T and D's Adventures

Midwest trip around Lake Michigan

September 3-23, 2025

Wed, Sept 3 Fly to Chicago, Overnight in Aurora, IL
Thu, Sept 4 Wed Visit family and friends, overnight in Milwaukee, WI
Fri, Sept 5 Milwaukee
Sat, Sept 6 Sheboygan, Door County, Green Bay, overnight Marinette, WI
Sun & Mon, Sept 7 & 8 Munising, MI
Tue, Sept 9 Marquette (UP) MI
Wed, Sept 10 Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, Canada
Thu & Fri, Sept 11 & 12 Mackinaw City, MI
Sat, Sept 13 Traverse City, MI
Sun & Mon, Sept 14 & 15 Empire, MI
Tue, Sept 16 Grand Rapids, MI
Wed, Sept 17 Holland, MI
Thu, Sept 18 South Bend, IN
Fri - Mon, Sept 19-22 Chicago-area, IL
Tue, Sept 23 Fly back to Seattle

Total mileage 2,127

Mon Sept 22 Chicago, IL

Today we drove into Chicago to visit the Field Museum. And we thought Seattle had bad traffic... I forgot how many trucks there are in the Midwest.

We met a friend of Tom's for breakfast then off to the Field Museum. Afterward I wanted to visit the area around the museum because the park was a small airport when I lived in ILL (40 year ago). It seems a better use as a park and they call the area the Museum Campus. It is fairly close to Grant Park so a great place to hang out.

We did not dawdle because we had plans to meet my brother for dinner and there's traffic. Normally in a big city like this we would take public transit if possible. But the Field Museum is not easily accessible via transit and would have been a hassle. Now don't get me wrong people...we've been to Japan, remember? We can do trains. Parking was pretty convenient, just really skinny spaces and the address of the parking garage is not really the address of the parking entrance - it's a game. Only one 'round the block and we found it.

Dinner with my brother & sister-in-law was nice but went by quickly. They were just returning from a weekend trip and had to get home and we had to pack.

Sat & Sun Sept 20 & 21 Chicago area, Family & Friends

Today is all about my family and friends. No travel stuff.

This morning we had breakfast with my college friend Laura. Then Laura & I had sometime to catch up before it was time to get dressed for my cousin's wedding.

Link to pictures is coming

Fri Sept 19 South Bend IN to Lombard IL

We started out with a tour for the Notre Dame Campus. Notre Dame was to play Purdue on Saturday so there was excitement for Football Friday. We got to the campus "early" so we could get parked and sign up for a tour. We arrive about 9:20 a.m. and the parking by the Visitor Center was already full and people everywhere. We found street parking and had plenty of time to sign up for the tour.

Some of the highlights of the tour are the Basilica of the Sacred Heart, Grotto of Our Lady of Lourdes made 1/7th size of the actual grotto, the Main Building also known as the Golden Dome, Hesburgh Library named from their longtime president (who was the guy who opened ND to woman in '72) also known as Touchdown Jesus and the stadium which accommodates 80,000 people.

We had lunch then it was off to the Indiana Dunes. As a kid we would visit here during the summer sometimes. To me it was great! I loved running up and down the dunes. On this vacation we had already been to the Sleeping Bear Dunes and at this point was just more sand.

Within the national park are these 5 houses called Century of Progress. A real estate developer purchased these houses after the 1933 Chicago's World's Fair. He moved them by barge. I could write more but I don't want to lose my audience who could care less. I took a picture of the sign that explains a bit more, I'll have Tom add it to his pictures.

https://www.nps.gov/indu/learn/historyculture/centuryofprogress.htm

We parked and walked to see the houses but the road was narrow so we walked on the beach. See the staircase to the pink house? Why not just walk up there? Why?! because your shoes & socks will be covered with burrs! Thankfully only i walked to the house, so we only had to pull them off of my feet.

We stopped at the Hard Rock Casino in Gary, IN to get a pin for my collection. Then it on to the Chicagoland traffic jam and we arrived in Lombard, IL.

https://www.flickr.com/gp/8663407@N07/79q58E1061

Thurs Sept 18 Grand Rapids MI to South Bend IN

This morning we walked to the Grand Rapids Public Museum. There were several field trips there, but kids make museums more interesting - well loud, if nothing else. There is a renovation taking place so unfortunately the fashion exhibit I wanted to see was unbearably loud. We took a few pictures. It was an interesting little museum.

Then we were off to our next city. Let me mention here that many cities/towns in the Midwest, certainly in Michigan and Illinois, are called Villages. I grew up in the Village of Summit (Illinois). Tom thought I was nuts, but I have been vindicated! He saw with his own eyes all the "Welcome to the Village of _______" signs.

Anyway we arrived in South Bend, Indiana. Our first visit was to... a car museum. (you're surprised, aren't you?) We went to the Studebaker Museum, which were made here in South Bend. Look for more car pictures and Tom in a red Studebaker.

https://www.flickr.com/gp/8663407@N07/79q58E1061

There's also a barouche (type of carriage) which was Abraham Lincoln's. I believe the hearse is also for Abe Lincoln. Studebaker was the only carriage maker who successfully transition into a successful car maker, for a time.

Wed Sept 17 Kalamazoo MI

We were off to Kalamazoo. First stop the Gilmore Car Museum. This museum is a clever model. This guy (Don Gilmore) liked cars, so he bought more cars. He had so many cars he started showing them to people. He had lots of car friends so he let them put their cars on his property. The result is this museum that houses cars for car clubs so some amazing collections of cars owned & maintained by various car clubs.

We took a break from cars to tour the WK Kellogg summer home nearby. It is now Michigan State University property. Also opened for self-guided tours and used for Kellogg events.

Then back to the car museum. Doesn't Tom look stylish in the 1937 Cord? (yeah, I never heard of it before either) Picture coming.

Next was the Air Zoo which is a clever name for an air & space museum in Kalamazoo. Pictures of planes.

Tue Sept 16 Grand Rapids MI

We started our day at the Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park. They state they are a world-renowned garden and I believe it could be true. It was beautiful.

It was starting to get hot so time for the next thing. A restored Frank Lloyd Wright house in the city. It is the Meyer May House.

Steelcase is a large employer here in Grand Rapids. Steelcase bought the Meyer May House and restored it. The restoration is a story of its own! The house looks great. Oh and admission is free to tour the house thanks to Steelcase. They also use to house for events.

Next we visited the Gerald R Ford Museum. It was an interesting museum. Also Jerry & Betty are both buried here outside the museum.

We didn't see all the gardens so we went back to work off our dinner and see more of the gardens. We got our hands stamped for re-enter so all set.

https://www.flickr.com/gp/8663407@N07/xp2r852Y1X

Finally back to the hotel to catch up on pictures and the blog. I hope you're enjoying our trip.

I want to note that the Midwesterners are as friendly as I remember. Most every person we've passed on hiking trails said hello. I've had many random conversations with people waiting in line or while on a tour, and I did NOT start all the conversations. Now I know it's not "just me" that feels that NW freeze. I confirm it's my Midwest upbringing that makes me want to talk to everyone.