The plan for this year is to fly commercial into ORD (nonstop from PBI), rent a car, and do some stuff before or after EAA AirVenture (“Oshkosh”). We have some constraints…
- one family member is 8 years old and, therefore, lacks an adult level of patience
- one family member lacks a Democrat adult level of tolerance for crime and disorder and, therefore, refuses to set foot in Chicago (my default choice, e.g., Field Museum and Shedd Aquarium)
- one family member objects to long drives so we don’t want to go too far off route (it’s about 2.5 hours from ORD to Oshkosh if one proceeds direct (through Milwaukee) and 3.25 hours through Madison, WI)
- everyone in the family likes the outdoors
- the before/after time will be on weekends, when some things might be closed
One of my early ideas was Devil’s Lake State Park, SW of Oshkosh. However, the same government that informs us that we’re doomed without population growth via open borders also tells us that one must get to this park at dawn in order to be allowed in:
Are the Wisconsin Dells and Baraboo plausible outdoor destinations that are also practical on weekends given the rapidly growing population of our country and constant number of nice places to visit?
What about Milwaukee? I know the art museum (good for 1.5 hours max with our kids). There is a Harley-Davidson museum (do they sell “Better Your Sister in a Whorehouse than Your Brother on a Honda” T-shirts? If not, I question the authenticity). The city will be somewhat jammed on the weekend after Oshkosh due to an airshow(!) so we’d see Milwaukee on the way in. Perhaps the Pabst Mansion as well as the museums? How is the “Historic Third Ward”?
If not too far of a drive, you might enjoy Door County, Wisconsin. To me, it feels a bit like the picturesque oceanside northeastern states tucked away in the midwest! A few photos from last year:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/trothwell/albums/72177720317940951/
I hope you have your tickets for Air Aviators Club South, since North is sold out!
Perhaps consider a trip to the Kohler Design museum. Although I am sure it will pale in comparison to the Rockvilled, MD Home Depot Design Center, but we will wait for the full review!
https://www.destinationkohler.com/explore-more/activities-and-events/tours
Perhaps you can “convince” the receptionist at Osh Kosh Aviation (https://oshkoshaerotech.com/) that you are there to “Inspect” the operation and conduct a self-guided tour!
“Dr” Phil:
Exquisite insight, I bet Devil’s Lake State Park is chock full of illegals and they are to blame for the popularity of a Wisconsin park…
Mike: no human is illegal. That’s literally true under our asylum-based immigration system. As soon as a noble migrant walks across our open border and says “I didn’t feel safe at home”, he/she/ze/they is a legal asylum-seeker. See https://www.politico.com/news/2021/06/16/asylum-standards-biden-494918 for an explanation of how things changed in 2021.
To understand the larger picture, see “Modern Immigration Wave Brings 59 Million to U.S., Driving Population Growth and Change Through 2065”: “Between 1965 and 2015, new immigrants, their children and their grandchildren accounted for 55% of U.S. population growth. They added 72 million people to the nation’s population as it grew from 193 million in 1965 to 324 million in 2015.”
https://www.pewresearch.org/race-and-ethnicity/2015/09/28/modern-immigration-wave-brings-59-million-to-u-s-driving-population-growth-and-change-through-2065/
How about if you visit the University of Wisconsin campus?
Milwaukee is probably good for one day. Art museum is worth going to. Discovery World is a science museum and aquarium that is good for a kid. The Milwaukee County Zoo is a pretty good zoo. There might be some fun boat tours that are running downtown. Third Ward is okay, nothing special although it’s pretty fun to go to the Public Market for a meal there and then walk around for 30 minutes. The Dells are good if you like huge water parks but it could feel like a very crowded Walmart with kids running all over. Door County is really great but 8 year old will be bored and it’s a longer drive. There is a 6 flags in Gurnee, IL but that will feel like a poor man’s disney. The Bewers baseball stadium is very nice if anyone has interest in a game. The Sprecher brewery tour is actually pretty interesting and since Sprecher makes a large variety of sodas the kid can sample those. Milwaukee could be very crowded if there is some big festival happening so be advised (ie Harley Fest or republican convention or something like that)
The Wisconsin Maritime museum is fun. Your an actual WWII submarine!
https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g60057-d1546650-Reviews-Wisconsin_Maritime_Museum-Manitowoc_Wisconsin.html
Right on the lake, some fun outdoor activities right there, also.
I visit Wisconsin frequently. I second the recommendation of the Maritime museum.
Also recommend chooosing a tour at the Kohler factory in Sheboygan area. If they have resumed the foundry tour, that would be my top pick, but they have other tours. Blue Harbor hotel and water park on lake Michigan might be a good place to stay in the Kohler factory area with kids. https://www.destinationkohler.com/explore-more/activities-and-events/tours
The paper museum in Appleton, rebranded recently as a “Science Center” – the paper exhibits are first class with hands on paper making workshop. https://www.atlassciencecenter.org/
When driving from Chicago, a trout fishing stop in Palmyra, might provide a break from driving and a nice lunch. https://rushingwaters.net/
Be advised that the Republican convention is scheduled for Milwaukee the weekend before EAA
Also maybe skip these https://nypost.com/2022/10/21/jeffrey-dahmer-murders-fuel-sick-milwaukee-tourism-trend/