For dinner in town, visit LeTour, where chef Debbie Gold serves French-Moroccan cuisine in a light, elegant space, or Oceanique, a favorite for seafood-focused tasting menus from chef Mark Grosz. Keep the evening going at SPACE, a music venue with A-list acts year-round (including their summer “Out of SPACE” programming, an outdoor music fest that has welcomed the likes of Lord Huron and Regina Spektor). The next day, enjoy the lakefront at Elliot Park—but first, a stop at Picnic for colorful salads and grain bowls (plus tasty desserts). Later on, stroll through some of Northwestern’s most cherished sites—the idyllic Shakespeare Garden, or, for, Harry Potter vibes, the nearby Deering Library. And if all the academia is leaving you inspired, book a day pass at Writers’ Haven, a cozy and inspiring co-working space for women writers.
Ann Arbor, Michigan
Ann Arbor offers reasons to visit year-round, from spring’s Film Festival (one of the country’s longest-running) to summer’s Art Festival—and come fall, of course, the football. The fact that The University of Michigan has one of the top teams in the country makes games (and tailgating) all the more exciting—and all the more reason to kick off your stay doing just that. Afterwards, return to Weber’s Boutique Hotel for a recharge before venturing out again to explore campus, then settling in for Cuban-inspired street food at Frita Batidos. The next day, check out brunch at Sava’s for flavor-packed plates (think Tabasco honey chicken and waffles or banana walnut French toast), then peruse some of the area’s shops (including Bon Bon Bon, a go-to for playful, handmade chocolates). Before you head home, pay a visit to Dexter Cider Mill for a medley of fall flavors (including their own hand-rolled gingersnaps)—opened in 1886, it’s the state’s longest continuously operating cider mill.
Bloomington, Indiana
Access to Hoosier National Forest is a bonus for Indiana University Bloomington students—especially during fall months, when leaf-peeping makes for one of the weekend’s best adventures. Visitors can further discover the area on bike around the region’s three lakes, or from above (local hot air balloon pilot Sydney Hensley heads up rides with her company SkyVista). All of that activity is bound to work up an appetite, so book it to brunch at Uptown Café, a New Orleans-style restaurant featuring jazz tunes alongside hearty AM options like cottage cheese pancakes or huevos rancheros. In the afternoon, explore The Eskenazi Museum of Art. The free museum is an architectural feat (designed by I.M. Pei of the Louvre Pyramid) and internationally recognized for its impressive collection throughout seven galleries, featuring works from Pablo Picasso, Jackson Pollock, and Claude Monet. Catch a rest at your hotel, the historic Grant Street Inn, and the next day, book dinner at Lennie’s, an enduring favorite for its award-winning pizzas, generously portioned pastas and salads, and hand-crafted ales.
St. Louis, Missouri
Music, sports, and architecture make up much of The Gateway City’s appeal, and the town’s strong academia presence—most notably that of Washington University and University of St. Louis—are right up there, too. Check into the recently opened 21c Museum Hotel St. Louis, which arrives to the downtown area with spacious guestrooms and an onsite gallery featuring rotating exhibits and cultural programming. The next morning, book a rental with Big Muddy Adventures to explore the city by kayak, traversing the rivers and taking in sights of the sky-scraping Gateway Arch. Visit Balkan Treat Box for dinner, where the chefs serve a menu of Turkish and Bosnian classics that have helped to garner national acclaim. The next day, bid adieu to summer sports by catching the tail-end of baseball or soccer season with a visit to Busch Stadium or CITYPARK, the recently debuted, open-air stadium in the heart of Downtown West. Afterwards, enjoy live music and cocktails at the historic Broadway Oyster Bar before some substantial fare at Salt + Smoke, a beloved BBQ joint frequented for its meticulous craft of low and slow cooking.
