I never had the desire to travel to the Midwest until a trip to Wisconsin changed my perspective on travel

• I never had the desire to see the Southwest until I saw photos of Door County, Wisconsin, in the fall.

• On my trip to Door County, I experienced amazing fall foliage, interesting traditions, and friendly locals.

• Now I intend to visit many other places in the world instead of visiting famous tourist spots.

I love traveling up and down the East Coast, and I’ve always wanted to see the Pacific Northwest – but I never dreamed of visiting the states that fill the center of the United States.

But I changed my mind once I saw pictures online of Door County, Wisconsin, in the fall. I was mesmerized by the images of lush trees that seemed to go on in bright colors of red, orange, yellow and green.

Growing up in Virginia, I knew about falling leaves, but I had never seen anything like this. I felt instantly drawn to the place and within a few weeks, my flight was booked for a late October trip.

Now I can see why Lonely Planet named the Midwest one of the top travel destinations for 2024.

Door County looked like something out of a Hallmark movie

On my first day in Door County, I woke up to a view of Lake Michigan from my balcony at The Water Street Inn, a circa 1896 hotel that looked like something out of a Hallmark movie.

I started the day by riding the Door County Trolley to get a closer look at the leaves I had been dreaming about for weeks. It’s one thing to see that kind of beauty in a picture, but seeing it in person was surreal.

It had rained that morning, so the wet streets reflected the colors of the maple trees towering above them, whose brightly colored leaves blanketed the streets in blankets of gold and orange.

In the following days, I spent my time hiking in nature reserves and parks such as The Ridges Sanctuary and Whitefish Dunes State Park.

I climbed to the top of the Cana Island Lighthouse, which is over 150 years old. I explored the beautiful towns of Fish Creek and Egg Harbor, and participated in the most revered tradition of Door County: fish boil.

What started out as a practical way to feed hungry fishermen a century ago has evolved into an amazing way to bring the town together again and again for an unpretentious, delicious meal by the fire.

The Midwestern peninsula is made unique by many amazing cities and beautiful landscapes

During my time in Door County, I discovered once-in-a-lifetime fall foliage, great bodies of water, and beautiful towns.

There was a deep sense of pride among the people who lived there. I met local people who were eager to tell me that they had lived on the island all their lives. Others had gone to college or moved away as adults to see what else was out there, only to return when they found no place more special than the one they grew up in.

Local residents who have carefully preserved the area’s heritage while adding to its story are what make Door County successful, and their passion is evident in every square mile from Sturgeon Bay to of Fish Creek.

This trip taught me that, while there’s nothing wrong with visiting the top tourist spots, the United States is full of beautiful cities I’ve never heard of – and many of them are also worth visiting. check them out.

Now I plan trips with an open mind because I know that no matter where I go, whether it’s Bucharest or the Midwest, I’ll find something good.

Read the original article on Business Insider