Madison, Milwaukee, and Chicago

After about 8000 miles on the road and travels through 17 states, we crossed into our 18th and arrived "home" in Wisconsin.  We spent some time with Grandma and Grandpa, the kids went off to camp, and I began my vacation.

I did some shopping (and eating) in Madison, and I spent a day in Chicago with my niece.  When we went to buy our tickets for the Willis Tower (formerly the Sears Tower), we were warned that the visibility wasn't good.  We were warned again at security, and a third time before our tickets were actually taken, but we decided to risk it.  And it was great!  The fog lifted, we were able to see the ground through the glass floor, and the clouds underneath us made for some extra photogenic pictures.

I then spent a couple days in Milwaukee with two different friends, hanging out and getting some "girl time" in.  Milwaukee is really turning into a fun tourist town!  The shopping was good, and the eating was better.  Even in the middle of a historic heatwave, the lake breezes did their job, and the evenings were wonderful.

Wisconsin is, obviously, famous for the beer, and the Lakefront Brewery puts on a great tour.  We wandered through the art museum, took a boat ride, and ate lots of cheese curds.  We also waited with other Gen X-ers to take pictures with Laverne and Shirley and the Fonz.  (Millennials and kids were all looking at us..."uh, what's a Fonzie?")

The Purple Door Ice Cream shop definitely ranks as some of the best ice cream in the world (and you know I've tried a lot of what's out there!), and we had a great time at the SafeHouse, too!