Milwaukee - there and back

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We got back from our trip to Milwaukee two nights ago, and already it's blurring together and seems like weeks ago. I had a really great time, but it was also nice to get the kids back Friday morning. Erin was really excited to get home, back to her toys and mommy and daddy. Noah had noticeably grown bigger and looks a little older.

Below are the main highlights of the trip. Just remember that I was sightseeing during the day while Sean was stuck researching in the library. So that's why neither one of us are in any of these photos.

Monday:

Left TN at 8:30am, arrived at the hotel at 10:30pm (changed a time zone). Tried to find lunch by using the new GPS system. We ended up on a wild goose chase for the Sour Pickle Sandwich Shop (sounded local and interesting). We figured out it doesn't exist anymore. GPS - ended up not being the most reliable in finding food.

The most exciting part of the drive was through northern Indiana. At sunset we came upon hundreds of giant windmills in the middle of farmland. It was gorgeous.

Tuesday:

Started the morning at Simma's Bakery for some yummy treats, then off to the Art Museum.

After a couple hours there, I headed to lunch and then to a park right off of Lake Michigan. It was pretty, but after a while I got bored and drove a short way to a Botanical Gardens.

That concluded my sightseeing for the day. Our dinner out that evening was at a German restaurant, Karl Ratzsch's, which ended up being my favorite meal of the trip (both entree and dessert).



Wednesday:

Wednesday started at a natural history museum. I planned this not knowing how I would like it, but it ended up being my favorite place visited. I paid just a little bit more to watch "Under the Sea" in their IMAX theater. To my surprise it was narrated by Jim Carrey.

After meeting Sean for lunch, I took at tour of Captain Pabst's Mansion (yes, as in the Pabst Blue Ribbon guy). Unfortunately no photos were allowed. I also visited two other mansions that were kind of art museums too. Pabst Mansion was by far the most interesting of the three.

Thursday:

We weren't leaving until after lunch on Thursday, so I had a little bit of time in the morning to see some more sites. I visited "The Domes" which were a little underwhelming. They were three domes of different climates...rainforest, desert, and ??? (I'm not sure what to call the third one, it was just pretty flowers with a gazebo...although that one was closed and looked the most interesting through the glass doors).

The Domes didn't take very long, so I headed over to the Milwaukee Zoo. I got in free with my Knoxville Zoo membership, but was surprised when I still had to pay the 11 dollar parking fee...($11...yikes). The zoo was okay. My legs were already really sore from all the walking that week and there were tons of school groups there. At that point I was just ready to get back to my own kids...

Lunch on the way out was at Kopp's. Had a fabulous hamburger and then even more fabulous waffle cone of custard (flavor - Chocolate Thunder).

Got in at 2am. The drive back wasn't really that bad. Great trip...glad to be home.