If you find yourself with a spare day or two and you’re happy to travel 18 miles, take a look at Yoshkar-Ola. This place offers loads of things to see and do. Museum of the History of the Gulag, Sapaev Mari State Opera and Ballet Theatre and Mari El National Shketan Drama Theater alone make the drive out worth it. Situated 40 miles away, Cheboksary is another popular option. If you swing by, be sure to check out Monument of Mother, Chuvash National Museum and Museum of V.I. Chapaev.