Midwest Getaways Spotlight Small-Town Food, History, Outdoors

Several Midwest destinations offer alternatives or add-ons to major-city trips, combining small-town character with outdoor recreation, local dining and history. Chaska, about 30 minutes from Minneapolis, pairs a walkable downtown and outdoor spots around former clay pits with a distinctive legacy of brickmaking and curling. Iowa’s Ottumwa offers fall foliage, historic districts, parks and museums, while nearby Waukee—just outside Des Moines—has grown rapidly and draws visitors with shopping, outdoor activities and local food. Iowa road trips also promise memorable meals, from long-running restaurants and traditional regional fare to bakeries and barbecue stops. In Wisconsin, lakeside Delavan brings together antique shops, eateries and water activities with a past as a major wintering center for American circuses.