Waterpark Capital of the World Experience with 13 or How did I live to be this old and survive?
Jul 22nd, 2008, 11:23 AM
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Waterpark Capital of the World Experience with 13 or How did I live to be this old and survive?
Don't read this if you don't like detail.
All my bones are intact, except for one small chip that's loose in my elbow- and most of us, right now and including myself, have killer colds- but we also have smiles on our faces.
Place: Dells area WI
Time: July 13-18 (given a day or two either way of absence for the big deal CEO to go to downtown Chicago for a meeting and O'Hare for another- driving back and forth one extra time in his small just bough VW convertible- despite having a year's notice about the dates and also experiencing at least 7 more vacations each year than his Mother.)
Participants: 13 (all except for the absent above mentioned CEO important person who was minus almost 2 of those days- but had to come a day early to do Noah's ARK with his kids to make it up to them.) That's what he says anyway, but really it is because HE didn't want to miss out on trying that particular location after he saw the size of it.
13 people: 11 in one huge condo- 3 bedrooms total with 11 beds, full kitchen, spacious dining room, TV/ family room with spa hot tub (each bedroom had its own bathroom/tv/coffeemaker).
Two fireplaces that were beautiful and nifty- but for the fact that everytime I turned them on, someone yelled at me to turn them off- because they generated heat. A.C. which we actually turned off because the doors were open so much-ground floor- all one level too- fabulous access to the outdoor baby lazy river. (One of about 11 pools of different types on the property outside of the two main waterparks- Los Rios and the outdoor one.)
The other two (one has sleep apnea and needs to have more space)had a King tower room, and because we had the condo they gave them the cornor river view and it was stunning.)
All arrived separately but got their keys from me- all kids above 10 got a key. Everything was within short walking distance, including a good riverwalk along the WI River, which is beautiful and normal- not like Lake Delton, which was man-made and is now a sand box. In fact, the WI River found its own path, as water does, in a large rainfall and carried Lake Delton away over its dike.
The only sad thing on vacation was the sight of this now humoungous sandbox with all the piers laying on the sand, or looking into the gorges, and channel leading to Delton with all the nice homes having their piers ending into a 50 yard empty muddy ditch (was the channel).
Ducks, the definition follows: A 1/2 truck & 1/2 boat vehicle made by GM during WWII and still using this humongous 6 cycle engine and system that no one makes anymore. They are all very old- even the one we rode on- and we also saw the graveyard of about 10 rusted out Duck bodies that is a shrine to the "Duck" design. It has a flat roof, hard seats, and looks vaguely like a Hummer with no sides and just seat bars, no windows- that has hit Skid's Row level.
We were on the Ducks tour going in/out of the WI River when we saw Lake Delton close up for the first time and it really did make you gasp. They are fixing the road (washed out an entire highway) putting in a different kind of levy and it will be filled back up by Spring '09. But still, it emptied in just under 2 hours. The last police boat- couldn't even get off the lake in time trying to clear off folks who wouldn't listen, and got stuck in the mud in the middle.
Chula Vista is a resort. It is located about 3 miles from the Wisconsin Dells, Upper Dells- and is one of probably 11 or 12 monster parks in the area, most of which also hold resort lodgings. But some are just day people parks. Chula Vista has few day people- it's mostly lodgers at Chula Vista in those water parks.
Noah's Ark is billed as the biggest water park in the world. It is not a resort- but more like something in the area of size/definition like an EPCOT or larger- only wet. 40 year old "little" boy is biggest kid of all and he spent 8 hours here with his 3 kids before his wife could get up there and he had to get back for a meeting. Kids said it was way, way too big to do without parental supervision or buddy system at all times and even then- older than our ages for prime usage.
Other parks with huge followings:
Wilderness (huge and no "lake" view condos any more)
Great Wolf - my psuedo daughter's family's favorite-
Kalahari- resort- see ScarletGray's report of today.
Riverview- amusement park with it and right in town. This one is mostly motel/hotel people within walking distance and not a resort at all.
Mount Olympus- gigantic new one with a ROME hotel - has a Vegas look- almost exactly- get the picture. Only it also has a huge amusement park and also a waterpark combo with a wave pool that measures about 2 football fields- and a super surf etc. etc.
There are others, those are just the ones I happen to notice.
It's like Vegas- but with waterparks instead of casinos.
We ate in at the condo about 1/2 the time, except for my daughter's family who ate in all but once.
We tried and I give marks to (bread/circuses):
Crabby's 8/4 -Man, did they lose money on my sons, SO, and son-in-law! But gained on the kids too, I guess. The crab legs were better than good and not overcooked. The drinks were better than average as well. They gave us our own room. Decore, table, set-up etc. not so hot- and we missed the pirate show in the bigger room.
Mexicali Rose's: 8/6 For lunch with my SO, and just us two. Excellent food, slow service, but we had the dam overflow and all the river traffic to look at and it was a great lunch treat- different than most WI food on this trip. (In other words, not as good as Chicago- LOL). Sorry, I'm jaded.
Moose Jaw: 5/7 -Food average, beer and moose hats etc. and crowd good for the kids. I didn't go but got the review from son #1.
Paul Bunyan: 7/7- Good service, large and fresh portions, numerous choices and this review is from the only real foodie amongst us and his girlfriend.
Das Boot-Essen House: 9/9 Best pork tenderloin and shnitzel since Little Europe on Ogden Ave. Best kid entertainment category for the town "clock show, Hamlin tale in action, and rats etc. with mechanics every hour in the "town square"- this was a 10 for the kids. Even my vegetarian daughter loved the spaetle kase- vegetable heavy. Now we are going to make some rat pretzels with the little boys.
We all brought tons of food with us from home, and ate in for breakfasts and most of us ate in for all the lunches if they came back for lunch. One morning my youngest son cooked us all omelets with many, many choices of ingredients before we all went on the Ducks together.
HEY! We fill a Duck. There was only room for a 4 person family on ours and they were from AZ.
Ducks are not as they were 20 years ago, the liability has changed the routes. But we did enjoy seeing Cow Butt and Eagle and all those cliffs again. But they don't do the drops or any of the jolting and fun stuff anymore at all. 50 minutes and it's expensive.
Seeing Lake Delton over the channel was mind-boggling. We did see an Eagle.
Some of us did the Booze Cruise and some of us did the Jetboats through to Stand Rock. I didn't, as I've been there before.
Downtown we walked the length and its the same old t-shirt, antiques, and candy stores, just as its always been.
It's all about the water parks.
They have slides beyond description. Some are shaped like U's and you go back and forth over and over. My 13 year old Granddaughter hit the top on one of those. Some go straight down. Some go like rollercoasters. Some go like towel bowls and you get flushed. Some are like surf spray or dumping buckets the size of a room, and some are lazy rivers with surprises, and some are just lazy rivers. And some are towers with 1000 water guns or hoses to aim or defend your position. And some are hot tubs grown to the size of tennis courts. And some really are basketball courts IN the water, and some are water polo or volleyball IN the water. And some are just plain shuffleboard (outside of the water). That last we held a tournament on for 2 consequetive nights and my son's girl friend won on a real hard clutch shot with a tied score. And I still can't believe she made it.
We played Pigmania again after about 10 years. We played cards and my 9 year old granddaughter plays a wicked game of spoons. She can beat anyone.
We all had a ball, and now everyone is emailing memories.
I went down about 4 hard waterslides. Not the steepest and not the worst, but they were bad enough. My SO went on a 25 mile bike ride out to no man's land all by himself and got caught in a huge electrical thunderstorm.
We only had that 1 hour of bad weather and the kids never missed a beat.
One grandson is still crying that he had to leave, and it isn't the youngest one.
Last impressions:
Wisconsin is SO much more groomed and neat and civilized than my wild MI. There is no garbage to speak of anywhere in the country. And there is uniform acceptance and compliance with signs and usage nearly everywhere. Service is slower and manners are nicer than in urban IL as a norm. Especially to personal conversation or questions from the servers.
But the real physical beauty of Southern WI and this particular area to me, just gets dwarfed by the other side of the lake. Always has, to me. It's green with a picket fence "neat", corn and crops bordered like a farm in Europe would be- with edges, and lots of buildings when there ARE towns.
This present WI in this area looks prosperous, numerous Cheese houses and lots of Corporate headquarters or distribution centers (I think I saw three different Pepsi ones that were 2 blocks long each.)
Forgot one highlight:
Smack dab in the middle of this vacation I went to Ho-Chunk and won about $250. I sure am glad I did because this vacation was not cheap.
I hope my Mother is cognitive somewhere and knows that her money was well spent.
All my bones are intact, except for one small chip that's loose in my elbow- and most of us, right now and including myself, have killer colds- but we also have smiles on our faces.
Place: Dells area WI
Time: July 13-18 (given a day or two either way of absence for the big deal CEO to go to downtown Chicago for a meeting and O'Hare for another- driving back and forth one extra time in his small just bough VW convertible- despite having a year's notice about the dates and also experiencing at least 7 more vacations each year than his Mother.)
Participants: 13 (all except for the absent above mentioned CEO important person who was minus almost 2 of those days- but had to come a day early to do Noah's ARK with his kids to make it up to them.) That's what he says anyway, but really it is because HE didn't want to miss out on trying that particular location after he saw the size of it.
13 people: 11 in one huge condo- 3 bedrooms total with 11 beds, full kitchen, spacious dining room, TV/ family room with spa hot tub (each bedroom had its own bathroom/tv/coffeemaker).
Two fireplaces that were beautiful and nifty- but for the fact that everytime I turned them on, someone yelled at me to turn them off- because they generated heat. A.C. which we actually turned off because the doors were open so much-ground floor- all one level too- fabulous access to the outdoor baby lazy river. (One of about 11 pools of different types on the property outside of the two main waterparks- Los Rios and the outdoor one.)
The other two (one has sleep apnea and needs to have more space)had a King tower room, and because we had the condo they gave them the cornor river view and it was stunning.)
All arrived separately but got their keys from me- all kids above 10 got a key. Everything was within short walking distance, including a good riverwalk along the WI River, which is beautiful and normal- not like Lake Delton, which was man-made and is now a sand box. In fact, the WI River found its own path, as water does, in a large rainfall and carried Lake Delton away over its dike.
The only sad thing on vacation was the sight of this now humoungous sandbox with all the piers laying on the sand, or looking into the gorges, and channel leading to Delton with all the nice homes having their piers ending into a 50 yard empty muddy ditch (was the channel).
Ducks, the definition follows: A 1/2 truck & 1/2 boat vehicle made by GM during WWII and still using this humongous 6 cycle engine and system that no one makes anymore. They are all very old- even the one we rode on- and we also saw the graveyard of about 10 rusted out Duck bodies that is a shrine to the "Duck" design. It has a flat roof, hard seats, and looks vaguely like a Hummer with no sides and just seat bars, no windows- that has hit Skid's Row level.
We were on the Ducks tour going in/out of the WI River when we saw Lake Delton close up for the first time and it really did make you gasp. They are fixing the road (washed out an entire highway) putting in a different kind of levy and it will be filled back up by Spring '09. But still, it emptied in just under 2 hours. The last police boat- couldn't even get off the lake in time trying to clear off folks who wouldn't listen, and got stuck in the mud in the middle.
Chula Vista is a resort. It is located about 3 miles from the Wisconsin Dells, Upper Dells- and is one of probably 11 or 12 monster parks in the area, most of which also hold resort lodgings. But some are just day people parks. Chula Vista has few day people- it's mostly lodgers at Chula Vista in those water parks.
Noah's Ark is billed as the biggest water park in the world. It is not a resort- but more like something in the area of size/definition like an EPCOT or larger- only wet. 40 year old "little" boy is biggest kid of all and he spent 8 hours here with his 3 kids before his wife could get up there and he had to get back for a meeting. Kids said it was way, way too big to do without parental supervision or buddy system at all times and even then- older than our ages for prime usage.
Other parks with huge followings:
Wilderness (huge and no "lake" view condos any more)
Great Wolf - my psuedo daughter's family's favorite-
Kalahari- resort- see ScarletGray's report of today.
Riverview- amusement park with it and right in town. This one is mostly motel/hotel people within walking distance and not a resort at all.
Mount Olympus- gigantic new one with a ROME hotel - has a Vegas look- almost exactly- get the picture. Only it also has a huge amusement park and also a waterpark combo with a wave pool that measures about 2 football fields- and a super surf etc. etc.
There are others, those are just the ones I happen to notice.
It's like Vegas- but with waterparks instead of casinos.
We ate in at the condo about 1/2 the time, except for my daughter's family who ate in all but once.
We tried and I give marks to (bread/circuses):
Crabby's 8/4 -Man, did they lose money on my sons, SO, and son-in-law! But gained on the kids too, I guess. The crab legs were better than good and not overcooked. The drinks were better than average as well. They gave us our own room. Decore, table, set-up etc. not so hot- and we missed the pirate show in the bigger room.
Mexicali Rose's: 8/6 For lunch with my SO, and just us two. Excellent food, slow service, but we had the dam overflow and all the river traffic to look at and it was a great lunch treat- different than most WI food on this trip. (In other words, not as good as Chicago- LOL). Sorry, I'm jaded.
Moose Jaw: 5/7 -Food average, beer and moose hats etc. and crowd good for the kids. I didn't go but got the review from son #1.
Paul Bunyan: 7/7- Good service, large and fresh portions, numerous choices and this review is from the only real foodie amongst us and his girlfriend.
Das Boot-Essen House: 9/9 Best pork tenderloin and shnitzel since Little Europe on Ogden Ave. Best kid entertainment category for the town "clock show, Hamlin tale in action, and rats etc. with mechanics every hour in the "town square"- this was a 10 for the kids. Even my vegetarian daughter loved the spaetle kase- vegetable heavy. Now we are going to make some rat pretzels with the little boys.
We all brought tons of food with us from home, and ate in for breakfasts and most of us ate in for all the lunches if they came back for lunch. One morning my youngest son cooked us all omelets with many, many choices of ingredients before we all went on the Ducks together.
HEY! We fill a Duck. There was only room for a 4 person family on ours and they were from AZ.
Ducks are not as they were 20 years ago, the liability has changed the routes. But we did enjoy seeing Cow Butt and Eagle and all those cliffs again. But they don't do the drops or any of the jolting and fun stuff anymore at all. 50 minutes and it's expensive.
Seeing Lake Delton over the channel was mind-boggling. We did see an Eagle.
Some of us did the Booze Cruise and some of us did the Jetboats through to Stand Rock. I didn't, as I've been there before.
Downtown we walked the length and its the same old t-shirt, antiques, and candy stores, just as its always been.
It's all about the water parks.
They have slides beyond description. Some are shaped like U's and you go back and forth over and over. My 13 year old Granddaughter hit the top on one of those. Some go straight down. Some go like rollercoasters. Some go like towel bowls and you get flushed. Some are like surf spray or dumping buckets the size of a room, and some are lazy rivers with surprises, and some are just lazy rivers. And some are towers with 1000 water guns or hoses to aim or defend your position. And some are hot tubs grown to the size of tennis courts. And some really are basketball courts IN the water, and some are water polo or volleyball IN the water. And some are just plain shuffleboard (outside of the water). That last we held a tournament on for 2 consequetive nights and my son's girl friend won on a real hard clutch shot with a tied score. And I still can't believe she made it.
We played Pigmania again after about 10 years. We played cards and my 9 year old granddaughter plays a wicked game of spoons. She can beat anyone.
We all had a ball, and now everyone is emailing memories.
I went down about 4 hard waterslides. Not the steepest and not the worst, but they were bad enough. My SO went on a 25 mile bike ride out to no man's land all by himself and got caught in a huge electrical thunderstorm.
We only had that 1 hour of bad weather and the kids never missed a beat.
One grandson is still crying that he had to leave, and it isn't the youngest one.
Last impressions:
Wisconsin is SO much more groomed and neat and civilized than my wild MI. There is no garbage to speak of anywhere in the country. And there is uniform acceptance and compliance with signs and usage nearly everywhere. Service is slower and manners are nicer than in urban IL as a norm. Especially to personal conversation or questions from the servers.
But the real physical beauty of Southern WI and this particular area to me, just gets dwarfed by the other side of the lake. Always has, to me. It's green with a picket fence "neat", corn and crops bordered like a farm in Europe would be- with edges, and lots of buildings when there ARE towns.
This present WI in this area looks prosperous, numerous Cheese houses and lots of Corporate headquarters or distribution centers (I think I saw three different Pepsi ones that were 2 blocks long each.)
Forgot one highlight:
Smack dab in the middle of this vacation I went to Ho-Chunk and won about $250. I sure am glad I did because this vacation was not cheap.
I hope my Mother is cognitive somewhere and knows that her money was well spent.
Jul 22nd, 2008, 01:20 PM
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Oh Faina, I chipped my elbow years and years ago when dancing, and now when I bump it the tiny, tiny piece they can't seem to ever get out floats into the wrong spot. It did when I bumped it on one of the rides, but now it's thankfully gone again. But I didn't push my luck after that started up. It's a good "warning" alert. LOL!
I have several different things like that which show up on tests but which they say, with me, are best left alone.
It's gotten rather funny. I need at least 15 days a year off just for medical repair and maintenance days-and "tests" for prevention or some such and yet when all is said and done- the consensus at the end is almost entirely the same, within each category to leave me just the way I am. My SO thinks it's a real giggle.
Everytime they find something minor or major with him it is fixable. That's why he thinks it is so funny, I guess. With me, it seems, all of it is just a waste of time.
But these days weren't wasted.
And I just said to my daughter, I realized on the way home, I don't have one scardy-cat kid in the bunch. Not a one.
I have several different things like that which show up on tests but which they say, with me, are best left alone.
It's gotten rather funny. I need at least 15 days a year off just for medical repair and maintenance days-and "tests" for prevention or some such and yet when all is said and done- the consensus at the end is almost entirely the same, within each category to leave me just the way I am. My SO thinks it's a real giggle.
Everytime they find something minor or major with him it is fixable. That's why he thinks it is so funny, I guess. With me, it seems, all of it is just a waste of time.
But these days weren't wasted.
And I just said to my daughter, I realized on the way home, I don't have one scardy-cat kid in the bunch. Not a one.
Jul 23rd, 2008, 06:01 AM
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Thanks, and ScarletandGray- I just heard for the 1st time Chula Vista advertising on Chicago radio stations. I hear the last minute deals for single rooms are the best $$.
If you like water parks, WI Dells is truly the place to enjoy and compare.
If you like water parks, WI Dells is truly the place to enjoy and compare.
Jul 23rd, 2008, 07:55 AM
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I'm just wondering...is there plenty to do at the Dells in the cooler season - say November? Would there be any difficulty driving there from Chicago at that time of year? A few years ago, I took my young son to the Wolf Creek Lodge in Virginia as part of our trip to Williamsburg, and he had a blast. He's a little too old for that level of a water park now, I think (12). Where we live in California, the water parks aren't open past Labor Day...yet, although I think it may be in the works - and they will make a heap of money.
Jul 23rd, 2008, 08:03 AM
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holly, at that time you will definitely only be talking about the indoor waterparks and resorts.
November will be nearly downtime for the town itself.
But there are many Chicagoans who will go to Cascade Mountain or Devilshead (not far from the Dells) to ski in winter. It is NOT like snow skiing out west at all. But it is doable for those who are ski crazy.
And then they will go to stay at one of the indoor huge waterparks for a couple days during the same trip.
Honestly, I would never do it.
WHY! Because the noise level and chlorine irritation just doing the indoor waterparks during winter is beyond my ability to survive.
Think about a decibel just under standing next to a jet engine- I'm not kidding.
The 11, 13 year olds with the young adults could stand doing the inside ones for about 4 hours or so maximum- just because of the chlorine sting. I couldn't stand it for more than an hour.
Outside ones are entirely different and that whole (especially those two aspects) of the water park are different, not evident in the same sense at all.
But many of those resorts are prime winter holiday places. My friends daughter goes to Great Wolf all the time during the cold months.
November will be nearly downtime for the town itself.
But there are many Chicagoans who will go to Cascade Mountain or Devilshead (not far from the Dells) to ski in winter. It is NOT like snow skiing out west at all. But it is doable for those who are ski crazy.
And then they will go to stay at one of the indoor huge waterparks for a couple days during the same trip.
Honestly, I would never do it.
WHY! Because the noise level and chlorine irritation just doing the indoor waterparks during winter is beyond my ability to survive.
Think about a decibel just under standing next to a jet engine- I'm not kidding.
The 11, 13 year olds with the young adults could stand doing the inside ones for about 4 hours or so maximum- just because of the chlorine sting. I couldn't stand it for more than an hour.
Outside ones are entirely different and that whole (especially those two aspects) of the water park are different, not evident in the same sense at all.
But many of those resorts are prime winter holiday places. My friends daughter goes to Great Wolf all the time during the cold months.
Jul 23rd, 2008, 08:09 AM
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JJ5, now that you mention it I do remember the strong smell of the chlorine. It wasn't crowded where we were so the noise wasn't an issue. I do think the chlorine would be too much for more than one day of fun. I am now remembering a sign about chlorine and the winter air causing skin irritation, which my son did start to experience after being in the water so long. Maybe we should go back to Virginia - where we could add something else to the trip. Or- maybe we'll visit the Dells another time in the summer. Hmm...
Jul 23rd, 2008, 08:21 AM
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I forgot.
If you picked Chula Vista, all the passage ways are duplicated underground. So you can get to the Los Rios indoor waterpark, all the game rooms, the stores, the rest- everything but the golf courses- by walking through the underground passages that are also lined with stores or some rooms of the restaurants etc. This is true from all the condo buildings too.
Eventually they will also have a riverwalk from Chula Vista and the WI River, that goes 3 miles further and right into the main street of town- they are still having to go around an ancient farm home yet, but it is due to happen in just a year or more.
If you picked Chula Vista, all the passage ways are duplicated underground. So you can get to the Los Rios indoor waterpark, all the game rooms, the stores, the rest- everything but the golf courses- by walking through the underground passages that are also lined with stores or some rooms of the restaurants etc. This is true from all the condo buildings too.
Eventually they will also have a riverwalk from Chula Vista and the WI River, that goes 3 miles further and right into the main street of town- they are still having to go around an ancient farm home yet, but it is due to happen in just a year or more.
Jul 23rd, 2008, 01:27 PM
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Chula Vista was on my list before we went to the Dells. Thanks for the info! We'll have to check it out next time we head up that way. Maybe next time I visit my friend in Chicago we'll visit WI. Don't think we could do the park indoors though. We'll have to go in the warm months. I think the beach is calling us for 2009. Destin, Destin, Destin.....
Jul 25th, 2008, 07:59 AM
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I just say your reply.
Destin sounds good.
I think you're rather brave to do that much driving- because the Dells is not a short ride from Chicago, IMHO.
If you are willing to explore, the other side of Lake Michigan, especially near South Haven (shorter ride from Chicago) or north around Sleeping Bear Dunes- have other great options for water and families.
Sand dunes are something you need to see there at least once in your life. There are not anything like the ocean sand deposits.
Destin sounds good.
I think you're rather brave to do that much driving- because the Dells is not a short ride from Chicago, IMHO.
If you are willing to explore, the other side of Lake Michigan, especially near South Haven (shorter ride from Chicago) or north around Sleeping Bear Dunes- have other great options for water and families.
Sand dunes are something you need to see there at least once in your life. There are not anything like the ocean sand deposits.
Jul 25th, 2008, 09:14 AM
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JJ5--I received a follow up from the Kalahari and just put it on my trip report post. Check it out if you can.
Our kids, now ages 9 and 6 are wonderful travelers. We live in central Ohio and have braved loooong road trips. We have been to Destin twice, 2005 and 2006, both times stopping overnight in Birmingham.
The kids also went to Myrtle Beach in 2003 and last summer we took a 10 day, 2200+ mile tour of New England.
There have been a couple of times I wanted my husband to pull over and just let me walk home but for the most part things go pretty smoothly. We just try to be flexible and plan ahead as much as possible.
When we came home from Wisconsin, we stopped in Elmhurst for a quick bathroom break and then in Merrillville, IN for a decent lunch. That's it! We didn't plan it that way but everyone was happy and ready to get home. The last stretch was almost 5 hours. I think the kids did better than me!
Sleeping Bear Dunes is on our list and thank you for the advice on going there. Someday.
Aren't we so lucky to live in a country with so many wonderful places to see and fun things to do??? I love it!
Our kids, now ages 9 and 6 are wonderful travelers. We live in central Ohio and have braved loooong road trips. We have been to Destin twice, 2005 and 2006, both times stopping overnight in Birmingham.
The kids also went to Myrtle Beach in 2003 and last summer we took a 10 day, 2200+ mile tour of New England.
There have been a couple of times I wanted my husband to pull over and just let me walk home but for the most part things go pretty smoothly. We just try to be flexible and plan ahead as much as possible.
When we came home from Wisconsin, we stopped in Elmhurst for a quick bathroom break and then in Merrillville, IN for a decent lunch. That's it! We didn't plan it that way but everyone was happy and ready to get home. The last stretch was almost 5 hours. I think the kids did better than me!
Sleeping Bear Dunes is on our list and thank you for the advice on going there. Someday.
Aren't we so lucky to live in a country with so many wonderful places to see and fun things to do??? I love it!
Jul 25th, 2008, 11:23 AM
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I envy you. I do.
All my favorite vacations of greatest memory were road trips like yours.
We did one from Chicago to Biloxi about 2 years ago that was just tops.
From where you live, I would say that a stay near Silver Lake- those sand dunes close to Sleeping Bear would be more than awesome.
They have jeep rentals and you can do the sand dunes on those- 1000 acres, and it is the last place in the USA that is like this.
Plus you are on the MI Sunset coast and the scenary is a 10.
There are also 1000 acres just for walkers. All of it is not far from what used to be the biggest Boy Scout Camp in the USA. Not in these days of liability any longer, though.
Have fun in Destin and I'm glad you got an answer for the Kalahari mistake. And I agree with you.
I have a small house on a lake in Cass County MI- aboug 600 acres of birdland sanctuary too. It's my refuge of refuge and my grandkids love it.
Nothing like green forests, water, sun and fun!
All my favorite vacations of greatest memory were road trips like yours.
We did one from Chicago to Biloxi about 2 years ago that was just tops.
From where you live, I would say that a stay near Silver Lake- those sand dunes close to Sleeping Bear would be more than awesome.
They have jeep rentals and you can do the sand dunes on those- 1000 acres, and it is the last place in the USA that is like this.
Plus you are on the MI Sunset coast and the scenary is a 10.
There are also 1000 acres just for walkers. All of it is not far from what used to be the biggest Boy Scout Camp in the USA. Not in these days of liability any longer, though.
Have fun in Destin and I'm glad you got an answer for the Kalahari mistake. And I agree with you.
I have a small house on a lake in Cass County MI- aboug 600 acres of birdland sanctuary too. It's my refuge of refuge and my grandkids love it.
Nothing like green forests, water, sun and fun!
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orangetravelcat
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Feb 21st, 2005 12:53 PM
