My DH & I are trying to find a nice weekend getaway trip w/o breaking the bank. We live near Milwaukee & have thought of going up north, but don't really know where to head! We've been to Door County & the Apostle Islands (we don't want to drive that far this time though) and are not into the Dells scene. We were thinking maybe Chicago..

We found some last minute trips on travelocity for Louisville, KY & New Orleans - never been to either place - would you recommend it?

We're open to any ideas!! Thanks!

You've been to Chicago? It's a great weekend trip, make it long if you can.

When are you going? New Orleans has got to be hot as hell right now...

TwoFat - we're looking for this weekend! yes, we're very last minute.. =)

AngelaS...how about Galena Illinois? I live in Madison and it is only 1.5 hour drive from Madison. It is a quaint town...very cute and picturesque. Near the Mississippi so it has nearby bluffs. There is a hotel there called The Irish Cottage. Has a true Irish look. (If you like Irish Fest are are going this weekend...the Irish Cottage always has a booth with coupons!)

Chicago is always great and you can get there on the train if you don't want to drive. Lake Geneva is another place for a weekend.

New Orleans would be too much just for a weekend...don't know how many days you have...but with air travel you wouldn't have much time.

have fun!

whoops...didn't see you were going this weekend...so you probably won't get to Irish Fest.

barbmc - thanks for the tip on Galena! I'm checking it out right now. We were thinking of going somewhere new, we've been to Chicago countless times. It's the one thing I don't like about living in the midwest - lack of weekend trip ideas!

I don't know how it's possible/lenght of "flight" but as you were thinking of NO, perhaps Missoula could be a possibility.
Nice hikes to do in the Bitterrot valley or in the Swan valley.
There is a wonderfull B&B here the Blue moutain B&b on the road to Lolo.
We just come back from Montana-there is a trip report-and I think there is a lot to do around Missoula or Helena or Kalispell-all with airports...
Erik.

You are right Angela...not many exciting weekend trips around southern Wisconsin. At this time of August it will probably be hard to get a nice place to stay in northern WI.

Have you looked at non-stop flights to aywhere out of Milwaukee? Madison now has non-stop flights to Denver, Memphis, Kansas City, St. Louis, Washington DC and New York City. That is always a possibility but I would think 4 days would be needed for that.

Also, Mineral Point, Wi is a nice place to visit if you have never been there before.

Maybe you will choose Galena...we like to go there a few times a year.

This weekend we are heading to Milwaukee for Irish Fest.

I haven't been to Cave of the Mounds since I was a kid, DH has never been either, so we're thinking of driving out that way. Maybe check out some vineyards & Little Norway. Thanks for all the tips!

Angela, you might also want to add stops at House on the Rock and Frank Lloyd Wright's Taliesin to your list. If you get as far west as Dubuque, then you must stop at the Mississippi National River Museum there. http://www.rivermuseum.com/main.cfm
If you find yourself in Galena at the end of the weekend when its time to head back, then I'd recommend taking the scenic route via Route 20 to Freeport, then Route 75 to Beloit where you can catch I 43 back to Milwaukee. Don't think that you'll be disappointed in your choice. In fact you'll probably want to return again to enjoy the fall foliage in this area someday!