Midwest family vacations in the fall is a great way to spend a weekend, week, or an extended road trip with your kids.  Midwest fall getaways are great for building family memories and are found around every corner.  This list is compiled from individuals who know the ins and outs in the Midwest.

Hi! Are you new to my site, I’m Tiffany the founder and content creator here at Mommy And Me Travels.  I’m excited to help you get started planning your midwest family vacations with the below list of 6 family fun Midwest places to start your family exploring.  This list will having you wanting to jump in the car and head for a scenic drive to find a small town to roam through, a large city to explore, a national park to visit, and so much more.  Your options truly are endless when planning your midwest fall getaways. Also, after you finish this article don’t miss checking out all of our other Family Fun Adventures Around The USA.

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Picture Provided By Sara From WanderMoore

Lewis Farms in New Era, MI

Recommended By Sara from WanderMoore

Located in New Era, Michigan, Lewis Adventure Farm and Zoo is the perfect place for a family fall outing! They grow much of their own produce including apples, peaches, and Michigan cherries.  In the fall, families can enjoy a tractor ride to their orchard to go apple picking. They have apples of all kinds including Macintosh, Gala, and Golden Delicious. Lewis’s also has the opportunity to pick out pumpkins of all kinds! Some of the best are their specialty pumpkins which come in white and green as well as the traditional orange.

In addition to the traditional fall activities, Lewis’s has tons of cool things for kiddos of all ages, including a petting zoo complete with Peacocks, Donkeys, and a baby Camel!  They have over 100 animals in total. Plus, a jumping pillow, carousel, barrel train, numerous play-gyms, an apple cannon range, a giant slide, carnival games and so much more!  On the weekends, they have fun shows including the pig races and a dog show. They boast 46 total farm fun activities!

Special in the fall, Lewis’s hold several events with special attractions. A few of them include Princess and Superhero Weekend, The Sunflower Festival, and The Fall Fun Festival which includes a candy cannon that drops tons of candy for the kiddos to grab.

Lewis Adventure Farm and Zoo can’t be missed this fall in the Mid-West!

Picture Provided By Patti from The Savvy Globetrotter

Chicago, IL Midwest Family Vacation Ideas

Recommended by Patti from The Savvy Globetrotter

Chicago is one of the top Midwest fall destinations for families. While Chicago is a great city to visit year round, fall is one of the best seasons to visit with kids for beautiful scenery, pleasant weather, fewer crowds and fun fall themed attractions and events.

An architecture river cruise is a must when visiting Chicago and a great way to view the beautiful skyline and impressive architecture. Another must see attractions is the Chicago Riverwalk where families can sit outside, relax and enjoy the view or take a leisurely walk next to the river. While too cool for swimming or sunbathing, fall is a great time for families to walk or bike along the lakefront and kids to dig and play in the sand at one the many Lake Michigan beaches.

Chicago has many parks and green spaces for kids to play in while adults enjoy the fall colors, including Millennium Park and Lincoln Park in the heart of the city. The famous Cloud Gate (also called the Bean) is a top attraction for families anytime but is even more picturesque in the fall with colorful leaves on the surrounding trees. Make sure to visit adjacent Maggie Daley Park, a large public park with several different play areas and attractions that kids will love. Another family friendly attraction is the free Lincoln Park Zoo which is decorated with pumpkins for the season.

For fall themed activities in Chicago, there are pumpkin patches in the city. You can also drive to the suburbs where you can find several farms and orchards with pumpkin patches, corn mazes and apple picking.

Picture Provided By Katie from Zen Life And Travel

Columbus, OH Fall Activities For Kids

Recommended By Katie from Zen Life And Travel

There are so many fun things to do in Columbus, Ohio and fall is a great time of year to visit. In the fall, the weather is lovely and there are lots of family-friendly activities around town.

First, you’ll want to go apple picking. Lynd Fruit Farm in Pataskala is a local favorite. There you’ll not only find pick-your-own apples but there’s also a great market that sells produce, local meats and cheeses, snacks, flowers, pumpkins, and more. Throughout the fall, there are also special activities available like a corn maze and apple cannons!

The Columbus Zoo and Aquarium, located in Powell, is another great place to visit in the fall. If you’re in town around Halloween, be sure to check out Boo at the Zoo. This fun Halloween celebration happens on select weekends and includes special extended hours, costumes, and family-friendly spooky fun.  Boo at the Zoo is included in your zoo admission — just be sure to make a reservation for your visit before you go. Regardless of when you visit, you’ll see why The Columbus Zoo and Aquarium is often rated as one of the best in the country.

Another great activity in the fall is leaf peeping in one of Columbus’ great metro parks. The Columbus metro park system consists of 19 parks covering over 27,000 acres of land. You’ll find miles and miles of walking trails along with playgrounds and lush scenery to take in the beautiful fall colors.  Explore all of the great parks with a fun family scavenger hunt. 

Finally, be sure to stop for a delicious fall-flavored treat. Jacquemin Farms, located in Plain City, has the best pumpkin donuts you’ll ever have. They’re only available on Saturdays and they’re popular so plan to go early to make sure you don’t miss out.

I hope you and your family have a great time at this fall getaways midwest destination of Columbus, Ohio.  Book your Columbus Scavenger Hunt Adventure here!

Picture Provided By Paulina From Paulina On The Road

Ozaukee County, WI Fall Family Activities

Recommended By Paulina from Paulina On The Road

One of the smallest land area counties from Wisconsin is Ozaukee County, located just 25 miles from Lake Michigan’s western shores. When you take a step back from your busy life in metropolitan cities, make sure you give Ozaukee County a chance to entertain your holidays. There are several tourist attractions in the local area which can help you spend your time with ease. You can check out Cedarburg artists guild inc, representing an entire spectrum of visual arts, library, and performing arts.

Another place that you cannot skip is the Luxembourgish Heritage center which traces back the history of thousands and thousands of emigrants to Wisconsin.

From here, you can also buy affordable gifts for outdoor lovers such as souvenirs taken out from Lake Michigan. In addition to this, the county is home to some of the most popular candy and chocolate stores in the Wisconsin area. With shops like a chocolate chisel and Amy’s candy kitchen, you and your family can get mouthfuls of caramel apple candies that can make even a grown-up man smile from joy. Each year the county’s non-profit organization Gathering organizes music festivals in July. The funds collected from the concert will be used throughout the year to help clinics and provide scholarship funds to kids. If you want to take a dip in Michigan lake, you can rent a car and visit Harrington beach state park.

Harrington beach state park occupies 702 acres of land on the shores of Michigan lake, where you can set up your picnic mats and camping tents. In addition to this, your midwest family vacation can include enjoying a friendly volleyball match or exploring a hiking trail to see the fantastic sunset from the nearby hills.

Picture Provided By Tom From MN Trips

North Shore of Lake Superior, MN

Recommended By Tom from MN Trips

The North Shore of Lake Superior is not one destination. It’s many with many different aspects. From the city atmosphere of Duluth to some of the most remote wilderness in North America, there’s something for all families to enjoy.

Duluth is a touch point and has many family-oriented activities. Of special note is the Great Lakes Aquarium, the only U.S. aquarium that focuses on freshwater exhibits. Particularly fun for the kids is the immersive nature of the exhibits. It’s like you’re underwater with the fish. The other big attraction in Duluth is the waterfront at Canal Park. From there, you’ll see the huge ore boats ply the narrow Canal on their way to and from their journeys to the steel mills in the eastern U.S.

Many families agree that the real attraction during your midwest family vacations is the North Shore itself. Counting the spectacular Jay Cooke State Park just south of Duluth that surrounds the rushing Saint Louis River there are nine Minnesota State Parks that line the shore all the way to the Canadian Border. All of them have waterfalls within relatively easy hiking distance from the parking areas.

One particularly interesting site is the Devil’s Kettle falls at Judge C.R. Magney State Park near Grand Marais. There you can hike a mile to see a waterfall that splits at a rock outcropping. Half the falls tumble to the river below, but the other half fall into a large hole–and there’s no obvious point of exit. A true geological mystery.

Another North Shore attraction of particular interest is the Grand Portage National Monument near the Canadian Border. A reconstructed trading post and Ojibwe camp will give you a great intro to what the earliest natives and settlers in Minnesota were doing more than 200 years ago.

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St Louis Fall Activities For Kids

Recommended by Tiffany from Mommy And Me Travels

St Louis, MO is a hidden treasure right in the heart of the Midwest.  Here families can enjoy the many fall festivals, fun indoor activities such as the City Museum and Union Station, and tingle their tastebuds with an array of food from around the world that stretch from french cuisine to award winning barbecue.  Enjoy a wonderful array of food and book your tours now…. The Delmar Loop Food Tour and/or The Central West End Food Tour

St Louis is known as the gateway between the east and west.  This is signified by the national monument of the Gateway Arch.  Visitors to the city are mesmerized by the arch’s unique design and height along the Mississippi river.  A trip to St Louis is not complete until you take a trip up to the top inside of a sphere shaped tram.

Families enjoying a midwest fall getaway to St Louis should definitely add a stop at the City Museum and Union Station.  The City Museum is a large indoor and outdoor play area.  Families are able to explore every nook and cranny as they crawl through tunnels, slide down slides, and get lost in the maze of obstacles.  A trip to Union Station includes a spin on the largest midwest observation wheel, climbing through the rafters of the rope course, and visiting the newest St Louis aquarium.

Needing a place to stay?  Check out the Embassy Suites on Washington Street, Hyatt Regency for a great view of the Arch day and night, or the elegant Chase Park Plaza Hotel for an upscale experience. There is so much to see and do in St Louis, MO since it is a small city with a big city feel, making it a great destination for your next Midwest family vacations.

Wrap Up Of Best Midwest Family Vacations To Explore In The Fall

This list of fun midwest family vacations is just the starting point of many locations for you to explore and visit during your midwest fall getaways.  Have you been to any of them?  Do you recommend another locations for families to consider for a midwest family vacation?  Let us know in the comments so we all can get exploring.

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