside this historic Spanish Mission and learn more about the Texas Revolution!
Space Center Houston is the official visitor’s center of NASA’s Johnson Space Center. This is the only place in the world where you watch astronauts train for missions, touch a real moon rock, and take a behind the scene tour of NASA!
Who knew there would be so much more to Illinois than just Chicago! While we did love exploring Chicago, we also enjoyed the history in Springfield, specifically centered around our 16th President, Abraham Lincoln!
This is my favorite Presidential Library to date! This museum, located in Springfield, seemed to be catered to kids and my boys loved it, too! There are so many neat exhibits inside that tell the story of Abe Lincoln, from when he was boy living in a log cabin, all the way to his time in the White House!
The only home that Lincoln owned can also be found in Springfield, just down the street from the Presidential Library. It was great to take a guided tour and see the home that his family lived in. Be sure to take a walk down the street as well, it has been restored to look like the time period that the Lincoln’s lived there.
My kiddos really enjoyed their time at the Adler Planetarium on our first trip to Chicago. There are many hands-on activities and even space suits and helmets to try on. It was a fun stop on our trip!
I had the chance to venture through the Art Institute of Chicago with a friend of mine. It’s truly amazing to see famous prints that I studied in school, up close and in person!
Even though I’m more of a Dr. Pepper fan, we had to check out the World of Coca-Cola on our recent trip to Atlanta. I was impressed with the amount of Coke memorabilia and it was fun trying out different flavors from around the world!
I’m including the Georgia Aquarium since it is right next to the World of Coca-Cola. It’s one of the most impressive aquariums I’ve had the chance to visit, but man was it crowded in the summer. It’s still very cool and worth a visit!
The Georgia Sea Turtle Center is located on Jekyll Island. It’s a small rehabilitation center for injured sea turtles and there’s also a museum on site. We really enjoyed learning about and watching how they help sea turtles get back to sea!
The City Museum is probably the weirdest museum I’ve visited and we loved every minute of it! There are so many places to crawl and climb your way through, in fact knee pads are highly recommended. If you’re looking for a unique adventure in St. Louis, be sure to check this place out!
The Gateway Arch National Park in St. Louis ended up being a lot more interesting than I anticipated. We enjoyed exploring outdoors around the Arch, but the museum inside is pretty cool! While there, take a tram ride up to the top!
The Titanic Museum in Branson is a really neat attraction for anyone that’s interested in the Titanic. There’s icebergs, cold temps, and over 400 artifacts, plus a replica of the grand staircase. This was a fun stop for our family
There are so many more museums across America, but these are our family favorites! It’s the perfect way to spend a day in a new place or to beat the weather if it’s too cold, hot, or rainy at your destination. Let me know what your favorite museums are that we should add to the list!
If you follow along on our adventures, then you already know that we love to explore the outdoors and hike around National Parks. But, we also enjoy changing it up sometimes and venturing to the city with our boys. Below are 5 fun cities to explore with kids!
5 Fun Cities to Explore with Kids: DC, New York City, Philadelphia, Chicago, and Dallas!
Washington, DC
Touring the White House was on my bucket list for years!
Washington, DC was the first big city we traveled to with our kids. It was such a great “starter city” for our family. Not only is it extremely walkable, there’s so much to do. And the best part is, there are several free activities around the city to enjoy!
The boys’ first request was a visit to the Lincoln Memorial!
We’ve traveled to DC in September, November, and March. We got lucky on all of our trips and had gorgeous weather each time. DC is stunning in the fall, but just as beautiful in the spring with the cherry blossoms in bloom!
My littlest boy, cherry blossoms, and the Capital!
My favorite visit was our trip over our Thanksgiving break in November. The city was not crowded at all, which made it easy to explore the museums and we didn’t have to wait long for dining at restaurants. The only downside is that we were not able to tour the White House because it is closed this week for Christmas decorating.
We can say we’ve been inside George Washington’s house! It was beyond amazing!
Be prepared for a lot of walking. We clocked an average of ten miles per day when we were there! Our boys were only five and nine on our first visit and were tired, but made it just fine! We did use a taxi to get from the airport to our hotel. There are also several taxis that stay around the National Mall area, mostly near the Lincoln Memorial. We jumped in a few of those when the boys were too tired to make the walk back to the hotel for the night.
Posing with the White House
Our most memorable moments of our trips to DC were going inside the White House, watching President Trump leave the White House on Marine One, seeing George Washington’s actual teeth on display at Mount Vernon, and seeing the original United States’ flag & the Declaration of Independence!
George Washington’s actual teeth on display at Mount Vernon!
New York City is an amazing destination for just about anyone! I’ve traveled to the Big Apple with my boys twice now and honestly, we can’t wait to go back!
Our first visit to the Statue of Liberty!
We’ve visited NYC in June and in November. Summertime can get pretty hot, but we’re from Texas, so we’re used to it. Our first day in the city on our November visit was extremely cold, but the rest of the days felt really nice.
My favorite, Christmastime in NYC!
I loved both visits, but there’s something really special about traveling to this city before Christmas! We enjoyed the Christmas décor so much. So, I have to say that our trip over Thanksgiving break in November was my favorite. I highly recommend visiting this week if you can! We got to see the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade and experience all of the Christmas spirit at the same time!
You should also prepare to walk a lot in this city, too! Besides walking, we also used the subway system to navigate around the city. It’s definitely true, you’ll never be able to do everything on your list in one visit, so don’t over plan activities and pack in too much each day. We picked one major activity per day that was a must do/must see and it worked out well for us!
The boys’ first subway ride!
Of course, there are different activities based on the season you’re traveling. Some of our favorite New York City memories are riding the subway for the first time, going inside the Statue of Liberty, watching the Macy’s parade balloons being inflated, watching Elton John perform in the street in front of Saks, and finally seeing Naked Cowboy in Times Square!
Awesome experience getting to watch the Macy’s parade balloons being inflated the day before the parade!
We were so pleasantly surprised with our first ever visit to Philly! This city is fun, historical, and full of many different activities to explore. And it’s so easy to maneuver, which made it even better for me since I was there with my boys, without Jereme.
The Liberty Bell!
We visited Philadelphia in late June and were only there for three days. The weather was fantastic! It was in the low 80s while back home in Texas it was already pushing 100 degrees.
Independence Hall
I loved that we were comfortable to walk around the city from morning until evening! I feel like we left the city with more early American knowledge than ever before. The old buildings and historical sites, basically everywhere in Philadelphia, have me yearning for another visit!
We happened to visit the Betsy Ross House on Flag Day!
Be prepared to walk a lot in this city, too. Again, it’s very easy to maneuver, but we clocked in eight to ten miles each day exploring. The boys were a little older, one was almost seven and the other was ten during our visit.
We walked to New Jersey on the Ben Franklin Bridge!
My favorite moments in Philadelphia were seeing the room that our Founding Fathers developed the ideas for our country in person, watching early American time period re-enactments, seeing an actual ghost on our Philly ghost tour, and watching my boys get excited to learn so much about Benjamin Franklin! We had an absolute blast and I hope we are able to return again soon with Jereme!
We road tripped to Chicago a few years ago on a total whim when we realized it wouldn’t take us that much longer to drive to than our yearly trips to Colorado. Since that first trip, I’ve traveled back another four times!
The Bean
Most of my trips to the Windy City have been in the summertime, only once did I visit in the fall. We love being outside, so walking around Chicago was something that my family enjoyed. In the spring and early summer, the weather is gorgeous, and I still can’t get over the flowers that are blooming virtually everywhere!
I loved the flowers!
My favorite trip was our first summer visit. We packed in so much and had a wonderful time together. Plus, I had previous students that had recently moved to the city from Texas, so they showed us all around!
Even though we had our car with us since we road tripped, we walked just about everywhere. We left our car at the hotel the whole entire time. We clocked an average of ten miles each day that we were here. We did brave the bus one time, but otherwise we enjoyed walking.
Walk back from the Planetarium
My favorite memories in Chicago are seeing Payton Manning filming on the Chicago River, eating delicious food the entire time, exploring the aquarium with my boys, and of course, seeing the house that Home Alone was filmed at!
If you live near the Dallas area, or you want to visit Texas, this recommendation is for you! I’ve lived near Dallas my whole entire life, but never really visited as a tourist until last summer. My best friend and I took our boys for a few nights, and we truly had a blast!
A rooftop pool is a must!
We visited in July, and true to Texas, it was HOT. But, that’s not anything we’re not used to. We planned mostly indoor activities and booked a nice hotel with a rooftop pool.
We spent a lot of time swimming!
I wouldn’t really call Dallas a walkable city, we needed our car for most of the places we decided to visit. But, it’s not nearly as crowded as the other cities mentioned above and we never had any issues finding places to park. If you’re visiting from out of town, I do suggest renting a car!
Even though Dallas is close to home, we still had such a great time on our “staycation!” We didn’t even get to do everything on our list, but fun was had by all. My favorite Dallas memories are visiting the George W. Bush Presidential Library, going inside the Reunion Tower and up to the GeO-Deck, lounging by the rooftop pool, and not having to drive too far on our road trip here from home!
No matter which city you plan to visit, a fun time is guaranteed! My boys both agreed that New York City is their favorite city of the five. Mine is Philadelphia! Be sure to check back soon to see what we’re up to next. And don’t hesitate to reach out if you have any questions!
If you follow along on our adventures, then you might know that we love a good historical site! This honestly didn’t start with me, although I highly encouraged it. My boys became fascinated with the things they were learning about in school and therefore, their curiosity got the best of them, and they wanted to visit some of the places that they were studying in social studies class! And of course, I’m also an elementary teacher so I would never discourage their love of learning and I jumped right on board and started planning US history trips across the country! It’s worked out great because my kids are learning and I am bringing valuable knowledge back to my classroom at the same time.
We’ve had the opportunity to explore several different historical destinations in the country, but I’m mostly focusing on Presidential sites that we’ve visited in different states. This is a small list compared to every site that is open and available to visit. I have a lot of destinations on my list that we just haven’t gotten to yet, so remember that I’m only sharing those that we’ve actually ventured to today. Keep reading to learn about some wonderful places to visit that people of all ages can enjoy!
Historical Sites to Visit for President’s Day Weekend
Washington DC. – Obviously Washington DC is a great place to start if you’re interested in exploring historical sites. There are so many fascinating places in DC, it’s one of my favorite cities to visit in the entire US! You can also add in museums, a Capital Building tour, eat some amazing food, and more!
So cool being behind the White House gates!
The White House – You can’t visit DC without seeing the White House! It took us three different trips before we were able to get tickets to go inside for a self-guided tour! If you can, I highly recommend a visit inside. How cool is it to say you’ve been in the President’s house?
This is the view from inside the White House looking out at the Washington Monument!
Washington Monument – The Washington Monument is easily one of the most recognizable monuments in DC. But did you know that you can go inside and ride an elevator to the top? Jett really wanted to do this while we were visiting, so we looked into getting tickets. They do offer some online to reserve, I believe the cost is $1.00. Otherwise, you can wait in line when the visitor center out front opens and grab free tickets for the number of people in your group! Jett and I woke up early one morning and waited in line for about an hour (maybe a little under) and got tickets for our family of four for later in the day. It’s really cool inside and the views from the top are great!
Posing with the Washington Monument behind us!
National Mall – The National Mall is also a must see destination in DC. It’s a wonderful area to walk around, take in the sights, and play or relax on the grassy area if the weather is nice! We really enjoyed taking a nighttime guided bike tour of the monuments along the National Mall! I highly recommend this activity! If you would rather do your own tour, there are plenty of maps online and in the area and you can explore all of those monuments and statues on your own! I suggest visiting the National Mall both during the day and at night!
The Lincoln Memorial, one of our DC favorites!
Ford’s Theatre/Petersen House – Abe Lincoln has always been a favorite of ours, so we just had to visit Ford’s Theatre and the Petersen House across the street. Ford’s Theatre is sadly where President Lincoln was shot and the Petersen House across the street is where he was taken and later died. Both are open for tours and even though it’s sad, it’s very informational. Ford’s Theatre has a small museum that you visit first before going inside the theatre. Lincoln’s seats have been memorialized, but you’re able to view them and then listen to a Park Ranger share the events that led to this fateful assassination. We were all so engaged in this Ranger led talk, even my five year old was completely interested in the story. Once the talk is over, you go across the street and can see the bed that he died in and more artifacts from that era.
These are the balcony seats Lincoln was sitting in when he was assassinated.
Mount Vernon – George Washington lived at Mount Vernon, which sits right on the Potomac River, about 13 miles from Washington DC in Alexandria, Virginia. This is an amazing day trip from DC if you’re in the area. We spent about half a day here, touring the house and the grounds. I loved the colors and décor inside the home and sitting outside on the back porch. I can only imagine how it really was back in those days so long ago. We learned a lot on the visit, good and bad. We also visited George and Martha Washington’s tombs on the property, as well as, the slave quarters and the slave cemetery. The best part was exploring the museum, which actually had a pair of George Washington’s false teeth on display!
Posing in front of George Washington’s home!
Monticello – Thomas Jefferson has such a unique home outside of Charlottesville, Virginia. It’s filled with treasures and artifacts mostly brought back from Lewis and Clark’s expedition. It was fascinating, his home was more like some kind of exotic museum! Pictures inside the home are not allowed, but trust me its super cool! We also got some insight on some of his own personal inventions that are in the home. Needless to say, we really enjoyed the guided tour and learning more about our 3rd President! The grounds are great to explore and also very educational. There is a special video inside of Sally Heming’s slave quarters, be sure to check that out if you’re able to visit. And don’t forget to stop by his gravesite on the property, too.
Posing in front of Thomas Jefferson’s home!
The Ruins of Presidents Park – This is such a unique place to visit! Long story short, there was a Presidents Park in Virginia that went out of business around 2010. The park included huge busts of all the presidents from George Washington to George W. Bush. These busts were moved to a new location outside of Williamsburg, Virginia and were basically ruined in the process. Now they sit in all their eerie glory and you can visit! We really enjoyed exploring the busts, it was such a fun and different experience than most of our travels! We also really loved the presidential trivia at the end.
Philadelphia – Not only is Philadelphia an amazing city to visit, there’s so many historical sites that you can see, as well! Around the city you might see people dressed up in time period clothing and you should definitely be on the lookout for tour guides dressed as Ben Franklin or George Washington! My kids really enjoyed this part.
I can’t believe we were inside of the room that the Declaration of Independence was signed in!
Independence Hall –Independence Hall is known as the birth place of our country. Y’all, the actual chair that George Washington sat in is still there! I might have a cried a little on our tour. I am just so fascinated with this part of our nation’s history and the Park Rangers there do a great job of sharing what they know! I left there with more knowledge and respect for some of our founding fathers. How cool is it to see the room that the Declaration of Independence was signed in?
We really enjoyed the people dressed in time-period clothing!
Congress Hall – Right next door to Independence Hall is Congress Hall, which is the building that housed the first two presidential inaugurations. The Ranger Led talk about the first inaugurations was very informative. I highly recommend checking this out if you plan to visit the area.
Washington Crossing Historic Park – This was such a random stop for us on the drive from Delaware to New York City, but we all had fun! I don’t recommend centering a trip around this destination, but if you happen to be in the area, then you should definitely make the stop! Basically, this site preserves the spot that George Washington crossed the Delaware River. This image is extremely iconic, so it’s really cool to say that we’ve been here! It was a nice stop to get out and stretch our legs and explore the preservation of the area!
Lincoln’s Home – If you find yourself near Springfield, Illinois you should totally stop by Abe Lincoln’s home! This was our first president’s home to ever visit and my boys and I sure did love it! You can stroll along the streets surrounding the home and it feels like stepping back in time. A Park Ranger will give you a guided tour of the home if you have tickets. You can purchase these at the Visitor Center, which is right by the parking lot.
I just adore this home!
Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library – Down the street is the Presidential Library and Museum, which is fantastic for kids! This museum was truly great for all ages, but I really marveled at how well done it was to keep kiddos engaged. Abe Lincoln has always been a favorite of mine, so it was really fun to explore the different artifacts in the museum and learn more about him! Springfield is just a really cool city with lots of different things to explore related to our 16th president, Abraham Lincoln!
Galena, Illinois – We traveled to Galena, IL this past August and I basically knew nothing about this place until we started planning our Midwest road trip. Let me tell you, this little town is so patriotic and rightfully so! It’s the former hometown of President Ulysses S. Grant. Here, you can explore Grant Park and even take a guided tour of his home! It was really interesting learning about him, I don’t feel like he was a president that I knew much about until touring his home. From all accounts he was a great general and a very interesting man.
Lincoln’s Boyhood Cabin – Another fun stop for my family was Lincoln’s Boyhood’s National Monument in Lincoln City, IN. The actual cabin is not still standing, but there is a memorial in place where it would’ve been located. There are other cabins in the area that were built to recreate the Lincoln farmstead and the grounds are gorgeous. We did some easy walking along the Trail of Twelve Stones, just imagining what life would’ve been like for a young Abe Lincoln. This trail has different markers that review the major events in Abe Lincoln’s life. The Visitor’s Center looks very interesting, too. But unfortunately it was closed when we visited during the pandemic.
George W. Bush Presidential Center – We had the opportunity to visit this presidential library and museum in Dallas this past summer and had a wonderful time! I had forgotten how funny George W. could be until we visited and saw different videos of him in the museum. The artifacts were very interesting, my boys were really excited to see how much his family loves baseball! There wasn’t a lot here geared for kids, but we all still enjoyed the visit!
If you visit Dallas, be sure to check out The Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza. I can’t believe that we haven’t gone to this museum yet, but it’s definitely on my list! Here you will learn more about President JFK’s assassination and you can see the exact spot that he was shot. There’s also a memorial for JFK in the area.
Mount Rushmore – For as long as I can remember, I’ve always wanted to see Mount Rushmore in person. We finally had the chance a few years ago and this trip is still one of my favorites! The entire park had way more than I was expecting! It was really fun to walk along the trails through the Black Hills and see the monument from different vantage points. We also enjoyed the informational plaques along the hiking trails that gave more insight on the monument, the construction, and facts about each of the represented presidents!
As you can see, there are several different presidential sites across the US that are really interesting! If you love learning, if you love history, if you love this country, then I highly recommend checking some of these destinations off your list. President’s Day makes for a great, long weekend to explore some of these places and you might just learn something new at the same time! Happy travels, my friends!
I like to think of a girls trip like a little recharge button. The trips I’ve gotten to take with my girlfriends have been so good for my soul! I cannot recommend getting away with the girls enough, even if it’s only for a night. In this post you’ll find ideas about planning the perfect trip, activities, destinations, and more!
Steps forPlanning the Perfect Girls Trip
Choose Your Destination – This is the part that I love! It’s so fun to find out where your girlfriends want to explore and to bounce ideas back and forth. Plus, you can use trip planning as an excuse to get together for brunch or a girls night. Start with the destination, then it will be easier to figure out the rest!
Pick a Date – Often times, planning a girls trip can be tough! With so many different work schedules, kid schedules, etc. it can be hard to find the time. I suggest choosing your dates after deciding on the destination. My girlfriends and I usually go for a long weekend. But if you’re a mom, you know that there are so many moving pieces that follow. Do you have childcare while you’re gone? Do your kids have events that they will need to get to? Can you take the time off work? This is always the hardest part, so get that out of the way quick!
Budget – Next, set a budget, respect where everyone is financially, and stick to it! This doesn’t mean you have to share your financials with your girlfriends, but be mindful that everyone might not be in the same position as you. Don’t feel bad to speak up if you just simply can’t afford what others are suggesting. There are so many budget friendly options out there!
Think About the Activities – Once you have picked your dates and set the budget, then it’s time for the fun part! Create a wish list of activities that you would like to do at your chosen destination. My girlfriends and I usually always have something outdoorsy, some kind of pampering, and something relaxing on our lists. And these ideas might change, based on the time of year you’re able to travel together. Be open minded and brave enough to try out some new activities that might not be on your list.
Girls Trip Activities:
Spa treatments & pampering
Get outdoors and take a hike
Hit up a beauty bar for a makeover
Go wine tasting
Go for a bike ride
Relax on the beach
Take a road trip
Explore a new city
Go dancing or sing karaoke
Watch a sunrise or sunset
Visit a quaint town
Take a yoga class
See a show or concert
Go on a ghost tour
Have a quiet wine & movie night
Go to a fancy restaurant
Designate a Leader – If someone in your group has more of a take charge personality, designate them as the group leader! We all need someone to keep us on track with our schedule and reservations, especially when we get together with our best friends!
5 Epic Destinations for Your Next Girls Trip
These are some of the girls trip destinations I’ve been lucky enough to be a part of! I can’t recommend these locations enough!
Estes Park, Colorado
Hiking in Rocky Mountain National Park
My most recent girls trip was to Estes Park this past October. It was such a wonderful fall weekend, spent hiking in the mountains during the day and relaxing in the evenings! I will always suggest traveling to the mountains when you need a little reset.
Mimosas are always a good idea! Fall in Colorado is simply stunning!
One of my most memorable girls trips was to Snowbird, Utah. My best friend and I did some intense hiking, but also made time to relax at the spa and take a yoga class. But, what I enjoyed the absolute most was the day we ordered room service for every single meal and watched true crime documentaries the whole day!
San Francisco is always a good time, especially so when you’re with your girls! There are so many different options to explore when you’re visiting this city. But my favorite activity is probably eating, the more fresh seafood the better!
My first ever trip to Chicago was several years ago on a girls trip! I didn’t really know what to expect here, but we ended up having an absolute blast! I tried some new foods that I wouldn’t normally pick, took in all the sights, danced the night away, and have returned to Chicago several times since. It’s a really great girls trip option, there are so many things to do and see! Late spring, early summer is a wonderful time to visit, the city is bursting with flowers!
Love these girls and that Chicago skyline! Loved all the tulips, too!
Fall in Michigan is breathtaking! This Texas girl was thrilled to see what fall is actually like in other parts of the country! I can still envision walking along the quaint waterfront towns and wanting nothing more than to move there. Even though it was a quick weekend getaway, it was so memorable. Grab your girlfriends and your cutest sweaters and booties and make the trip this fall!
These quaint waterfront towns are to die for! Girls trip are good for the soul!
Don’t try to pack too many activities into one trip.
Rent a cool car, I suggest a convertible!
Use the Splitwise app to split the cost of the trip/activities.
Don’t spend the whole time talking about your kids or your job or your hubby!
It’s perfectly okay to order room service for every meal & watch true crime tv all day!
Plan a Staycation in your nearest city if you’re on a budget and tight schedule!
Just remember, it’s not always about the destination, but rather the people that you’re with! Chances are, no matter where you end up, you’re going to have an amazing time with your best girlfriends! I do hope that you find this information helpful. I’d love to hear your favorite girls trip destinations and activities, so leave me a comment. Happy travels, my friends!
Hey y’all! This is Jasha here. I am so excited to share our quick trip to Chicago. I am not going to lie, I was NERVOUS to head to the windy city with the kids… without Jereme. But it ended up being SOOOO much fun! So let me start from the beginning…
I am famous for planning our next road trip while on a road trip haha! So, as I was driving us through Missouri, we decided that we had to go visit our dear friends that were staying in Chicago for the summer. We really didn’t have any idea how long of a trip Chicago would be from Dallas, but it turns out that it’s only 13 hours away! I mean, we drive that far to Colorado for our ski trips and we’ve definitely gone farther before. Once we ran the idea by our hubbies, we booked our hotel on Expedia (book now/pay later of course). Which was brilliant, because we originally planned to go in early July but we ended up stranded up in Wyoming and Colorado with our Yukon issues. I am so happy that we were able to go, we had a great time on this road trip!
We left on a Sunday afternoon and stopped in Joplin, Missouri for the night. Then we woke up early and ventured to Springfield, IL. Click here to see our All Things Abe Lincoln Blog! We finally arrived to our hotel late Monday night. We stayed at the Congress Plaza Hotel in Chicago. It was lovely. I was nervous about driving through Chicago & unloading our things in the city, you know these are the things Moms worry about when traveling alone. Fortunately, there was a little driveway to pull into and we valeted the car for the 2 days we were there. It did cost $50 per day, but I was okay with that price, mainly because we didn’t really have a choice! We pretty much went straight to bed so that we could wake up early and get together with Roz and the girls! Their apartment in Chicago is amazing! Check out these views of the lake!!
The Wright’s Lake House
Day 1: Our hotel was only 2 blocks away from Roz’s “lake house.” We walked straight to their place and then headed to breakfast. After we ate, we started our adventures with the kiddos. We had the best tour guides, too! Emma and Hayley (my former kinder and 1st grade students) were the best at guiding us through the city! We walked from breakfast to Shedd Aquarium, which is another place I’ve added to my list of “places to work when I grow up” haha! There was so much to see and do. I don’t think we even touched the surface of all the things there, but we did see some neat exhibits and watched a dolphin show! The kids also found some great souvenirs! You can actually see the aquarium from the Wright’s apartment, so I am sure you can imagine how gorgeous the walk was back to their place. We took in the sights from the city and went back to swim in their pool and hot tub! After swimming, we went back to the hotel for a quick rest/do some work (I was still styling for Stitch Fix at the time). We met back up with Roz and the girls and had some deep dish pizza at Gino’s East. Then we called it a night. We walked a grand total of 8.1 miles this day and the kids did awesome!
Walk along the lake to Shedd Aquarium
Shedd Aquarium
The fountain from Married with Children LOL!
The most beautiful pool I’ve been to!
These kids have it so bad ha!
Had to pose with some deep dish pizza! My secret… I hate pizza LOL!
Day 2: I think this day was my favorite! We met up with Roz and the girls at The Bean. It was so sunny and bright, but we were able to snap a few pics to mark our time here. From The Bean, we actually loaded up on a bus and took public transportation to the famous Portillo’s for lunch. My anxiety was through the roof in this place. So many people, so many choices, so many workers yelling. But let me tell you, THE FOOD IS WORTH IT! I had the best chopped salad I have ever had with a side of Italian beef LOL. It was to die for! After lunch, we walked through downtown Chicago down by the river. This city is so beautiful. Then, we went to Jojo’s Milk Bar for a fun treat! Check out these milkshakes!!! They were an instant tummy ache, but oh so yummy! From here, we took the kids to Adler Planetarium. It was super cool and kept the kids entertained for hours! It was another fabulous walk back to the hotel and we had fun spending some time out by the lake on our way back . We finished the day with dinner at Roz’s and watched a firework show over the lake from their living room! Apparently, there’s a firework show over the lake every Sunday and Wednesday in the summer. Then, we hugged the girls goodbye and went to the hotel for our last night in Chi-town. As you can tell, we packed in a lot for our two full days in the city. And, we walked a grand total of 10.3 miles this day!
The Bean
Braving the bus!
Inside Portillo’s
jojo’s Milk Bar
Adler Planetarium
Fireworks over the lake!
Day 3: We had to head back this day, but we were SOOOO close to the infamous Home Alone House. I mean, when you’re only 20 miles from the filming location of the BEST Christmas movie of all time, you have to go visit. OMG, I was so nervous the closer we got. I didn’t know what we would encounter. But I was also super excited. I honestly think I may like this movie more than my kids. When the house came into view, I was pumped! This has been a dream of mine for years! We parked the car, jumped out and took the quickest pic in history haha! Looking back, I wish I would’ve knocked on the door and asked for a tour. Click here for the address.
Have you ever stumbled across an amazing place by accident? Well, we sure did on our way to Chicago! There are so many historical sites to see in Springfield, Illinois all dedicated to our wonderful 16th President Mr. Abraham Lincoln! I honestly had no idea this city would be so neat. Check out the amazing things we got to see and do, plus a list of more that we didn’t get to.
We started out our drive to Chicago on a Sunday night and stopped about 6 hours down the road in Springfield, MO. We were so tired from the drive and decided to sleep in before continuing on to Chicago. BIG MISTAKE! Because of this, we ended up in Springfield, IL around 5:00 pm and all of the historical sites close at 5:00 or 6:00 pm. This is one thing that I wish I had known before! We still got to visit the only home that Abraham Lincoln ever owned. It’s called the Lincoln Home National Historic Site. There’s also a welcome center that has a little museum and gift shop inside that was open. We did not get to go inside of the house, so we decided that we had to stop back by on our way home from Chicago.
Apparently this area of Illinois is known as “The Land of Lincoln” and there’s a lot of different signage for specific historical interest sites dedicated to his legacy. I really wish I would’ve researched this area more before our trip because we could’ve easily spent a few days there!
We explored the street that Lincoln and Mary lived on with their boys before they loaded up and took the train to Washington DC. The street still looks like it did in the 1800s! We also checked out the artifacts in the welcome center, which is where you need to park to explore the area, and then headed on to Chicago. On our way out of town, we noticed the Presidential Library and Museum and added it to our list to explore on our way home. Then we started googling different sites as we passed the signs on the drive out. That’s when Carrie found the biggest covered wagon in the US and we knew we had to see it! It was a fun, quick stop for a picture. And did I mention, all of this is on Historic Route 66?!
Abe’s writing desk!
Not Abe’s actual hat, all of his hats are in museums. But this is probably something he really did have at home!
THE BEST Park Ranger ever!
Here are our favorite pictures from the Presidential Museum!
This is definitely a must-see area if you love US history/All Things Presidents like my boys! We will be going back one day so that Jereme can see the sites and to visit the places we didn’t get to! If you have any comments or questions, feel free to leave them below and I’ll do my best to get back to you!
Road Trip Queen 