Let's see, we left off in Chicago. After a full day of touring the Windy City, we departed the next morning heading north. We passed through Milwaukee, where we toured the Pabst Mansion (the mansion was cool; our tour guide was awful) and ate at this amazing Polish restaurant called Polonez. This place would be worth a trip to Milwaukee in itself. I recommend the Special Polish Plate and dare you to find room for it all!
After lunch and a brief search for a decent photo-op of the skyline, we continued north to Door County, where we checked in to the Bay Shore Inn, which was a really nice place to stay - it was like having our own little apartment. I think normally you can't rent units there for only 1 night, but either because it was end of season, or maybe because they were having a low volume summer, they were willing to take our business, brief as our stay would be.
We spent the next day exploring Door County, in particular, Peninsula State Park, which was awesome. We rented bicycles and did the 10 mile touring loop
then drove back in to cover other parts of the park we hadn't reached by bike.
After much exploring, we began the long drive across Wisconsin, arriving back in Flaketown late that evening.
The next day we ventured forth with my mom, and met Linda and Dave at the happiest place on earth, the Minnesota State Fair!
We spent a very full day looking at exhibits and eating plenty of food on a stick, and then Adri and Burkhard went home with Linda and Dave, to explore southwestern MN for the weekend. I wasn't with them for this part, but in addition to much puttering around the lake on the pontoon, they also toured the Schell Brewery (I hear generous, buzz-inducing samples are available at the end of the tour) and visited New Ulm, "the most German town in Minnesota" (A and B's conclusion: not really echt Deutsch). While they were away, I went to a movie and dinner with some seminary friends, and went to see my cousin Liz's new place in Osceola.
Monday we all met back up for day two at the happiest place on earth. :) Burkhard was a real trooper, I don't think the State Fair was really his thing at all, but he was very gracious and patient with those of us who are Fair fanatics!
Incidentally, kudos to the young adults group from the St. Paul Cathedral for their brilliant "Theology on a Stick" programming, t-shirts and posters that we kept seeing all over the place.
Tuesday was a Twin Cities day - spent part of it at the Science Museum, a late lunch at D'Amico's, a little walk around Lake Harriet, a visit with some old friends from St. Mark, and a night-time stop at the Stone Arch Bridge, which was not as pretty as we were hoping (the bridge lights need to be bright for the pedestrian traffic, but then they were too bright for a decent picture).
Wednesday we drove north to Duluth, with the requisite stop at Tobies on the way. We toured the S.S. William A. Irvin, which I hadn't been on since an elementary school field trip in the late 80s. I think I got more out of the tour this time than I did when I was 10! :) Then it was further up the North Shore to Split Rock Lighthouse, one of my favorite places on the planet.
Incidentally, the movie about the history of the lighthouse: really cheesy. A, B, and I all agreed, that's 30 minutes of our lives we're never gonna get back - just spend more time exploring the place itself.
After the lighthouse, we went further up the shore to Gooseberry Falls State Park, another favorite that I hadn't been to in several years. Adri's foot was hurting her, so she stayed low-key around the lower falls, but Burkhard and I made a nice little hike out to the Fifth Falls.
Soon it was time to head home. We stopped and had dinner at Grandma's, a Duluth institution and sponsor of the city's annual springtime marathon (sooo much food - my entree could have easily served 3 people), then drove back to Flake and crashed after a very full day.
Thursday we took it easy, slept in, then went to the MOA for some shopping, and out for dinner at a Mexican place.
And that was pretty much it. Friday I had to head back to PA, so Adri, Burki, and Maminka brought me to the airport. Then I think they did a little more shopping, driving around, and packing, before departing for Germany on Saturday. Their visit was full, rich, and too short, as always. But, next time they come, I think we might try a road trip out West!
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