Day 1-3

Day 1-We flew into Chicago on a fairly uneventful flight, rented a car and drove out to our great friends, John and Betsey!!! It was so great to be at their home and see their life in Chicago. We just hung out with them all evening and caught up.

Day 2- We went to the church where John preaches and really, really LOVED their church! (Danny snuck this picture from our front row seats.)

We drove to the Mississippi River Museum and Aquarium, which was a wonderful museum with aquarium tanks and great displays about the steamboats and some of the history of life on the Mississippi River.

Next, we went to the Effigy Burial Mounds National Park, which were literally just mounds of grass. The mounds were unimpressive, but the hike took us to some gorgeous look-out spots at dusk.

We got to the hotel late, but not too late for a little swim in the hotel pool! :-)

Day 3

Most of today was driving, and stopping at little places along the way. Our first loop was an Amish loop, which we enjoyed. We tried to do it without gawking, but it is pretty fascinating!

Next we hit the famous Midwest highlight, The Cranberry Discovery Center, where we learned about how cranberries are grown and harvested. It was actually interesting. We decided we would start eating a lot more cranberries in the future. Tonight we got to the hotel in Green Bay early enough for a swim and some catching up with our journals.

Of course the biggest highlight for me was the fulfillment of one of my trip goals. I ate squeaky cheese (in Wisconsin, nonetheless) for the first time!!! Yummy!!!!!

And, we have added four more states to the collection, bringing us to 46 total.

No Illinois picture yet since we flew in, but we'll pick it up on the way back in! As always, when we take these vacations, I am amazed at the vast and beautiful country we live in. So many different types of beauty!