It’s officially spring and I’ve started travelling again for work! Recently, I travelled for about a week to the Midwest to explore areas of Illinois and Wisconsin. This trip was my first time travelling internationally since 2023, so it had been a minute! I primarily visited Chicago and the surrounding suburbs in Illinois, and Madison and Milwaukee in Wisconsin. Read on for the full rundown of my adventures in the Midwest to see if it would be a good fit for YOU to explore too.

Safety and Re-Adjusting

Having not travelled internationally for awhile, I was a bit nervous. Given the current political climate and Canada/US relations, I was even more worried to be travelling to the US. Since I was travelling for work, I hoped it wouldn’t be a problem, but you never know. Thankfully, we have customs preclearance at the Toronto Pearson airport, meaning you can pre-clear customs on this side before taking your flight into the US. It was actually very easy and I had no issues at all! Of course, I always recommend airing on the side of caution, but it went relatively smoothly for me.

I was flying into Chicago O’Hare, an airport I had visited previously, and it felt somewhat familiar when I landed. Trying to remember all of the things I used to do, the corners of my mind tingled with a faint recollection. I recalled how the overall process worked, and reminded myself of how things used to be. I previously travelled for work on a regular basis, and I was a bit nervous to be returning after some time away. But as time went on, it felt like I was starting to get my stride back. It definitely helped being somewhere I had been before: I did a quick Trader Joes run, got my hotel set up for the week, and we were off to the races.

Healthy Habits

One of the big things I wanted to focus on during my week in the Midwest was keeping up healthy habits. I had been working hard to cultivate some of these after moving back to Toronto, and wanted to keep the momentum building. Staying in one hotel for the majority of the week definitely helped create a sense of stability. I did what I could to make it feel more homey, and even attempted to create a night routine. I focused on stretching, showering, reading, and journaling each night before bed. It might seem like a small thing, but this mini-routine made a big difference throughout the week.

Eating healthy was another focus of mine. I did a mini grocery run to grab some salads and healthy snacks to fuel me throughout the week. My hotel also offered a great breakfast each morning that I took advantage of to get some good meals in. I visited Panera Bread on multiple occasions too – they had a drive-through which was amazing! The food was even better than I remembered. Other food highlights include an amazing tiramisu I had at a work event, and a spring iced lavender matcha (the perfect cool down after hot yoga).

I needed some exercise too, so I decided to book a few hot yoga classes throughout the week in the Chicago area. Both hot yoga classes I attended were amazing, and I was so sore by the end of the week! I also made a point of getting out for a walk in nature during sunny days. In the Chicago suburbs, my hotel had a pond with a walking trail that I scoped out. When I made it out to Madison, I checked out the lake views and explored a park area with a few trails. These little moments added up to make a big difference with maintaining healthy habits during my trip!

Itinerary and Highlights

The journey started out in Chicago, where I spent most of my week. I was staying out in Schaumburg, a suburban area that I really like. Towards the end of the week, I made the drive from Schaumburg to Madison in Wisconsin, which took a couple of hours. I got a great vibe from Madison with their location around a lake and positive political signage that I saw in many areas of the city. After a day in Madison, I made another long drive out to Milwaukee, about an hour and a half. I had a full day in Milwaukee for work, and we finally had some sunshine that I got to enjoy! Too soon after, I was heading back to Chicago to board the plane to my next destination.

As you can tell, I spent a lot of time throughout the week driving. One of the ways I made this more fun was by listening to podcasts. Most mornings I started off listening to political ones to stay informed on what’s happening in the US. My recommendation is The Daily, short and to the point. On longer drives, I like to listen to We Can Do Hard Things. They cover a range of topics and it feels like talking with a friend! A new bookish podcast I started during this trip is Off the Shelf, and I’ve really enjoyed it so far. Listening to this range of podcasts made my drives way more fun, and I highly recommend jumping on the podcast train if you haven’t already!

I may not have much in the way of specific recommendations this time around, but I found the Midwest to be very pleasant overall. Chicagoland was a fun area to revisit after some time away. I did enjoy being in Madison and Milwaukee as well, and wish I had more time to explore. It’s a bit of a drive from Chicagoland, but I thought it was worth it. My schedule allowed for a good balance of work and play. I got to enjoy hot yoga, good weather when it came out, some delicious food, and great podcasts. The people were welcoming, and I’m sure I will be back again! If you’re looking for a place that offers a great combination of these aspects, the Midwest may just be the spot for you. 😊