Ideas for the perfect Midwest fall staycation or road trip

It's time you gave your couch — and your TV — a break. With two thirds of U.S. adults planning a vacation in the next few months and domestic travel continuing to be the preferred mode of getting away in 2021 (according to MMGY Global’s Portrait of American Travelers® 2021 “summer edition” survey), we have a couple of ideas for you that are close to home but provide respite from the summer heat and lead into the loveliest season of all — fall.

Autumn is the perfect season for a road trip or scenic drive to see the foliage in your neck of the woods on display with its amber colors. It's also a good time to eat, drink, and cuddle up in comfort at a top notch hotel. The Aparium Hotel Group offers a mixture of character and charm perfect for all kinds of fall getaways and we have found two properties within a manageable drive of each other — perfect for a fall getaway.

Crossroads Hotel - Kansas City, Missouri 

Crossroads Hotel, located in the heart of Kansas City’s bustling Art’s District, is the perfect place to embrace your “cool factor” with its gorgeously designed rooms, craft cocktails and bites, live music events and more. Percheron, Crossroads’ popular rooftop bar, is home to some of the best views of the Kansas City skyline and makes a great place to indulge in a cocktail or two while planning out your visit to Kansas City.

This fall, the fun doesn’t stop with events including the Kentucky Derby Party at the Kansas City Museum followed by an epic afterparty at Percheron, KC Night Market featuring local artists, Dia De Los Muertos events and more. Only 30 minutes away, visitors can experience the multimedia and immersive event Terra Luna at the Overland Arboretum from September 24-26 and October 1-3.

Surety Hotel - Des Moines, Iowa

Designated as one of the best new hotels by Travel + Leisure, Surety Hotel is a brilliant adaptive reuse of the  historic century-old Hippee building, a Beaux-Arts Classicism-style architectural gem, built for The Iowa Loan & Trust Company in 1913.

Located in the heart of downtown Des Moines, Surety is a central base for guests looking to access fall festivities across town. Everyone is welcome to enjoy the World Food & Music Festival, Geisler Farms 15th annual corn maze and fall festival, and the miles of fall foliage along the city trails. The hotel is also just a walk away from the city’s idyllic farmers market, boutiques, galleries and cafes. For dining, guests can enjoy a locally-inspired menu from the hotel’s flagship restaurant, The Mulberry Street Tavern, thoughtfully prepared to showcase the flavor of the wood grill. So whether you’re looking for apple pie, the perfect cider or a cozy escape, there’s no shortage of things to do this fall in the Surety Hotel.

WhistlePig + Alfa Romeo F1

SHOREHAM, VT (September 13, 2023) — WhistlePig Whiskey, the leaders in independent craft whiskey, and Alfa Romeo F1 Team Stake are waving the checkered flag on a legend-worthy release that’s taking whiskey to G-Force levels. The Limited Edition PiggyBack Legends Series: Alfa Romeo F1 Team Stake Barrel is a high Rye Whiskey selected by the Alfa Romeo F1 Team Stake drivers, with barrels trialed in their wind tunnel to ensure a thrilling taste in every sip.

The third iteration in WhistlePig’s Single Barrel PiggyBack Legends Series, the Alfa Romeo F1 Team Stake Barrel is bottled at 96.77 proof, a nod to Valtteri Bottas’ racing number, 77, and the precision of racing. Inspired by Zhou Guanyu, the first Chinese F1 driver, this Rye Whiskey is finished with lychee and oolong tea. Herbal and floral notes of the oolong tea complement the herbaceous notes of WhistlePig’s signature PiggyBack 100% Rye, rounded out with a juicy tropical fruit finish and a touch of spice.

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by Spectrum Medical Care Center

Nurse Practitioner Ari Kravitz

When I started medical transition at 20 years old, it was very difficult to get the care I needed for hormone replacement therapy because there are very few providers trained in starting hormones for trans people, even though it’s very similar to the hormones that we prescribe to women in menopause or cisgender men with low testosterone.

I hope more providers get trained in LGBTQ+ healthcare, so they can support patients along their individual gender journey, and provide the info needed to make informed decisions about their body. I’ve personally seen my trans patients find hope and experience a better quality of life through hormone replacement therapy.

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Descanso Resort swimming pool and lounge area

Descanso Resort, Palm Springs' premier destination for gay men, just received Tripadvisor's highest honor, a Travelers' Choice "Best of the Best" award for 2023. Based on guests' reviews and ratings, fewer than 1% of Tripadvisor's 8 million listings around the world receive the coveted "Best of the Best" designation. Descanso ranked 12th in the top 25 small inns and hotels category in the United States. Quite an accomplishment!

Open less than two years, Descanso Resort offers gay men a relaxing and luxurious boutique hotel experience just minutes away from Palm Springs' buzziest restaurants, nightclubs, and shopping. Descanso has quickly established itself as a top destination for sophisticated gay travelers, earning hundreds of 5-star guest reviews and consistently ranking in Trapadvisor's top positions alongside brother properties Santiago Resort and Twin Palms Resort.

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