Interstate 90 (AKA I-90), is a coast-to-coast, transcontinental freeway, and America's longest Interstate Highway. Unless you've only traveled around the southern portion of America, you've probably hopped on and off I-90 at some point, whether around Boston, Chicago or Seattle. The freeway is a whopping 3,020 miles. In the East I-90 begins right by Boston's Logan Airport, passes through the Continental Divide by Butte, Montana and ends in Seattle, near Safeco and CenturyLink Field. These are a few of the best I-90 road trip stops.
Long Island City, New York, United States
When you pass through Willoughby why not take a walk on the spooky side... The Willoughby Ghost Walk tours operate from June through October and provide guided walking tours of downtown Willoughby. You'll learn all about the haunted history of the town, and learn the legends of and strange phenomena that have been reported over the years. The tour covers 12 blocks and lasts just under two hours.
If you're a fan of Superman (the movies, but most especially the comics), then make the pilgrimage to the home of Jerry Siegal, the creator of Superman. Outside the home you can see a sign and the iconic Superman logo commemorating the home's previous owner. Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster came up with the idea of a hero with superpowers in 1933, both boys were lived on the same street and were from immigrant Jewish families. The current owners of the home where Superman was "born" are quite friendly to people on Superman pilgrimages, and scattered throughout the property is superman memorabilia.
If you're a fan of the movie "A Christmas Story" then it's essential that you stop at the house where the film was shot. It's located on West 11th Street in Cleveland and offers tours of the home, and they encourage you to touch the exhibits, and even recreate your favorite scenes for photos. The tour can run you around an hour, so if you have the time it's almost as good as actually being in the movie.
When you're ready to stretch your legs, stop at Pokagon State Park, near Angola, Indiana. The name for the park comes from Leopold and Simon Pokagon, the last two leaders of the Potawatomi tribe. If you're looking to spend the night, you should check into the Potawatomi Inn, a pretty popular Midwest resort lodge. Throughout the park you'll find beautiful stone and log structures, wide open fields and meadows, rolling hills and even wetlands.
Detour to Washington Park Beach in Michigan City, and visit the Michigan City Lighthouse and take a walk on the boardwalk. There's also a seven acre zoo just across the street from the beach, and playgrounds for little ones. The park is open from 6am to 10pm, and costs $2 during the weekday and $5 on weekends. There's also loads of parking.
If you love Saturday Night Live, or just really dig improv comedy, then you need to visit the Mecca of improv at The Second City in Chicago. This is where the best SNL cast members got their start. TIP: If you purchase tickets through the Second City website you can usually get a great deal on a restaurant nearby at the same time. Dinner and a show in Chicago! The perfect night!
Lake Kegonsa State Park is considered "one of the best-kept secrets of southern Wisconsin." And that's no surprise. This state park features a 3,200-acre lake, woodlands, a swimming beach, fishing, a boat launch and campground. There are tons of hiking trails and picnic places in case you just wanted to get out of the car and stretch your legs.
Next up: Quirky roadside photo op alert! There's a massive Pink Elephant wearing glasses at a gas station. His name is "Pinkie" and he was installed in the late 1970s at the gas station, now a Citgo.
If you're still in the mood for some more offbeat adventuring, head to the Circus World Museum in Baraboo, Wisconsin. This town was where the Ringling Bros. Circus was founded in 1884 by five brothers. In fact, they named the "winter quarters" for the circus, Ringlingville. Several buildings were built along the Baraboo River between 1897 and 1918, and today they make up America's "largest surviving group of original circus structures." Here you can see memorabilia and learn all about circus history, which is actually pretty interesting. And if you want a good book to read on the road, Katherine Dunn's "Geek Love", will definitely get you in the mood to fully enjoy your time at the Circus World Museum.
From clowns to witches...over in Wisconsin Dells, skip the theme parks and water parks and head to the Witches Gulch, it's like something out of Lord of the Rings. Admission to get in is just $5 and it's an absolutely breathtaking geological wonder. The Gulch is a slot canyon that surrounded by lush woodland. It's pet-friendly and definitely worth a visit if you're in the area.
If you're still in the mood for some outdoor fun, your next stop is Mill Bluff State Park near Camp Douglas, Wisconsin. This state park has beautiful, towering bluffs, swimming areas, a campground and plenty of places to hike or relax after a long day of driving.
Then, head down County Highway Q, just off I-90 to visit the FAST Fiberglass Mold Graveyard. This is a super quirky stop and a totally fun place to wander around and snap pictures. The grounds are full of molds that were used for all those iconic fiberglass roadside giants that dot the country (especially on iconic, classic routes like Route 66). It's free to walk around, just pull into the visitors area, and be courteous, respectful and don't climb on anything, because they're still a working Fiberglass shop. This is a great place to check out, totally off-the-beaten path.
If you've got a sweet tooth, then do yourself a favor and visit The Pearl Ice Cream Parlor and Confectionary in La Crosse. Here you can sit back and imagine you're in the early 1900s, just enjoying a fountain soda, made from scratch in an old-fashioned soda shop. They also have handmade chocolates, and a candy selection that's to-die-for.
Once you hop the border to Minnesota, pull into the SPAM Museum in Austin. Even if you're not a fan of SPAM this is a pretty cool museum that covers the history of this processed meat. Also, there's loads of SPAM merchandise in the gift shop (hello Christmas presents!). If you do enjoy SPAM, there's often a vendor out front selling SPAM burgers.
TIPS FOR DRIVING ACROSS I-90: Depending on the time of year you decide to conquer I-90, it's important to note that weather can affect your journey. Snow and high winds will plague you from Minnesota to Montana, especially in the winter. Snow plows do a pretty good job, but if there's a storm, you could get stuck, so just be prepared before setting out for this trip. Also, keep in mind that between Rapid City and the Black Hills, you'll be at an exceptionally high elevation, which means it's a bit more cold in this area. So, pack accordingly, depending on the time of year. In fact, during deep winter, you can expect sub-zero temperatures across South Dakota, Wyoming and Montana. So, absolutely remember your anti-freeze, snow tires, and don't let yourself run low on gas.