Explore Cities Along Interstate 94
Do you want to explore cities along Interstate 94 during your summer road trip? Interstate 94 covers seven states: Michigan, Illinois, Wisconsin, Minnesota, North Dakota, Montana, and Washington. That’s a lot of ground to cover, but imagine a cross-country road trip! This post will cover cities along I-94 from Michigan to Wisconsin. Let’s get started!
Michigan
We begin our adventure in Detroit, Michigan. The Motor City is the largest in Michigan and sits along the banks of the Detroit River. It has a rich cultural, musical, and transportation history. Detroit is the home to the Big Three Automakers in the United States. Some of the best music ever produced came out of the Motor City.
Detroit Institute of Arts
While exploring this city along Interstate 94, visit the Detroit Institute of Arts. This museum is known for its collection of 19th-century and Dutch, Fleming, and Italian paintings from the Renaissance to the Baroque Period. You can also view artifacts from ancient times and artwork by African-American, Native American, and Asian cultures.
Motown Museum
After visiting the museum, head to the Motown Museum. This museum preserves the house where Motown’s founder, Berry Gordy, Jr., recorded hits by the Temptations, Smokey Robinson and the Miracles, Stevie Wonder, and Diana Ross and the Supremes. The two-story house became Hitsville and served as an administrative office and recording studio where some of the greatest hits of the 1960s and 1970s were produced.
Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation
Spend time at the Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation in Greenfield, Michigan, just outside Detroit. Henry Ford was an American industrialist who revolutionized factory production with his assembly-line methods. He built the Model T automobile to build a vehicle for the multitudes, not just the wealthy. Ford’s mass production systems revolutionized the way industry fabricated and moved goods.
Detroit International Riverfront
Another tourist attraction and landmark is the Detroit International Riverfront. The riverwalk extends from the Ambassador Bridge in the west to Belle Isle in the east, for a total of 5.5 miles (8.8 kilometers) along the Detroit River. The Detroit International Riverfront has a cruise ship passenger terminal and dock, a marina, parks, restaurants, and shops to explore.
These are just a few things to do and see and do in Detroit; however, there’s much more. For more information, contact Visit Detroit, which has an extensive list of attractions. Click here to Book Tours in Detroit.
Ann Arbor, Michigan
As we explore cities along Interstate 94, we will head to Ann Arbor. It is known for the University of Michigan. However, did you know it has the largest football stadium in the United States? Yes, it’s called the Big House. That’s just one fun fact and something to see in Ann Arbor.
University of Michigan
You can tour the University of Michigan campus. The university is the country’s top academic and research school. It is known for its top college football and basketball teams. Ann Arbor boasts about its various museums and promotes arts and culture. Take time to visit the University of Michigan Museum of Art (UMMA), a meeting place for the arts in the heart of the university’s campus. Ann Arbor is also home to the University of Michigan’s Museum of Natural History and the Kelsey Museum of Archeology.
If you’re traveling with children or are a kid at heart, stop by the Ann Arbor Hands-On Museum. If you like nature, venture out to the Matthaei Botanical Gardens.
For more information about tourist attractions and sites, contact Destination Ann Arbor.
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Illinois
You’re back on the road and heading to Chicago, Illinois. The largest city in the state and the third largest in the United States sits on the banks of Lake Michigan. Like most big cities, Chicago offers a great tourist experience. You can experience great food, shopping, museums, festivals, and walks along an 18-mile lakefront trail.
Chicago, Illinois
Museum Campus
While you’re visiting, highlight the Museum Campus. You can access the Shedd Aquarium, Adler Planetarium, and Field Museum there. You can also walk from the museum campus to the Art Institute of Chicago and Millennium Park.
If you like to walk, Chicago is a walkable city. The lakefront trail covers 18 miles from the north to south sides of the city. You can walk along Lake Michigan or through Grant Park to see the Buckingham Fountain, which is bustling during summer. You’ll see runners, bicyclists, and walkers on the trail.
Buckingham Fountain and Navy Pier
From Buckingham Fountain, continue to walk north to Navy Pier. This is a fun tourist attraction for both adults and children. Navy Pier is full of activities, shops, and restaurants, and you can take a lake cruise from the pier.
Other fun and exciting things include an architectural tour along the Chicago River and visiting the Museum of Science and Industry, the Mexican Art Museum, and the DuSable Museums. Chicagoans love good food, so you can try all ethnic foods and restaurants.
Also, during the summer, Chicago has many cultural festivals throughout its neighborhoods. If you want to explore more things to do, contact Choose Chicago for additional information.
Wisconsin
The next city to explore along Interstate 94 is Milwaukee. It is a 90-minute drive from Chicago and is on the western shores of Lake Michigan. Milwaukee is known for its breweries and its contribution to the beer industry. The city is known for its Midwestern hospitality, sports teams, museums, and motorcycles. In 2023, National Geographic named Milwaukee one of the best destinations.
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
The Original Brew City
How do you like your beer? Milwaukee has a rich history of breweries. Breweries and beer make Milwaukee famous. From legendary German brewers Blatz, Pabst, Schlitz, and Miller to modern craft brew masters, Milwaukee’s beer heritage and culture continue to grow. Whether you enjoy a cold one from the tap, bottle, or can, go on a brewery tour to sample some of the best beers around town.
Cheese Curds and Custards
Wisconsin is known for cheese and cheese curds. Have you tasted cheese curds yet? If not, you must try the Milwaukee staple. Frozen Custard is another Milwaukee staple, perfect on a hot summer day. The city is the unofficial frozen custard capital of the world.
Milwaukee is located on the banks of Lake Michigan, but the Milwaukee River runs through the city. During summer, you can enjoy boat tours, kayaking, and canoeing. The 20-block Milwaukee River Walk allows tourists to visit various shops, hotels, and restaurants.
Other exciting places include the Milwaukee Art Museum, a spectacular building with magnificent views of Lake Michigan. There is nothing like the sound of motorcycles rumbling in Milwaukee. You must also visit the Harley-Davidson Museum. Lastly, discover and explore Milwaukee’s Historic Third Ward.
For more information about events and places to stay in Milwaukee, contact Visit Milwaukee.
Madison, Wisconsin
Madison, the capital of Wisconsin, lies west of Milwaukee. It’s known for the domed Wisconsin State Capitol. It is home to the University of Wisconsin’s Badgers football and basketball teams.
The city has excellent museums, arts and music venues, and summer and winter festivals. Its convention center was designed by the famous architect Frank Lloyd Wright.
Visitors can experience award-winning restaurants. If you love outdoor activities, Madison has five lakes and over 200 miles of hiking and biking trails. Check out the Wisconsin Historical Museum, which documents the state’s immigrant and farming history.
While in Madison, explore the University of Wisconsin-Madison Arboretum, the Olbrich Botanical Gardens, and the Chazen Museum of Art. If the kids are traveling with you, take them to the Madison Children’s Museum and the Caves of the Mounds.
For additional tourist attractions and activities, contact Destination Madison.
Conclusion
If you want to explore cities along Interstate 94, many activities and attractions keep you busy. Each state and city along the interstate has websites to help you plan a safe and exciting trip. They also list events, festivals, hotels, restaurants, and more.
This post cannot include the hundreds of things to see and do, but it’s a starting point for assisting you in your planning stage. Interstate 94 covers many miles and several states. Our next post will cover cities to explore in Minnesota, North Dakota, Montana, and Washington. Meanwhile, safe travels!
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