If you’re one of those people who spends most of your time daydreaming about the ‘50s and ’60s, browsing flea markets for retro furniture, and comparing your friends to Mad Men characters, it’s probably time for you to visit the Midwest.

There, you’ll find amazing off-the-beaten-path examples of midcentury design and architecture. Plan a road trip to hop from one landmark to the next, and make sure to book appropriately modern hotels to stay at along the way.

Inside, a hidden door off the lobby leads to a cozy lounge with a double-sided fireplace, Scandinavian-style seating, and occasional live music from a French bossa nova band. Design details throughout from the artwork to the stitching of the upholstery celebrate the city’s famed automobile-racing culture. Meanwhile, parquet flooring and geometric paneling infuse the retreat with a throughly modern spirit.

FIRST CHRISTIAN CHURCH

Palm Springs isn’t the only enclave of midcentury modern design. Columbus, Indiana, which has been ranked as one of the top cities in the U.S. for architecture by the American Institute of Architects, is adorned with numerous notable buildings by modernist icons.

No visit is complete without a stop at the First Christian Church. Designed by Eliel and Eero Saarinen in 1942, the streamlined rectangular church with a modular bell tower was the town's first modernist structure, and was seen as incredibly progressive at a time when most sacred spaces were much more ornate. (And now, it's a National Historic Landmark.)

Up for more? Head to the North Christian Church, another iconic building designed by Eero Saarinen decades later in 1964. A hexagonal structure with a massive metal spire, this church’s design would come to be widely copied across the country.

LE MÉRIDIEN CHICAGO

From the breathtaking views to the graphic design treatments inspired by the original Daniel Burnham plans for the city, you’ll feel the greatness of Chicago just by walking through the halls. A palette of warm walnut, Carrara marble, and aged bronze sets the backdrop for eye-catching details in the Gensler-designed property. A concrete breeze block wall behind the reception desk and stools by Harry Bertoia in the top-floor lounge pay homage to an earlier era.

These midcentury touches are paired with bold local modern art—like a show-stopping mural by artist Justus Roe—to merge the essence of classic Chicago and its contemporary creative scene.