American Landscapes: Midwest Parks

Cabin O Pines is a resort located on the shores of Pelican Lake. Campsites and cabins, boat rentals, and hiking make this a great home base for exploring the forested wilderness of northern Minnesota. Pro tip: To get a different view of the landscape, take a float plane tour!

Pattison State Park is a forested gem that is a perfect retreat into nature. The secluded campgrounds are an awesome place to spend the night, but the coolest feature of the park is its waterfalls. Pattison is home to the tallest waterfall in Wisconsin, Big Manitou Falls, as well as to the smaller Little Manitou Falls, and has several trails offering various views of the waterfalls.

Okay, so there are a ton of farms in the Midwest... but if you camp out at Wisconsin's Red Barn Campground, you'll leave with a new appreciation for the region's farming past. Mini-golf, hay rides, animals that you can feed and pet, a merry-go-round, and, of course, the activity room in the refurbished barn will provide endless fun before you drift off to sleep at your campsite!

Lakes, moraines, rolling fields, and trails galore can be found at Chippewa Moraine State Recreation Area. Also, the Ice Age National Scenic Trail passes through the park. The flat, wide-open landscapes and rich soil for growing lush greenery across the region are all courtesy of the Ice Age, so stop by the visitor center here to learn more about the prehistoric past of the Midwest.

The Great Lakes are a main feature of the Midwest. The massive freshwater bodies of water provide sandy shores, rugged coastline, excellent boating opportunities, and, of course, sand dunes, which are always fun to hike. Indiana Dunes State Park offers swimming and hiking as well as rolling dunes to climb and jump off of. And if you find yourself spending more time here than planned, get a site at the Indiana Dunes Campground and make a day of it!

Another lakeshore beach on Lake Michigan, Warren Dunes State Park has great sandboarding and sledding and beautiful foliage in the fall, which is best enjoyed on a hike along one of the park's winding trails. You'll find a campground here, as well.

Lake Hudson State Recreation Area offers the swimming, boating, fishing, forest hiking, and camping you'll find at many parks across Michigan, but what sets it apart from other spots is its designation as an International Dark Sky Preserve. That means that it's recognized as offering outstanding stargazing, thanks to its remote location and lack of light pollution. Bring a telescope or binoculars if you have them, and enjoy the views after the sun sets!

Pull into the Timber Ridge Campground for a fun overnight stay! Ice cream socials, weekly bingo, an arcade, an indoor pool, and tons more, all set in the scenic forests of northern Ohio, make this the perfect stopover on your way to Cuyahoga Valley National Park!