Our Travel Writers Share the 16 Things You Should Check Out in the Midwest this Month (2024)

Our travel writers, editors and contributors to Midwest Living are always on the pulse of the latest and greatest things happening in the Midwest. This August, we're excited about several long-awaited restaurant openings, the Glass City Riverwalk in Toledo, the coolest A-frames in Michigan, the reopening of a Frank Lloyd Wright theater and so many fun food finds. Here are the 16 things we're buzzing about this month.

A Popular Pasta Pop-Up Turned Restaurant

Cincinnati

When chef David Jackman launched the Wildweed pop-ups in Cincinnati, his handmade pastas and inventive dishes immediately garnered a following. After a few years of sold-out noodle nights, chef collab dinners and national press attention, Jackman and his wife opened their long-awaited brick-and-mortar Wildweed location. Located in the city's popular Over-the-Rhine neighborhood, the restaurant offers an a la carte menu as well as a chef's counter tasting menu. "I've been following Wildweed for a while now and finally got to attend a pop-up when I was in Cincinnati last fall," says Julia Sayers Gokhale, senior travel editor of Midwest Living. "I can't wait to go to the restaurant one day soon, too."

A-Frame Glamping Cabins in Michigan

Fennville, Michigan

Name a cuter glamping retreat—we'll wait. The Woods is an adults-only retreat that opened this summer with 15 accommodation options. But don't think canvas flaps and beige furnishings. The A-frames and glass houses are painted in striking black and decked with contemporary furnishings, oil paintings, shelves of books, vases of flowers and more. Even the bathhouse looks like it was ripped from the pages of Architectural Digest. What to do on your stay there? Well there's plenty in surrounding Fennville (like Virtue Cider and Modales Wines) and nearby Saugatuck, and it's only a 5-minute drive to Lake Michigan—but you can also just grab some goodies from The Woods' canteen and cozy up around the firepit.

A Nonalcoholic Bottle Shop on the North Shore

Grand Marais, Minnesota

If it's a Sober Summer, we've got the place for you: Lady Superior Bottle Shop, a nonalcoholic bottle shop that opened in Grand Marais in May—the only one of its kind on the North Shore. Lady Superior sells NA beer, wine and co*cktails, as well as CBD and THC drinks. Stop by to pick up a bottle to take home, or stay and have a glass or a tasting flight. The shop shares space with Harbortown Goods, selling local products, custom-made pennants and Northwoods goods. "I have a soft spot for beautifully designed packaging, and Lady Superior’s Bottle Shop was filled with eye candy," says Erin Keeffer, assistant art director of Midwest Living. "I visited the store during a girls' trip to Grand Marais. As soon as we walked in, we were all instant fans."

The Midwest's Largest Multicultural Festival

St. Louis

August is the month of music festivals (Lollapalooza and Hinterland among them), but if you want to hear music from around the world, you should head to St. Louis for the Festival of Nations, August 24-25. Put on by theInternational Institute of St. Louis(IISTL) and held inTower Grove Park, the festival features performers, food and retail vendors representing more than 75 countries. In addition to listening to international headliners like Mai Lee,Mannywellz andThe Voice’sLisa Ramey, you can also learn about different cultures via community information booths, fashion designers and artists. And the best part? You don't have to fight to get tickets—admission to the fest is free.

An Indian Chai and Coffee Shop

Chicago

Drinking a masala chai at a cafe is one of India's simple pleasures, and the new Swadesi Cafe aims to replicate that feeling in Chicago. The cafe marries Indian flavors with French techniques in things like Carrot Halwa Tartlet and Butter Chicken Croissants. Of course the Swadesi Masala Chai is the star of the drink menu, but there's also a Salted Jaggery Caramel Latte and Sparkling Tamarind Lemonade. How we know it's going to be good: It's from the same team behind Chicago's Michelin-starred Indienne restaurant. "I'm going to Chicago next month and this is at the top of my list," says Julia Sayers Gokhale.

A Buddhist Community Farm with Excellent Pastries

Ann Arbor, Michigan

Midwest Living's Michigan scout, Stacey Brugeman, has a new obsession: White Lotus Farms, founded by members of the Tsogyelgar Buddhist community. "Lemon Oh’s and other pastry work modeled after NYC’s Dominique Ansel? Ham and brie croissants to take and bake? Cheese from goats that live on property? A Buddhist temple on site? Yep. This very curious, very pastoral, very delicious roadside market reminds me of Sonoma…except within Ann Arbor city limits," Brugeman says. What started with a small farmers market table now encompasses a dairy, a bakery, meats, produce and skin care products.

Two Seasonal Pop-Ups Not to Miss in Minneapolis

Minneapolis

Don't let summer fun slip away. There are plenty of fun activations and pop-ups happening throughout the Twin Cities this month; our project editor Jess Hoffert recommends these two:

On Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights this month, Hotel Emery welcomes you to the jungle. Inspired by the vivid colors and nightly sounds of a tropical forest, Nightlark pop-up takes over the hotel's lobby with tropical co*cktails, small bites, abundant foliage, frilly umbrellas and mood lighting. Hoffert recommends the Concrete Jungle, which he says was "a potent, potent, pineapple-accented riff on an Old-Fashioned."

Can't get a reservation at Owamni, Sean Sherman's groundbreaking Indigenous restaurant? Walk up to the seasonal Wakpa Bar and enjoy snacks and drinks along the river. The tent will be open into the fall (weather dependent) and dishes native-inspired foods like Elk Skewers, Bison Birria Tacos and Bean Dip with Smoked Walleye.

A Fort Wayne Restaurant from a James Beard-nominated Chef

Fort Wayne, Indiana

Bold flavors minus fuss—that’s the vision of James Beard nominee and executive chef Sean Richardson at Rune Restaurant, his new fine-dining venture in Fort Wayne’s historic 46807 neighborhood. A certified staff forager helps gather the seasonal ingredients, while a charming old building (once a pharmacy, recently a brewery) lends unpretentious ambience.

A Bubbly Spin on Afternoon Tea

Chicago

While we're in French mode watching the Olympics in Paris, we're dreaming about this afternoon tea with a French twist: a pot of champagne instead of tea. Sofitel Chicago pairs fine bubbly—served in a teapot—with indulgences like choux puffs and truffle cream, French onion and Gruyère scones, macarons, foie gras tea sandwiches, and quiche Lorraine tartlets. The service is offered Saturdays and Sundays beginning at noon.

A Stunning Rental on Lake Superior

Lutsen, Minnesota

Planning a late summer trip to the North Shore? We might have just found you the coolest Airbnb. This stunning rental sits atop a 40-foot cliff overlooking Superior, with floor-to-ceiling windows maximizing light and views, and a deck awash in the soothing sound of waves. The modern cabin holds three bedrooms and two baths in wings connected by glass breezeways.

Three Different Ways to Omakase

Chicago

Chicago has a thriving Omakase scene, and now creative chefs are extending it far beyond sushi. Omakase, which means “I leave it up to you” in Japanese, is where the chef decides what you eat, often on the fly, in a multi-course tasting menu fomat. Here are three fun Chicago variations:

Bumper Boats on the Milwaukee River

Milwaukee

There's a fun new way to get on the river in Milwaukee: the electric-powered, disc-like boats from Cream City Boats. They're said to be more stable than a kayak, and you can bump into your friends, play tag or do 360-degree spins in the water. Rentals start at 30 minutes but we'd bet you'll want to go longer.

New Restaurants in St. Louis' Delmar Maker District

St. Louis

Ben Poremba is on a roll. The chef and founder of Bengelina Hospitality Group and three-time James Beard semifinalist has opened a new restaurant, Esca, in St. Louis' Delmar Maker District. Along with that, he's opening another new restaurant in the same neighborhood later this year, and relocating his other three popular restaurants there as well, in an effort to bring fresh energy to a formerly neglected stretch. At Esca, Poremba was inspired by coastal Mediterranean food, touching on Sicily, the French Riviera and the western Med. Must-order items so far: a Clay Pot Negroni and the Cervelle de Canut, a cheese-based onion dip.

An Amenity-Packed Public Park

Toledo, Ohio

Toledo has been working hard on its Glass City Riverwalk, a public greenspace encompassing 300 acres along the Maumee River. The massive undertaking includes the 70-acre Glass City Metropark, a 1,000-foot ice skating ribbon that transforms into a roller-skating zone in warm months, a kayaking cove, and a market hall with a restaurant and beer garden. The park also treats play as education: a water play area features a scaled depiction of the Maumee River and the Prairie + Pollinator Discovery Play area was inspired by the flora and fauna of the region.

Reopening of the Iconic Hillside Theater at Taliesin

Spring Green, Wisconsin

After an extensive five-year restoration, the Hillside Theater reopened in June at Taliesin, Frank Lloyd Wright’s home and studio in Spring Green, Wisconsin. Originally built in 1903 as part of the Hillside Home School founded by Wright’s aunts, the Hillside Theater is a cultural landmark in the Driftless Area. The restoration project, undertaken by the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation and Taliesin Preservation, addressed structural issues while also improving accessibility. The programming lineup for the 2024-2025 season is still being finalized, but expect film screenings, performances and concerts.

A Permanent Home for a Popular Detroit Pizza Delivery Spot

Detroit

Elephant & Co. made a name for themselves by delivering beer and their signature Detroit-style pizza, and just opened a brick-and-mortar location in July (which our editorial content manager Kristin Hagenson has been anxiously awaiting!). But it's more than just pizza. During the pandemic, the crew started making vegan doughnuts and opened Dooped Donuts downtown. They'll now have Dooped Donuts inside Elephant & Co., along with 50 self-pour beer taps. "I have not tried the doughnuts, but the pizza is damn good," says Hagenson. "And it's only 2 blocks from my house, so why order delivery when I can just walk there?"