Road trips are always more fun with a mission, and when you live in the Midwest — known for its gorgeous summer-to-fall days, vast dining landscape and preciously short windows of seasonality — it seems only fitting to pack up the car in quest of culinary treasure. The region offers us destinations in every direction, with some particularly worth the trip given the care they’re extending through their restaurants, farms, bakeries and cafes. From college towns to beach towns, here are six spots to visit now for a culinary adventure — plus where to stay and stop on the way.
Six culinary road trips for fall Home to the University of Iowa and the Hawkeyes, this town draws crowds during fall months for its popular weekend football games — but the food here isn’t to be missed either. Settle into a room at the Graduate, a hotel that boasts collegiate charm throughout its rooms, with odes to former University of Iowa students — including their onsite restaurant Wilder , honoring Iowa theater arts graduate Gene Wilder. Head to dinner at The Webster , where chef Sam Gelman serves contemporary American cuisine informed by his Midwest roots and years spent in some of New York City’s top kitchens.
Don’t miss the buttermilk biscuits or any of the house-made pastas (all served family-style; bring some friends to sample a few). Across town, The Plated Table serves dinner Thursday through Saturday, featuring new weekly menus that reflect the season’s best. Settle in at the communal table, and opt for wine pairings with your meal — or choose a bottle from their on-site wine shop and share with your neighbor.
In the morning, beeline it to DeLuxe , a bakery celebrated for its pastries, cakes and espresso. Come for the croissant-crusted quiche lorraine or lemon raspberry cake, and stay for the hospitality — Jamie Powers and her team host job shadows for those in underserved communities, and employ adults with disabilities. The Graduate and Wilder, 210 S.
Dubuque St., Iowa City, Iowa; 319-327-8258; graduateiowacity.com The Webster, 202 N.
Linn St., Iowa City, Iowa; 319-800-0720; thewebsteric.com The Plated Table, 625 S.
Dubuque St., Iowa City, Iowa; 319-200-3663; platedtablecatering.com DeLuxe Cakes & Pastries, 812 S.
Summit St., Iowa City, Iowa; 319-338-5000; deluxeiowa.com Food at The Webster, where chef Sam Gelman serves contemporary American cuisine, in Iowa City, Iowa.
(Thomas and Serina Sulentic) On the way: When hunger strikes upon your return to Chicago, swing into The Graceful Ordinary in St. Charles for thoughtful, flavorful cooking, found in dishes like sweet corn-stuffed pasta and venison striploin with sherry-soaked berries. 3 E.
Main St., St. Charles; 331-235-5803; thegracefulordinary.
com View of the Grand Hotel on Sept. 19, 2015, in Mackinac Island, Michigan. (Carlos Osorio/AP) In a fast-moving world, Mackinac Island honors a more leisurely way of living, with its Victorian architecture, historic parks and preference for horse carriages to cars.
Once here, a visit to the Grand Hotel is a must — the stately, sprawling property features more than a dozen dining options for guests and visitors alike, and hosts notable events year-round (including September’s Cork & Fork festival , celebrating female talent in the culinary industry). Check out the menu at The Gate House for lunch, dinner and late-night dining, with favorites like the MAC Daddy burger or fish and chips (with local Michigan whitefish in a Bell’s Two Hearted batter and lime tartar sauce), plus cocktails like the smoked rye old-fashioned. Get a good night’s rest at Harbour View Inn and wake up to sights of Lake Michigan and daily continental breakfast.
A visit to Mackinac Island wouldn’t be complete without some fudge sampling — and Ryba’s has been doing theirs here since 1960. Borrow one of the inn’s bikes and cycle into town for a taste of their family recipes, including flavors like Michigan cherry chocolate and Michigan maple pecan (then make your own with their fudge-making experience). Take to the water with a seat aboard Sip n’ Sail Cruises to enjoy live music and a nautical sunset — plus, panoramic views of the island from afar.
Post-sail, grab a bite at The Pink Pony , a lively, waterfront spot featuring refined comfort fare and daily live entertainment. The Gate House at The Grand Hotel, 1547 Cadotte Ave., Mackinac Island, Michigan; 906-847-3772; grandhotel.
com/dining/the-gate-house Harbour View Inn, 6860 Main St., Mackinac Island, Michigan; 906-847-0101; harbourviewinn.com Ryba’s, multiple locations; ryba.
com The Pink Pony, 7221 Main St. #103, Mackinac Island, Michigan; 906-847-3341; pinkponymackinac.com Ryba’s on Mackinac Island, Michigan.
(Heather Tamlyn) On the way: Spring & Porter in Petoskey serves dinner beginning at 4 p.m., showcasing upscale, contemporary American fare with global influences.
887 Spring St., Petoskey, Michigan; 231-347-1440; springandporter.com Carmel Arts and Design District, Carmel city in Carmel, Indiana.
(Getty) Situated just north of Indianapolis, this picturesque town is frequented for its arts scene, shopping, hiking trails and dining. Check into Hotel Carmichael, a premier, boutique property situated in the heart of Carmel City Center, then head to dinner at Juniper on Main for Southern coastal cuisine in a cozy 1907 bungalow (the shrimp and heirloom grits are a signature). Come morning, arrive early to beat the line at Eggshell Bistro , where brunch classics take on big flavor (think shakshuka with habanero, goat cheese and zhoug sauce or an artichoke French tart with turmeric kimchi, capered olive tapenade and crisp bacon).
Follow it with something sweet just footsteps away at The Cake Bake Shop , an enchanting bakery and restaurant brimming with crystal chandeliers, floral garlands and a prominent row of pastel-frosted, glitter-topped cakes. Try a slice of the mint chocolate chip or red velvet, but save room — you’ll want to try some treats on your way out of town from No Label at the Table , a gluten- and dairy-free bakery employing people on the autism spectrum. Hotel Carmichael, 1 Carmichael Square, Carmel, Indiana; 317-688-1700; hotelcarmichael.
com Juniper on Main, 110 E. Main St., Carmel, Indiana; 317-591-9254; juniperonmain.
com Eggshell Bistro, 51 City Center Drive, Carmel, Indiana; 317-660-1616; eggshellbistro.com The Cake Bake Shop, 799 Hanover Place, Upper Deck, Hanover Place Suite 260, Carmel, Indiana; 317- 257-2253; thecakebakeshop.com No Label at the Table, 145 W.
Main St. Suite 145, Carmel, Indiana; nolabelatthetable.com A slice of cake from The Cake Bake Shop in Carmel, Indiana.
(The Cake Bake Shop) On the way: Learn about animal life and agriculture at Fair Oaks Farms, an educational working farm with lodging and dining options (including an on-site restaurant and grilled cheese and ice cream shop). 856 N 600 E, Fair Oaks, Indiana; 219-394-2025; fofarms.com Saugatuck, Michigan, seen in a photo taken on May 18, 2023.
(Getty) The beaches, arts and farm-to-table food community are just a few of the draws of Saugatuck and its surrounding area. Start the weekend with dinner at Salt of the Earth , a downtown Fennville restaurant known for its seasonal, from-scratch philosophies. Begin with the house-baked bread board and local butter, then try a couple of the wood-fired pizzas (The Vegetable packs in regional gems like sweet corn and zucchini).
In Douglas, diners have been flocking to Everyday People Cafe for more than 25 years for its warm hospitality and elevated comfort fare (the wasabi pea-crusted ahi or 14-ounce Berkshire pork chop are some standouts). And in the heart of Saugatuck, splurge on dinner at Bowdie’s Chophouse , an intimate steakhouse featuring premier steaks and seafood. Reserve a table on their patio and taste dishes like the lobster mac and truffle fries, followed by filet mignon or Faroe Island salmon.
Return to your home away from home for the night — one you can book with Bella Vita Vacation Rentals , an area favorite for their local expertise and range of listings. Salt of the Earth; 114 E. Main St.
, Fennville, Michigan; 269-561-7258; saltoftheearthfennville.com Everyday People Café, 11 W. Center St.
, Douglas, Michigan; 269-857-4240; everydaypeoplecafe.com Bowdie’s Chophouse, 230 Culver St., Saugatuck, Michigan; 269-455-5481; bowdieschophouse.
com Bella Vita Vacation Rentals, 119 Butler St., Saugatuck, Michigan; 269-857-8482; bellavitavacationrentals.com Carrot cake from Salt of the Earth in Saugatuck, Michigan.
(Cutler Valley Photography) On the way: Stop for an afternoon at Journeyman in Three Oaks, a refurbished 1800s factory that is home to a distillery, restaurant and 30,000-square-foot putting green. Grab lunch or dinner at Staymaker with specialties like the barbecue pulled pork sandwiches or Detroit-style pizza. If you do plan to enjoy any of their award-winning spirits, spend the night at one of their onsite cabins or lofts (make it a group getaway at their Flat, which can sleep up to 18).
109 Generations Drive, Three Oaks, Michigan; 269-820-2050; journeyman.com Aerial view of Old Market Place in Madison, the capital city of Wisconsin. (Getty) Fall is one of the best times to visit, when classes are back in session, football returns and more seasonal finds abound at the Dane County Farmers Market, the largest producers-only farmers market in the nation.
The biweekly event offers ample culinary inspiration for restaurants across town, including L’Etoile . Chef Tory Miller awakes early for first picks from his favorite producers to inform his menus at the downtown fixture, where he serves French-driven cuisine in elegant environs. The market has become a ritual as well for the team at Fairchild , where the menus emphasize local farms and purveyors throughout (e.
g. heirloom tomatoes from Young Earth Farm; turnips from Blue Moon Community Farm). Taste through the season in the dishes and drinks alike; cocktails incorporate ingredients like quince, peach blossom and summer savory.
For a modern-day supper club experience, make it an evening at Harvey House , where continental favorites undergo updated, ingredient-first twists — and don’t miss their latest venture, Butterbird , or their game-changing rotisserie chicken sandwich. Rest up between bites at The Edgewater, a historic property overlooking Lake Mendota that features all-day dining at on-site restaurant The Statehouse . L’Etoile, 1 S.
Pinckney St., Madison, Wisconsin; 608-251-0500; letoile-restaurant.com Fairchild, 2611 Monroe St.
, Madison, Wisconsin; 608-819-6361; fairchildrestaurant.com The Harvey House, 644 W. Washington Ave.
, Madison, Wisconsin; 608-250-9578; theharveyhouse.com Butterbird, 1134 Regent St., Madison, Wisconsin; butterbird.
com The Statehouse, 1001 Wisconsin Place, Madison, Wisconsin; 608-535-8200; theedgewater.com Smoked kielbasa in a blanket at Harvey House in Madison, Wisconsin. (Nicole Hansen) On the way: Bunker Hill Farms, a luxury resort and golf course situated an hour northwest of Chicago, is a sound choice for those looking to extend and elevate their trek in this direction.
Booking details at bhfarms.com This invitation-only luxury resort in Woodstock is now open to the public as a way to help charities Early morning commuters load onto the Beaver Island Ferry in Charlevoix, Michigan. (Getty) Known for its sailing, beaches and concerts in the park, Charlevoix is a prime summer retreat — but is equally inviting during fall months, when visitors come for the turning foliage and events like the Apple Festival.
Those staying overnight may want to explore some of the area’s quaint B&Bs, or spring for a stay at The Earl . Originally built by famed architect Earl Young, the property was redesigned in 2019 and continues to reflect its original character. Grab a drink at the rooftop bar, then head to dinner at Terry’s , a local favorite best known for their fish entrees (whitefish, perch or walleye made across four different preps, from meunière to almondine).
Keep those French vibes going the next day with a visit to That French Place , a creperie and patisserie featuring specialties from the Brittany region. Fans line up here on the daily; arrive early to ensure your pick (might we suggest the Charlevoix Quiche, cinnamon rolls or any of the buckwheat crepes). Close out the weekend with a meal at Grey Gables for New American fare in Victorian-era charm, or snag a patio table at Stafford’s Weathervane for cocktails and channel views.
The Earl, 120 Michigan Ave., Charlevoix, Michigan; 231-547-6565; hotelearl.com Terry’s, 101 Antrim St.
, Charlevoix, Michigan; 231-547-2799; terrysofcharlevoix.com That French Place, 212 Bridge St., Charlevoix, Michigan; 231-437-6037; thatfrenchplace.
com Grey Gables, 308 Belvedere Ave., Charlevoix, Michigan; 231-547-9261; greygablesinn.com Stafford’s Weathervane, 106 Pine River Lane, Charlevoix, Michigan; 231-547-4311; staffordsweathervane.
com Pastries at That French Place, a creperie and patisserie in Charlevoix, Michigan. (Visit Charlevoix) On the way: Peruse the organic produce at Providence Organic Farm in Central Lake, and refuel at their café. Their menu features smoothies, specialty coffee drinks, burritos, and on Saturdays (10 a.
m.-5:30 p.m.
), tacos and tamales. 5695 N. Michigan 88, Central Lake, Michigan; 231-599-2020; providenceorganicfarm.
com Nicole Schnitzler is a freelance writer..
