Top 12 Unusual Destinations to Visit in the Great Lakes

The Great
Lakes region of the United States may very well be the best area of the
country to visit during the summer months. The six states that comprise the
Great Lakes offer something unique to visitors, from dense forests, to
pristine lakes off the beaten path. Whether you are camping in a tent or an
RV, you will find a large number of quality campgrounds to choose from. Take
your time to soak in the beauty of this incredible region, and make sure to
check out these top 12 unusual destinations along the way.

Wisconsin

1.) Wells Top Secret:
Upside-Down White House– The Wisconsin Dells, a
mile-long stretch of unique motels and odd tourist traps, attracts millions
of visitors every year to spend time in one of America’s most over the top
destinations. There is truly something for everyone in Central Wisconsin, but
the most interesting and mysterious attraction is without a doubt the Top Secret
Upside-Down White House.

This odd attraction is a true
mystery, even to those that have taken the tour. The guides walk visitors
through the inverted rooms, explaining their significance and history. There
is an oval office filled with robotic presidents, a storage room filled with
watergate documents, and even a rotating “decontamination” room.
It’s said that the tour guides are encouraged to improvise on the spot, so
take their information with a grain of salt.

2.)
National
Dairy Shrine Visitors Center– Wisconsin has a long
and treasured history as one of the premier states for dairy production.
Everything from cheese to yogurt is cultivated in abundance here, and that’s
something Wisconsin is proud of.

The best place to learn
about the history of Wisconsin’s favorite food group is at the National Dairy
Shrine Visitor’s Center in Fort Atkinson, southern Wisconsin. Granted, a trip
to a dairy museum may not sound like the most exciting place to visit, but
there is a great deal of interesting information
here.

Visitors can learn about the history of ice cream,
how butter used to be churned, and the many different ways that humans have
developed acquiring dairy products over the years.

(Upside-Down White House, My Lil’
Rotten)

Michigan

3.) The Henry
Ford Museum– One of the largest history museums in
the country, the Henry Ford Museum has transformed from a drab collection of
unorganized automobiles to a popular attraction worth visiting by anyone in
the state of Michigan. The museum is filled with many of Fords original car
concepts including the Ford X-11 50th anniversary automobile. There are also
a number of historical artifacts on display, most notably the car that
President JFK was killed in, and the chair that President Lincoln sat in when
he was shot. The museum is a great place to learn more about the history of
America’s original car pioneer and the incredible progress that has been made
in the automobile industry.

4.) Frederik Meijer Gardens and
Sculpture Park– The Frederik Meijer Gardens were
recently ranked in the top 100 most visited art museums in the world, and
it’s no surprise why. The park is a massive 158 acres, filled with incredible
sculptures from as early as the mid 1800’s to present day. Some of the
notable artists with their work on display include Rodin and Degas. The
gardens are divided into a number of separate exhibitions. Some of the most
popular include a beautiful 8 acre Japanese garden and a stunning butterfly
exhibit. The summer is a great time to visit this park, so head to Grand
Rapids in western Michigan and find out for yourself what makes this place so
popular.

(Mrederik Meijer Gardens, Rachel
Kramer)

Illinois

5.) Ahlgrim Family
Miniature Golf Course– Miniature golf courses are
known to have some unique settings, but perhaps the most unusual is found in
Palatine, northeastern Illinois. Construction of the course began in 1964,
when Mr. Roger Ahlgrim noticed he had a vacant room in the basement of his
newly bought funeral home. Ahlgrim loved miniature golf, and began creating a
course in the room for his family and staff to play in during breaks. Over
the years the construction expanded, and is now a full 9-hole miniature golf
course. In addition to the golf course, the room also contains a number of
arcade games and a full shuffle board.

6.)
McDonalds
Museum & Store #1– Fast food and McDonalds
are synonymous with each other. Since the first store was created in 1940,
the company has expanded to 119 countries with over 35,000 outlets serving
over 68 million customers daily. In 1955, Ray Croc opened the first McDonalds
as an affiliate in Des Plaines, eastern Illinois. Croc had aspirations to
turn the struggling restaurant into a global food chain, and in only three
years, McDonalds had sold over 100 million hamburgers.

The
original restaurant modernized with the times until Crocs death in 1984 when
it was torn down and converted to its original form. The original McDonalds
is now a museum, with display exhibits including the original workers
uniforms, fry vats, and grills. It is filled with old memorabilia that sheds
light on how the company has expanded into the global icon it is today. Of
course it no longer sells food, but a new McDonalds is available right across
the street.

(Forest in Palatine, Illinois, John
Fellner)

Indiana

7.)
RV Museum Hall of
Fame– RV’s are one of the most enjoyable ways to
travel. For over a century, Americans have used RV’s to get around, camp in,
and even live in. The RV Museum Hall of Fame in Elkhart, northern Indiana, is
one of the most interesting places to see the history of RV’s and their role
in American transportation. Visitors are given the opportunity to go inside
many of the old RV’s, an experience that some describe as hopping into a time
machine. This museum is a fascinating place to visit and is well worth
checking out during a trip through
Indiana.

8.) USS
LST Memorial– The USS LST (Landing Ship, Tank) 325
has a long and fascinating history. It saw use during World War 2, arctic
operations in the 1950’s, and was part of the Greek Navy for a period of
time.

In 2001, the ship was restored and presented to the
public in Evansville, southern Indiana, where it stays docked for 11 months
of the year. Tours are given by the crew, and take visitors through the main
deck, troop berthing, tank deck, mess deck, and more. The tours are
approximately 60 minutes long, and explain the history and function of this
incredible ship.

(USS LST 325, U.S. Army
Corps of Engineers Nashville District)

Ohio

9.) National Museum of the
U.S. Air Force– The National Museum of the U.S. Air
Force in Wright Paterson, southwest Ohio, has been labeled as “the
largest free attraction in the state of Ohio.” The museum is a massive
complex of over 100 types of aircrafts used by the United States Air Force.
The exhibits have been divided into different eras of flight, beginning with
the early days of air combat and ending at the modern
era.

There are a number of historical planes to see,
including the World War 2 B-24 “lady be good,” and the B-29
“Bockscar,” the aircraft that dropped the atomic bomb on Nagasaki.
Visiting this free museum is an eye-opening experience, allowing guests to
see some of the most historical airplanes in history, as well as the
advancements that have been made in the United States Air Force.

10.)
Ohio
Caverns– One of Ohio’s oldest tourist attractions
lies 100 feet underneath the ground. The Ohio Caverns were formed thousands
of years ago by an underground river. Crystal stalagmites and stalactites
began to form, and are now spread throughout the cave. These caverns are
especially unique due to the incredible diversity of colors that make up the
walls.

Many people describe the experience of walking
through these caves as surreal, and almost other-worldly. The Ohio Caverns
are found in West Liberty, central Ohio and are open year round, offering
daily tours that take about an hour to complete.

(Inside the National Museum of the U.S.
Air Force, marada)

Minnesota

11.) Lark
Toys– A toy store may not seem like the most
exciting place to visit, but the LARK toy store in Kellogg, southeastern
Minnesota, is anything ordinary. LARK Toys was founded in 1983 by Sarah and
Donn Kreofsky. Their business rapidly began to grow, and soon they were
selling toys to over 2,500 stores nationwide.

The
Kreofsky’s decided to attract visitors to their production store by building
a carousel and a miniature golf course. The plan worked, and LARK Toys was
named the #1 place to visit in Kellogg.

Visitors here enjoy
exploring the numerous toy exhibits, many of which are over 30 years old. It
is a great place to bring the family and relax.

12.)
Character
Challenge Course– Anyone looking for a fun and
challenging adventure should head to Park Rapids in central Minnesota to take
part in one of the most elaborate obstacle courses in the
country.

A team of specialists created the massive course
with all age groups and fitness levels in mind, so anyone capable of climbing
a ladder should be able to complete it. There are a number of obstacles to
complete, including a tree ladder climb, cable bridge, and a 370 foot
zip-line. Safety is the number one concern here, and everyone is fitted with
a wire harness to ensure you are never in danger.

If you
enjoy thrills and want to try something new, head to the Character Challenge
Course and make a memory that will last forever.

(Lake Itasca, Minnesota, Randen
Pederson)