Day Three: Green Bay, WI to Benton Harbor, MI

It turns out that we were indeed next door to Lambeau Field during our night in Milwaukee. So after breakfast we headed over to check it out. 

I have never in my life seen so much Packers stuff. These are serious fans up here ya'll. Even the city issued trash cans are green and yellow!

 It's not just the men who are fans, it's the women too. There was an entire women's accessory section of the pro shop. $79.95 packer wedge's people.

 I thought perhaps it was just for show, that they probably didn't sell much of it and then as we were leaving we passed four blue haired old ladies and they were decked out!  Earrings, scarves, sunglasses.  I'll bet they bought the wedge's if they weren't too afraid they'd break a hip! 

Lambeau Field is a great piece of history though and I'm glad we went. Loved the statue of Vince Lombardi.

After Green Bay we drove to Milwaukee. We didn't get to do near all the stuff here that interested us due to our tight schedule for this trip. I'd come back here in a heartbeat! It's beautiful. Super clean. We went to the riverfront to grab some lunch and the see "the bronze Fonz!"  I'd been singing the tune from Happy Days and Laverne and Shirley all day much to the enjoyment of my family...NOT! The Milder children had absolutely no idea what I was talking about it who in the world Fonzie was. *sigh*

At lunch I had to try beer cheese soup. The two things that Wisconsin is known for in one dish. I will be finding a recipe for this on Pinterest! Best thing I've had on the trip so far!

I have no idea what is actually housed in this office building, but it has giant ladybugs on it!!

I'm telling you this city is adorable! Then we went to Miller Valley to the Miller Beer Brewing Co. where it's always Miller time! We didn't take the factory tour since we'd just taken the Guinness tour in Ireland a few months ago. We just did the visitor center. I mean come on...barley, hops, yeast and water.  How different can it be??

About 45 minutes outside Milwaukee is a Jelly Belly factory and warehouse. We did the tour. On a little "train" that takes you around the inside of one warehouse where you watch a video on how they make the jelly beans. 

It was lame. We did enjoy the free samples and the gift shop though. I personally loved all the Ronald Reagan trivia. Did you know the blueberry jelly belly was created just for the 1980 inauguration so there could be red white and blue jelly beans? And, he started eating them as Governor to help him quit smoking. Maybe we should send some to Obama.  I miss Reagan. 

Then we began what seemed like an eternal drive into Chicago. Traffic was a mess so GPS lady took us some way we hadn't been before and I'm so glad. We go to see some HUGE old mansions on the shores of Lake Michigan. Oprah probably owns one. 

We also happened across Northwestern University. We stopped at a park by the university and walked out to the shore. Lake Michigan is coold!

We finally made it to Navy Pier for dinner and we were starving after sitting in traffic forever. **side note: Scott talks to the other cars in traffic when they do something stupid. Since we were in Chicago every time he encountered one he'd mumble "there's another idiot who elected Obama!" 

Scott loves pizza of any kind and Chicago pizza is is own special thing. So we went to Giordano's and had one for dinner. If you've never had one...it's crust on the bottom and sides, then filled with approximately 9 pounds of cheese and whatever toppings you want and then topped with red sauce. I can hardly get one piece down before I'm stuffed. If you are lactose intolerant this is bad, bad news.

After dinner we wandered around Navy pier and then hit the road again to our hotel in Benton Harbor. 

We crossed the border into Michigan about 11 pm. This is our 49th state and come hell or high water we were having a picture at the welcome center. It was daaaark when we pulled in. And, wouldn't you know, just as we opened the car doors a kidnapper style van pulls in and parks beside us. We hustled in to the potty. Not a welcome to Michigan sign in sight!  When we came out I made the kids stand in front of a map of Michigan and took their picture while Scott chatted up the guy in the kidnapper van. He turned out to be an elderly gentleman from the Denver area who was lost. He was very surprised to discover that he was in Michigan! What?! Scott then had to show him where we were on the large paper atlas he had with him. Bless. 

After we all hustled back to the car and loaded up, as we are pulling out of the parking lot Scott spots the sign. Our people were NOT happy that we made them get out again in the dark and cold so that we'd have this priceless photo memory of our arrival to our 49th state. Can't imagine why. 

Lake Michigan Blessings,
Leslie