Now that the bitter cold is over, it’s time to move on to better (and warmer) things. Take advantage of the warm weather this spring and visit some of the Midwest’s best locations. Best part? Some of these ideas won’t cost you a dime! Happy Traveling!
1. Wichita Botanica Gardens | Wichita, KS
If you’re a lover of nature, you will want to stop by this beautiful garden. Not only are they filled with a variety of flowers, but there is 29 gardens for you to navigate through!
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2. Boone County Fair
Visit the largest county fair in the state of Illinois!
Image by Bob Kinnison
3. Cooper’s Landing | MO
Whether you plan on camping or simply enjoying live music by the Missouri river, everyone is guaranteed to have a great time at this nature spot!
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4. Float Trip | Missouri
Temperatures are rising and by the end of April, all you will want to do is be in the water. Head over to Missouri with a few of your favorite people and relax on a float trip!
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5. Moolah Theatre & Lounge | St. Louis, MO
Hate the crowded, uncomfortable seats at the theatre? Treat yourself this weekend and head over to this high-scale movie theatre with comfy sofas and entertainment areas while you wait for your movie to begin.
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6. Columbia’s Rock Bridge State Park
You could either hike and bicycle through a scenic environment or head over to see the large cave system with its rock bridge, sinkholes, a spring and underground stream at the Devil’s Icebox.
Image by Jason Runyon
7. Lake of the Ozarks | MO
Crave water adventure? Lake of the Ozarks has a full complement of boating options. Want a quiet place to hike or mountain bike? The park’s thousands of wooded acres have lots of places to get away from it all, with 12 trails that wind through the park. And Ozark Caverns – complete with its lantern-light cave tour – presents an unforgettable experience.
8. Abigail’s | Rocheport, MO
Must try: Butternut Squash Ravioli topped with apple puree, almonds, blue cheese, and browned butter. For dessert? The gooey cake of course!
9. Les Bourgeois | Rocheport, MO
Known for its spectacular blufftop view of the Missouri River Valley, Les Bourgeois Vineyards and Winery is one of Mid-Missouri’s premiere cultural and recreational attractions any wine-lover is guaranteed to love.
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10. Six Flags | Eureka, MO
Huge amusement park with high-speed coasters, kids’ rides & water slides, plus live entertainment! What else could you ask for?
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11. Worlds of Fun | Kansas City, MO
The park is themed around the Jules Verne book, Around the World in Eighty Days. It’s divided into five major sections (Scandinavia, Africa, Europa, the Orient, and Americana). If you’re looking for a little cultural experience without all the extreme travel expenses, this is your spot!
Image by Paul Drabek/Negative-G.com
12. St. Louis ZOO | St. Louis, MO
Visit the zoo that is recognized as a leading zoo in animal management, research, conservation, and education!
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13. Bob Kerrey Pedestrian Bridge | Omaha, Nebraska
The longest pedestrian bridge linking Nebraska and Iowa, “Bob the Bridge” stretches across the Missouri River and connects nearly 150 miles of walking and biking trails.
Photo by Mark McCabe, courtesy of HNTB
14. Starved Rock | Utica, IL
The amount of activities you can do here are endless- seriously! Hike trails, lodging, trolley tours, educational programs for kids of all ages, wineries, historical activities, canoe, kayaking, rafting, hunting and fishing, & much more!
15. Maquoketa Caves | Maquoketa, IA
Maquoketa Caves is probably Iowa’s most unique state park. Its caves, limestone formations and rugged bluffs provide visitors a chance to “step back” into geological time thousands of years.
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16. Missouri State Park | MO
Take advantage of the weather to visit some of nature’s best!
Image by Rand McNally
17. Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum | Cleveland, OH
The greatest stories and biggest names in rock and roll shine on at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum in Cleveland, Ohio. The experience includes 4 theaters, multiple interactive stations and 7 floors of exhibits that tell the story of the world’s most powerful art form.
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18. Cedar Point | Sandusky, OH
If you love the museum parks, you won’t want to miss Cedar Point- also known as the “Roller Coaster Capital of The World”.
Image by PR Newswire/Cedar Point
19. Children’s Museum of Indianapolis | Indianapolis, IN
Even if you don’t have any children- you’ll have to visit the world’s largest children’s museum!
20. Silver Dollar City | Branson, MO
Wooded theme park mixing roller coasters & other rides with old-time demos of basket weaving. This 1960’s theme park has more than 40 live shows every day!
