11 days in Midwest Itinerary

A huge and vibrant city, Chicago is home to top-notch theaters, shops, museums, galleries, and restaurants.

Get some historical perspective at Frank Lloyd Wright's Unity Temple and Frank Lloyd Wright Home and Studio. Take a break from Chicago with a short trip to Whiskey Acres Distilling Co. in DeKalb, about 1h 20 min away. There's still lots to do: take a stroll through The Magnificent Mile, get up close and personal with brilliant marine life at Shedd Aquarium, walk around Millennium Park, and admire the masterpieces at The Art Institute of Chicago.

For ratings, maps, where to stay, and more tourist information, read Chicago sightseeing planner.

Miami to Chicago is an approximately 5-hour flight. You can also drive; or do a combination of bus and subway. The time zone difference moving from Eastern Standard Time (EST) to Central Standard Time (CST) is minus 1 hour. Traveling from Miami in July, things will get a bit cooler in Chicago: highs are around 83°F and lows about 67°F. Cap off your sightseeing on the 9th (Sat) early enough to go by car to Hart.

Hart is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan. On the 10th (Sun), ride a horse along Stony Lake Stables and then kick back and relax at Silver Lake State Park Pedestrian Dune Access.

To find photos, more things to do, and more tourist information, read our Hart trip planning tool.

You can drive from Chicago to Hart in 4 hours. The time zone changes from Central Standard Time to Eastern Standard Time, which is usually a 1 hour difference. Traveling from Chicago in July, expect Hart to be slightly colder, temps between 76°F and 57°F. Finish up your sightseeing early on the 10th (Sun) so you can travel to Empire.

Empire is a village in Leelanau County in the U.S. state of Michigan. Start off your visit on the 11th (Mon): explore the wealth of natural beauty at Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. On the 12th (Tue), you'll have a packed day of sightseeing: paddle through the water with a kayaking and canoeing tour, then hike along Sleeping Bear Heritage Trail, and then tour the pleasant surroundings at Lake Michigan Beach Park.

For traveler tips, more things to do, other places to visit, and tourist information, you can read our Empire trip maker app.

You can drive from Hart to Empire in 2 hours. July in Empire sees daily highs of 75°F and lows of 57°F at night. Finish your sightseeing early on the 12th (Tue) so you can drive to Munising.

Munising is a city on the southern shore of Lake Superior on the Upper Peninsula of the U.S. state of Michigan. Get outdoors at Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore and Miners Castle Rock. Step out of Munising with an excursion to Fayette Historic State Park in Garden--about 1h 20 min away. The adventure continues: kick back and relax at Sand Point Beach, head outdoors with Outdoor Activities, and tour the pleasant surroundings at Miner's Beach.

Take the guesswork out of planning a Munising vacation by using our trip itinerary maker.

Traveling by car from Empire to Munising takes 4.5 hours. Alternatively, you can do a combination of taxi and bus. In July in Munising, expect temperatures between 74°F during the day and 56°F at night. Finish your sightseeing early on the 15th (Fri) to allow enough time to travel to Mackinac Island.

Mackinac Island is a city in Mackinac County in the U.S. state of Michigan. Kick off your visit on the 16th (Sat): see some colorful creatures with Great Turtle Kayak Tours.

For reviews, maps, traveler tips, and other tourist information, refer to the Mackinac Island route planner.

Traveling by combination of car, bus, and ferry from Munising to Mackinac Island takes 7 hours. Alternatively, you can do a combination of car, bus, and ferry; or do a combination of taxi, bus, and ferry. July in Mackinac Island sees daily highs of 73°F and lows of 58°F at night. On the 16th (Sat), wrap the sightseeing up by early afternoon so you can travel back home.