My family looks to me to plan our vacations. I am more than happy to do it, but as an unattached person, my vacations seem to have a single ladies slant to them. I had to do my homework to come up with these family-friendly spots in the Midwest.

Schaumburg, Illinois

Schaumburg, Illinois, a suburb of Chicago, is a small village located Northwest of the famed city and close to O’Hare International Airport. They call it a village because there are no more than 5,000 residences, but it has some big-time attractions. One of its main attractions is the LEGOLAND Discovery Center. Tickets are reasonable, and include most interactive activities. Be sure you stay in one of the many local hotels. You need more than one day to see LEGOLAND and all it has to offer.

Kansas City, Missouri

The voracious reader in me loves visiting anything book related in a new city. The giant bookshelf at the Kansas City Public Library is a cool educational family attraction. Some of my favorites books make up the front façade of the parking garage of the library. They chose these particular books for their significance to Kansas and to American literary history. Located near many restaurants and hotels in Kansas City, the library is in the center of this beautiful Midwest town.

Image provided by Jerrah Biggerstaff via Trover.com

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

Oklahoma City is a great Midwest city with southern flair. It has great hotels like Courtyard by Marriott Oklahoma City Downtown, and a style all its own. While national tragedies may not be first on your list of family sites to see, I would disagree. I learn so much from spending time at the 9/11 Memorial in New York, and suspect I would have a similar experience here. The mangled foundation shows the destruction, while opposite the reflecting pool you see the representation of life.

Image provided by Eric Ianuzi via Trover.com

Novi, Michigan

Novi is a small city in southern Michigan. I found it fascinating that Novi has a large Japanese population relative to other cities in the United States.  The Japanese influence is apparent everywhere in the city. There are Japanese books in the public library, and schools offer enrollment forms in Japanese. The hospitals, public buildings and hotels in Novi all have Japanese materials. It has helped the economy by bringing several Japanese businesses to the area. You can find some of the best Japanese food in the Midwest here.

Grand Rapids, Michigan

The Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park is a beautiful oasis in Grand Rapids, Michigan. The grounds have beautiful trails with permanent and temporary exhibits for you to get up close and personal with. A beautiful replica of a traditional Japanese garden is a must see, and the kids will love the interactive exhibit in the Children’s Garden. I’m hoping to time my visit to catch a concert at the beautiful amphitheater. Choose from the many excellent hotels nearby to make your visit even more enjoyable.

 

Image provided by Kyle Herlein via Trover.com

Have you been to any of these Midwest cities?