Door County in Wisconsin is lovely. You also have several Amish communities within your driving radius. If you like Art Colonies, Sawgatuk Michigan is really fun. The UP (Upper Peninsula) of Michigan is great, but it may be out of your driving area. I'd do just about anything to go to the Yupper this summer!

I'd also suggest a trip to Chicago, if you haven't been here. We have the best museums, parks, boat rides on the river and the lake, beaches, restaurants, shopping etc. Just talk to someone in the area, because some of the neighborhoods are a little rough. If you stay near or in the Loop, or even stay in, say, DuPage County and drive into the City for day activities, you'll be safe. less

If they stay downtown and stay clear of Wacker Dr, they'll be fine. We walked around that city until 4 AM two nights in a row half-lit and there wasn't a soul in the world who wanted to bother us.

Oh and do not walk under Lake Shore Drive to Oak Street Beach at 2 AM. You'll wake up the homeless camps under the bridge. They don't like that. less

Cleveland has the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, doesn't it? We went there years ago, and we had a blast. (Back when we actually had money to go on vacation. )

Wait, is that Cincinnati? I'm not good at geography.

ZOOOOOM! I Googled, it, It's in Cleveland. The R&R Hall of Fame rocks. Really.

Also, BGirl may be close enough to Washington DC. ALL the museums and monuments are free. We went there years ago, and OMG, it was one of the best vacations ever! I'd love to take my 12 year old, she loves that stuff. (Science, history, natural history, space stuff etc.) less

Yeah, AFAIK, Wacker in under construction now and a mess anyway. I'd stay away from any of the underpasses, save the one under LSD at the Museum Campus (because it's just too dangerous to try to run across Lake Shore Drive there) at night anyway.

At least the NATO thing is over. What a freakin' mess that was! less

Yep, Cleveland and the Rock and Roll Hall. There is also the Great Lakes Science Center, which has the Omnimax theater, which is totally awesome. I've gone twice this year. And the Rock hall is next to the Science Center you can do both at the same time and save. We also have a HUGE Zoo. With new exhibits recently added. And the new Aquaruim that just opened a few months ago.

For Museums, we have a lot of those too. Art Museum is always free. Museum of natural History runs deals after a certain time. Children's Museum. And many more.

Don't forget you can stop by Iron Chef Michael Symon's restaurants Lola and Lolita. less

You forgot the National Museum of U.S. Air Force in Dayton, Ohio! They have everything from the Wright Brothers Flyer to the spaceship 'Apollo' and everything in between! It would take you more than 2 days to see everything on display. AND IT IS FREE!!!!!

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