During the summer of 2014, we created a driving trip to Chicago, Wisconsin and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan about two weeks before the trip. Why a driving trip and why those states?
Let me back up. We had flown for the Boston/Maine trip and the Seattle/Vancouver trip, but had driven for the Washington DC/Shenandoah NP trip. The cost differential between flying and driving was significant enough that we wanted to drive somewhere again. But where should we go? I looked at our map of the US and drew a circle around places within 12 hours from home. Chicago was one of the cities that had popped up.
Since I was missing Wisconsin and Michigan from my visited states list, I wanted to incorporate those as well. A brochure I ordered from Wisconsin highlighted beautiful lighthouses in Door County. From there, we realized we weren’t far from the Upper Peninsula and could swing around and see Mackinac Island.
Friday
Depart home early morning
Lunch at Arnold’s – Nashville
Break at Falls of the Ohio State Park – Jeffersonville, IN
Walk around downtown Indianapolis War Memorial Plaza
Stay at Baymont Inn – Lafayette, IN
Dinner at Nine Irish Brothers – West Lafayette, IN
Saturday
Drive around Purdue University
Arrive Chicago
Chicago Museum of Science and Industry
Walked around Frank Lloyd Wright area – Oak Park, IL
Stayed at Hilton Chicago
Walked around Millenium Park
Sunday
Lunch at Pizzeria Uno
Walked Magnificent Mile
Went to Top of Willis Tower (formerly Sears Tower)
Chicago Architectural Foundation
Monday
Depart Chicago
Drove through Zion, IL where relatives lived in 1900s
Lunch at Kopp’s Frozen Custard – Milwaukee, WI
Arrived Best Western Maritime Hotel – Sturgeon Bay, WI (Door County)
Hiked Whitefish Dunes State Park and Cave Point County Park near Jacksonport, WI- Door County
Tea and Coffee at Bearded Heart Coffee – Bailey’s Harbor, WI – Door County
Tuesday
Peninsula State Park – near Fish Creek WI – Door County
Lunch at Al Johnson’s Swedish Restaurant – Sister Bay, WI – Door County
Shoreline Scenic Cruise – Gill’s Rock, WI – Door County
Wilson’s Ice Cream – Ephraim, WI – Door County
Wine Tasting at Harbor Ridge Winery – Egg Harbor, WI – Door County
Dinner at Sunset Grill – Little Sturgeon Bay, WI – Door County
Wednesday
National Railroad Museum – Green Bay, WI
Lunch at Schloegels Bay Restaurant, Menominee, MI
Dinner to go for the cruise at Falling Rock Cafe & Bookstore – Munising, MI
Sunset Cruise Pictured Rocks National Seashore – Pictured Rocks Cruises – Munising, MI
Stayed at AmericInn by Wyndham – Munising, MI
Thursday
Shepler’s Ferry to Mackinac Island
Toured Fort Mackinac State Park – Mackinac Island
Rent and Ride Bikes around Mackinac Island
Cocktails on the veranda at Grand Hotel Mackinac
Return Ferry to St. Ignace
Dinner at Driftwood – St. Ignace, MI
Stayed at Best Western Harbour Pointe Lakefront – St. Ignace, MI
Friday
Lunch at Frita Batidos – Ann Arbor, MI
Drove around University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
Dinner at Parkette Drive-In – Lexington, KY
Stayed at Clarion Inn, Knoxville, TN
Saturday
Drove around University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN
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