Your spring break guide to six Big 10 college towns in the Midwest

For many, spring break suggests a beach break. But families with college-curious high schoolers may appreciate it as a convenient window for campus visits.

In addition to the academics and lifestyle distinctions divined on school tours, college towns themselves can be diverting vacation destinations, often home to worth-the-trip museums, unique outdoor activities, engrossing bookstores, dining scenes that rise above student standards and interesting accommodations that only a parent (as a potential future four-year visitor) may value.

Consider the following travel guide to Big 10 towns your road map to the lighter side of school shopping.

Ann Arbor, Michigan

If not for the ubiquitous University of Michigan swag worn by townies, you might not know you were close to campus in downtown Ann Arbor, a walking-friendly district tightly packed with restaurants, shops and music clubs. Plenty of residents accept the hour-long commute to work in Detroit as a worthwhile tradeoff to live in the artsy community.

A brick-paved quarter of downtown known as Kerrytown is home to Zingerman’s Deli (422 Detroit St.), perhaps A-squared’s greatest claim to fame after the Big House football stadium. Since 1982, the bustling shop has been dealing sandwiches (try the Georgia Reuben) as well as homemade bread, artisan cheese and international foodstuffs from single-estate olive oils to tinned fish. Across the street you’ll find the weekly farmer’s market (315 Detroit St.), loads of boutiques and the Korean hit Miss Kim (415 N. Fifth Ave).

Performing arts are a draw here, whether you attend a student production from the UM’s theater department (distinguished grads include “Maybe Happy Ending” star Darren Criss) or a concert at The Ark (316 S. Main St.). For a show by nature, head to hilly Nichols Arboretum (1610 Washington Heights) and its renowned peony garden with more than 10,000 flowers at peak bloom, usually in May.

Selfie spot: For Instagram fodder, duck into the ever-changing Graffiti Alley off Liberty St. next to the Michigan Theater.

Where to stay: Between downtown and campus, the slick new AC Hotel Ann Arbor Downtown (310 E. Huron St.) offers pedestrian access to both.

Bloomington, Indiana

College football’s reigning national champion, Indiana University is reveling in its new sports prowess. Jump on the bandwagon at Nick’s English Hut (423 E. Kirkwood Ave.) on the Kirkwood Avenue commercial thoroughfare, slinging burgers and Hoosier spirit since 1927.

On the liberal arts track, visit the Eskenazi Museum of Art (1133 E. 7th St.) on campus designed by I.M. Pei, better known for his glass pyramidal addition to the Louvre, and home to works by Monet, Picasso and Pollack. For history majors, the rare books collection at the Lily Library (1200 E. 7th St.) next door include George Washington’s letter of acceptancy of the presidency and Thomas Jefferson’s copy of the Bill of Rights.

In the midst of the Hoosier National Forest, Bloomington is minutes from Monroe Lake, the state’s largest reservoir, and nearly 13,000 wooded acres in the Charles C. Deam Wilderness with 36 miles of hiking trails.

Meditation mecca: Stroll among the stupas at the Tibetan Mongolian Buddhist Cultural Center (3655 S. Snoddy Rd.) established by the Dalai Lama’s brother.

Where to stay: More than 30 college towns across the country host school-themed Graduate Hotels, part of the Hilton portfolio, including B-town. Graduate by Hilton Bloomington (210 E. Kirkwood Ave.) features a sculptural installation of red chairs referencing former basketball coach Bobby Knight’s famous furniture-tossing tantrum.

Champaign/Urbana, Illinois

Illinois’ twin cities of Champaign and Urbana are routinely treated as one, but families checking out the University of Illinois will quickly distinguish between the cosmopolitan and communal sides of CU, respectively.

The larger Champaign hosts a diverse culinary scene that reflects the university’s stature as attracting one of the largest foreign student populations among public universities. In addition to Italian, Thai and Indian, there’s Zambian stews (Stango Cuisine; 500 N. Walnut St.), Taiwanese chicken (Golden Harbor; 505 S. Neil St.) and especially strong Chinese options (starting with Northern Cuisine; 404-A E. Green St.).

In mellower Urbana, walk it off at Meadowbrook Park (2808 S. Race St.), home to 80 acres of tallgrass prairie and a sculpture garden. Or puzzle it out at one of the nation’s most acclaimed escape rooms CU Adventures in Time and Space (302 N. Broadway Ave.).

Farm fun: It’s just a 10-minute drive to the countryside where you can pet the goats, dine and buy cheese at Prairie Fruits Farm & Creamery (4410 N. Lincoln Ave.).

Where to stay: Parents get a library-cum-restaurant, kids get an indoor pool at the Hotel Royer Urbana Champaign (210 S. Race St.).

Columbus, Ohio

Columbus is home to The Ohio State University, but it’s also the state capital, a base for 15 Fortune 1000 companies and bigger than Cleveland and Cincinnati combined. Attractions abound.

Take STEM students to the acclaimed Center of Science and Industry known as COSI (333 W. Broad St.) for interactive exhibits on the science of Pixar animated films, or the robust Columbus Zoo and Aquarium (4850 W. Powell Road, Powell) once run by TV host Jack Hanna.

Five key neighborhoods stretch along busy High Street, including the gallery-and-restaurant-filled Short North Arts District. Here, fans of hometown favorite Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams can visit the original stall at the 1876-vintage food hall North Market (59 Spruce St.).

Walk the brick-paved streets of historic German Village nearby to find the Book Loft (631 S. Third St.), where maps navigate its 32 rooms. Some of Columbus’ hottest restaurants reside a few blocks away in the Brewery District including the Asian-American Cobra (684 S. High St.) and the fusion multi-course specialist Agni (716 S. High St.).

Signature pie: Like New York, Chicago and Detroit, Columbus has its own style of pizza: thin crust with edge-to-edge toppings cut square. Find contenders like Tommy’s Pizza (1350 W. Lane Ave.) along the pizza trail.

Where to stay: Rooms at The Junto (77 Belle St.) hotel come with tickets to COSI, complimentary bikes and opportunities to hang with locals at a rooftop bar, coffee shop and tavern.

Iowa City, Iowa

Poetry and politics are just two of the odd bedfellows that Iowa City, home to the University of Iowa, embraces. Its Literary Walk quotes poets and authors affiliated with the masters-level Iowa Writers’ Workshop, where John Cheever taught and Jane Smiley graduated, in 89 plaques or concrete stampings.

Iowa’s presidential primary caucus draws pols to town at least every four years. Indulge your inner political junkie (or “West Wing” fan) with a trip to the Hamburg Inn No. 2 (214 N. Linn St.) for vintage campaign memorabilia and diner breakfasts. For farm-to-table in farm country, hold out for The Webster (202 N. Linn St.).

Go on a geologic hunt at the Devonian Fossil Gorge (2850 Prairie Du Chien Road NE) where limestone slabs reveal 375-million-year-old impressions of coral and brachiopods. Take your bikes along for the 3.5-hour drive from Chicago to find out just how rolling this prairie state is. The nonprofit Bike Iowa City maps hundreds of miles along gravel, dirt and paved paths, including a 10-mile townie tour.

Caitlin Clark fever: Pay homage to the Hawkeye alum with a “Forever 22” shirt from Raygun (132 E. Washington St.), the cheeky, Iowa-born retailer.

Where to stay: Iowa City’s Graduate hotel (210 S. Dubuque St.) salutes alum Gene Wilder (of the ’70s classic “Willie Wonka and the Chocolate Factory”) in its restaurant Wilder and the Iowa Writer’s Workshop in the pencil-paneled coffee shop.

Madison, Wisconsin

The official bird of Madison — the state capital and home to the University of Wisconsin located on an isthmus between two downtown lakes — is the plastic pink flamingo. A sense of humor flavors Mad City whether your interests favor Frank Lloyd Wright landmarks or a cheese curd crawl.

There’s more than curds, brandy Old Fashioneds and the largest farmers market in the country (the Dane County Farmers’ Market; 3241 Garver Green) to Madison, host of the 21st season of “Top Chef.” Among delights, The Harvey House (644 W. Washington Ave.) from chef Joe Papach, who spent six years as sous chef at the French Laundry, elevates the classic supper club concept in the city’s former train station.

The League of American Bicyclists gives Madison, which has more than 240 miles of bike paths, its highest rating for bike friendliness. The Madison BCycle bike share program offers easy access to wheels that visitors can take for a two-hour spin around Lake Monona and past the Olbrich Botanical Gardens (3330 Atwood Ave.), which hosts the only Thai Pavilion in the country.

Oompah power: Traditional bands play weekends downtown at the German icon Essen Haus (514 E. Wilson St.) that get both students and locals up to polka.

Where to stay: Even the fitness center at The Edgewater (1001 Wisconsin Pl.), a 10-minute walk from the Wisconsin State Capital, overlooks Lake Mendota.