2018 Great Lakes Trip - Wausau, Wisconsin

2018 Great Lakes Trip – Wausau, Wisconsin

Photo link:

https://photos.app.goo.gl/VZkFbV4yPDoTea9S8

Friday July 13^th – Tuesday, July 17^th

Marathon County Campground, Wausau, WI

Leaving Door County, we drove southwest towards central Wisconsin, headed to Wausau. Here we stayed at a really nice county park campground that was in the city. It sounds strange, but was nicely laid out and many trees for shade. Also, the location was convenient to everything we wanted to do.

Another nice surprise that weekend was a hot air balloon rally and rib fest that took place at the local airport. We attended this event and watched several balloons fly, ate great ribs and met some very nice local people. We also ate our first fried Wisconsin cheese curds, so yummy! We stayed for the evening event of the balloon glow. This is when the balloons line up and at dusk inflate the balloons for a spectacular show set to music. After dark, there were fireworks that were very well done. It was very entertaining and an all-around fun time.

One day we traveled east into the country to the county park, Dells of the Eau Claire. We took the dogs so they could also have a day of hiking, which they really enjoy when they can get in a river. The Eau Claire River flows through this park, which has several hiking trails and water activities. The rock formations in the river are the main attraction at this park. Also, part of the Ice Age Trail converges with the hiking trail along the river. The Ice Age Trail is over 1200 miles long, reaching from Sturgeon Bay in Door County, south through many multi-use trails, private lands, city parks, state parks, county forests and national forests. The trail heads northwest and ends in St. Croix Falls overlooking the St. Croix River. This trail follows the path of ancient glaciers.

On two other days, we went to Nine Mile Forest for great mountain biking trails. These were really fun trails, nicely designed and maintained. It was great to get back on some amazing trails.

Kurt decided to go on a hike at Rib Mountain State Park. He hiked to the top of the mountain and had great views of the valley and the city of Wausau. This park also has downhill skiing and cross country skiing for the winter, which is common for many mountain areas in Wisconsin.

Again, as we have experienced in this state, the people we have met are just hard-working, middle class, good people.  It’s so refreshing to see regular Americans living a good life.

Next, on to explore Chippewa Falls/Eau Claire area.