I live in Missouri and have a nice little bet going between me and my husband...who can take who on the most unique weekend away. We both love getting away to see new places for the weekend.

We only have one regulation on the getaway weekend...it has to be within driving distance no longer than 5 hours (we only have friday night, saturday, and sunday).AND, he has to arrange everything for my weekend and I arrange everything for his weekend...

SO, I'm looking for ideas of nice/unique midwest places to go. Big cities, small towns...we'd love to see it all. Let me know if any of you have visited some great midwest cities. THANKS!

If you live in St. Louis, and the traffic is not too bad, you can definitely make it to Indianapolis. People tend not to think of Indy as a destination, but there's a lot to enjoy here. Type in Indianapolis in the text search box and you'll come up enough info to make you wonder why you didn't think of it straight off the bat! (This is of course a biased view; I live in Indy, and Hoosiers love visitors!)

I'd predict Indy would be a guaranteed bet loser. The operative word in the competition seems to be "unique".

You're talking about a 350 mile radius maximum, and we don't know where in Missouri you live. The state is almost 5 hours drive across at its widest.

From northeast MO, Chicago would be in range, but not from Kansas City.
From Joplin you could make it to Dallas, but not from St. Louis.
You can make it to all the way to the tip of Georgia in 5 hours from SE MO.
That's a lot of territory.

How about more detail as to starting point?

Why not try the sleepy, yet wonderful little town of Alton, IL? There are many great restaurants, antique stores; and a weekend in the bluffs of the Mighty Missippi might be just the ticket. Oh, and they also have some sort of a gambling ship too if that interests you. IMHO, it'd be a great little get-away.

How about a trip to Lake of the Ozarks? You won't even have to leave the state! The Bagnell Dam area has many good reataurants and shops, go cart rides, dinner cruises etc. You did not comment on when this weekend will occur, but after Labor Day this area quiets down some and is very enjoyable. Let us know what you decide.

wow! Thanks for the great ideas. I haven't scheduled a weekend yet...I'm waiting to find a destination first and then decide what season is best to see this place. And as for a starting point, sorry, I somehow forgot that little, yet important piece of information...I live in St. Louis!

Why drive? Southwest Airlines has cheap flights from St. Louis and Kansas City. You could fly to Houston, Chicago, Detroit, Baltimore, or other cities.

What a great bet! Since you are so flexible in the dates for this weekend, I suggest you go to www.festivals.com and click on your surrounding states, and find a quirky fun festival to attend! I've seen such things as Renaissance Faires, Corn Festivals, Irish festivals, even an Outhouse Fest! Good luck, and let us know the weekend you plan, and what your husband planned!

If you want unique, here are some ideas (though you'd have to take a less than 5 hour flight to some, Southwest Airlines announced last week it's increasing flights out of St. Louis since American is cutting back).

**On the realistic side, you could stay at a unique B&B overlooking the Mississippi, and go play a game of baseball at the Field of Dreams used in the Kevin Costner movie. Check the website: http://www.triple1.net/H/Historic-Bellevue-Iowa-BB/

If you want REALLY unique:

**The Lizzie Borden Bed/Breakfast, Fall River Massachusetts: this is the home where the famous murders took place, and includes a museum. Breakfast is 'similar to the one which Mr/Mrs Borden ate the morning of the murder'. The rooms are actually pretty nice, too.

**Mepkin Abbey, Moncks Corner, South Carolina: stay in an actual abbey where you will live like the monks who are residents--you must observe the same silence requirements and eat the same food, attend prayers, etc. But it's a very peaceful experience compared to urban life.

**The Treehouse "Treesort" in Takilma, Oregon: the name says it all--stay in a real, full size treehouse. Check out some of the really neat treehouse rooms at this place at http://bandb.about.com/gi/dynamic/of...reehouses.com/

**SkyDome Hotel in Toronto is built into the major league baseball stadium there. One wall of your room is actually windows which open into the outfield stands. You can reach the spectators in the back rows from your window during a game. It's fun for big baseball fans. And on sunny days the SkyDome roof is retracted to let in the air and sunshine.

**there are several lighthouses on both coasts which rent rooms, some which are true B&B's. The 5 hour rule would preclude you from reaching most all of them though.

**There's a caboose (on a railroad track) B&B near Muscatine, Iowa (very driveable from StL) called Varner's Caboose.

**Enchantment resort is a luxury resort built back in a deep red rock canyon outside Sedona Arizona (near Flagstaff, Grand Canyon). It's a truly spectacular setting. You can fly to Phoenix in 3 hours and it's a 2 hour drive to Sedona if everything clicks.

So interested Travlesis in those B&B Lighthouse. If you have more info, please let me know!!

i live in st. louis and one of my favorite weekends was at big cedar lodge on table rock lake, gorgeous, great views (try the new falls lodge) with spas, 3 wonderful restaraunts, golf course, lots to do. I thought disney did it the best when it came to disney resorts but big cedar even beats those. kind of pricy in season right now, (we got $99.00 spring rates). 10 minutes from branson so could see a show or do ride the ducks (i can only take about one day at branson).
second choice which we are doing next weekend is the union pier, new buffalo area in michigan. about five hours and the inn at union pier is suppose to be great.

cd: here's the list of lighthouses with overnight accommodations. There are about 40 in this list (with website links):
http://www.lighthouse.cc/links/overnight.html

Thanks Travlesis

I second Big Cedar Lodge.

Have you been to the Elms Hotel (resort and spa) in Excelsior Springs, Missouri? Harry Truman was staying at the Elms when he was elected. Lots of KC couples go there for a romantic getaway.

In case anyone becomes curious enough to venture there, I must recommend against the Elms in Excelsior Springs, MO. This place is just plain old and dated (as of 2 months ago) and it's a long drive from KC. The spa is mediocre at best. I can't imagine why anyone would travel there unless required to for business.
This place must trade on past reputation or something.

Well I have to say I haven't been to the Elms myself, but I know many people who have been there for romantic weekends. I'm not one to like old places, but sure seems like the people who go there like it a lot! My church planned a Valentine's getaway there for the married couples in the church, but I didn't go...

What a terrific bet -- either way, both of you win out! Okay: Lousiville and the Kentucky Derby. The Kentucky Derby Festival runs the two weeks preceding, and on the day itself, see some of the country's more privileged (including celebrities) descend on the town for what is usually a thrilling race. You may want to check its website, but museums dedicated to the Louisville Slugger bat and Muhummad Ali are completed or in the works.

Memphis -- Graceland, Blues-infused Beale Street, the National Civil Rights Museum, Mud Island (featuring a scale replica of the Mississippi River and the Memphis Belle) and the Big River itself. Some historic homes, and Harbortown, a community similar to Seaside, Florida (featured in the movie Truman Show), coexist in downtown. If you want Memphis' best, book a room at the Peabody, Memphis' historic hotel with its famous ducks.

Finally, you'll have to cheat a little with this (it's 5 hours and 40 min), but I also recommend Madison, Wisconsin. Find out why it has been consistently ranked as America's most livable city. It cofunctions as the state's capital and collegetown, home to the Wisconsin Badgers. What makes it unique is that it sits on an isthmus that offers a bevy of waterfront activities. You can rent canoes, fish year round, roller skate, or bike on several paths. State Street is a bustling spine connecting the Capitol with UW, lined with galleries, coffeeshops, boutiques, and ethnic restaurants. UW itself features Badger football, the acclaimed Elvehjem Museum of Art, the University Arboretum, and an ice creamery. You can watch people boat or parasail from its Student Union. The Capitol also is worth a look: it's interior decked in elegant green marble. A warning, though: I've heard the winters can be quite punishing.

Thanks for the great ideas. Kentucky and the Derby were actually on my list. I will check into that more.

We were just in Memphis a few months ago and had a great time...even though it rained the whole time we were there!

And for Madison...I REALLY want to go to Madison. My husband lived there as a child and loved it. For his job, he covers some Madison companies and takes business trips up there and sees his extended family. So, I probably wouldn't plan his trip in Madison...but, I will for sure bring it up as an extra trip to take! Thanks again.