I’m quite fond of Eagle River in northern Wisconsin. It takes us about 6 1/2 hours from central Illinois, so it would be close to the 5 hour max. that you are allowing yourself. It is definitely worth the drive. If you are looking for quiet, this is the place. It is absolutely beautiful up there.

When I was in college, I spent about a week camping at Devil’s Lake in Wisconsin. It’s near the Wisconsin Dells, which have numerous tourist attractions. Devil’s Lake is a beautiful area with fantastic hiking trails and scenery. If I remember correctly, it’s about three and a half hours from Chicago.

You can look into attractions in Wisconsin Dells too, but don’t let the website scare you. It’s so flashy, it gives me a headache—but I do remember going on some of the scenic boat tours, which were incredible. Also some really nice horseback riding trails.

Door County! Soooo pretty!

Lake Geneva is nice, especially in the off-season.

@zephyr826 Lake Geneva is nice

I inherited a house up there, it’s pretty, there are some nice resorts in the area, and it’s reasonable driving distance from the city.

@kulfi you know your guest better than I do, but traveling internationally, the last place I want to see in a country I have never been too are the “sticks”, espcially if I’m in one of the major cities.

Show him around the miracle mile, Lincoln Park, Hyde Park, Wicker Park, Pullman. They are impressive, even by global standards.

@kulfi
Oh if you want to do something really kewl for a quiet place, contact the Harper Library at the University of Chicago and see if you can reserve a reading room. If your author loves books and/or literature, the place is absolutely amazing, even the building is impressive – an English gothic structure.

I’d recommend the Kickapoo Valley Reserve- it’s a very nice area, probably about a 4.5 hour drive away. The Reserve itself only offers camping, but there are some reasonable guest houses in the little town of Rockton, which is literally inside the Reserve. There are also hotels and such in the area. It’s a truly beautiful place, and far less congested than Devil’s Lake or the Dells (the Dells are really awful- the natural area is nice, but it’s way over commercialised; Devil’s Lake is just busy).

+1 for door county, and eagle river. also, like to walk on the waterfront near about kenosha

Frankly, I’d take him to see the Calatrava addition to the art museum and Discovery World. Then have dinner at the Safe House, the sanctuary for spies from across the world….