Boston to Chicago drive (things to do)
 

I'm driving home to Chicago in mid August with my family (two adults and two kids ages 8 and 13) from Boston. Any thoughts about what is along the route that's worth stopping for or going a little out of our way for? It looks like the route will take us past Albany, Syracuse, Rochester, and Buffalo, then south past Erie and west along the southern shore of Lake Erie through Ohio. We're planning two or three days for the trip, longer if there are interesting things to do along the way. We're not big hikers but we like pretty views, history, and kitschy or fun or out-of-the-way things. Is Ithaca worth a detour? What about the Adirondacks? I've looked in guidebooks and on the websites for the cities we'll be passing but there is so much information that it gets overwhelming. I doubt we'll want to stop in Indiana because by then we'll be so close to home that we'll just want to keep going. But I'm interested in suggestions for the other states we'll be passing through. I'd like to hear from others who've discovered fun things to do along this route.

Thanks for all your help.

I believe you will drive through Cleveland, lots to do there. Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, Westside Market, baseball team (Indians)science museum, art museum (check if it has reopened, they were doing renovations The zoo is decent too. Might be good for an overnight.

What about Niagara Falls?

If you your girls like amusement parks, you'll pass Cedar Point in Sandusky, about an hour west of Cleveland. About six-miles south of the Ohio Turnpike in Fremont, you'll find Spiegel Grove, the estate of President Rutherford B. Hayes. The facility has the Hayes home, a museum and the tomb, check www.rbhayes.org/hayes/.

Just over the Indiana border in Auburn, is the Auburn Cord Duesenberg Museum. It would probably be of more interest to the adults, but is a possibility. www.automobilemuseum.org/.

Whoops I forgot to mention, we visited Niagara Falls a few years ago so probably won't want to do that again.

In Rochester you have the George Eastman house and the largest doll museum (Strong?).
What are you doing in Chicago that requires a car? I like arriving in Chicago on a train with no worries about expensive parking.

Your children would love Cedar Point. It spoiled our children for any other amusement parks. It's about a 6 hour drive to Chicago from Cedar Point.

It's also fun to take the ferry from Catawba or Port Clinton to Put-in-Bay(don't go on the weekend when the partiers arrive). The island is fun for families though during the week. We rent bikes,or you can rent a golf cart to tour the island.
There is also a ferry that goes to Kelleys Island.

There are lots of places to visit but you must visit these best places Spruce Meadows, Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra, The Military Museums

and if you are in need you can take a help of this bus tour
http://www.tripedition.com/East-Coast/Chicago

Well, likely you will want to be armed with laptop games and books. Some question about the route thru NY. You could go through on I-88, 86 which we did going to Chautauqua Institute several years ago. A definite stop might be Corning Glass Museum. No, lovely Ithaca not worth a detour. Neither is Adirondacks unless a stopover in some rustic place. But you know, CI is a real possibility...
www.ciweb.org. Programs for all ages.

But fact is I-90 is a better road for sure unless southern route improved. Excellent stops not far off I-90 are Old Erie Canal and Seneca Falls (Women's Rights Museum). As for northern Ohio, Indiana not that much to see. Don't think I'd bother going into Cleveland.

Bill in Boston, born in Chicago

As was stated above, your children are the perfect ages for Cedar Point and you are still young enough to enjoy it! :-) You will have to stay overnight https://www.cedarpoint.com/places-to...FQQT7AodaRoAZA But you could also stay close but not in the park for a cheaper rate. It's just fun to be in the park.
Also, as was noted above, Put-In-Bay and Kelly's Island are fun. http://www.jet-express.com/ But your kids would love, love, love Cedar Point!

Totally agree on Cedar Point, Seneca Falls, and the bits of the Old Erie Canal near Rochester. Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, certainly. If you have the proper papers and the lines aren't too long at the border, you could cross over to Niagara on the Lake, a charming small town on the Canadian side.

If you get tired of the NY Thruway, US 20 parallels it, has little traffic, and is beautiful, especially near Skaneateles.

Have to agree with Bill on Indiana and Ohio on I-90, though there are other parts of each state that are beautiful. These states re famous for strict speed enforcement on I-90.