The All 50 States Club Has a New Member!

Many of you know that one of my life goals has been to visit all fifty states while making my way around the globe as well. Why? It was a little embarrassing when people from other countries asked about places like the Grand Canyon, Mount Rushmore or Niagra Falls and I hadn’t seen them. I know it is silly to let that bother me since the United States is such a large country…but still, it did. Or rather, I suppose, I saw it as a challenge.

Since I’ve lived on both the east and west coasts, with one cross country road trip under my belt, I just needed to step up my domestic travel and visit at least a few new states each year. Researching the routes and picking the highlights in each state was really fun.

While working on a project recently in Washington, D.C., my friend Bill told me about the summer driving vacation he had planned with his wife. Around Lake Michigan! Wow, that sounded like a great drive and quite a coincidence that it would take them through the last two states I had left to visit — Michigan and Wisconsin. So, I invited myself on their vacation!

Luckily both Bill AND his wife, Vicky, liked the idea! I’ve made color coordinated Swarovski crystal jewelry for many of the colleges and universities Vicky has led so I made a few custom pieces to bring along to sweeten the deal (in other words, secure my place in the back seat of their SUV).

I flew in to Fort Wayne, Indiana, where they live and the next day we took off. I have a lot in common with my travel partners so it was easy to have a short list of what we thought was important: gourmet food, great wine, interesting art and beautiful scenery.

Our first stop was Habitat Galleries in Royal Oak, Michigan.  They focus on contemporary glass works by artists from all over the world. I wanted just about everything! After that stop we went to Detroit. I’ve been curious how the city is doing after reading so much about its significant decline in population and being the largest municipal bankruptcy in U.S. history.

Driving through the neighborhoods was about what I expected with some nicely kept homes mingling with many boarded-up homes and empty lots with waist-high weeds where homes recently stood. I was glad to see Detroit’s waterfront is beautiful and people were out enjoying themselves.

From Detroit, we drove up to Petoskey on the shore of the Little Traverse Bay of Lake Michigan.  Gorgeous!  One notable stop on the way was at Mackinaw Trail Winery where we met Dustin who runs the family business. Dustin gave us a tour and told us about the production and their awards. After tasting quite a few delicious wines he gave us a great dining recommendation.

The next day we drove through Mackinaw City and across the Mackinac Bridge to ferry to historic Mackinac Island. Did you catch all of that? It took me all day to figure out they’re all pronounced MAK-in-aw!  Mackinac Bridge is the world’s fifth-longest in total suspension and the longest suspension bridge between anchorages in the Western hemisphere. It is the dividing point for Lakes Michigan and Huron.

Mackinac Island is a popular tourist attraction; the entire island is listed as a National Historic Landmark. We had lunch in the Cupola Bar at the famous Grand Hotel. Amazing!  The Grand Hotel was the location for the movie Somewhere in Time.  Vicky wandered in to the Grand Hotel & Co., Fine Jewelry shop and the clerk mentioned how much she liked her jewelry. Vicky told her the designer was in the hotel somewhere. I think I was in the ladies room! Perhaps I will follow up with the shop about a possible partnership.  It would be great to have a reason to visit the island again someday.

We seemed to eat our weight in fudge as we wandered around the island and then we ferried back and headed to UP which I learned is short for Upper Penninsula. We had a nice drive from there to Escanaba, making many stops along Lake Michigan to take in the views. Did I mention yet Lake Michigan is HUGE?!

The next morning we crossed into my 50th state — Wisconsin!!  We stopped in at Lambeau Field, stadium for the Green Bay Packers, and also at Nala’s Fromagerie to get some famous Wisconsin Cheese. Not just any cheese!  I bought fenugreek gouda made by the 2013 Grand Champion of the U.S. Championship Cheese Contest!

We celebrated my geography achievement with champagne and a picnic lunch at Lake Winnebago, the largest lake entirely in Wisconsin.

After lunch we decided since we were in the dairyland state we should next search out the best ice cream. Google was very helpful on this trip when asked: best winery, best ice cream etc. Soon we found ourselves headed to Fond du Lac for a stop at Kelly’s Country Creamery. Creamiest ice cream ever!  And, we met the cows that supplied the milk. We snickered on the way in at everyone sitting in the lineup of rocking chairs on their porch but we ended up there ourselves.

We kept making our way toward Milwaukee.where we had dinner plans. All I knew about Milwaukee was what I saw on the 70s/80s tv Show Laverne & Shirley (and I couldn’t get the jingle, schlemeel, schlemazel, hasenfeffer incorporated, out of my head for several days after the trip).

I always love knowing someone when I go to a new place so it was especially great to have former Tacoma resident (and TNT Publisher), Betsy Brenner, invite us over to her lovely downtown condo and take us to a wonderful restaurant in a newly trendy part of the city. The restaurant, Odd Duck, is not to be missed if you ever find yourself in Milwaukee.  I had the grilled grass-fed sirloin, white corn polenta cake, sweet potato chips, chimmi churri and carrot slaw.  Every dish was at least this interesting and delicious.

Did I mention Lake Michigan is huge and we ate and drank our way around it?

Before we lost sight of Lake Michigan we stopped at Wind Point Lighthouse, the largest lighthouse on the lake, for one last view. And, before leaving Wisconsin, we knew we had to find some kringle pastries. I mean, just last year Wisconsin finally named the kringle the state pastry!  We found some in Racine and they did not disappoint!

It was a wonderful trip and I’m happy to cross the 50-state achievement off of my bucket list so I can travel around the world now without guilt!  But, oh dear, I just learned about the 50 state marathon club!

Thanks for following my travels and other adventures!