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When in the region, I love visiting Bayfield, Wisconsin, and Starved Rock State Park in Illinois.
I enjoy spending time in downtown Chicago when I'm in the mood for a city adventure.
As an experienced solo traveler who has visited all 50 states and every major US national park, I'm often asked for recommendations on what to do in popular vacation spots across the country.
However, as someone who grew up in Illinois, I love highlighting and recommending some of the impressive spots the Midwest has to offer.
From the dramatic beauty of the Great Lakes to the badlands in the Dakotas, there is a surprising amount of diversity and beauty within what some may consider to be flat land.
Here are some of my favorite things to do in the Midwest.
Visit Bayfield, Wisconsin, for hiking and relaxation.
My favorite thing to do in the Midwest is visit Bayfield, Wisconsin, which is often considered the smallest city in the state.
Located on Lake Superior, Bayfield has a quaint downtown for shopping, plenty of local restaurants, and fantastic outdoor recreation opportunities.
The city is also the gateway to Apostle Islands National Seashore, which offers lots of opportunities for hiking and sea kayaking. I recommend taking a ferry to Madeline Island and Big Bay State Park.
Spend a weekend in downtown Chicago.
Despite being a major city, Chicago doesn't always get enough credit. However, it's one of my favorite spots for a weekend getaway.
When visiting The Windy City, I always make sure to visit Millennium Park β where the iconic Cloud Gate (aka "The Bean") is located β before exploring the nearby Art Institute of Chicago.
I always recommend attending an improv-comedy show at The Second City, which has been a launchpad for "Saturday Night Live" cast members like Tina Fey, Rachel Dratch, and John Belushi.
Whether you're into deep-dish pizza or love exploring neighborhoods like Wicker Park and Hyde Park, Chicago has something for everyone.
Drive North Shore Scenic Drive from Duluth to Grand Portage in Minnesota.
In my opinion, Minnesota is one of the most beautiful states in the country. It's also home to one of my favorite drives β the North Shore Scenic Drive.
The 154-mile drive along Highway 61 starts in Duluth and makes its way along the rugged Lake Superior shoreline, offering breathtaking views, opportunities to stop in charming small towns, and access to some of Minnesota's most iconic outdoor destinations.
My favorite spots to stop are Gooseberry Falls State Park, Split Rock Lighthouse, and Tettegouche State Park.
Hike at Starved Rock State Park in Illinois.
Although Illinois isn't necessarily known for its canyons, waterfalls, or hiking trails, there are many spots to find all three β my favorite being Starved Rock State Park.
The popular park is just around 100 miles southwest of Chicago, making for an easy day trip or weekend getaway from the city.
With 13 miles of trails, 18 canyons, and beautiful seasonal waterfalls, visiting Starved Rock feels like stepping into a different state.
Visit Cahokia Mounds, a UNESCO World Heritage site in Illinois.
Cahokia Mounds, a UNESCO World Heritage site just across the Mississippi River from St. Louis, is an essential stop for anyone fascinated by history, archaeology, or Indigenous culture.
This Illinois state-historic site preserves the remnants of the largest pre-Columbian site north of Mexico. At its height around AD 1100, Cahokia was a thriving metropolis and is believed to have had a population of nearly 20,000 people.
A visit isn't complete without climbing Monks Mound, the largest prehistoric earthen structure in North America, built by the Indigenous people who once lived here. Make it to the top for sweeping views of the surrounding landscape, dotted with 70 preserved mounds.
Hike at Badlands National Park in South Dakota.
South Dakota probably isn't the first state that comes to mind when considering the Midwest. However, this sparsely populated state on the region's westernmost edge is packed with natural beauty.
One of my favorite stops in the state is Badlands National Park, a rugged and awe-inspiring landscape with dramatic scenery of eroded buttes, pinnacles, spires, sprawling grasslands, abundant wildlife, and fossils.
Take a scenic drive or hike through the otherworldly landscape that feels far away from the Midwest.
Donald Trump is set to be sworn in as the next president of the United States on January 20.
Carrie Underwood and Village People have confirmed they will be performing at the event.
Toby Keith and 3 Doors Down played at Trump's first inauguration in 2017.
President-elect Donald Trump is set to be inaugurated on January 20, and his team has enlisted the help of some celebrity acts for the ceremony and related events.
The events are slated to run for four days, starting on January 18. The inauguration has drawn donations from companies including Google, Amazon, and Meta.
Here's a look at the celebrities who have confirmed they will be performing, as well as those who played during his first inauguration in 2017.
A representative for the inaugural committee did not immediately respond to a request for comment from BI.
Carrie Underwood
"I love our country and am honored to have been asked to sing at the Inauguration and to be a small part of this historic event," Carrie Underwood said in a statement to Business Insider on Tuesday. "I am humbled to answer the call at a time when we must all come together in the spirit of unity and looking to the future."
Underwood is set to perform "America the Beautiful" at the inauguration ceremony, a Presidential Inaugural Committee spokesperson told USA Today.
The "American Idol" alum has largely tried to stay out of politics throughout her career.
"I feel like more people try to pin me places politically," Underwood told The Guardian in 2019. "I try to stay far out of politics if possible, at least in public, because nobody wins. It's crazy. Everybody tries to sum everything up and put a bow on it, like it's black and white. And it's not like that."
Village People
On Monday, Village People, the '70s disco band known for hits like "Y.M.C.A." and "Macho Man," announced on its official Facebook page that it would be performing at "various events as part of the 2025 Inauguration of Donald J. Trump."
"We know this wont make some of you happy to hear however we believe that music is to be performed without regard to politics," the group's post read. "Our song Y.M.C.A. is a global anthem that hopefully helps bring the country together after a tumultuous and divided campaign where our preferred candidate lost."
The official website for the Inaugural-Eve Ball, which is set to take place on January 19, features a photo of the group under a banner that says "Confirmed Performances."
The band's decision to perform at the inauguration events is a reversal of its stance from two years ago.
"The performance has, and continues to cause, public confusion as to why Village People would even engage in such a performance," Karen Willis, the band's manager and wife of lead singer Victor Willis, wrote in the letter. "We did not."
A representative for Village People did not immediately respond to a request for comment sent by BI outside regular hours.
Celebrities who performed at Trump's 2017 inauguration
Some A-listers have declined to perform at previous Trump events. Elton John and David Foster were among the celebrities who publicly declined to perform at Trump's inauguration in 2017.
The "Make America Great Again! Welcome Celebration" concert in 2017, held a day before Trump was sworn in as the 45th president, included performances by country star Toby Keith and rock band 3 Doors Down, among others.
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said members have to boost spending.
If not Europeans should "get out your Russian language courses or go to New Zealand," he said.
The security alliance faces an intensified threat from Russia.
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte told members of the security alliance to boost defense spending or prepare to learn Russian.
Speaking at the European Parliament in Strasbourg, France, Monday Rutte told European lawmakers that they have to urgently rethink spending priorities to ensure their security.
It was the latest in a string of calls for Europe to rewire their economies to prioritize defense more heavily, as Russia continues its invasion of Ukraine and President-elect Donald Trump maintains his skepticism of the US underwriting European security.
The line was to illustrate what NATO sees as the intensifying threat from Russia and President Vladimir Putin.
"We are safe now, but not in four or five years," he said.
The alternative to higher spending, he said, was to "get out your Russian language courses or go to New Zealand."
"I'm deeply concerned about the security situation in Europe," he said. "We are not at war, but we are not at peace either ... That means we need to invest more in defense and produce more capabilities. This cannot wait. We need to boost the resilience of our societies and critical infrastructure."
In the wake of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, most members of the security alliance have boosted their military budgets, with 23 of its 32 members now spending 2% of GDP on defense.
The alliance has a 2% GDP defense spending target for members, but for years many lagged well behind this.
President-elect Donald Trump has long berated NATO members for not spending more on their own security β and has called on spending to be raised even further, to 5% of GDP.
The US spends around 3.38% of GDP on defense, and European countries in eastern Europe closer to Russia spend a similar percentage, with Estonia spending 3.43% and Latvia 3.15%.
Poland, which has one of Europe's most powerful militaries and spends 4.1% of GDP on defense, welcomed Trump's 5% spending proposal. Leaders in other countries, including Germany's Chancellor Olaf Scholz, say the target is too high.
Rutte said that, come what may, nations would have to start spending more, with a 3.7% target likely.
During Trump's first term, when he threatened to withdraw from NATO, some European leaders, including France's Emmanuel Macron, said that Europe had to become more self-sufficient in ensuring its security.
NATO members have boosted spending, but the US remains by far the biggest military power of the alliance. Rutte said Monday that Europe would continue to depend on the US for its security.
The Premier League have not charged any club with breaches of Profitability and Sustainability Rules (PSR) for last season, although Leicester City remain the most at risk of further penalties.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has admitted Gabriel Jesus' knee injury is "not looking good," with sources telling ESPN the club fear he will miss the remainder of the season.
Lazio have parted ways with their falconer, the Serie A club said on Monday, after local media reported that he had shared images of his penile implant on social media.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has said "the line has to be drawn" after forward Kai Havertz and his wife received an onslaught of online abuse following the north London club's exit from the FA Cup.
Samsung is in the process of rolling out the first monthly update of 2025 with the January 2025 security patch, and itβs available to quite a few Galaxy devices. Hereβs the list and what you should know.
A security vulnerability has been discovered in the USB-C port controller fitted to the iPhone 15 and 16. However, exploiting it would be so complex that both Apple and the security researcher who discovered it concluded that it is not a real-world threat.
However, a security concern that does pose a threat to iPhone users is a tactic scammers are using to bypass one of Appleβs built-in protections β¦