June 2012
By Penny Pollack
By Ann Christenson, Noah Isackson, Lena Singer, and Jennifer Tanaka
WILL DRIVE FOR FOOD: Craving a road trip? These five towns have it all: great scenery, lots of things to do for the whole family, and—here's what's new—amazing restaurants and artisanal foods, beers, and wines that will keep you happy no matter what you're hungry for. Best of all, they're all reachable by car. Find out who our winners are, listed by distance from Chicago. Read more
Think you know Milwaukee? You may be in for a surprise. The food scene has blossomed in recent years—from excellent fine dining to great grazing. And summer is the best time to visit: Bikers and joggers animate the lakefront paths, sailboats and kitesurfers glide across the horizon, and neighborhoods hum with life. Summerfest, the city’s gargantuan 11-day outdoor music festival, starts on June 27. Read more
Exquisitely situated on an isthmus between two glittering lakes, Wisconsin’s capital is a haven for its outdoor-loving residents. The behemoth University of Wisconsin anchors the center of town, which may be why so much of the action clusters near the hilly campus and flows east toward Capitol Square. On Wednesdays in June and July, locals gather at the square for open-air concerts under the stars. On Saturdays, the Dane County Farmers’ Market—with its seemingly endless rows of vibrant produce and other locavore goodies—takes over. The market, perhaps the best in the country, is only one of many reasons to go. Read more
Long considered only a stopover on the way to Nashville, Louisville has exploded in the past few years—but still maintains its relaxed Southern vibe. New businesses pack East Market Street (see “Hot Hood,” below), bringing bona fide buzz to the downtown area, and neighborhoods are hopping with fun new destinations. The Kentucky Derby overruns the city in May, so do the smart thing and visit after the chaos subsides. You’ll find hotel rooms galore and the best seats at all the hot spots. Read more
Michigan’s Harbor Country—the 15-mile stretch of charming small towns from the state line north to Sawyer—is known for its white sand beaches and excellent antiquing. But lately the hottest game in town is food and drink. A recently opened industrial-chic distillery and tasting room in Three Oaks (see “Hot Hood,” below) joins farm-to-table bistros and nifty markets along the Red Arrow Highway. Take this tree-lined, sun-dappled route for a drive that runs parallel to Lake Michigan. Stop often and take the side roads—straight to the water. Read more
Michigan’s Leelanau Peninsula—a relatively narrow outcropping just north of Traverse City, with its collection of lakeside towns, farms, beaches, and rolling hills—was a fairly well-kept secret until
a few years ago. That’s when Mario Batali, the New York-based celebrity chef who has a summer home in Northport, started promoting the farm-to-table restaurants, cafés, shops, and farmers’ markets like only a TV personality can. The buzz is deserved and the peninsula’s towns are thriving on the attention. Connecting them all is M-22, a gorgeous stretch of road that follows Lake Michigan. Read more
From the white sand beaches of Harbor Country in Michigan to the bourbon distilleries in Louisville, Kentucky, check out pics of the must-go spots in this summer's destinations Read more
By Penny Pollack, Jeff Ruby, and Carly Boers
CHICAGOMAG.COM EXCLUSIVE: Beyond the Midwest, where do our resident foodies go for great eats? After visiting three great towns, our critics give their recommendations. Read more