It boasts a tavern, courtyard restaurant, and historic touches throughout the hotel and rooms, Stevenson tells us. Americas largest indoor desert and indoor rainforest, Henry Doorly Zoo also has the largest nocturnal exhibit in the world. If you want to get technical (why not? (Photo by @mviron), Is it the gateway to the West, or the gateway to your future with your wife-to-be (assuming she says yes)? While there, a great option for lodging is the Bottleworks Hotel. The difficult terrain means youd be better off avoiding this one in inclement weather. At the Pony Express National Museum, I felt I was riding the mountains and plains these young riders took, Walls recalls of the museum dedicated to the first fast mail line across North America. The perfumed blossoms and dazzling colors (especially if you go in late May) will make your proposal go as smoothly as possible. When it comes to dining, Yonkey recommends the pan-seared walleye with Cajun seasoning at Mad Marys Steak House & Saloon. Before we dive into things, its important to identify the Midwest. The best time to visit Wichita is spring, summer, and fall, Robbins advises, which are the most pleasant times to be outdoors., On the Prairie Trail Scenic Byway in Kansas lies Wilson, a small prairie town with a big egg. (Photo by @thisisalabama), Whether you still think of it as Mount McKinley or its newly restored name, Denali, the continents tallest peak is an insurmountable (get it?) The Elkhart River and St. Joseph River make a lovely backdrop for this vibrant city that features fun dining spots and historic homes like Ruthmere to tour. Even if you dont care a lick about history, its just super cool to see IRL. Try not to go during the hottest part of summer. OK, great, now envision a picturesque place thats all about swimming, boating and just all-around waterfront fun. Each July, a huge Czech festival is held, celebrating generations of culture, food, and crafts. Nebraskas largest city is also home to the College World Series, Boystown, Warren Buffet, Omaha Steaks, a world-famous zoo, a great indie-music scene, and so much more. The beautiful river city of St. Louis Missouri is perfect for a romantic couples vacation. For more rail explorations, locomote over to The Cody Park Railroad Museum to see old rail cars, including a mail car, caboose, and the only Challenger 3900 series steam locomotive on display in the world. 03 of 22 Devil's Lake State Park, Wisconsin To find the best of the Midwest, we reached out to our expert travel writers. If the sandstone cliffs, sheltered beaches, sky-grazing dunes, waterfalls, shimmering lakes and abundant forests arent enough to convince you that Pictured Rocks National Seashore deserves at least a few of your hard-earned vacation days, wed be willing to bed that the hiking, camping, kayaking and wildlife-peeping most certainly will. (Photo by @accordingtodes), About 90 minutes outside New York City, Bronx Yankee gives way to New England Yankee on this point overlooking a picturesque stretch of the Long Island Sound. A trip to the beautiful town of Muscatine is in order according to Cindy Ladage. Lets start by crossing off the obvious pics, like anything involving Waikiki or, in fact, any beach. Comprising 3,000 acres of ancient land formations and vast prairie lands, this living legend is widely beloved for its rugged beauty. Youll have to take the single road into the national park and then switch to the parks bus and shuttle system, then hike, hike, hike. The 71,000-acre Custer State Park also deserves a spot on your must-see list. Let the city spell it out for you. Assuming, of course, that youre both the outdoorsy types. Nothing's more romantic than a secluded wilderness filled with wildflowers. At about a Level 2, this unique experience is fun for the whole family. Their highly competitive pricing is too. ), shell be too stunned by the beauty to realize shes consenting to spend the next several decades listening to you snore at night. Cookies collect information about your preferences and your device and are used to make the site work as you expect it to, to understand how you interact with the site, and to show advertisements that are targeted to your interests. Avoid icy, slushy Chicago winters, if possible. Have a shot, agree to get hitched, follow with another shot (probably on the house). The natural wonders of Hocking Hills State Park never cease to amaze. The Missouri River south of the Oahe Dam is the boundary between Central and Mountain Time. Recently, I discovered the inspiring Praying Hands Memorial and the Ampersand Sculpture. (Photo by @renoballoon), You can hike or drive up to this scenic overlook in the White Mountains near North Conway its real popular with climbers, but you can park and take a couple reasonable trails up there instead. You'll also find dunes and a must-see lighthouse. You can camp on 19 of the islands most of the year, or you can stay in an island town like Bayfield, but youre going to want to explore and find your own moment of perfection to ask your girlfriend the question and there will be plenty of those here. Rent a kayak or book a boat tour. Obviously, you want to go when the weather lets you enjoy the garden, in spring or summer, preferably. Potato Creek State Park offers plenty of activities, including kayaking through wetlands, biking along woodlands, and bird watching on Lake Worster. And a cozy stroll of restaurants and shops, the Riverwalks most romantic spot is arguably the Selena Bridge, named after the Tejana singer. Its the limestone cliffs, caves, arches and columns that really do it for usone glance at the striated rock formations and youll surely agree. (Photo by @armstrongcreativeimag), You dont need Meryl Street or Clint Eastwood to do a romantic tour of the bridges of Madison County, and many of the famous, picturesque covered bridges of the county seat provide a perfect spot for a special, all-American, love-of-your-life moment. Willis Tower) or the John Hancock Center, iconic as they may be to the Windy City skyline. But its no ordinary egg, Ann Bush tells us. (Photo by @_anna_new_), No, its not a Stephen King novel come to life: Newports magic topiary garden is guaranteed to bring out the childlike wonder in both of you as you ask her to contemplate the next big adult step in your lives together. Bridal Cave in Camdenton has seen thousands of couples tie the knot over the decades, inspired by local legends of a Native American wedding ceremony held here in the 1800s. It also has a most impressive Underground Railroad history site, the Milton House Museum. ), slip into an empty and secluded spring, and let the water do the work while you work up your courage to pop the question. Youre going for coffee. (Photo by @itsmemikepe). Any Midwesterner worth his or her salt has fond memories of visiting Voyageurs National Park in Minnesota. Dont leave without checking out some of the fascinating fossils discovered in the park. Wed be remiss not to mention the plentiful opportunities for outdoor recreation. Winding through five states before heading toward its southern terminus, the Great River Road is designated a National Scenic Byway and All-American Road. Beautiful in all seasons, New Glarus always has something to offer. Explore hotels near Monument Rocks National Landmark, These Influencers Cant Stop Raving About Their Trips to New Zealand, But the Amazing Content Speaks for Itself, 18 Amazing Weekend Trips from Los Angeles, 3 New Bis Weekend Bag Colors Just Dropped in Time for Your Spring and Summer Vacays, Owen Weber (www.owenweberlive.com)/Getty Images. But with millions of proposals made each year (2.4 million of which actually lead to weddings), its hard to stand out. Walls recommends visiting in springtime, when more than 400,000 sandhill cranes migrate through for about 6 weeks, preparing for the nesting period to come. The littles will love the Back 40 Playground at the Community Orchard (open seasonally, August through October) and the Childrens Forest at Kennedy Park. Explore the hotels near Cuyahoga Valley National Park. What were describing is Lake of the Ozarks State Park. We dont have a particular location in Woodstock to recommend except to say that if you take a stroll anywhere whether its to the local sugar bush (maple syrup farm) to the picturesque covered Middle Bridge or just to see the fall colors and then back to your B&B for hot cider youll probably find the perfect moment to get on a knee. Go from zero to hero in five minutes: At James Allen or Blue Nile, you can adjust price ranges and other characteristics to see how many carats your budget buys. If youre seeking to travel more sustainably, know that downtown Wichita has a robust public transportation system with a free shuttle and bike- and scooter-sharing programs. Our mission is to serve the 50+ traveler who's ready to cross a few items off their bucket list. Rotating exhibits keep the content fresh, and famous artifacts like Johnny Cash's touring bus and Prince's guitar from the Purple Rain tour draw interest to the permanent galleries. Well, weve got some ideas, 50 of em to be exact one for each of the 50 states in the U.S. Pack up the tent (or RV) and camp in these well-appointed parks. The castle-like structure is one of the few buildings to have survived the Great Chicago Fire, and if thats not a sign that your fairytale marriage is meant to last, what is? It also serves as an excellent base for exploring the rest of the peninsula. Located along Lake Michigan this city has a unique combination of a busy industrial city and a relaxed lifestyle. Its in Hot Springs National Park, so if you prefer a wilder, more ungroomed look for your proposal, untamed spots lie a short hike away. This 23-day Cruise Takes You to 10 States on Some of the Most Scenic Rivers in the U.S. Why You Should Pick a State Park Over a National One This Summer and a Few of Our Favorites, 12 Best Lake Michigan Beaches With White Sand, Rolling Dunes, and Stunning Views, a cruise expedition to all five Great Lakes. Discover Grand Falls, the tallest natural waterfall in the state at just 12 feet high. Its quite popular for Michigan weddings, but the same elements that make it perfect for nuptials beautiful, Victorian buildings in a splendid natural setting, and a visitor-friendly business network make it ideal for engagements, too. Its just over an hour and a half from both Cleveland and Columbus, and youll want to go in spring, when there are plenty of baby farm animals to coo at. Thats how I felt about South Bend, Rebecca Deurlein tells us. Whether you still think of it as Mount McKinley or its newly restored name, Denali, the continents tallest peak is an insurmountable (get it?) After moving from Texas, she and her husband rambled about the Midwest in a camper for a couple of years before finally settling on 35 acres in their home state of Kentucky. There are also bike share programs and a free shuttle. (Photo by @alicaseface), The Best Places to Propose in All 50 States. Okay. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oWowZBw4nKw TubaJesus Every spring, roughly one million sandhill cranes traverse central Nebraska, giving new meaning to the term "flyover country." Their search tool is great. Other highlights include Stevie Nicks' black dress from the "Rumours" album cover, Flavor Flav's clock pendant necklace, and Elvis' gold lam suit. (Photo by @travelzoo), They do boast that Virginia is for lovers, dont they? It really is a place that keeps you as busy as you want to be and soothes your soul in the best possible way, declares Deurlein. 5 Reasons the Midwest is Hands Down the Best Place to Invest With real estate costs rising in most major U.S. cities, finding a good real estate deal seems impossible. Or pop the question among the parchment-colored aging barrels of a distillery like Heaven Hill. Ames, Iowa EQRoy/Shutterstock. S.F.s Golden Gate Bridge? (Photo by @megletha), Whether you propose under Seneca Rocks oronSeneca Rocks in the Eastern Panhandle is, of course, dependant on your particular skill level and fear of dying, but either way youre going to get one of natures best backgrounds for a proposal. If you want a fairytale wedding, start things off right by getting engaged in a fairytale village. 1. (Photo by @withlove_alina), You dont have to be a movie star for this one: Before there was Robert Redfords pet film festival, there was his resort, which covers over 5,000 beautiful acres of the slopes of Mount Timpanogos near Provo. If you live in the capital or Baltimore, the Sanctuary is a great change of scenery for the big day. Travel + Leisure is published by Meredith Corporation under license from Travel + Leisure Co. (Photo by annsong_), Texas is big. Stevenson enjoyed going up to the bluff to explore Horseshoe Mound preserve for expansive views of the Mississippi River and the valleys below. Check it out. Nightlife here ranges from honky tonk to big bands, but its all casual and relaxed. 10. Sure, Niagara Falls is a safe default when youre in upstate New York, but do you really want to be the 14th person to get down on one knee on the Maid of the Mists boat tour on your special day? Catch your supper from the fishing pier. From a record-breaking wildlife migration in the Great Plains to the majesty of the region's national parks to can't-miss events, here's our list of quintessential Midwest trips everyone should experience at least once. Whether youre seeking a stop on a summer road trip, a break from city life, or are trying to cross all 50 states off your list and dont know what to see in Kansas, Wichita checks all the boxes according to Jill Robbins. Downtown Wichita is colorful and easily walkable. But we like Jones Point Park, just south of Old Town, with its unconventional lighthouse, wooded paths and the waterside walkway under the yawning George Washington Memorial Parkway a juxtaposition of man against nature that somehow works. (Photo by @thedanboulianne), No, not Mardi Gras or Bourbon Street you might as well propose at a frat house party, if thats what you have in mind. Golden Spike Tower overlooks the worlds largest railyard, the Union Pacifics Bailey Yard. Standing at 50 feet tall, the stainless steel sculpture overlooks the Missouri River and honors the cultures of the Lakota and Dakota peoples. Some of the lowest average home prices If you consider average house prices by state, most of the Midwest falls on the very low end. Youll have to take the single road into the national park and then switch to the parks bus and shuttle system, then hike, hike, hike.