Family Travel Trifecta: The Best Large Midwest Cities for Families

We’ve compiled a list of the best large Midwest cities for families in the southeastern part of the Midwest — east of St. Louis and south of Chicago. Vacations in large Midwest cities have it all — truly, they are family travel trifectas: affordability – reasonably priced accommodations, restaurants and things to do; easy to get around and navigate; and fun and unique activities.

While these Midwest cities are affordable, here are a couple of tips for saving even more money at museums, zoos and attractions:

• Get a family membership to an Association of Science and Technology Centers’ museum. The beauty of the ATSC Travel Passport Program is that they have a reciprocal program for most sites so if you are a member of an ATSC museum, you can use that membership to get into another “non-local” ATSC center for free.
• Check out Groupons for deals and discounts on attractions in the cities you’re traveling to. I have found several for places on our list.

Chicago with Kids

With masses of museums, Chicago packs a punch for younger families which is why it’s also on our list of the best trips in the U.S. for kids under 10. However, it’s also great for families with older kids. The Museum of Science and Industry is one of our favorite museums anywhere and takes a full day to appreciate. My kiddos love their incredible interactive exhibits like Science Storms where you can create and walk through a mini tornado and their toy making assembly line where you can see a spaceship top being made. 

Another super cool museum in Chicago is the Field Museum, one of the best natural history museums in the world.  It is known for its fantastic dinosaur fossils and bones, including Sue, the largest and best-preserved fossil of a tyrannosaurus rex, as well as ,other natural history exhibits. 

The Midwest doesn’t seem like the place for a world renowned aquarium, but Chicago is the home to the Shedd Aquarium,  is one of the largest in the U.S. and is home to hundreds of sea creatures and gigantic tanks sure to wow young travelers. Our favorite area is the Polar Zone because it features two different types of penguins and Beluga whales. 

If you are ready to get outdoors after exploring the many magnificent museums, Chicago has a ton of options  – walk along Lake Michigan and enjoy some fun games, shops and restaurants, and take a ride in a ferris wheel at Navy Pier (the Chicago Children’s Museum is there, too, with a special section for kids ages four to eight). But, our favorite outdoor space in Chicago is Maggie Daley Park. Fully completed in 2015, Maggie Daley Park has unique playground equipment and rock climbing walls that will keep the kids busy for hours. It’s also walking distance to Millenium Park with the famous Cloud Gate, or “bean”, structure.

Depending on the season and your kids’ love for sports, Chicago’s teams are some of the best known in the US. Wrigley Field, home to the Cubs is a mecca for baseball lovers, but don’t forget that the White Sox play on the southside at Guaranteed Rate Field (formerly the much more historic name of Comniskey Park). Take in a game watching the Chicago Bulls or head to Soldier Field for tailgating and football with the Bears.

 And no trip to Chicago is complete without some Chicago-style, deep dish pizza. Check out Giaodano’s or Lou Malnati’s for a little slice of heaven.

Columbus/Dayton, Ohio with Kids

We had a blast visiting Columbus, Ohio. The home of The Ohio State University definitely lives up to its place on the list of the best large cities in the Midwest for families – affordable, easy to navigate and fun attractions.

The Columbus Zoo and Aquarium is one of the best in the Midwest. With animals from six continents represented, you can get up close and personal with your favorites (ours were there – koalas, penguins, an amazing gorilla exhibit, and elephants). It was surprising to see manatees in Columbus, but sure enough, you could watch the gentle sea cows munching on lettuce leaves.

What we love about the Columbus Zoo (in addition to their animals) are their conservation efforts and education about conservation at many of the animal exhibits. For example, the plight of orangutans and the palm oil industry and the effects of deforestation on Africa and to the gorilla population.

For added fun, the Columbus Zoo has more than 15 amusement park rides and several cool playground areas. We visited in October,much too chilly for a water park, but the attached Zoombezi Bay is a massive water park with giant slides, lazy rivers, wave pools and water coasters.

For budding scientists and the non-scientifically inclined alike, the COSI – Center of Science and Industry is a great way to spend a day.  It has floors and floors of interactive STEM exhibits that are focused on energy (use a stationary bike to generate electricity), water, space (drive a Mars Rover) and more. Are you braver than a sixth grader? The 2rd floor features a non-so-death-defying tightrope unicycle ride high above the lobby. Our 12-year old loved Gadgets Cafe where kids can take apart tons of electronics that have been recycled. They also have do-it-yourself science experiments with all the materials and instructions. Seriously, he would have camped out there all day if there wasn’t more to see in the museum. 

Take a step back to the Jurassic Period at COSI’s American Museum of Natural History Dinosaur Gallery. The exhibit is part of your admission to COSI and features casts and bones from T. Rexes to Triceratops.

If you are visiting Columbus, then you must make the short detour to Dayton.  Only 55 miles away is one of our favorite places anywhere – the awe-inspiring National Museum of the U.S. Air Force. The Museum boasts four airplane hangers and more than 350 aircraft – which are arranged according to date from re-creations of the Wright Brothers early planes to the space age and beyond with a model space shuttle. There are several planes that you can walk through – our favorites were the former Air Force One planes. Imagine walking down the same aisle as many of our U.S. presidents, or standing in the same spot that Lyndon Johnson was when he took the oath of office. Several videos and interactive exhibits help tell the stories of the aircraft housed here. 

I loved that there were history lessons attached to each aircraft – made it a great way for the boys to learn about important events while having fun. It is FREE and worth an entire day to fully explore.

Lastly, head to Columbus’ German Village to experience a beer garden that will make you think you were transported to Munich. Schmidt’s Sausage Haus Restaurant, Valters, and Gemut Biergarten are local favorites, While the kiddos can’t have beer, they’ll love the Bavarian pretzels and cheese. 

Indianapolis with Kids

Our favorite of the best of Midwest cities for families since it’s our hometown. But it truly is an awesome place to visit. I always encourage the first stop in Indianapolis should be the Children’s Museum, the biggest kids’ museum in the world. It is mind-blowingly awesome and worth an entire day devoted to exploring its five floors and outdoor Sports Legends Experience. It has exhibits and interactive activities from Ancient Greece to life-sized dinosaurs to driving in the Indy 500 to exploring the Giza Pyramids and the International Space Station. No matter what your child is interested in, you can find something to dazzle their minds here.

Staying in downtown Indy is a great option. It’s very walkable, with several activities along a beautiful man-made canal at the White River State Park. Depending on your family’s interests, there is an attraction to fit every desire: The Indianapolis Zoo, Indiana State Museum, NCAA Hall of Champions, and the Eiteljorg Museum of American Indians and Western Art all are within an easy walk. Several kid-friendly restaurants are within a stone’s throw of downtown hotels. Cafe Patachou is a favorite – do not miss the cinnamon toast.

Downtown Indy also has several war memorials within a few blocks of each other. In fact, Indianapolis ranks only behind Washington DC in the number of war memorials.  The Soldiers and Sailors Memorial is the marker for the center of Indianapolis on its famous Circle. You can walk or ride up to the top of the 230-foot monument for a one-of-a-kind view of the city. The Indiana War Memorial’s grand limestone structure includes a huge military museum within its walls. 

And, no trip to Indy would be complete without a visit to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, home to the 500-mile race, and the largest (in attendance) sporting event in the world.. There’s a museum where you can see several Indy cars, learn about the history of the race, and kiss the bricks like dozens of winning drivers. You can even take a ride on a bus around the 2.5 mile track.

We may be biased, but Indy is the perfect trifecta for family travel.

Louisville with Kids

Louisville, Louavul, Louieville – plenty of ways to say it and plenty of things for families to do. While it’s Midwest adjacent (technically the “Gateway to the South”), I wanted to include it anyway since it’s a lovely city and well worth a trip.

On Main Street, Museum Row is home to three different spots to enjoy. The Kentucky Science Center is one of our favorites, and is especially great for kids 10 and under. My boys love their interactive STEM-based exhibits – stand in the middle of a giant bubble or make a giant marble run.  The Louisville Slugger Museum is fun for baseball fans and non-fans alike; and the Frazier History Center lets you trace Lewis and Clark’s adventure with interactive exhibits and has one of the largest historic miniature collections in the world. Maybe not-so-kid-friendly, but the Frazier it is also the official start of Louisville’s Bourbon Trail.

Along the Downtown’s Ohio River waterfront, you can also take a ride back in time on the Belle of Louisville or Mary M. Miller steamboats (March through November). The Belle is one of the oldest (more than 100 years old) and most traveled boats in the U.S.

After a trip down the river, play at a huge playground at Waterfront Park (splash pad in warm months) then walk across the Ohio river via a pedestrian only-bridge to Jeffersonville, Indiana. After the trek across the bridge, my boys always want to make a beeline for Schmipff’s Confectionery, an old time candy store located just a few blocks from the bridge. Schmipff’s is known for having have the best red hots anywhere, but my kids say they’re too spicy and usually opt for some gummy or chocolate treat. No matter what sweets you are craving – everything is good, so you can’t go wrong. They also have a small cafeteria where you can eat for less than $5 per person (not including candy!).

Also, across the river in Indiana, is Falls of the Ohio State Park – one of the largest fossil beds in the world. There are acres of geological finds along the bedrock – a glimpse into a sea from the Devonian period that stretched over most of North America 400 million years ago.  Over 100 species of coral and sponges are embedded into the rocks, so you can hunt for fossils (look and touch, but don’t take). There’s also a interpretative center which provides context to what you’re seeing out in the beds.

One of the most unique experiences in Louisville can actually be found 100 feet below the city:  Louisville’s MegaCavern. Formerly a limestone mine, it boasts 4 million square feet (and 17 miles) of underground space with several different activities – a ropes course, a zipline course, walking tour, electric bike tour, or a tour riding a tram. 

Kentuckiana, as Louisville and the Southern Indiana area are called, offers unique indoor and outdoor excursions for kids of all ages.

St. Louis with Kids

The Gateway Arch National Park is a must-do activity, and what St. Louis is primarily known for, but there are tons of other family-friendly spots. Don’t just rush to the top of the Arch (a hair-raising experience if you don’t like tight spaces or heights) and then leave. There is also a museum which traces the history of St. Louis and its roots as a trading center, the steamboat era and its tie to the Mississippi River, and the U.S. expansion westward. 

The City Museum is one of the most unique and kid-oriented museums we have ever been to.  Located in a cool, old building, the interior and exterior of City Museum is a paradise for those kids who love to climb.  There are four floors of tunnels hanging from the ceilings, mazes, nooks, and crannies where kids can climb, crawl and slide from floor to floor and all around. 

Union Station is a one-stop shop for several activities: the St. Louis wheel, an enclosed ferris wheel that’s a smaller version of the London Eye; a merry-go-round, a mirror maze, and a ropes course; and the newly opened St. Louis Aquarium. The Aquarium has six distinct galleries of sharks, brightly colored fish, sea turtles, jellyfish, seahorses and other ocean dwellers and some really cool touch pools – have Doctor fish nibble on your fingers (it doesn’t hurt), touch a sea star, or feed a stingray.

The Science Center of St. Louis, the St. Louis Zoo, the Magic House – Children’s Museum of St. Louis and Grant’s Farm are all free attractions (see, very affordable Midwest city for families!). Our fave is the Science Center -there are tons of interactive science, technology, engineering and math exhibits – feel an earthquake, dig for dinosaur bones. It is an engineering-oriented, creative kids’ paradise. One favorite area was the Structures area. Playing off the theme of “how to build an arch”, there are tons of other structures that you can create – bridges, water systems, earthquake-proof buildings and more – kids and adults alike will like trying their hand at some engineering feats.

And one more stop – check out Pieces: St. Louis Board Game Bar and Cafe. The restaurant has nearly 1,000 board games that you can play while you’re eating your meal. The food is good, too.

You really cannot go wrong with a trip to one of the large Midwest cities for families – whether you explore for a weekend or enjoy a longer stay. And once you visit one, you’ll want to visit them all.