Trip advise needed.

Will be slowly traveling from Michigan to Colorado this summer with my six children and I want to avoid traffic.

Don't want to hike with gear and six children and I like back roads for photo opportunities.

Suggestions for some of these less traveled, out of the way, photo ops. would be appreciated.

Go through Wisconsin, Minnesota, and South Dakota on the way. The drive, even on interstate highways, is a lot more visually stimulating for youngsters than the zillion miles of apparent nothingness going through Iowa and Nebraska.

There are a lot of things to see along the way. In Wisconsin, you might want to stop at the House On The Rock or some of the caverns. These are all west of Madison. North of Madison is the Wisconsin Dells area. The scenery in that area is superb.

I can't recall specific places to go through Minnesota, but it's a lush lake-filled state that you can easily enjoy.

In South Dakota, the Black Hills (and, of course, Mount Rushmore) is an area where you should spend a few days. Prior to getting to the Black Hills, there is the Badlands which is a must-see area. Stopping at Wall Drug is a must, especially for the kids.

Thanks Skip, going across I-70 or 80 is about as visually inspiring as a brown clad billiard table and I've never done the more northern roads.

Any other suggestions out there?

chauncey wrote in post #5366895
Thanks Skip, going across I-70 or 80 is about as visually inspiring as a brown clad billiard table and I've never done the more northern roads.

Any other suggestions out there?

If you've gotten hooked on the movie Close Encounters Of The Third Kind, you shouldn't miss Devils Tower. It's in Wyoming, but is only a short drive from the Black Hills area.

I was told when we were there that tourists frequently ask about the space ships .

There are several Cabela's, including a HUGE one in Mitchell SD, for some interesting shopping if you like that sort of thing. There are lots of stuffed animals in every store.

In the Black Hills, you shouldn't miss the Crazy Horse mountain carving that is in progress. They have a tourist center (one of their fund raising efforts) that's very much worth going to.

There's a Spam (the meat in a can) museum at the factory that makes it - right off the freeay in Austin MN - that we found quite interesting.

You have to see the Corn Palace in Mitchell SD. Virtually the entire exterior of the building is decorated with murals made of various colors of corn on the cob.

There's a lot more along the way. Just keep your eyes open.

The Spam place and corn palace don't do it for me but the Crazy Horse carving sounds interesting.

My goal is to avoid other people. Thanks again.

Northern Minnesota has a number of lighthouses and national parks as well as a lot of hiking trails and many lakes The first picture I posted is Split Rock lighthouse just north of Two Harbors, MN. The second picture was taken in Duluth in March.

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Rose, that is a splendid lighthouse. Could you not have arranged a foreboding sky, teeming with lightning bolts?

Thanks for sharing.

I would love to, Just not that good at pp yet, and the weather didn't cooperate for me. Hope you have a terrific trip.