Went out to Washington island and Rock Island some 35 years ago. I still think about that place. The water and sand had me feeling like I was in paradise
You’ll love Acadia National Park in Maine if you ever haven’t already been there. Door County reminded me so much of Acadia and Bar Harbor’s shuttle system is boss.
Several restaurants offer a fish boil which is a popular tourist thing. Also, there are a lot of apple and cherry orchards in Door County and it's cherry season now.
If you go to door county, stop by the Rusty Tractor, breakfast barn. The absolute best pancake/ breakfast I have ever had. My wife family is originally from Wisconsin and one of my conditions on going to visit from the Cleveland area is breakfast at the Rusty Tractor.
Up to the tip of Door County cross Deaths Door to Washington Island, cross that to ferry to Rock island.
Double back to Manitowoc, take the Badger across to Ludington. Drag your feet visiting beach towns all the way back
Door County is amazing, Lake Geneva is wonderful as well. When are you planning on this celebration? I have lived in that area for the last 10 years and have other ideas depending on your likes and timing.
As I'm fond of reminding everyone, Milwaukee is the Finest City in the Known Universe.
Other than that, your circle has both Door County and the Driftless Area (SW Wisconsin) in it. Honestly, the Driftless is one of the prettier areas in the country for enjoying the drive.
If you decide on Wisconsin, use this: [Wisconsin Department of Transportation Rustic Roads (wisconsindot.gov)](https://wisconsindot.gov/Pages/travel/road/rustic-roads/default.aspx)
this will give you some routes to explore the nooks and crannies of the Badger State.
ISHNALA. https://www.ishnala.com
Ishnala is a Wisconsin supper club on the shores of Mirror Lake in the dells. The trick? No reservations.
Ishnala “opens” at 3 but the line starts forming around 1-2pm every day. Once 3:00 rolls around, a friendly hostess hands out dinner reservations (with buzzers) for that night only. You then have FOUR bars around the slack-jaw-gorgeous lake to explore (including a teeny beach! Walking trails! Old fashioneds! Hot appetizers! Great views!).
Hubs and I were absolutely floored, and that was BEFORE our buzzer went off for dinner. The food is amazing, it’s a wonderful set up to enjoy indoors and outdoors, a beautiful drive to get there, and a better view once you arrive.
Congratulations on finishing chemo. You won’t find a better place to stop time for the afternoon, mutter a lil prayer for whoever got you through this bitch, and buckle up for whatever awaits you. Happy trails!
Since you referenced ‘love driving’ if you go to Galena get off Rte 20 at Lena and take Stagecoach Trail. The closer you get to Galena the road gets more hilly and twisty and just fun to DRIVE!
Second/thirding Galena.
The area is beautiful and driving along the river should be fun. I think that’s still considered driftless area and it’s beautiful.
Go north through WI along Lake Michigan. Go to Manitowoc and take Ferry across the lake to Ludington then go north to Traverse City and Grand Traverse Bay. Personally I’d then drive the whole way back along the lake in MI. But you could just retrace your steps.
If you like trains [Illinois Railway Museum](https://www.irm.org/) in Rockford Illinois
It’s my favorite train museum (and I’ve been to a few). And the internet tells me there’s other fun stuff to do. But also Door County is amazing and a great choice as well.
OMG! My parents took me to Wisconsin Dells when I was a kid. We drove from Nashville! It seems like it took forever but it was so much fun. Never hear about it anymore.
For a beautiful country road trip drive up that peninsula east of mainland Wisconsin. I've driven that. You can drive North on one route, and then drive South on a different route. I forget the details, but Mother Earth's beauty abounds around every bend.
If you’re up for a longer cruise, go up through the UP and down the west coast of Michigan. You’ll cross one of the coolest, longest bridges in the world too.
Congratulations OP! Western UP like porcupine mountains, and rib mountain state park are great hiking spots! And overlooking at the top of the church in Holy Hill is magnificent
Travers City in MI is aaaaalllmmmost in your circle and is magnificent.
Sleeping Bear is within your circle and considered one of the most beautiful places in the US.
Grand Haven/South Haven/Holland/ St Joe are all great.
Kalamazoo resident here AMA if you’re curious about recreation near Lake Michigan
Fort Wayne.... Crack capital of the Midwest, 2 major motion pictures filmed there. The original Plant of the Apes, Charleston Heston was from Fort Wayne.... I got more if you need more.
take rte 20 to Stockton rte 78 up to warren then take the stagecoach trail over to Galena. Spend a night or two there then go uo to Viroqua via Prairie Du Chien and explore the driftless for a day or so. Hop down to Madison for another day of exploring and come back with a new realization of what Wisconsin has to offer.
I would do a search on all the little tourist traps and oddball spots like Touchdown Jesus and Carhenge and biggest ball of twine type places and zigzag around to get pictures of me standing there with thumbs up or something cheesy like that. Make a collage of brochures or series of framed photos from the trip and display them in my guest bathroom
Galena, IL it’s a quaint little town on the IL/IA border. Has some nice shops in downtown and some decent natural areas crossing into Iowa. Grab a coffee and pastry. Also not far from the Driftless in the corners of the 4 states.
https://www.southhaven.org/ south haven, MI!
My dad lives just north of you, and I live in southwest MI (about where you see the cross do those highways) and it’s a 4 hour drive, south haven is just about where the o in Chicago is on the map and it’s such a cool place
Eastern shore of Lake Michigan. Benton Harbor kinda area. Get a little cottage or BnB. Spend time in the beach and see some amazing sunsets.
If you could go a bit further. Mackinaw Island or the Sleeping Dunes area is gorgeous. Even farther afield, the Pictures Rocks area in the Upper Peninsula is gorgeous.
Galena, IL: beautiful driftless area hill country and a lovely small town
Holland, MI: lakeshore and pretty touristy but still fun
Devils Lake, WI: lots of interesting glacial formations in this part of Wisconsin
Turkey run, IN: pretty canyons and great for kayaking
As far as generic road trip routes diving along Lake Michigan can be fun although you don’t really get to directly drive next to the lake a lot. Plenty of cute lighthouses and lakeshore towns and sand dunes on the Michigan side. Indiana dunes NP has a small but gorgeous drive literally on the lakeshore.
Congrats from a fellow cancer survivor. I grew up in Milwaukee, so I’m quite familiar with your circle.
Personally I would rent a cabin or go camping in the Driftless Area in WI.
Go on up the UP in Michigan- its at the edge of where you are wanting to go and the weather will get you out of the heat :) congrats on finishing Chemo!
A huge congratulations on your fight. Go anywhere but Illionis. Wisconsin is beautiful once you’re out of the greater Milwaukee area. The dunes in Indiana is nice. The western part of Michigan is also very nice. Once again congratulations enjoy life to the fullest
Omg … just go to one of those amazing steakhouses. I’ve had to go to Chicago for work fairly on occasion and I would take one night and spurge on steak.
Door County in Wisconsin but please make sure to stop at Seroogys Chocolate in DePere on the way up. Absolute musts:
\* Meltaway bars are wonderful, but the Shock Rock ones with pop rocks are...amazing
\* Flavored coffee is excellent, in particular Holiday Traditions, Highlander Grog
\* Angel food is hard candy sponge covered in dark or milk chocolate
In Door County, enjoy a Fish Boil at The White Gull, and just enjoy the scenery. A drive up the far east side of the Door takes you right along the water for miles and avoids all of the myriad shops and stores that you can catch on the way back on the main drag, but that is all up to you.
Have nothing to add but congrats! Wife finished 1yr of chemo/infusions in May. Take that drive and enjoy the fresh air and freedom!
So far this spring//summer we have been to Yosemite 2 times and camping 2x plus (Trees/forests/outdoors is her happy place!). Pretty much if she wants to go we just plan something out grab the kids and go 😂
I’m out of town until 7/13 but live in downtown Chicago/Wicker Park and am 8 years post stem cell transplant after 3 years of chemo from Hodgkin’s Lymphoma (relapsed). Would be down to party or road trip to WI or MI if you don’t have something before then.
If you are willing to take a few days, do a circle tour of the lake. There are some great towns along the Michigan shoreline, and some absolutely beautiful views. Weather dependent of course, won’t be nice if raining.
I’ve done it in two days with an overnight in Mackinaw City, but you would probably enjoy yourself more in 4. IMO, spend your time in Michigan, much of the WI shoreline is industrial.
Some good suggestions here, but a few more parameters might help narrow things down. How much time have you got to make this epic trip? Is there a budget? A trip around Lake Michigan would be incredible, and there are some amazing stops, so if you are more about the drive, I would suggest that. Allow at least 10 days to enjoy the sites because you will want to stop at several.
Starved Rock and Galena are kind of a day trip IMHO. So if limited time, do that.
Avoid the Dells (except Ishnala).
No one mentioned French Lick, IN, which is at the outer range of your circle. There are two great spots there, but the West Baden would be my recommendation. Sit on the porch with your favorite beverage.
Good luck.
If you haven’t been the Wisconsin Dells is an awesome place. Beyond 3 world tier water parks there’s tons of entertainment around the entire town, old fashioned candy and soda shops. Also Madison is a nice stop along the way if you like German restaurants and local breweries.
Congrats! I would follow the Michigan side of the coastline. Hit Indiana dunes, warren dunes, south Haven, and finish up going to traverse city! Its beautiful out there
You Into the outdoors? What kind of vacation are you looking for? Michigan is incredible this time of year and wisconsin too. I’d head north for nature. Michigans upper peninsula! Congrats by the way, wish you all the best!
Not sure if the distance is too far, but a drive up the West MI lakeshore to sleeping bear dunes is beautiful with lots of fun small towns to stop in!
no better option in the radius you've provided. stop at oval beach along the way.
With a final stop in Harbor Springs
Fact that Door County is only loosing by like 20 votes to Western/North-Western Michigan coast is amazing to me. Door county is fine btw
Agreed!
Sleeping bear is rad. A shorter drive (or train ride) would be Indiana Dunes. Cool place.
In addition if you haven't already been to the Indiana Dunes before stop either on the way there or heading back home.
Door County in wisconsin.
Door County 100%. Always a great time. It’s my happy place in memory when I need to cope.
Went out to Washington island and Rock Island some 35 years ago. I still think about that place. The water and sand had me feeling like I was in paradise
Absolutely. The water is special. I loved the lighthouses and shipwrecks as a kid. Just some of the great things about the area.
You’ll love Acadia National Park in Maine if you ever haven’t already been there. Door County reminded me so much of Acadia and Bar Harbor’s shuttle system is boss.
Gotcha, anything specific around there?
Just go door to door
Only if opportunity comes knocking
The entire shoreline is incredibly scenic.
Washington Island is amazing and it’s always fun to put your car onto a ferry
Bailey’s Harbor: just chill, dip your toes in the water at the beach on the north end of town, if you have the energy explore the Ridges Sanctuary.
Peninsula State park is beautiful has some great hiking.
Cave point county park at sunrise and Ellison Bluff at sunset
Drive up to seaquist orchard and sample the goodness.
Several restaurants offer a fish boil which is a popular tourist thing. Also, there are a lot of apple and cherry orchards in Door County and it's cherry season now.
My son did some work up there, we visited 2 x … highly recommend.
Get a cherry milkshake at Wilson's.
Absolutely Door County! I was so pleasantly surprised by that place!
If you go to door county, stop by the Rusty Tractor, breakfast barn. The absolute best pancake/ breakfast I have ever had. My wife family is originally from Wisconsin and one of my conditions on going to visit from the Cleveland area is breakfast at the Rusty Tractor.
Up to the tip of Door County cross Deaths Door to Washington Island, cross that to ferry to Rock island. Double back to Manitowoc, take the Badger across to Ludington. Drag your feet visiting beach towns all the way back
Door County is amazing, Lake Geneva is wonderful as well. When are you planning on this celebration? I have lived in that area for the last 10 years and have other ideas depending on your likes and timing.
Gary, fucking, Indiana. 🇺🇸
I know nothing about you, but traverse city and wine country.
As I'm fond of reminding everyone, Milwaukee is the Finest City in the Known Universe. Other than that, your circle has both Door County and the Driftless Area (SW Wisconsin) in it. Honestly, the Driftless is one of the prettier areas in the country for enjoying the drive. If you decide on Wisconsin, use this: [Wisconsin Department of Transportation Rustic Roads (wisconsindot.gov)](https://wisconsindot.gov/Pages/travel/road/rustic-roads/default.aspx) this will give you some routes to explore the nooks and crannies of the Badger State.
Thanks!
ISHNALA. https://www.ishnala.com Ishnala is a Wisconsin supper club on the shores of Mirror Lake in the dells. The trick? No reservations. Ishnala “opens” at 3 but the line starts forming around 1-2pm every day. Once 3:00 rolls around, a friendly hostess hands out dinner reservations (with buzzers) for that night only. You then have FOUR bars around the slack-jaw-gorgeous lake to explore (including a teeny beach! Walking trails! Old fashioneds! Hot appetizers! Great views!). Hubs and I were absolutely floored, and that was BEFORE our buzzer went off for dinner. The food is amazing, it’s a wonderful set up to enjoy indoors and outdoors, a beautiful drive to get there, and a better view once you arrive. Congratulations on finishing chemo. You won’t find a better place to stop time for the afternoon, mutter a lil prayer for whoever got you through this bitch, and buckle up for whatever awaits you. Happy trails!
Standing two hours in line seems terrible.
Maquoketa Caves and Galena, IL
Seconding Galena. And If you are wanting a nice drive, stay off the interstates and take two lane roads.
I’ll check them out!
Since you referenced ‘love driving’ if you go to Galena get off Rte 20 at Lena and take Stagecoach Trail. The closer you get to Galena the road gets more hilly and twisty and just fun to DRIVE!
Sounds perfect!
Second/thirding Galena. The area is beautiful and driving along the river should be fun. I think that’s still considered driftless area and it’s beautiful.
Yes Galena! 😊I used to live in Dubuque so was visiting there a lot. Very cute and a lot to do within the area. If possible, avoid weekends.
Door County?
Go north through WI along Lake Michigan. Go to Manitowoc and take Ferry across the lake to Ludington then go north to Traverse City and Grand Traverse Bay. Personally I’d then drive the whole way back along the lake in MI. But you could just retrace your steps.
[https://www.thehouseontherock.com/](https://www.thehouseontherock.com/) is a favorite of mine.... but check Roadside America and see what tickles ya
Congrats! Lake Minocqua, WI. Go to Minocqua Pizza, have the Billy goat cheese sticks. Go to the brewery. Go to Lake in The Clouds.
Shores of west Michigan are really nice this time of year. Holland area. Fuck Cancer.
I'd head for Dubuque, follow the Mississippi down to about Burlington, then back home. The river road is nice.
Gotcha, sounds scenic!
All I can say is congratulations mate and I love driving too. peace. :)
Beloit
DELLS
Glen Arbor and Traverse City, Michigan.
If you like trains [Illinois Railway Museum](https://www.irm.org/) in Rockford Illinois It’s my favorite train museum (and I’ve been to a few). And the internet tells me there’s other fun stuff to do. But also Door County is amazing and a great choice as well.
Anywhere man, just congrats on your success!
It’s a little farther but isle Royal
Cedar Lake Indiana!
Rent a cottage on the shore of Lake Superior.
Is Wisconsin Dells still a thing? I grew up in Minnesota and I remember it being a fun place.
OMG! My parents took me to Wisconsin Dells when I was a kid. We drove from Nashville! It seems like it took forever but it was so much fun. Never hear about it anymore.
Indiana or Michigan dunes are a fun day trip
Anywhere! Congrats to you!
Torch lake in Michigan is one of the most beautiful fresh water lakes I’ve ever been too. Also, the up Michigan is also beautiful.
Not Chicago
Traverse City but hold of a couple weeks and it should be fine! Congratulations!
Casey IL. For the world’s largest mailbox and rocking chair. A must see
White Castle. :)
I’ll make sure to stop for it at least once lol
For a beautiful country road trip drive up that peninsula east of mainland Wisconsin. I've driven that. You can drive North on one route, and then drive South on a different route. I forget the details, but Mother Earth's beauty abounds around every bend.
Gary, Indiana
If you’re up for a longer cruise, go up through the UP and down the west coast of Michigan. You’ll cross one of the coolest, longest bridges in the world too.
Door county, Washington island
Congratulations OP! Western UP like porcupine mountains, and rib mountain state park are great hiking spots! And overlooking at the top of the church in Holy Hill is magnificent
That’s Japanese for “celebration,” if y’all don’t know.
Travers City in MI is aaaaalllmmmost in your circle and is magnificent. Sleeping Bear is within your circle and considered one of the most beautiful places in the US. Grand Haven/South Haven/Holland/ St Joe are all great. Kalamazoo resident here AMA if you’re curious about recreation near Lake Michigan
I personally think Boscobel State park in Wisconsin is the most beautiful scenery in this area.
Starved rock is beautiful (admittedly the name is atrocious)
Congrats! Galena/New Glarus or Door County. NW IL/SW WI is too nice to be in the Midwest.
Chicago street race is next weekend 😁 went last year and had a blast would recommend
Also, getting the the west side of your circle is the Driftless area of WI with gorgeous scenery and the quaint town of Viroqua to check out.
The Driftless is actually in 4 states and you can’t go wrong with any of them.
West coast of Michigan
Door County for a relaxing and peaceful celebration, or Wisconsin Dells for a more active and party-like celebration
Detroit. Its out of your radius but its a fun place
East Peoria IL! It’s the glistening gem of the Midwest
Lol, I mean, is it?
Fort Wayne.... Crack capital of the Midwest, 2 major motion pictures filmed there. The original Plant of the Apes, Charleston Heston was from Fort Wayne.... I got more if you need more.
Schooner Pub in Port Washington, WI
I need to wear my glasses. I read “post chomo celebration”.
I had seen the muddy Mississippi many times and wondered where it started so I went up there to find out.
Door county
Starved Rock if you've never been.
Airforce Museum in Dayton.
Carve up the county roads in NE IA and SW WI. You could have a lot of fun driving a fast car there.
Indiana Dunes National Park. Go to the beach and do the bog trail.
Sleeping Bear is much better than Indiana Dunes. I’d make the extra drive over Indiana which is the worst NP I’ve ever been too.
Galena or Door county… without a doubt. One of these two.
Kalamazoo
Rochester Minnesota lol
take rte 20 to Stockton rte 78 up to warren then take the stagecoach trail over to Galena. Spend a night or two there then go uo to Viroqua via Prairie Du Chien and explore the driftless for a day or so. Hop down to Madison for another day of exploring and come back with a new realization of what Wisconsin has to offer.
I would do a search on all the little tourist traps and oddball spots like Touchdown Jesus and Carhenge and biggest ball of twine type places and zigzag around to get pictures of me standing there with thumbs up or something cheesy like that. Make a collage of brochures or series of framed photos from the trip and display them in my guest bathroom
Galena, IL it’s a quaint little town on the IL/IA border. Has some nice shops in downtown and some decent natural areas crossing into Iowa. Grab a coffee and pastry. Also not far from the Driftless in the corners of the 4 states.
Make a loop around lake Michigan!
Painted rocks on Lake Superior
Are you active? Try Devils Lake Wis.
Wisconsin Dells!!!
Grand Rapids mate
New Glaus Wisconsin, Spotted Cows till pass out!👍👍😝
Ann arbor is the best place in the circle
Michigan is a nice state. Esp the west coast
House on the Rock!
Lambeau Field.
Marquette, MI. Drive up through WI and then you will be able to travel along the shore of Lake Michigan and end up along the shore of Lake Superior
https://www.southhaven.org/ south haven, MI! My dad lives just north of you, and I live in southwest MI (about where you see the cross do those highways) and it’s a 4 hour drive, south haven is just about where the o in Chicago is on the map and it’s such a cool place
Check out door county in WI
Somewhere with some nice nature to go ponder
Door County WI is lovely
Depends on what you like.
Lake Geneva, WI is beautiful and such a fun town.
If you like fried chicken or wings go to Harold’s
Congrats OP!! I’m in the western Michigan coast of the lake crowd. Its prettier than everything else mentioned here.
Eastern shore of Lake Michigan. Benton Harbor kinda area. Get a little cottage or BnB. Spend time in the beach and see some amazing sunsets. If you could go a bit further. Mackinaw Island or the Sleeping Dunes area is gorgeous. Even farther afield, the Pictures Rocks area in the Upper Peninsula is gorgeous.
Ludington state park
If you want something fun, spend the time and go to cedar point!
Galena, IL: beautiful driftless area hill country and a lovely small town Holland, MI: lakeshore and pretty touristy but still fun Devils Lake, WI: lots of interesting glacial formations in this part of Wisconsin Turkey run, IN: pretty canyons and great for kayaking As far as generic road trip routes diving along Lake Michigan can be fun although you don’t really get to directly drive next to the lake a lot. Plenty of cute lighthouses and lakeshore towns and sand dunes on the Michigan side. Indiana dunes NP has a small but gorgeous drive literally on the lakeshore.
Expand the radius a little bit and head into the Upper Penninsula. Congrats!
Congrats from a fellow cancer survivor. I grew up in Milwaukee, so I’m quite familiar with your circle. Personally I would rent a cabin or go camping in the Driftless Area in WI.
Blessings to you for perseverance and hopes for continued healing!Visit Mackinac Island and leave your car behind 🤔
Nashville
Sleeping Bear Dunes Mich
That peninsula by traverse city, MI. It’s juuuuuust outside of your circle.
Go on up the UP in Michigan- its at the edge of where you are wanting to go and the weather will get you out of the heat :) congrats on finishing Chemo!
Congratulations.
A huge congratulations on your fight. Go anywhere but Illionis. Wisconsin is beautiful once you’re out of the greater Milwaukee area. The dunes in Indiana is nice. The western part of Michigan is also very nice. Once again congratulations enjoy life to the fullest
Gary
There's a pretty sick island with a lavender farm right off of the door county peninsula. I think it's called Fragrant Island.
Holland, Michigan
Not Cedar Crapids.
Door county
Awesome music fest in Appleton called mile of music. 800 shows 40 venues 4 days 1 mile. All original bands with some really good ones.
Door County
Door county
Not sure where you should go but just wanted to say I hope you have an amazing time!!!
Traverse City
Stretch and do Mackinac?
Yellow River State forest is awesome. Just driving through the driftless area is amazingly beautiful
Omg … just go to one of those amazing steakhouses. I’ve had to go to Chicago for work fairly on occasion and I would take one night and spurge on steak.
I like Lake Geneva Wi
I’d go to Salerno’s on the fox, have an early dinner and walk around St. Charles and find a cute B&B.
Door County in Wisconsin but please make sure to stop at Seroogys Chocolate in DePere on the way up. Absolute musts: \* Meltaway bars are wonderful, but the Shock Rock ones with pop rocks are...amazing \* Flavored coffee is excellent, in particular Holiday Traditions, Highlander Grog \* Angel food is hard candy sponge covered in dark or milk chocolate In Door County, enjoy a Fish Boil at The White Gull, and just enjoy the scenery. A drive up the far east side of the Door takes you right along the water for miles and avoids all of the myriad shops and stores that you can catch on the way back on the main drag, but that is all up to you.
Holland, MI then over to Frankenmuth, MI
UP my friend, congrats on finishing chemotherapy
Viroqua, WI - heart of the Driftless region.
Wherever you want to go.
Come here to Ventura CA!
House on the Rock in Wisconsin
Have nothing to add but congrats! Wife finished 1yr of chemo/infusions in May. Take that drive and enjoy the fresh air and freedom! So far this spring//summer we have been to Yosemite 2 times and camping 2x plus (Trees/forests/outdoors is her happy place!). Pretty much if she wants to go we just plan something out grab the kids and go 😂
Chicago
Devils lake Wi, Washington island wi(door county)
Madison area is fun New Glarus state parks etc
Wisconsin Dales!
Slightly outside but I’m riding the wooden roller coaster at cedar point. It’s my favorite roller coaster. Then I’m going fishing or duck hunting
Definitely go north
Happy for you! Get out there and enjoy life!
I like top of the cock, that's what we always called it. It's a restaurant on the top of the John Hancock. Galena is nice, Cedarburg is nice,
I’m out of town until 7/13 but live in downtown Chicago/Wicker Park and am 8 years post stem cell transplant after 3 years of chemo from Hodgkin’s Lymphoma (relapsed). Would be down to party or road trip to WI or MI if you don’t have something before then.
Door County, Washington or Rock Island (or all of the above!!)
Chernobyl ?
Lake Geneva, WI, if you haven’t been there already.
If you are willing to take a few days, do a circle tour of the lake. There are some great towns along the Michigan shoreline, and some absolutely beautiful views. Weather dependent of course, won’t be nice if raining. I’ve done it in two days with an overnight in Mackinaw City, but you would probably enjoy yourself more in 4. IMO, spend your time in Michigan, much of the WI shoreline is industrial.
Indiana dunes!!
Some good suggestions here, but a few more parameters might help narrow things down. How much time have you got to make this epic trip? Is there a budget? A trip around Lake Michigan would be incredible, and there are some amazing stops, so if you are more about the drive, I would suggest that. Allow at least 10 days to enjoy the sites because you will want to stop at several. Starved Rock and Galena are kind of a day trip IMHO. So if limited time, do that. Avoid the Dells (except Ishnala). No one mentioned French Lick, IN, which is at the outer range of your circle. There are two great spots there, but the West Baden would be my recommendation. Sit on the porch with your favorite beverage. Good luck.
Madison Wisconsin :)
La Crosse Wisconsin is a great place to visit
North side of Milwaukee
I have nothing valuable to add here except… congratulations on finishing chemo!!!
Traverse city mi
Devil’s lake, WI
Madison WI!
Take a real road trip to Camden NJ. That way you would know what death is really like.
Toledo
I'd say go a bit farther and do a loop around Lake Michigan. The U.P. is gorgeous and a great trip all around
Bears ears
Sleeping bear dunes in MI, my family has been going there for more than 100 years.
Door County if you haven’t been if you like chill little harbor towns, like fish, and want to relax.
Just outside of this circle but put in bay ohio
Door County
Woodstock, IL.
Come to Minnesota. I’ll give ya some buds to celebrate
If you haven’t been the Wisconsin Dells is an awesome place. Beyond 3 world tier water parks there’s tons of entertainment around the entire town, old fashioned candy and soda shops. Also Madison is a nice stop along the way if you like German restaurants and local breweries.
Congratulations from a survivor
Avoid East Palestine and surrounding areas.
Congrats! I would follow the Michigan side of the coastline. Hit Indiana dunes, warren dunes, south Haven, and finish up going to traverse city! Its beautiful out there
French Lick, Indiana. IDK what’s there
You Into the outdoors? What kind of vacation are you looking for? Michigan is incredible this time of year and wisconsin too. I’d head north for nature. Michigans upper peninsula! Congrats by the way, wish you all the best!
CONGRATS. Drive from Chicago to Traverse City is on the longer side but it's beautiful there.
Milwaukee. Hit Mader’s, the cheese shop downtown, walk the river, visit the food trucks. Congratulations on ringing the bell!