Michael Jackson: Gary, Indiana
Within hours of Michael Jackson's death in Los Angeles on June 25, 2009, distraught fans had gathered around the world to mourn and celebrate The King of Pop. The Apollo Theater in Harlem, where Jackson's career rocketed in the '70s, was a natural choice for New Yorkers; Angelenos were drawn to the hospital where Jackson was taken. Many residents of Gary, Ind., found themselves at 2300 Jackson St., Michael's boyhood home in the town that witnessed his birth. (The street name is a coincidence.) This modest single-floor house in the Midtown neighborhood continues to draw crowds, TV crews and, as of July, the "King of Pop" bus tour. Plans are already underway for a privately funded Michael Jackson hometown museum, and Gary's mayor, Rudy Clay, told reporters that 2300 Jackson St. could become the country's next Graceland.
Price for the Weekend: $195
Flights to nearby Chicago, IL as low as $147 roundtrip from New York, $235 roundtrip from Los Angeles. Three star hotels available for as low as $48 per night.