Solo Trip to Mid-West
 

Hi there! I am a single 25 year old woman living in Connecticut. I've been wanting to travel to the mid-west for a few years now and would like to stay somewhere with beautiful scenery (mountains, a lake, fields, etc.). I want this trip to be rejuvenating for the mind, body and soul. Since I plan on going by myself I would prefer a hotel, dude ranch, inn, lodge etc. that has some community aspect like evening bonfires, hot tubs, group dinners etc. Anyone have any suggestions? I'm thinking a 4-5 day trip with a $1,000 budget.

Mountains are gonna be tough in the midwest--maybe rolling hills. You have at LEAST 2 days of driving, there and back. Gas will take a couple of hundred maybe, depending on your car--probably less but still an expense.
Around mid-Indiana is Brown County renowned for its covered bridges--maybe somewhere there.

Gretchen, you may be thinking of Parke County, Indiana in terms of covered bridges (they have 31 compared to Brown County's 2). Parke County hosts a covered bridge festival in October.

The OP might take a look at this http://www.midwestliving.com/travel/...dwest-resorts/

Given the OP's time frame and budget, I have to wonder if something closer to home might be better. Perhaps in the Poconos or Adirondacks. It's not clear from her post when she plans to travel and whether she plans to fly. As Gretchen points out, the drive itself could easily consume much of the trip. Maybe I'm jaded as a midwesterner, but if I wanted something restorative and scenic, I'd be inclined to go farther west.

I'll certainly bow to a native for that info!

i am originally from Ohio so maybe share IndyHiker's idea.

The OP wishes to go somewhere she hasn't been--but we know not those places. For mountains, there is Virginia and West Virginia on down the Appalachians--on the east coast--that might have the mountains, lake and maybe even a "dude ranch"--look in the Smokies.

Or now that I think about that, there are the Georgia mountains around Cashiers, NC that might have a lot of what she is wanting.

"I've been wanting to travel the Midwest..." That covers a range of states central in the US. One area that comes to mind is South Dakota's Black Hills; areas inside Custer State Park fit the bill. Does your budget include travel costs? If so, you may need to save up a little more...

Thanks everyone for your feedback! Living on the East Coast I have done most of my traveling here. The only state out west I have gone is Idaho (which was gorgeous!). I am very open when I say Mid-West. I would plan on flying as anything further than Indiana is a significant hike. My budget does include travel costs (which I'm quickly seeing is a tall order).

Hot wheels brings up a good idea. I would look at where Southwest or Jet blue flies and see what that will fit into your budget--and then a car rental.
You might be able to fly to Rapid City SD and see the Black Hills from there.
I would suggest looking further west than Indiana etc. You may get more bang for your buck, IMO, although there is beauty everywhere.

I think it is doable on your budget, but planning will be key in finding cheap air and car.

What time of year?

I think you'll run into trouble finding that 'community aspect'. I was going to suggest the YMCA of the Rockies near Estes Park but that caters more to family reunions and groups, and I don't think that would work well for a solo traveller.

Have you thought about a hostel? That would really help your budget and pretty much guarantee social interaction. I don't think a dude ranch would fit into your budget...

National parks usually have evening ranger programs at campgrounds and daily ranger talks/hikes with groups of people. That kind of fits into the social aspect as well.

Take a look at these 2 hostels:
https://www.hiusa.org/hostels/montan...t-glacier-park
It is right outside Glacier National Park. I would spend your entire 4-5 days at Glacier. Definitely not midwest though.

https://www.hiusa.org/hostels/minnes...dwaters-hostel
That one is inside Itasca State Park in Minnesota. Good for 2-3 days, then drive over to Duluth and do some sightseeing up/down the North Shore of Lake Superior. Flights to/from Minneapolis should fit your budget.

Alternatively, if you're comfortable camping that also helps the budget and opens up a lot of options. It might be good to pick a few areas that have been suggested, look at the cost of airfare/lodging/rental car and see if your budget is realistic.

You definitely need to increase your budget.

Plus, outside of the largest cities (such as Chicago), public transportation in the Midwest is very limited, if existent at all. So you would have to include a rental car in that budget.

And you don't have a lot of time. When you consider that travel will entail at least 2 full days of your 4-5, what do you have left?

What I would suggest to you is this:

Take Amtrak's Cardinal from New York to at least Charlottesville, VA or even West Virginia. There's some mighty purty country out there - just the type for which you are looking.

I think you might still find my trip report when I visited Charlottesville, VA - and I didn't have a rental car when I visited. Click on my avatar and see what I did, albeit it was several years ago.

I don't agree that you can't do it for that budget--and most of the objections above have been covered.
Yes, Virginia is pretty (sic)

Take a look at Southwest Airlines map and choose a place. I had you flying out of Hartford and into Albuquerque, for example and you could do that for under $300, by choosing your travel days--mine were Friday to Wednesday.
Car rental could be under $200.
Airbnb could be a place to stay. This isn't what you wanted but you could build your trip this way.
The Black Hills may be out via either Jet Blue or Southwest.

Denver could be a really good destination--a LOT to do IN town and a lot out of it.
Some place in Wisconsin or Minnesota could be pretty.

And if you haven't been, Charleston, SC is a winner. It is also very much a "young person's town"--as well as for us seniors.

You might also look into organized camping tours. Granted, the season in the western states is coming to an end, but there are a variety of group camping optoons in the national parks, some of which would fit into your budget (depending on the cost of your flight and length of the trip). With an organized backcountry trip, you'll get the scenery you want, along with the ability to socialize with others. Here's a link to one in Glacier to give you an idea. https://glacierguides.com/hiking/gla...packing-trips/

Or look at a festival with a camping option. I don't know what kind of activities you're into, but there may be somethng out that might fit your interests. Just as for instance, we have a big mountain bike festival in Brown County, Indiana in October. Lots of people camp, there's music and food. Heck, even if you't not e a mountain biker, you could still enjoy the park and the festival atmosphere.

Just trying to think outside the box a bit to balance your interset in both scenery and socializing.

East Coast people don't vacation in the Midwest so you're going to have put more energy into it.

Lutsen Resort may fit your criteria
https://www.lutsenresort.com/

It's a 5 hour drive from Minneapolis, but it's a coastal Maine type experience.

The western parts of N/S Dakota NE KS are dry ranching country so really West, not Midwest, although if you want mts and dude ranches then look in the West.

Denver is not the Midwest.

To go with what where are we suggested...

Yosemite bug hostel might be right up your alley if you have any interest in seeing Yosemite NP. Easily done via transit, may be in budget if you have airport choices.

North cascades nature center (that may not be its exact name) has "camps" or workshops that involve hostel lodging. However, I have a car so I haven't looked into whether or not it's reachable by transit.

Lots of great state parks in the east. Vermont, New Hampshire. You could drive and that would be cheaper. Cabins are pretty common, hiking looks good, I know at least one is on the lake. Not the social atmosphere you were looking for, but close.



Whistler and Vancouver is another option maybe. (If you have a passport). or elsewhere in Canada. The transit tends to be better, the hostels are a lot cheaper, and the exchange rate is in your favor. Nova Scotia, PEI, or Newfoundland maybe? All reachable, pretty sure all have hostels.

I personally think your budget is rather low for what you want. Midwest and west nature means either rental car or time consuming transit or expensive flights. Amtrak can be as expensive- or MORE expensive than flights And hostels are rare enough that the popular ones can be difficult to book at short notice or expensive or both.

Christina, (as usual). We do realize that but we also thing the OP might get more bang for her buck in what she is looking for further west.
I offered some things IN the midwest. Did you? Or is it just geography lesson for the "rest of us".

Thanks everyone for your very helpful replies! I will start doing my research and hopefully be headed out west soon.

Let us know as you do the plan.

I disagree with several of you. I still think this lady *HAS* to increase her budget.

There are four main components to any travel budget: Transportation, lodging, food and entertainment.

For example, if her flight tickets were merely $300 RT and she had to get a rental car (say $150-200) for a more remote location, if she were to only spend $100/nt. for lodging (not including the local taxes and fees) - which isn't likely in a lot of places, she's already over the budget. Nothing left for food or entertainment.

If she chooses to travel by train or bus, of course, it takes longer and she has much less time at her ultimate destination. The cost may be less - if she opts for just coach - or even more expensive, if she gets a sleeper accommodation on Amtrak for example.

If she was to go camping, she has to have the appropriate gear (tent, sleeping bag, etc.) - and lug it around somehow on the transportation to/from that destination - unless she waits until she gets to the destination to buy it (but she has to spend $$ regardless). Plus this being the end of the season, she might not be able to find vacancy. NOTE: I have read articles stating that many national and some to all state parks are going to begin requiring reservations for *all* types of stays - and they are filled months, perhaps a year, in advance. It's the end of just stopping in along the way, folks.

Take a look at Yosemite's website and you will see what might be/will probably be the future of other national and state parks.

If she were going to a major or larger city, such as Chicago, she does have the option of staying in a traditional hostel - but their costs are fast approaching $60-75+/nt. pp, even with shared accommodations. Of course, there are now some hostel/hotel hybrids - but their cost is getting close to what a traditional hotel's is.

However, the big plus in choosing a locale such as this is that she doesn't have to get a rental car and can rely on public transportation, which is a lot cheaper on the budget. Cannot do that in smaller or rural locales, as it is just not even available in many cases. Of course, the bigger cities normally have higher costs of living - and normally higher tax rates - so the food budget would have to be expanded.

You have to do *A LOT* of research with getting a unit using Airbnb or any similar website. Practically all locales nowadays have ordinances pertaining to them, meaning you first have to make certain they are legal - in addition, of course, to all the other research you did before about the location, etc. Chicago, for example, is cracking down on illegal ones. In addition, a very large number of condos and apartments prohibit that type of occupancy by benefit of their bylaws or leases. You cannot any longer just skate by by simply reading a bunch of reviews.

@OP: Let me give you a scenario - but you cannot go just any time. You have to let the city's convention/event calendar be your guide. Choose a time when there *isn't* a big convention or event, which drives up the prices.

Chicago. You can probably fly there fairly cheaply. You can get a hostel which is right downtown (Hostel International Chicago). You can use public transportation. Chicago sits right on Lake Michigan and the whole lakefront is one continuous area of parklands, harbors and beaches (although the beaches close Labor Day).

You could even take a day trip out to the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore and Indiana Dunes State Park for $17 RT via the South Shore and South Bend Railroad for your scenery. The Millennium Station is right downtown as well.

Chicago has a lot of free or low-cost events. I'll give you just one example coming up: openhousechicago.org

Chicago is a *huge* theatre city - over 250 theatrical troupes and venues. You can take a look at Hottix for discounted tickets.

Chicago has been named by Bon Appetit as the Restaurant City of 2017. (You can read their August 8, 2017 article, if you wish.) And we are *not* talking about deep-dish or stuffed pizza, Chicago-style hotdogs or Italian Beef sandwiches, although you could always try one of them if you absolutely have to. However, stay away from the most often-mentioned pizza parlors or hotdog stands - because they are almost always chains - many not even headquartered in Chicago.

Since you have 4-5 days, you can explore the various neighborhoods of Chicago. And - you specifically mention this being a solo traveler and wanting something where you would not be alone - I would strongly suggest that you utilize the absolutely free Chicago Greeter service when you are exploring a Chicago neighborhood. 10 days advance registration required. chicagogreeter.com Note also the free InstaGreeter service, for which no reservations are required, of the Loop or Millennium Park, originating from the Chicago Cultural Center.

The Cultural Center has many free exhibits and performances throughout the week as well.

Now, I'm giving you pure gold here - but there is something I hope you would give in exchange, if you go to Chicago. Please, please, please don't just go to chain restaurants. You have too many wonderful options for that. Don't cheat yourself.

Sorry for the additional post...That is Hostelling International Chicago.

Chicago has been named by Bon Appetit as the Restaurant City of 2017. (You can read the

With my tongue in my cheek--Somehow, for Chicago I don't see a "community aspect" or perhaps "evening bonfires". There IS that view of the Lake, but somehow I just didn't get that particular "Lake" as a prospect in OP's original post.
And it is entirely possible to actually spend less in a large city.

And yes, a larger budget is always nicer, but I am still of the opinion that with planning she can do it for hers--it is 5 days. If she can get cheap airfare (if she even does that), it leaves about $130/day for the remaining 3.5 days (excluding travel).
HOstels can be a great idea--maybe in the Southwest?

Exiled princess- I love Chicago but there is literally nothing in that suggestion to go with the OP's wishes. Have you actually stayed at HI Chicago? I have. It has all the charm and community spirit of a convention hotel;)

I do agree with you that the budget is tight for what she wants, but the only hostel that I can think of that is in the $60-75 range is Boston. That's flat out untrue for everywhere else.


It would be much easier, though, if you could manage airfare+1000 for expenses. Otherwise, I'm pretty sure you're limited to the east coast.

The southwest would be great but transit limits your options. And there are very few hostels. However, there is a hostel in flagstaff that does organized hikes of the grand canyon, so that might be something to consider although I think I would want a car for that.

Perhaps the two of you didn't get the crux of this: This person just doesn't have the budget for what they want - and probably not sufficient time. My suggestion for Chicago was to fit within that budget.

If they want what they state above, they will have to increase their budget. Period. Probably by 25-50%. Any rural or remote area will require getting a rental car. It would be extremely unlikely it would be served by public transportation at all. They may not even find Uber or any other shared ride in that particular area, because there are many areas of the Midwest that simply don't have that.

A rental car is not a necessary expense in a city which is well-served by public transportation. In Chicago, it is a downright liability. And, in the Midwest, there are very few even larger cities which even have any substantial public transportation.

By eliminating the rental car, this person would not only be saving at least 20% of the budget they would need if they had to get it, but they would also save many, many hours (perhaps a couple of days) of travel time getting to that park or more remote area. Airports serve urban areas - not what she wants.

marvelousmouse, again, I only mentioned the hostel because of this extremely low budget. Perhaps you should take a look at what the price for hostels is nowadays. Please remember to add in all the factors...The membership fees, the bed and city taxes, any required additional fees (such as bedsheets, locks and the like).

The HI Chicago, for example, has differing rates but (just for a quick check) can be $40-46 for a Standard Female Shared and over $110-135 (some nights are in excess of $150) for a semi-private room. That's exclusive of taxes and fees, BTW.

The Freehand (hostel/hotel hybrid) in Chicago charges almost $240 for a queen (extra for a city view) and more than $250 for a king (again extra for the view) for a private room and $60 for a shared quad room. This pricing is exclusive of taxes and fees.

And - no, I don't use hostels. If I had to resort to that for a visit, I would just wait until I could afford better. Because I simply don't see the reasoning in spending all that money and getting a second-rate experience somewhere. You *never* get the same (or better or best) experience at any destination if you are on a budget. Not even close. So I save my money for better things.

Honestly, I read some of these trip reports and wonder if the authors even realize what they've missed.

@OP: Just for the record, I understand what you want, but if that is your full budget - go where the huge majority of visitors to the Midwest do: Chicago. I've given you a suggestion for a very inexpensive day-trip out to see a national lakeshore and one of the 10 best state parks in the nation.

Also, you can dine as some tourists do - cheaply - on deep-dish/stuffed pizza, Chicago-style hotdogs or Italian beef sandwiches - fast food or chains. But if you want to dine as the locals do, by eliminating that rental car expense, you'd have more $ to apply to the dining portion. Or even the entertainment portion.

Oh for pete's sake. We "get" it. LOL As the mouse and I have said we were trying to meet OP.

Chicago is the only option that fits the budget? Somebody needs to get out more.

As I already mentioned, fly to Minneapolis and get a rental car. Itasca State Park has a good cheap hostel. Alternatively, a number of state parks have camper cabins for 40-50 a night. Definitely doable in a $1K budget. The North Shore of Lake Superior is 10x better than taking a bus to Indiana to see some sand dunes. It's not even close.

I used to contribute to this site pretty frequently, but I don't any more just because of these types of comments.

WhereAreWe, of course there are other options. However, the OP not only has a budget of $1000 but specifies 4-5 days total for the trip. Eliminate 2 days for just the air travel between CT and the Midwest somewhere. Airfare will be cheaper (and more frequent) between hubs than between other airports.

How many days driving time up and back to the North Shore from MSP? 2.5-3 hours each way? Subtract that as well and you have what left - 1 or 1-1/2 day?

Let's ask the OP - Do YOU want to travel 3-4 days to enjoy 1 or 1.5 at your destination?

Please also keep in mind that the OP is only 25 - might be a substantial surcharge on the cost of the rental due to that fact alone - depending on where she rents it, of course. In addition, they are limited to using that rental car on a RT excursion or they'll have a very substantial one-way drop-off fee.

@OP, I am sincerely trying to give you an alternative option in lieu of a more substantial $/time budget. It's up to you if you wish to do this under these circumstances or wait until later. If the latter, IF you had the sufficient budget AND more time, these are what I would have suggested for some of the Midwestern states you've mentioned as well as the surrounding ones:

Fly into Grand Rapids, MI. Pick up a rental car and drive up along the northwest coast of Michigan up to Mackinaw Island. Stay ON the Island, perhaps at the Grand Hotel. This is considered a premier resort in the Midwest by many reputable travel publications.

Or fly into ORD. Pick up a rental car there and drive to the NW corner of the state. (This is about a 4-4.5 hr. drive from ORD.) Stay in a B&B in Galena, IL. 85-90% of the downtown is on the National Register of Historic Places. If she doesn't want to stay right there, she could always stay at the Eagle Ridge Resort. www.galena.org Or she could cross the Mississippi River and stay in Dubuque, IA. Then, starting from there, drive up or down one of the Great River Roads (each state has one), which travel along the Mississippi River - even up to Minneapolis/St. Paul, if you so wish. This is considered one of the great driving tours in the entire U.S.

Or fly into IND. Pick up a rental car there and drive south or southwest. Bloomington, IN; Brown County State Park; drive through the Hoosier National Forest (which actually has 3 sections). She could stay at French Lick/West Baden,if she wishes, although I do think she has better options. She could go down to Madison, IN and visit Clifty Falls State Park - see the waterfalls.

Or, if she is of an artistic bent, at the correct time of the year, fly into ORD or MDW and drive up to around Saugatuck, MI and stay at the Ox-Box School of Art (associated with the Art Institute of Chicago). www.saic.edu/cs/ox-bowschoolofart

And - just so the record is clear - I myself have done all of these.

P.S. WhereareWe, the South Shore is not a bus, it is an electric commuter train which services South Bend, IN (OP: That's where the University of Notre Dame is located) - Chicago area, if you would have only taken the time to do a little research before answering.

Oh - and that assessment of the Indiana Dunes is not by me and not only by major publications (such as USA Today) but by the actual visitation of U.S and international travelers. The parks had over 3 million visitors in 2015 and grows substantially every year. Again, you would have known that, too, had you looked.

Forgive me if some of my comments might have seemed a little short. However, there have been a couple of instances here where my comments were questioned - and not in very civil ways.

@OP, when you get these suggestions, take a look at the BIG picture of what you want to accomplish with your valuable vacation time and the *quality* of the experience.

As said above- we get it. But I wasn't talking about private rooms nor Freehand, which is more expensive because it's a "boutique" Hostel. I wouldn't actually suggest Freehand, because while I love it, I don't do hostels for the social aspect and Freehand isn't strong in the social aspect so it would not be worth it for the OP. I have stayed at several US hostels in the last year, and I'm well aware of the prices. $40 is not the same as 60-75, and there are plenty of hostels elsewhere that are actually close to what the OP wants. It's just that HI Chicago is NOT one of those. First time I stayed there, the majority of the guests were under 14 years old- school groups. Yuck. It's a massive, modern hostel, but not a great community hostel. Someone who wants the latter is not going to enjoy it.


FYI: you don't need a membership for a hostel usually. In the US, if you have an Hi card, you save like $3 a night so unless you hostel a lot, it isn't worth it. You NEVER pay for sheets. You might have to put a deposit of a buck down for a towel and lock, but most people travel with those so no. The amount of taxes you pay at a hostel is MiNISCULE compared to the taxes you pay for a hotel, that point just puzzles me. Female economy bed for Wednesday at Hi Chicago is $30.60. Tax is 17%. 5.20. So it's approximately $36 without extras. It does raise a bit during conventions, but nothing like a hotel would.

I remember your previous posts, and I wondered what happened to you. You're a fantastic source for Chicago for a specific type of traveller. But I do object to your assertion that you have to spend a lot of money for an ideal experience. Some people don't care about food. Some people don't care about lodging. It's completely possible to have a blast with staying in hostels and eating inexpensive food. I actually like hostels more than I like budget hotels. I love classy hotels but I don't love spending $300-500/night. And your hang up on gourmet restaurants always makes me laugh, because it's totally possible for someone to enjoy both Michelin star restaurants and street cart hot dogs. Alinea's is on my bucket list, but Garret's Popcorn will never be something I skip.


OP- I thought of a few places to add...

HI Harper's Ferry is a hiking hostel for the Appalachian Trail. That would be awesome.
There are hostels on Nantucket and Martha's Vineyard. Also in Hyannis. I think they are mostly seasonal so it may not work for you.
There's a hostel in Stowe VT which I'm pretty sure is accessible by bus. Stowe is a ski town. Smugglers' Notch State Park is nearby. I haven't been to Vermont, so this is all based on my own research- but I thought that while I would want a car, between my bike and the transit, I'd probably survive without one.

My goodness.

Flying into MSP and driving 2.5-3 hours to the North Shore is a no go because it eats up too much travel time. Yet flying into Grand Rapids and driving 4-5 hours to Mackinac is ok. And flying to Chicago and driving 4-5 hours to Galena is ok.

Makes perfect sense to me. No idea why anyone would question this advice.

Not to mention for Mackinac you recommended the Grand. You're kidding, right? Or you have a very different definition of "sufficient budget" than most...