Looking to get outta town? RedEye staffers offer up a few of their road-tested favorites.
Sawyer, New Buffalo and Three Oaks, Mich.
Drive time: 1 hour, 15 minutes
Head east and cruise on up to this trifecta of nearby towns, with your first stop at Redamak's in New Buffalo for a burger and milkshake. Keep heading north to Three Oaks, where you have your pick of antique shops. Make sure you grab a beer flight at Greenbush Brewing Co. (pictured) in Three Oaks first (go in the off hours, as it gets quite busy), and keep antiquing all the way up to Sawyer, keeping in mind that most of the shops also close on the earlier side. That should make for some interesting purchases. It's the perfect day trip! —Jessica Cantarelli —
Starved Rock State Park in Oglesby, Ill.
Drive time: 1 hour, 50 minutes
Need a break from the concrete jungle? Head west to Starved Rock, a gorgeous collection of trails and canyons sitting on the south bank of the Illinois River. Walk the paths that wind over the offshoots of the river and through building-tall rock formations. Listen as water tumbles down the rocks and rushes back to the Illinois. Climb to the top of the canyons for beautiful views of the river and the streams and brooks below. It's close enough for a day trip, and with cabins along the trails, an overnight could be just as fun. If families aren't your thing, take a day off during the work week. Weekends, especially in the late spring and summer, are packed. —Jordan Monroe Schultz —
Milwaukee, Wis.
Drive time: 1 hour, 30 minutes (or take the Amtrak)
Come for the beer, stay for the ... more beer. You'll definitely want to squeeze in a brewery tour at Lakefront or Milwaukee Brewing Co. before eating your way through my favorite neighborhood, Bay View. Order a big slice of pie at Honeypie, snack on eclectic small plates at Odd Duck, indulge your beer snobbery at The Palm and finish the night with cheap beer and a spin of the wheel of chance at Blackbird Bar. Before you leave the next morning, fuel up with a relaxing brunch at Blue Jacket. Oh, and take home a bag of Colectivo Coffee as a souvenir. —Kate Bernot —
Orchard Beach State Park in Manistee, Mich.
Drive time: 4 hours, 20 minutes
This picturesque campground (and cell phone dead zone) is the perfect place to escape for a rustic weekend in the woods. A stairway leads from the grounds situated on the bluff down to the white sand beaches of Lake Michigan. Travel into the Victorian-style downtown of Manistee for riverfront dining and stop at House of Flavors, a '50s-style diner, for dessert. Drive north to Frankfort and sample flights from Stormcloud Brewing on the patio or venture south to explore antique shops and climb the Big Sable Point lighthouse (Ludington, Mich.) after a 1.8-mile walk along the dunes. —Aly Morris —
Charlevoix, Mich.
Drive time: 5 hours, 30 minutes
If you ask me, Charlevoix is the most gorgeous, perfect blend of seclusion and beauty that exists in the Midwest. Breathtaking sunsets off Lake Charlevoix, calm downtown streets with friendly local business owners and a vibe that simple cannot be matched. Not to mention, Charlevoix is just a short drive from other fantastic towns such as Boyne City and Petoskey. I fall in love with Northern Michigan over and over, every time I visit. —Sean Ely — Robert Cross / Chicago Tribune
Geneva, Ill.
Drive time: 1 hour (or take the Metra)
Don't have time for a multi-hour road trip? This west-suburban town on the Fox River has charms aplenty. Hop off the Metra and head north on Third Street, where you can start with a stroll through The Little Traveler (a labyrinthine multi-room mansion converted into little boutiques), kick back in an Adirondack chair on the patio at Graham's Fine Chocolates & Ice Cream and stop in Geneva Wine Cellars and Tasting Room. Turn east on State Street and make your way to the riverfront, where you can explore on foot or rent a bike at Mill Race Cyclery. A stop at the taproom of recently opened Penrose Brewing Company, a bit north of downtown, is also a must. Catch a train back to the city or book a night at The Herrington Inn & Spa (pictured) and make time for brunch at Nosh the next morning. —Lisa Arnett — Mario Petitti / Chicago Tribune
Chicago, Ill.
Drive time: 0 miles
Yeah, have fun with those traffic jams, guys. While you're out there scanning through radio stations, I'll be laying out like a starfish in Lincoln Park (pictured), lounging with a burger on the sidewalk patio at Lockdown, playing croquet in a West Town schoolyard, perfecting my pinball skills at Logan Hardware and generally just having a fantastic weekend. We live in the best city on Earth -- every day can be a getaway if you put some effort into shaking up your routine. But if you're so set on it, go ahead and get out of town. Leaves more room for me on the Whitewater machine. —Dana Moran — Lenny Gilmore / RedEye
