Have you ever been to Wisconsin Dells? Have you ever experienced the madness?  We have. Several times.  It’s chaotic. It’s quirky. It’s touristy.  It’s loud, hot, busy, fun, exciting, expensive, visually assaulting and arresting at the same time.  You want it, it’s there. And it’s all set in a beautiful natural and scenic bluff country town along the Wisconsin River.  Quaint reminders of simpler times remain, now completely dwarfed by gargantuan waterparks and rollercoasters. This week, I thought I’d do it a little differently.  Instead of a broad description of the experience and highlights, I’m going through the entire cacophony of sight and noise that is the “Dells”, A through Z. Continue reading →

Every 2 years, we end up in Wisconsin Dells in June for a few days for a sporting event and vacation combination.  The last couple of trips we’ve spent taking in the sights and sounds of Wisconsin Dells, of which there are a lot.  If you’ve never been, it can be hard to understand the magnitude of such a place.  There are theme parks, waterparks, museums, boat/ski shows, haunted houses, and a plethora of other things I won’t get into today, all crammed into a scenic rivertown of about 6,000 people. Continue reading →

While recently heading up to Saskatchewan, Canada, we made a pit stop in Minot, ND, to grab a bite to eat. It was starting to get dark out and we still had a bit of a drive ahead of us, but I just couldn’t pass up the opportunity to see some roadside attractions at the Scandinavian Heritage Park. Continue reading →

Also known as Iowa 80, or simply “I 80,” the World’s Largest Truck Stop is located on Interstate 80 in Iowa, just west of the Quad Cities near the IL/IA border.  The colossal property spans 220 acres (75 of which are developed), contains 900 truck parking spots, and is home to hotels, restaurants, and proprietors of many different goods and services. Their stats say they host around 5,000 people a day. So what is there to see there? Let’s find out! Continue reading →

There are countless historic, mom-and-pop burger joints across Minnesota, each one with its own nostalgia, history, and character. A quick internet search will show you plenty of eateries to stop in on your way through any given area, or as a destination in and of itself.  Sometimes it’s for a quick fix on a roadtrip or a break from cooking at home, sometimes to crush a killer hangover, and sometimes it’s purely for the undeniable joy of indulging in America’s most definitive comfort food: Burgers, fries, onion rings, milkshakes.  Gordy’s Hi-Hat in Cloquet, MN, nails all of these things. Continue reading →