10 Midwest Cities Worth Exploring

What Milwaukee's downtown has accomplished over the past decade is staggering. Whether it's that the unintentional irony of the city's culture has just suddenly become invogue or just more people are figuring out the delight of things like fried cheese curds, sausage plates and insane Bloody Mary's, Milwaukee is genuinely one of the coolest cities in the country and people are finally getting it.

One of the smaller cities on this list, G.R. enjoyed a fair bit of a culture boom around the turn of the century thanks to the American Pie movies as well as a bit of a renaissance in nearby places like Holland and Muskegon. Yet, the recession hit Michigan hard, and Grand Rapids is just now clawing its way back into an amazing place to hang out. Within the city, there's amazing culture. A short drive outside the city limits, and the nature lover in you will take over.

Chicago holds the distinction of the first city I fell in love with thanks to road trips with my dad as a youngster. Whether it's world-famous museums, zoos and aquariums, sporting events, shopping or just grabbing a hotdog, Chicago has something for everyone in a unique fashion that underscores its vibe as America's "Second City." Underrated facet of the food scene: Thanks to celebrity chef Rick Bayless, you can get some of the country's finest Mexican food in Chicago as well.

What Indianapolis lacks in street cred, it makes up for in a genuinely awesome downtown area that is so centrally located, one can spend any number of trips simply walking between locations with no need for any sort of transportation. Thanks to some wonderful civic engineering, indoor walking options make this true in the winter as well!

Another city planned out for easy commutes in any weather, Minneapolis has long been a bit of a cultural oasis in the middle of less-diverse climes. However, the city's foodie scene has always been vastly underrated (It's more than SPAM and lutefisk!) and both the nightlife scene and downtown area have taken turns for the better.

Look, Detroit's bad rap was largely self-inflicted and-for years-deserved.

That was then, though, and this is now.

All over, hollowed out neighborhoods are being reclaimed by new residents with a sense of pride seemingly innate to the Motor City. The history of numerous eras is starting to shine through. Sports teams are moving back into the city from the suburbs and commerce is following suit. Bonus: Detroit truly shines for business travelers and is one of the country's most underrated meetings destinations.

Between the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the Pro Football Hall of Fame in nearby Canton, there's a good chance just about anyone could find something to do in Cleveland that fits their interests. However, even if those two things don't call to you, the town has a vibrant and beautiful downtown area and a growing arts scene.

Get past the iconic arch in the photo above, and most people probably don't know a lot of what St. Louis offers besides a less-than-inspiring brewing scene in today's craft beer boom. The clincher for my family is that one of the best zoos in the country happens to sit in St. Louis and also happens to be entirely free.

One word: BBQ.

If for no other reason, that alone should draw more people to Kansas City. However, fill your trip with the city's underrated music scene, awesome culture and a lot more history than one would guess. For instance, the WWI National Museum, Negro League Baseball Museum and American Jazz Museum are all in K.C. So, bring wet naps, sure, but also bring your walking shoes.

NFL fans of all stripes (even those from rivals) can appreciate the hallowed reverance of one of the NFL's oldest locales. However, even without the Packers connection, Northern Wisconsin has a ton to offer from Green Bay proper to nearby places like Appleton and Manitowoc. Head to Bay Beach, one of the most unique amusement parks in the country. Take in a Friday night Fish Fry. Drink a cold Wisconsin beer. Then, wonder why you don't do all of this more often.