kansasmom

There are several places that we want to see in Ohio and Michigan, so we are thinking of combining them into a week-long excursion. We'd be driving from Kansas. Our first stop might be the Abraham Lincoln Library/Museum in Springfield, IL because I've heard great things about it, and I do love history.
Then in Ohio, we want to go to Cedar Point Amusement Park, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, and the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton. (Keep in mind we have two 13-year-olds.)
I'd like to go up to Michigan to see the Henry Ford Museum/Greenfield Village if it isn't too far. I've also debated adding either Gettysburg, PA or Niagara Falls to the plan, realizing that either of these adds quite a bit more driving.
Any advice anyone has about any of these destinations would be appreciated. Also, is there anything great reasonably close to these that we should make it a point to see or do? Thanks.

Maggi

As a Michigander, I highly recommend Greenfield Village and the Henry Ford Museum. It's a two hour drive from Sandusky (Cedar Point). You could do Cleveland first, then Cedar Point, then Greenfield Village. You need at least a full whole day to do the museum and village justice. It'd be better to split it into two days. If you wanted to go to Niagara Falls from there, it'll take you about five hours, through Detroit and into Ontario. For that route you'd all have to have passports to get through customs. But then you'd have a really long haul (16 hours) to get back home again. Or you could skip Niagara Falls this trip and head back west across Michigan and stop in Chicago on the way home. It's one of our favorite cities to visit from Detroit, only 6 hours away.

Barbara_in_FL

I love Niagara and Gettysburg, but in just a week I don't think you could add them without turning the trip into something really rushed. My suggestion would be to save them for another time so that you can have two days at Cedar Point and take your time at the Halls of Fame. If you really want to add one more, then Niagara is just a few more hours past Cleveland, as opposed to Gettysburg, which would eat up another day just getting there (plus it really deserves more than a few hours).

tomboy

My 2¢:
Skip Gettysburg: the (excellent) time-lapse Civil War graphic at the Lincoln Museum would give the kids a better sense of the war's ebbs and flows than would Gettysburg.

Depending on your goals, I'd suggest Chicago's Museum of Science and Industry, and maybe the Field Museum of Natural History. Shedd Aquarium's nice, too, but there are limits.

SAnParis2

Since you'll be so close I would include an excursion to Kelley's Island - http://www.kelleysisland.com/ Both Gettysburg & Niagara Falls out way out of the way, if you want 'outdoorsy' try here - http://www.hockinghills.com/

kansasmom

Thanks for the replies and suggestions! I love Chicago too. We've already taken the kids there twice, and that's the only reason I didn't include it in our plans again. But it's always worthy of consideration...

bratsandbeer

Since you are driving in that direction stop in Shipshewana Indiana. It is a neat Amish community. We like to eat at the Blue Gate restaurant and also shop at Yoders Store. They have a big flea market on Tues and Wed. There are many Amish made furniture stores in Shipshewana and we did buy 8 oak dining chairs.

Along Lake Michigan on the Michigan shores are the sand dune.
http://www.nps.gov/slbe/index.htm

andrealb

I suggest taking a diversion...come north to Petoskey, traverse city, charlevoix. Beautiful this time of year. Great lighthouses, beaches, people.

boom_boom

If you decide to go north to Petoskey, et al, look at adding a day trip to Mackinaw Island. The kids would probably love the car-less island with it's horse-drawn carriages and bike. Not to mention the famous Fudge!