I never had any desire to visit the Midwest until a trip to Wisconsin changed my entire outlook on travel

• I never had a desire to see the Midwest until I saw photos of Door County , Wisconsin, in the fall.
• On my visit to Door County, I found amazing fall foliage , exciting traditions, and friendly locals.
• I'm now open to visiting many more places in the world instead of just the big-name tourist spots.

I love traveling up and down the East Coast, and I've always wanted to see the Pacific Northwest — but I can't say I ever dreamed of visiting the states that fill out the center of the United States.

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

Growing up in Virginia , I was no stranger to fall foliage, but I had never seen anything like this. I felt an immediate pull to the area and within a few weeks, my flight was booked for a late October trip .

I now 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 views of Lake Michigan from my balcony at The Water Street Inn, a circa 1896 hotel that looked like it was right out of a Hallmark movie .

I kicked off the day with a ride aboard the Door County Trolley to get a closer look at the leaves I had been dreaming of 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 over them, with brightly colored leaves covering many of the roads in blankets of gold and orange.

In the days that followed, I spent my time strolling through diverse nature preserves and parks like 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 picturesque downtown areas of Fish Creek and Egg Harbor, and took part in Door County's most time-honored tradition: the fish boil .

What began as an efficient way to feed hungry fishermen a century ago has turned into an incredible way to bring the town together on a regular basis for an unpretentious, delicious meal by the fire.

The Midwestern peninsula was made special by more than quaint towns and mesmerizing scenery

During my time in Door County, I discovered more than just once-in-a-lifetime fall foliage, epic waterfronts, and charming towns .

There was a deep sense of pride among the people who lived there. I met locals who were eager to tell me they'd lived on the peninsula for their entire lives. Some had left for college or moved away as adults to see what else was out there, but came back when they didn't find a place more special than the one they grew up in.

The locals who have painstakingly preserved the area's heritage while adding to its story are the ones who've made Door County flourish, and their love is evident in every square mile from Sturgeon Bay to Fish Creek.

This trip taught me that, although there's nothing wrong with visiting top tourist destinations , the United States is teeming with beautiful towns I've not yet heard of — and many of those are worth exploring too.

I plan trips with a more open mind now because I know that no matter where I go, whether it's Bucharest or the Midwest, I'll find something worth experiencing.