Hi,

My boyfriend and I, both in our 20s, are thinking about taking a road trip from Chicago on March 17th for 1 week. We don't want to spend the whole week just driving, we want to have enough time to enjoy the places we visit. We've both traveled extensively outside the US but not much within the States. Any advice? Any recommended places? We'd love to see nature, national parks, romantic places, historic towns, etc. Considering the time of year I'm sure many people will recommend a ski vacation, but we really aren't interested in that right now, what else can be done this time of year? Thanks!

Jenny and Danny

Madison and Galena (pray for good weather), or St. Louis and nearby river towns, or Memphis.

Iwould also recommend Galena. Cambridge,Fort Atkinson Wi. are also charming.

Thanks! Could either of you tell me more about Galena?

One week, round trip, is not much time to see the types of places you mentioned. How about driving around Lake Michigan. You will get to see some beautiful country especially in the U.P. of Michigan.

I've always thought Galena was over-rated. I'd head to Door County Wisconsin instead. You'll have much of it to yourself.

For nature and quaint towns, head up the shore of Lake Michigan till you get to Door County, and spend time there. Continue north to Upper Peninsula of Michigan, and at least see Painted Rocks Nat Seashore.

Voyagers National Park and Boundary Waters Wilderness Area are WONDERFUL places for nature in the wild, but they would be a bit much for a one week trip.

Head south! March is the absolute dregs of winter thruout the midwest, including Door County and everywhere else mentioned. But a few hours driving will put you into a whole other season, and you can jump-start spring.

Door County is wonderful but would probably be enjoyed more in warm weather. How about something of our history? Washington DC if you've never been there. Independence Square in Philly complete with a tour of Betsy Ross' house, Old North Church in Boston, etc.

Thank you for all the replies.
I am really worried about the weather. Are there any quaint little towns in the south? We're looking for a B&B with a Jacuzzi and would like to have the opportunity to go horseback riding, bike riding and maybe some light hiking.

What's Tennessee like? Does anyone know?

All of these places have tourist/visitor bureaus or a chamber of commerce. Any web search engine will help with your homework.

Check out Nashville-there are some recent postings on things to do. March weather in TN can be very warm or it can snow (of course, won't stay around long). You could also visit the Great Smoky Mountains in Eastern Tennessee-will not be crowded that time of year during the week-lots of nature to see, some neat hiking trails.
Have a great trip.
Question to other posters: why are so many people on this board so paranoid that some is asking a question for homework or to write an article. Surely travel writers would not depend on posters here as a primary source for an article, and if they do, what is the harm?

should say some person

Go to Detroit, visit the Henry Ford Museum, and then drive into Canada. Visit Toronto and then Niagara Falls, plus Niagara on the Lake, cross back into the USA at Buffalo, visit the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, and go back to Chicago. (I count the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the Henry Ford Museum as historical, Niagara on the Lake as romantic. there's a Canadian National Park onthenorth shore of Lake Erie between Detroit and Toronto, but it will be genuinely dull and uninteresting in March.

BAK