Hey, Tigers! With Spring Break being at different times yet coming and going quickly for all, not having enough time to travel to far away destinations becomes aggravating. Not knowing where to go is usually the biggest concern during this short break. So, here’s a list of three places you can visit nearby.
1: Mall of America, Minnesota
This is the front entrance to the Mall of America in Minnesota. This mall has been open since 1992 and is where the original Metropolitan Stadium used to be.
Destination one is Mall of America. This is the largest mall in America, making it a huge tourist site for abroad visitors but also Americans, too. This mall has plenty to offer, like its own indoor Nickelodeon Amusement Park, over 500 stores to choose from, a mini golf course, and an aquarium. Coming from Illinois up to Minnesota would be a road trip totaling around 12 hours there and back, making it at least a one day trip, but depending on what you do while you’re here, you could easily stay for an entire week with the amount of activities this mall has to offer. While getting into the mall is free, other attractions will cost you, such as the theme park, for example, which is about $50 for an unlimited ride wristband which is required to be repurchased each visit. So, if you’re a shopping fiend or a roller coaster addict, maybe a road trip up to Minnesota’s Mall of America is for you!
2: Apostle Islands, Wisconsin
This photo shows the popular attraction on the Islands: the caves. This is just one group of caves where you can use a rented kayak to explore.
Next on the list is the Islands of Wisconsin, better known as the Apostle Islands. This hidden treasure, located on Lake Superior, offers a not-so-far tropical paradise around 8 hours from Chicago. While being the longest trip on our list, the islands are still very much worth the drive. These islands offer kayaking, cave exploring, and historical lighthouse museums to visit. The Apostle Islands are not only just one island but a total of 21 lake islands that Wisconsin has to offer, giving even more of an array of destinations to visit. The Islands also offer many resorts but, with Spring Break, they book up quickly. However, there are also an array of Airbnbs and hotels, most notably on Madeline Island, where there also a hand built cabin complete with a campfire and three bedrooms, perfect for staying with parents and/or siblings.
3: New Port Aquarium, Kentucky
This is an open view tank in the Newport Aquarium. This is one of about 70 fish tanks that are available for you to gaze upon during your visit.
Last on our list is the Newport Aquarium in Kentucky. While this is only one aquarium, it has a lot to offer. With its signature walk-through tanks and live animal touch tanks, these award winning tanks are a sight to see. There is also a shark bridge, which, on its own, is a lot to experience; it features a rope bridge you can walk through suspended above a shark tank offering a thrilling experience. This aquarium is a 10 hour ride (there and back from Illinois) but offers a two-day aquarium and hotel getaway for those with only a little vacation time to enjoy.
So, whether you want to use the whole break, half, or just a couple of days, these spots can, in fact, be perfect for Spring Break!
References:
“Apostle Islands National Lakeshore – Bayfield.” Www.bayfield.org, www.bayfield.org/apostle-islands/.
“Home | Mall of America®.” Mallofamerica.com, www.mallofamerica.com/.
“Newport Aquarium | Newport, KY.” Newportaquarium.com, 2019, www.newportaquarium.com/.
