Cedar Rapids, then what?

[tomthyme]

Hello Again! So we have our trip slated to leave DFW and see friends in Cedar Rapids for a few days. Then we have a week lag time. After that, we will meet other friends in Door County, waaaaaaayyyy up on the tip. So, what do we do in the middle?

We have looked at the UP and it looks great, but the distance is a bit of a haul. We are both working and would prefer to spend a few mid week days doing work, but we don't want to miss anything special.

So after Cedar Rapids, then what?

Thanks so much you guys!

Tom

[sweetnoni]

We went to Guettenburg, Iowa, nice state park there called Pike's Peak and across the river is Prairie Du Cheon. Beautiful area.

[iagary]

If you have any interest in architecture and Frank Lloyd Wright, Taliesin near Spring Green is well worth a few hours. They have good tours. Also House on the Rock, which is near Dodgeville is very interesting. Actually, these two stops are pretty close to each other.

Another idea, if you are sports fans at all would be to detour a little through Chicago and/or Milwaukee for the White Sox, Cubs or Brewers. Packers Hall of Fame in Green Bay is another option.

[stetwood]

Either google Tourism for Wisconsin, Illinois and Iowa and see what those state tourism people say. Or go to Trip Adviser and do the same there.

[C_B_]

Sent you a PM


C.B.

[Us_out_West]

OP you'll love the 'Door'.

We were up there a couple of years ago and stayed at Hyland Court in Ellison Bay...you'll see a link in our entry.

Here is our Trip Journal entry.

[kknowlton]

Agreed on spending some time in Wisconsin. They have some of the nicest state parks in the country (IMO), and some of them will have room for your rig. During the week you may be able to get a site evem without an advance reservation. Check into Governor Dodge or Devils Lake SPs - they are very popular, but if your trip isn't for a few weeks, schools will be starting and the parks will be less busy durin the week.

Effigy Mounds is a small national monument/park in northeast Iowa, dealing with ancient Indian culture, interesting place. We spent a few hours there once when camping in s.w. Wisconsin. In central Wisconsin there are not only all the tourist traps in/around Wisconsin Dells, you can visit the International Crane Foundation in Baraboo (dedicated to all the different birds of the crane family), Frank Lloyd Wright's home Taliesin in Spring Green, and The House on the Rock - not like any place you have ever seen before! You could base camp in the Dells or Baraboo (or at Devils Lake SP) and see all of the above (except Effigy Mounds) in short day trips.

[Dennis_M_M]

Off the Beaten Path

The area around Amana, IA is interesting. Lots to see and do in SW Wisconsin

[STBRetired]

If you are going to stop in Dyersville, there is a campground in Earlville, 8 miles west at the Tri-State Dragway. Is totally quiet on the weekdays. Racers start showing up on Friday and leave on Sunday night. We were there for a race but stayed longer. We were the only people in the campground on Monday. There are some seasonal sites ther with campers but none of the folks were there. $30 for FHU (no WIFI or Cable). Wade, the campground manager even provided us with firewood for the fire ring.

[B_O__Plenty]

Along the way, stop and go through the Basilica in Dyersville, IA. It is open for tours. The interior will take your breath away. Then there is the Field of Dreams, from the movie, also in Dyersville. Then go over to Galena,IL and take a trolley tour of the city. Many old homes of famous people and a unique downtown main street. Heading north stop off in the Wisconsin Dells to see the ultimate in tourist traps. Enjoy the ride..

B.O.