People from all other regions of the U.S so often overlook the Midwest and its attractions. Personally, before I came to Missouri to attend college, I thought the Midwest was nothing but farmland and small towns. Yes, there’s a lot of that, but there are also so many awesome things to see and do in the Midwest! Here are a few of my favorites:

Lake of the Ozarks, located in Missouri, is a great place to get some sun and have some fun on the water! It’s a popular spot for boating and for hanging out lakeside at tiki bars, sports bars, and a more fine dining selection.

Henry Doorly Zoo located in Omaha, Neb. is one of the best zoos in the U.S. and one of Nebraska’s top paid attendance attractions. With over 130 acres and 17,000 animals, there is a lot to see and do, just bring your walking shoes!

Okoboji, Iowa has a beautiful chain of glacier carved lakes and West Lake Okoboji serves as their centerpiece--a giant playground to those who visit. It’s a great spot to boat, golf, shop, or even go to a museum!

Kansas City Schlitterbahn is a waterpark in Kansas City, Kan. that is home to the world’s tallest waterslide, Verrückt. This slide sends a three-person raft down 168 feet and 7 inches, up a hill, and then down another 50 feet; hold on tight!

Wisconsin Dells is known as the waterpark capital of the world! With both indoor and outdoor water parks, there is so much to do to do here. Plus other adventures like go-karts, zip-lining, and an indoor theme park! Between those adventures and the great dining and nightlife, you’ll never be bored.

Cedar Point located in Sandusky, Ohio is a 365-acre amusement park that opened in 1870, making it the second oldest operating amusement park in the U.S. It is the roller coaster capital of the world with 16 roller coasters, four of them being taller than 200 feet.

Twin Cities, Chicago, St. Louis, and Kansas City are a few of the better-known places of the Midwest and are always great places to visit. For awesome attractions like the Willis Tower in Chicago and the Gateway Arch in St. Louis, these are all great places. They also have a huge variety of restaurants and shops that make these places the perfect weekend getaway.