Where to Find Budget Culture in the Midwest

Find culture on the cheap in these five laid-back Midwestern cities:

Indianapolis, Indiana
Visit the Indianapolis Museum of Art or the Indianapolis Museum of Contemporary Art for free, or visit the Children’s Museum of Indianapolis on one of its free admission days.

Minneapolis, Minneapolis
Admission to the Minneapolis Institute of Arts and Minneapolis Sculpture Garden are always free. St. Paul’s Como Zoo and Conservatory is also free, and the Minnesota Historical Society hosts free admission days to historic sites in the Twin Cities.

Summer Road Trips to Minnesota

If you shy away from freezing temperatures, summer is the time to visit Minnesota. Pack up the fishing gear and drive up the western shore of Lake Superior to get some mind-clearing lakeside views. Make sure to refuel at the seventies-inspired diner, New Scenic Café, eight miles outside of Duluth, before heading out on the maze of hiking trails near the shore.

Photo credit: Sunrise on Lake Superior (courtesy, Explore Minnesota Tourism/Paul Stafford)