WildBil
May 3rd, 2008, 1:32 am
Jim, you may get some advice about going up the west coast of Michigan and taking the auto ferry over to avoid Chicago entirely, but I am not sure the schedule will work for you.
I am not fond of the superslab except when avoiding big ugly traffic messes.
Avoid taking the Tri-State tollway I-294 if you come across on I-80, or up I-57. The south end near the Indiana boarder is under construction. If you do take I-80, and want to bypass Chicago in a hurry (and there is not much to see there that does not involve a lot of traffic) the state just finished extending I-355 down to I-80. Its west of the city -about 30 miles west of the IN border, about 10 miles west if you come up I-57 from the south. The extension down to I-80 is not on the 2008 maps for the BMW NAV III if you have that with you. Probably not on many electronic maps. Google does have it now.
The Tolls on I-355 are expensive, about 3 $1 stops unless you have an I-Pass or EZ-Pass transponder, they are 3 x 50 cents and no stops. But going up I-355 for about 40 miles will take you up to I-90, which is one way to head toward the Dells, while avoiding most of the Chicago traffic. Great if not taken during the morning or evening rush hours.
Now that you are NW of Chicago, you have two major choices. I-355 stops being a tollway about 10 miles south of I-90, and become just an expressway - IL-53. The decision is whether to take I-90 West toward Rockford, or to go about 5 miles farther north and exit on Rand Rd, Route 12.
I-90, the Jane Adams tollway is faster and shorter. You could take it all the way to Wi Dells. There are some interesting places to stop, such as the Clock Tower Inn & Restaurant in Rockford, but its a pretty boring drive. might be handy for the trip back, if you have less time. There are a few country roads North from Rockford, like Wi-51, which breaks off the I-90 at Beloit (The IL - Wisc border).
Route 12 is the old, "traditional" route from Chicago to Madison and Wisc. Dells. Its 170 miles or about 4.5 hours. It was used in the 20's and 30's to run booze down from Canada during prohibition. Its built up and busier near the start of the trip as you go through the suburbs, but after about 15 miles, the traffic drops and the ride gets nicer. You weave through Lake Zürich (Hackney's on the right, north of town, has great hamburgers and an onion loaf to die for), Volo (small car museum), past the Chain-o-Lakes and you cross the IL - WI border at Richmond, which is an interesting town composed of equal parts biker bars, leather shops, antique shops and fast food restaurants.
One of the first places you come to over the border is Lake Geneva, just west of 12 on highway 50. It used to be a summer vacation home to upper class Chicagoan starting as far back as 1860. When I was growing up, it was the site of the Lake Geneva Playboy club, but the bunnies moved west in the 80's and its now the Grand Geneva Resort. Keanu Reeves filmed Chain Reaction here in 94, and it was the background for James Patterson's, "Sams Letter to Jennifer". There are a number of places to eat downtown, like Popeyes on Lake Geneva, but the traffic is often bad there.
My favorite spot in the area is a few miles west on 50, in Delavan. To miss Lake Geneva entirely, go a bit farther north on route 12 and take I-43 south west to Delavan. My favorite place to eat is Hernandez Mexican Restaurant. My favorite place to sleep is the Allyn Mansion (B&B), but there are less expensive places to stay, and camping in the area. My favorite attraction in the area is the U of Chicago Yerkes Observatory in William's Bay. Take I-43 or route 50 to get back to route 12.
From there, you take the Jersey - Pine tour of Wisconsin's rolling hills. While IL, IN, and OH got flattened by the glaciers, WI go the nice hills. BTW, the WIDOT (dept or transportation) publishes maps of rustic roads set aside for great rides. They are all over the state, including many from Lake Geneva to the Dells. http://www.dot.state.wi.us/travel/scenic/rusticroads.htm is where to find out about them. They can send you a book of maps, and they have a special program for motorcyclists. If you send the picture of your bike in front of 10 Rustic Road signs, the DOT will send you a patch. But its a lot more fun to just ride them. A word of advice - don't go to fast, you will miss the scenery and some of the turns are 90 degrees. Fun by car, but great by bike, and there are 107 all over the state.
Route 12 heads northwest through Whitewater and Madison, which is both the state capital and the home of the U of Wisconsin. Good place to wear red to blend in during the fall.
Past Madison, Route 12 starts to head due north past Devils Lake State Park (daily fee, I am afraid), then Baraboo (Circus Musem), and Mirror Lake State Park, before heading into Lake Delton and Wisconsin Dells from the south.
FWIW, my favorite place to sleep, Chula Vista. Favorite nice place to eat, Ishnala's in Lake Delton, overlooking Mirror Lake. Favorite pizza, Moosejaw Pizza & Dells Brewing Co. Favorite bar: Nigs (as in "Have A Swig with Nig"); its been there in downtown Dells on Rt. 16 & River Road forever.
Have fun with the Original Wisc. Ducks, mini golf, water parks, go-karts, Paul Bunyans or whatever you are going there for.
The quick way home is I-94, I-90, IL-53, I-355, I-80 and however, you want to head back to Columbus. I don't recommend it for anything but a speedy retreat. If you want a different two-lane out of the Dells, you can take 16 east and south, then 67 , which will take you back to route 12. If you run short on time, 16 crosses I-39 first and then Route 51, both of which take you almost due south to I-90 rather than the scenic route back to route 12.
No matter how you go, enjoy the scenery and keep the shiny side up.
Regards,
Bill :bmw:
batbyk
May 3rd, 2008, 8:22 am
Mount Horeb, The Mustard Museum is a great stop. Believe it or not the only Mustard Museum in the world. Also, mustard, hot sausce, & horseradish store. They are setup so that you can try before you buy. While you are their you can get a shirt or diploma from Poupon U.
Welcome to the online Mustard & Gourmet Sauces Store of the Mustard Museum
http://www.mustardmuseum.com/images/Mustrdfst-029m.jpg (http://www.mustardweb.com/mustard-day.htm)
National Mustard Day
Celebration
Mount Horeb, Wisconsin (http://www.mustardmuseum.com/museum_events)
. . . offering over 800 mustards, sauces and gourmet food gift box collections to please the discriminating palate and/or impress the recipient with a unique or fun gift (http://www.mustardmuseum.com/poupon_home).
Located on Main Street in Mount Horeb, Wisconsin the Mustard Museum campus houses the Mustard & Gourmet Foods Emporium (http://www.mustardmuseum.com/shop_directory), the Museum Collection (http://www.mustardmuseum.com/Visit_museum), and Poupon U - America's College of Mustards (http://www.mustardmuseum.com/poupon_home).
Presiding over the Museum is its wacky creator, Curator Barry Levenson (http://www.mustardmuseum.com/aboutus), aka "Captain Mustard" and aka "The Mustard Man" who coincidentally is Dean of Poupon U (http://www.mustardmuseum.com/category/15/1). Peppered throughout the Museum and the Mustard and Gourmet Foods Emporium Gift Shop are slogans and antidotes designed to ward off evil spirits from the Land of Red who aim to keep America dining with ordinary condiments.
Mount Horeb also has a trollway, street lined with troll statue
Welcome to the Troll Capital of the world!
Come discover the treasures of the Trollway,
and share the beauty of our community.
The Trollway is Mount Horeb’s Main Street
guarded by trolls that have seemingly
just appeared to welcome you.
Click here (http://www.trollway.com/products.asp?Cat=322&hierarchy=0) for a map to the trolls
and other area attractions.
New Glaurus
America's "Little Switzerland" New Glarus is located in the heart of Green County in Southern Wisconsin. Its rolling hills dotted with small towns, farms, and woodland pastures are much like the alpine farmlands of Glarus, Switzerland. When you arrive at the village entrance, you will quickly understand its popularity as a destination. New Glarus is America's "Little Switzerland."
http://www.swisstown.com/clearpixel.gifhttp://www.swisstown.com/clearpixel.gifhttp://www.swisstown.com/clearpixel.gifEvery year, thousands of visitors, including hundreds of Swiss tourists, are drawn to New Glarus to enjoy the atmosphere that thrives here and nowhere else outside of Switzerland. With small town friendliness and enthusiasm, New Glarus is proud to share its Swiss heritage, its chalet-style architecture, its two fine museums, its famous ethnic festivals, and a wealth of specialty shops and restaurants serving savory Swiss food.
Deiningers Restaurant is one of my favorite restaurants
No trip to Wisconsin is complete without a tour and stop to at least one brewery
[/url]Black River Brewery & Pub[/b]
200 Main Street, La Crosse, WI 54601[/font]
Brewery Creek Brewing
(608) 987-3298, 23 Commercial Street, Mineral Point, WI 53565
Brewmasters Pub Parkside
(262) 552-2085, 1170 22nd Avenue, Kenosha, WI 53142
Brewmasters Pub & Restaurant
(262) 694-9050, 4017 80th Street, Kenosha, WI 53142
BT McClintic Beer
(608) 365-5596, 136 West Grand Avenue #245, Beloit, WI 53511
Return ("]Adler Brau
(920) 731-3322, 1004 South Old Oneida, Appleton, WI 54915
Angelic Brewing
(608) 257-2707, 322 West Johnson Street, Madison, WI 53703
Doyle's Milwaukee Inn
(414) 456-1000, 1101 South 60th Street, Milwaukee, WI 53200
("]Capital Brewing
(608) 836-7100, 7734 Terrace Avenue, Middleton, WI 53562
Central Waters Brewing
(715) 457-3322, 701 Main Street (Hwy. 10), Junction City, WI 54443
Cherryland Brewing
(414) 743-1945, 341 North Third Avenue, Sturgeon Bay, WI 54235
City Brewery
(608) 785-4283, 1111 South 3rd Street, La Crosse, WI 54601
Choo Choo Pub
(715) 398-5252, 5002 East Third Street, Superior, WI 54880
Cream City Suds
(414) 645-1580, P.O. Box 1251, Milwaukee, WI 53201
[url=")Eagan Brewing/Chuck's Famous Ales
(414) 339-2701, 330 Reid Street, De Pere, WI 54397
Eclipse Brewing
910 Apple Creek Road, Black Creek, WI 54915
EndeHouse Brewery and Restaurant
(608) 524-8600, 1020 East Main Street, Reedsburg, WI 53959
Esser Brewing
(608) 798-3911, 2109 Hickory Street, Cross Plains, WI 53528
Return (http://www.wistravel.com/breweries.htm#top)
[/url]G. Heileman Brewing (Stroh Brewery Co.)
(608) 782-BEER (2337), 1111 South Third Street, La Crosse, WI 54601
Gray Brewing
(608) 752-3552, 2424 West Court Street, Janesville, WI 53545
The Great Dane Pub & Brewing Company
(608) 284-0000, 123 East Doty Street, Madison, WI 53703
Green Bay Brewing
(888) 604-BEER (2337), 5312 Steve's Cheese Road, Denmark, WI 54208
("]Fox River Brewing Company & Restaurant
(920) 991-0000, Fox River Mall, 4301 West Wisconsin Avenue, Appleton, WI 54915
Fratello's & Fox River Brewing Company
(920) 232-BEER (2337), 1501 Arboretum Drive, Oshkosh, WI 54901
Return ("]Jacob Leinenkugel Brewing Company
(715) 723-5557, 1 Jefferson Avenue, Chippewa Falls, WI 54729
JK Silver Brewing
(262) 363-9359, 621 Baxter Drive, Mukwonago, WI 53149
JT Whitney's Pub & Brewery
(608) 274-1776, 674 South Whitney Way, Madison, WI 53711-1035
Mid-Coast Brewing
(920) 236-3307, 35 Wisconsin Street, Oshkosh, WI 54901[/font]
Miller Brewing Company
(800) 944-5483, 3939 West Highland Avenue, Milwaukee, WI 53208
Milwaukee Ale House
(414) 226-BEER (2337), 233 North Water Street, Milwaukee, WI 53202
Minhas Craft Brewery
(608) 325-3191, 1208 14th Avenue, Monroe, WI 53566
Minocqua Brewing
(715) 358-3040, 238 Lake Shore Drive, Minocqua, WI 54548
Mount Horeb Pub & Brewery
(608) 832-6474, 105 South 2nd Street, Mount Horeb, WI 53572
("]Lakefront Brewery
(414) 372-8800, 1872 North Commerce, Milwaukee, WI 53200
Loaf & Stein Brewing
(715) 477-BREW (2739), 219 North Railroad Street, Eagle River, WI 54521
Pabst Brewing
(800) WI-PABST (947-2278), 622 East Vienna Avenue, Milwaukee, WI 53212
Pabst Brewing Falstaff/Specialty Brewing
917 W. Juneau Avenue, Milwaukee, WI 53233
Pioneer Brewing
(715) 284-7553, 320 South Pierce Street, Black River Falls, WI 54615
Port Washington Brewing
(262) 377-BEER (2337), 100 North Franklin Avenue, Port Washington, WI 53074
("]Oconomowoc Brewing
(262) 560-0388, 750 East Wisconsin, Oconomowoc, WI 53066
Oconto Brewing/The Main Event
(414) 834-4811, 1200 Main Street, Oconto, WI 54153
[url=")Railhouse Restaurant and Brewery
(715) 735-9800, W1130 Old Peshtigo Road, Marinette, WI 54143
The Railyard Pub
(715) 682-9199, 400 Third Avenue West, Ashland, WI 54806
Randy's Restaurant/Fun Hunter's Brewery
(262) 473-8000, 841 East Milwaukee Street, Whitewater, WI 53190
Red Brick Brewing/Little Red Inn
(262) 644-8181, 4900 Hwy. 175, Saint Lawrence, WI 53027
Remington Watson Smith Brewing
(262) 896-7766, 223 Maple Avenue, Waukesha, WI 53186
Rock Bottom Brewery #16
(414) 276-3030, 740 North Plankinton, Milwaukee, WI 53203
Rowland's Calumet Brewery
(920) 849-2534, 25 North Madison, Chilton, WI 53014
Return (http://www.wistravel.com/breweries.htm#top)
Titletown Brewing (Wynkoop Brewing)
(920) 437-BEER (2337), 200 Dousmann Street, Green Bay, WI 54303
("]Shipwrecked Brew Pub
(920) 868-2767, 7791 Egg Harbor Road, Egg Harbor, WI 54209
Slab City Brewing
(715) 758-BEER (2337), W3590 Pit Lane, Bonduel, WI 54107
Sprecher Brewing Company
(414) 964-BREW (2739), 701 West Glendale Avenue, Glendale, WI 53209
Stevens Point Brewery (Barton Beers Inc.)
(715) 344-9310, 2617 Water Street, Stevens Point, WI 54481
Sturgeon Bay Brewing
(920) 746-7611, 341-C North Third Avenue, Sturgeon Bay, WI 54235
Water Street Brewery
(414) 272-1195, 1101 North Water Street, Milwaukee, WI 53202
Have fun!
Bobnoxous
May 3rd, 2008, 1:55 pm
Wow, that is some detailed and great info. I'm from southern WI, and I could never have come up with all that. Great job.
Some added detail. I like Yerkes observatory. It's an old building with gargoyles everywhere, and old wooden doors. The history of the place is amazing, especially if you like astronomy of course. If you do decide to stop, call them first. I don't believe they give tours on a schedule anymore, but you can arrange one. A tour is a couple hours I believe, so it's a nice stop if it fits in your schedule. Their website is here (http://astro.uchicago.edu/yerkes/). There # is 262-245-5555.
Have fun, and mind your speed. WI cops love to give tickets for 10 over. Maybe they're protecting the tractors on the roads. :) I don't know if being out-of-state increases the chances of a ticket, but it's accepted folklore that it does. Getting used to going 15 over with no problems in CA, I have to pay attention to my speed when I'm back.
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