Travel Tuesday... Wisconsin is Awesome! Who knew?

Who know Wisconsin was so beautiful? Actually, it turns out as I’ve been talking with people that everyone but me knew that Wisconsin was beautiful.

I had a recent opportunity to travel with Wisconsin (a new state!) for work. I think by virtue of the name and my own ignorance, I had always assumed Milwaukee would be something like, I don’t know… Detroit or Trenton, NJ. I found a charming little town that was anything but.

And, as I learned, even in the heart of downtown, you are minutes away from view like this…

…and can enjoy treats like this: a chocolate pumpkin bar that was sinfully rich, wonderfully delicious, and gave me a so-worth-it stomachache.

So don’t make my mistake and write Wisconsin off as just another city—it is well worth the trip!

Travel Tuesday- Back to Disney

When I was in fourth grade, my grandfather piled my whole family in his car and headed south... eighteen hours south to Orlando. Thus began my first trip to Disney.

All I remember from that first trip was being too short to ride half of the things I wanted to ride, and the line for It's a Small World being like ONE BILLION people long. So in June, when a friend suggested an outing to Disney following a work trip to Orlando, I begrudgingly agreed.

And I am glad I did.

Now, compared to my trip last year to Universal Studios, I must admit that I left strongly feeling that Disney is a park for kids. Other than Space Mountain (which was awesome), the rides aren't so much rides as they are "tours" of Disney venues. The lines are long, and it is hot and crowded, but...

...despite the averse facts of the trip, Disney is Disney. There is still something magical and electric in the air. Even though more than 2/3 of my VERY expensive, brief afternoon there was spent waiting in line for tours, I had a blast.

I'm not sure I will go back before I have a 6-10 year old child that can truly appreciate the magic, but I did leave wanting to visit Epcot... and with a HUGE smile on my face.

Travel Tuesday- Pipestone, MN

Normally, my travel experiences are major cities-- since I travel for business, that is where the business usually is. However, this summer I had a unique, and as it turns out, wonderful opportunity to visit Pipestone, Minnesota.

My fiance's family is from a small town an hour or so away, and so while visiting, we decided to pay a nod to my Native American heritage and go to the Pipestone National Monument. A small park full of great information about the Native people of the region, we took a one hour walk and lots of pictures. Aside from about a billion bug bites, the trip was gorgeous and well worth the stop.

Aside from the monument, the city of Pipestone was also a great suprise to me. With a population of about 5,000, it is about 1/20 of the size of the cities I usually visit and yet we never ran out of stuff to do. Granted, we were only there a few days, but the downtown area is lined with great antique and thrift stores to explore. Dars Pizza will never best Joe Squared for me, but they serve up one heck of a slice.

And then, there is the pie. Langes, which looks like Any-Diner, USA from the outside... well, and the inside honestly, changed my perception of pie. It's a must-eat, for sure!

So if you're ever in southwestern Minnesota, stop by Pipestone. You won't be sorry.