Day 8--traveling

Today was basically a travel day, but we did make some stops along our way to Chicago. First, we went to a cheese store/factory. They produce cheese that is sold for Kroger (Ralphs), so now we have seen it being made. We learned something today about Colby Jack cheese, see if you can answer the following question: a) Colby Jack cheese is made from two different cows, Colby and Jack b) It is a blend of Jack cheese and Colby cheese c) The people that invented this type of cheese were named Colby and Jack or d) It is all one kind of cheese, but with two different colors mixed together? (The answer will be at the end of this post.)
Then we stopped by a "Deer Farm". They had a lot of goats, and deer. There were several babies that were "adorable", as Erin would say. There was also a large buck with big antlers. Dan tried to pet the Bison that was there, (and we all know that is not a good idea!). The bison tried to head butt him! We feed all the animals, which the kids loved.
Next, it was on to Madison and the University of Wisconsin. We walked all over campus. We had ice cream that they make on campus, plus went to the student union where there is a nice terrace on the Lake. We finally arrived at our hotel outside of Chicago. The next few days will be spent exploring Chicago.
Answer: D

Kyle getting a kiss!

The Terrace at the Student Union

Day 6 & 7--Wisconsin Dells

The past two days we have been enjoying ourselves at the Wisconsin Dells, water park central. The first day it was perfect weather outside, so we spent a lot of time at the outdoor water parks. We enjoyed the lazy river, and slides. We also went go-cart racing on an indoor track, played mini-golf, and the kids enjoyed a little ropes course. The second day, it rained ALL day, but no worries, there are several indoor water parks here also. We were fairly low key all day. We spent some time just hanging out in our condo and watching television. We again went mini-golfing, the kids played laser tag, and played in the arcade. It was nice to be in the same place for more than a day. Now that we are recharged, we are ready to start more adventures tomorrow.

Water slide fun

Dan dropping!

Kyle up on the ropes course

Day 5--Green Bay, Wisconsin

Today was a very busy day. We started the day with a tour of Lambeau Field, home of the Green Bay Packers. It was a very informative and fun tour. We learned about the history of the Packers and the stadium. We got to visit a suite--it had a great few of the field. Then it was time to go down below, and walk through the tunnel, where all the Packers enter the field for each game, before we got to see the field, up close and personal. We also saw where they do the "Lambeau Leap".

Go Packers!!

On the way to our next destination, we went through Amish country. Wendy was on the look-out for their "buggies" and/or a shop of some kind. Wendy was not let down--we saw several buggies, families, and even got to shop in a bakery. (The doughnuts we bought were very good.)
By mid-afternoon, we reached the Wisconsin Dells--the water slide capital of the US. The resort that we are staying at is amazing! It has several indoor and outdoor water parks, mini-golf, laser tag, and go-carts! We enjoyed the slides this evening, and can't wait to go back again in the morning.

Day 4--Sault Ste. Marie

Did you know that there are locks in the Great Lakes? There apparently are several. We visited the Soo Locks which connect Lake Huron and Lake Superior. The United States is on one side of the canal, and Canada is on the other.We actually went on a tour boat that takes you through the locks. We went through the US lock going toward Lake Superior, and through the Canada lock coming back towards Lake Huron. It was amazing to watch the locks open and close, plus start low/high, and then raise/lower the 21 feet. Not many people can say that they have been through a lock! To make us even happier, the weather was nice.

We then traveled across the upper peninsula of Michigan to Green Bay, Wisconsin. It rained almost the entire drive--5 hours. After checking in to our hotel, which is right next to Lambeau Field, home of the Packers, Dan and Wendy went to the stadium and looked around a bit. We can't wait until tomorrow when we go on a tour of the stadium.

The US Lock

Lambeau Field

Day 3--Mackinac Island

You know that you are from California when you forget to factor in weather as something that might make you change your plans! We went across Lake Huron to Mackinac Island on an early ferry to beat the rain. Once there, we immediately rented bikes to go around the island. First stop, the Grand Hotel. (Wendy has wanted to go here forever--it was in the movie "Somewhere in Time") As we approached it, it started to rain. We were going to go inside, but it started raining harder, and it was expensive to just go in and walk around--time and money were not on our side. So we biked on to the fort. A group of boy scouts were raising the flags, at the sound of the cannon, as it started raining harder. Then we went to Arch Rock, by now it was really raining. We decided it was time to return to town and turn in our bikes. It was then time to hit Starbucks to get warm and dry off. We did a bit of shopping, and then returned across the lake on the ferry--much earlier than anticipated.

It was then time to drive across Mackinac Bridge and to the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. We arrived at Sault St. Marie, early afternoon, ate lunch and headed to our hotel to relax a bit. Then it was out to explore the Soo Locks. We were figuring out the plan for tomorrow--what time to be where. Then it was back to the hotel to swim. Not quite the day we had planned, but we made the best of it.

The Grand Hotel

Our Rainy Bike Ride

Day 2--Detroit, Michigan

Today was an interesting day. We started out the day by driving around a bit near downtown Detroit. We showed the kids the not so good part of town, and the old houses that were now abandoned. It was an educational look/discussion about the economy. We went to the Motown Museum. It was the actual houses that Barry Gordy lived in and used for the beginning of Motown records. We got to go into "Studio A" (where all the legends did their recordings--The Supremes, Smokey Robinson, the Jackson 5, etc.), and we all sang "My Girl" there. We then had to buy a Motown CD to listen to in the car, for the rest of our trip!
Then it was time to head north towards the "top of the mitt". On the way, we stopped in Frankenmuth.  It is where the famous Bronner's Christmas Wonderland is located. We made the kids go inside with us, even though they thought it was a bit "cheesy". It is so huge that they have different sections, and it would be very easily to get lost. We bought a few ornaments, of course. We enjoyed lunch in the little Barvarian town, and then sampled homemade fudge, and then had to buy some fudge.
Then we drove up to Mackinaw City. Dan and Wendy walked around the cute town, and along Lake Huron to see the Mackinac Bridge, which connects the lower and upper peninsulas of Michigan. It is the third longest suspension bridge in the world. (We will be driving over it tomorrow night.) Tomorrow we go to Mackinac Island.

Motown Museum

Mackinac Bridge

Being "Cheesy" at the Christmas Store

Day 1--Dearborn, Michigan

Well, we arrived very early this morning in Michigan, after a bit of a "bumpy" start, literally--the airplane ride was very "bumpy", due to storms, and then we were delayed after we landed. We headed straight to our first "tourist" attraction--The Henry Ford. First, we explored Greenfield Village. The village is a recreation of various important buildings from famous inventors--the Firestone Farm, Thomas Edison's workshop, the Wright Brothers Cycle shop where they built their airplane, and even Henry Ford's house that he grew up in. Henry Ford actually created the village, and tracked down the original buildings to be restored. Then it was on to the Ford Rouge Factory where we watched F-150 trucks being assembled. It was incredible to watch them being built. They make about 1,000 a day! (We were not allowed to take any pictures in the factory.) Then it was over to The Henry Ford museum. There was a huge collection of cars, including several previous Presidential vehicles. It was then time to head to our hotel for a much needed nap. For dinner, we enjoyed a Blizzard from Dairy Queen--yes, we often eat ice cream for a meal, while on vacation. Tomorrow it is on to Detroit, and then traveling north to the upper peninsula.

Outside the Factory

In Greenfield Village