By: Ashmar Mandou

Labor Day weekend in the Midwest is the best time to enjoy all the nearby city activities. If you are looking to squeeze in one last summer road trip with your family, you’re in luck because we have a list of beautiful places filled with interactive museums, hiking trails along plush grounds, and sandy beaches.

Indiana Dunes State Park, Indiana
If you think Indiana is all cornfields and cows, then you probably haven’t been to the Indiana Dunes. There’s a small part of the state that borders Lake Michigan and features sandy beaches, impressive sand dunes, and ocean waves for your last beach weekend of the season. The dunes are also a prime spot for birdwatching, and the beach stretches for about 15 miles long.

Madison, Wisconsin
Another great Wisconsin town to visit over Labor Day is Madison, especially if you love arts and culture, great food, and tasty beer. This destination is a foodie’s and a craft beer lover’s paradise, and you’ll have no shortage of entertainment with all of the local attractions here. Some top things to do in town are the Chazen Museum of Art, the Madison Museum of Contemporary Art, the Olbrich Botanical Gardens, and taking a cruise on Lake Mendota. Taste of Madison, a local food festival, takes place over Labor Day as well.

Starved Rock State Park, Illinois
Another surprising natural wonder that you can visit on an easy day trip from Chicago this Labor Day is Starved Rock State Park. It’s only about 100 miles southwest of the city but feels like a world away. There are over a dozen waterfalls and canyons here, as well as lots of hiking trails and guided interpretative programs. There is a lodge and cabins here if you want to stay overnight and make a full weekend trip out of a journey to Starved Rock.

Ann Arbor, Michigan
This Michigan college town is also a place to get active in the outdoors with hiking and biking before the weather turns chilly. Locals and visitors always look forward to the Dancing in the Streets Festival at this time of year. This is a free festival on the Sunday of Labor Day weekend on Main and Washington Streets in Downtown Ann Arbor that has multiple stages and allows visitors the opportunity to try various styles of dance.