The Midwest's Best Attractions in 2024 According to Trip Advisor

Looking for a weekend getaway here in the Midwest? Look no further! Trip Advisor's Travelers' Choice Awards for 2024 have been revealed, and we took a look at some of the "best of the best" attractions and experiences in the 'Things to Do' category. Here are all the places and tours recognized from the Midwest:

Top Attractions:

# 17 - Taliesin Preservation/Frank Lloyd Wright Visitor Center
- Spring Green, Wisconsin
- 5-stars on Trip Advisor (4,506 reviews)
- "Taliesin is the name of Frank Lloyd Wright’s 37,000-square-foot home, studio, school, and 800-acre estate that includes buildings from nearly every decade of Wright’s career from the 1890s to the 1950s."

# 18 - The Art Institute of Chicago
- Chicago, Illinois
- 5-stars on Trip Advisor (24,596 reviews)
- "Founded in 1879, the Art Institute of Chicago is one of the world’s major museums, housing an extraordinary collection of objects from across places, cultures, and time. We are also a place of active learning for all—dedicated to investigation, innovation, education, and dialogue—continually aspiring to greater public service and civic engagement."

# 22 - The Gateway Arch
- Saint Louis, Missouri
- 4.5-stars on Trip Advisor (12,739 reviews)
- "Attractions include the Tram Ride to the Top of the Gateway Arch, the Museum at the Gateway Arch (opened July 3, 2018), a documentary film about the construction of the Arch, shopping at The Arch Store, a new Arch Cafe, and cruises aboard the Riverboats at the Gateway Arch."

# 24 - Mount Rushmore National Memorial
- Keystone, South Dakota
- 4.5-stars on Trip Advisor (11,939 reviews)
- "Majestic figures of George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt and Abraham Lincoln, surrounded by the beauty of the Black Hills of South Dakota, tell the story of the birth, growth, development and preservation of this country. From the history of the first inhabitants to the diversity of America today, Mount Rushmore brings visitors face to face with the rich heritage we all share."

Top Experiences:

# 16 - Chicago Architecture Center River Cruise aboard Chicago's First Lady
- Chicago, Illinois
- 5-stars on Trip Advisor (1,884 reviews)
- "Highly trained and enthusiastic volunteer CAC docents (guides) provide visitors with a compelling and detailed narrative of Chicago's numerous architectural styles and the stories of the legendary figures who designed and built our city. Enjoy cruising in comfort and style aboard Chicago’s Finest Fleet, featuring unobstructed sightlines and guaranteed seating on our open-air upper decks and full-service cocktail and snack bars in our climate-controlled interior salons. You’ll see why visitors and locals alike consistently name our tour the best way to see Chicago."

Amusement/Water Parks:

#12 - Silver Dollar City
- Branson, Missouri
- 4.5 stars on Trip Advisor (12,262 reviews)

#17 - Noah's Ark Water Park
- Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin
- 4-stars on Trip Advisor (2,924 reviews)

#18 - Cedar Point
- Sandusky, Ohio
- 4.5-stars on Trip Advisor (9,269 reviews)

#23 - Kings Island
- Mason, Ohio
- 4-stars on Trip Advisor (2,971 reviews)

Cultural & Historic Activities:

10. Chicago Architecture Walking Tour: Dazzling Interiors of the Loop
- Chicago, Illinois
- 5-stars on Trip Advisor (639 reviews)
- "Inside Chicago Walking Tours has scoured the Loop and carefully selected a number of buildings worth visiting for their interior architectural details, buildings that offer tourists the opportunity to enjoy over two centuries’ worth of hidden architectural wonders lying just behind closed doors. On these walking tours, you’ll be amazed at the beauty beyond the façade that everyone else sees. With Inside Chicago Walking Tours, you’ll get to know Chicago like you’ve never known it before!"

17. Guided Walking Tour: Downtown Highlights
- Cleveland, Ohio
- 5-stars on Trip Advisor (260 reviews)
- "This tour covers all the highlights from Public Square to Playhouse Square and everything in between. The tour discusses a brief history of Cleveland. As we journey, we discuss the Old Stone Church, Terminal Tower, the Soldiers and Sailors Monument, the Cleveland Public Library, the Federal Reserve of Cleveland, Playhouse Square, with visits inside the Arcade and the Cleveland Trust Company Building (Heinen's)."

20. Chicago in a Day: Food, History and Architecture Walking Tour
- Chicago, Illinois
- 5-starr on Trip Advisor (357 reviews)
- "An excellent choice for first-time visitors, this tour provides a comprehensive overview of the city and hits on both classic attractions and little-known sites. Beginning at the Chicago Theatre, work your way to the Chicago Pedway, an elaborate network of underground tunnels used by locals and commuters. Stroll the Chicago Riverwalk and see Millennium Park; then, embark on a food tour to taste some of the city’s famous foods."

Food & Drink Activities:

#4 - 5-Hour Traverse City Wine Tour: 4 Wineries on Old Mission Peninsula
Traverse City
- Grand Traverse County, Michigan
- 5-stars on Trip Advisor (1,381 reviews)
- "Enjoy a Winery Tour on Traverse City’s stunning Old Mission Peninsula. With its gentle sloping hills and crystal blue bay views on either side, the Peninsula is our 19-mile slice of heaven. Weather you visit Summer, Fall, Spring, or Winter, the drive up Center Road is filled with stunning landscapes, boundless cherry trees, sweeping vines and, of course, plenty of Northern Michigan charm."

#7 - Chicago's Delicious Donut Adventure with Underground Donut Tour
- Chicago, Illinois
- 5-stars on Trip Advisor (667 reviews)
- "Indulge your sweet tooth while in Chicago with a tour dedicated to the city’s most delicious donuts! Meet up with your donut-loving guide in the morning at Chicago's original artisan donut shop, Doughnut Vault, visit donut shops around the Chicago Loop, and sample Chicago’s most decadent donuts. Tastings are included so you can enjoy classic glazed and cream-filled donuts, taste inventive new flavors, or tuck into a vegan donut."

#10 - Chicago Favorites Ultimate Food and Walking Tour
- Chicago, Illinois
- 5-stars on Trip Advisor (567 reviews)
- "Combine tastes of Chicago's most famous foods with stops at local must-see landmarks on a single tour. Instead of spending the day chasing down these foods and highlights on your own, save valuable vacation time by leaving the navigation to someone else. Learn all you ever wanted to know about Chicago's history, through guide commentary over the course of a 1.5-mile (2.4-kilometer) walk."