We started the morning with visiting the new Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum. The museum complex is so beautiful. There is a visitor center in the old Union Depot and then two beautiful buildings - one is the museum and the other is the library. The library houses both Lincoln's papers and the papers of the Illinois state historical society.
Lorie was still not feeling well, so we only visited the museum. However, it was unbelievable and, if we could only do one thing, that was a good choice. They have integrated technology in such a way that it really supports the telling of the Lincoln story. One of my favorite things was the presentation of the 1860 campaign in today's terms -like it was being reported on a news show. Tim Russart (?), the news commentator who passed away in 2008, was the commentator. It was well-done. If you have the opportunity to visit this museum, be sure to take it. There were so many more things we could have done in Springfield, but we had to move on. I said we gave it just a lick and a promise.
Lorie slept in the back as we continued down the road. We crossed the border into MO and saw the St. Louis arch. Elizabeth was snapping pictures like mad and hopes that she got a good one.
As we were driving down the road, we kept seeing signs for the Merramac Cave. We decided that we needed to stop. It was late in the afternoon (around 4:30 PM) and Lorie was not feeling well, so we chose to not take a tour - we just looked around. It was so much fun. You go into the mouth of the cave when you go to the gift shop and visitor center. There is a display of rocks and some history of the cave. The cave was used by Jesse James as a hideout. It was used in the 1930s as a ballroom. The map of the cave shows many routes and rooms. The cave tour is 90 minutes and one mile in length. There is also ziplining, canoeing, and riverboat cruises on the lake. There is a area for camping and a motel. Lorie thought it would be a fun place to bring Randy and her family to in the future.
We continued down the road and saw a sign for the "World's Largest Rocking Chair". We are trying to take pictures of as many "giants" on Route 66 as we can, so we turned off and saw the rocking chair. It was large! We chatted with the girl at the little store for a while.
We stopped for the night in Rolla.
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
On the road again...to Springfield, IL
We had planned on sleeping in and leaving Chicago. However, we were all awake and up, so we ended up leaving around nine o'clock. We had a nice drive through the city on the way to the interstate. Because it was Sunday morning, the streets were really calm. We saw a street that had just been "blown up" for the Transformers movie and a costume rack for the movie. Elizabeth really enjoyed seeing that....and bragging to her brothers that she had seen it. While Elizabeth is not a Transformers fan, she is interested in and likes seeing/hearing about how any movie is made.
Our drive was good and we enjoyed the all the green trees as we were driving. We drove to Springfield, Illinois, where we planned on seeing some of the Lincoln sites. Lorie was still feeling ill, so she lay in the back seat and slept until we got to Springfield. When we arrived there, Lorie said that she felt like she could go see a couple of things. We went right to the Lincoln visitor center and saw an overview film of Lincoln's life. We then had tickets for the tour of Lincoln's Springfield home. This is the only home that Lincoln ever owned. It was fascinating to see it and listen to all the history that had taken place there. The four blocks surrounding the home are owned by the government and are a National Park. They are in the process of restoring the homes to the way they looked when Lincoln lived there. We walked down the block and read the plaques about the people who used to live there during Lincoln's time.
Next, we visited the Lincoln gravesite. It is very impressive. I had seen it before, but Lorie and Elizabeth had not. Lorie was still not feeling well, so we did not spend much time there.
We went to our hotel and enjoyed resting for the evening.
Our drive was good and we enjoyed the all the green trees as we were driving. We drove to Springfield, Illinois, where we planned on seeing some of the Lincoln sites. Lorie was still feeling ill, so she lay in the back seat and slept until we got to Springfield. When we arrived there, Lorie said that she felt like she could go see a couple of things. We went right to the Lincoln visitor center and saw an overview film of Lincoln's life. We then had tickets for the tour of Lincoln's Springfield home. This is the only home that Lincoln ever owned. It was fascinating to see it and listen to all the history that had taken place there. The four blocks surrounding the home are owned by the government and are a National Park. They are in the process of restoring the homes to the way they looked when Lincoln lived there. We walked down the block and read the plaques about the people who used to live there during Lincoln's time.
Next, we visited the Lincoln gravesite. It is very impressive. I had seen it before, but Lorie and Elizabeth had not. Lorie was still not feeling well, so we did not spend much time there.
We went to our hotel and enjoyed resting for the evening.
Saturday, July 10, 2010
It's Not Little Caesar's Pizza
Tonight, for dinner, we are having a Chicago Vegetable Pizza. Elizabeth said, "It tastes strong. It's not Little Caesar's Pizza." First of all, one of the ingredients was broccoli, which we had them leave off. However, we left on the black olives, green olives, onions, tomatoes, green peppers, and cheese. The items were loaded on the pizza. It was very thick and spilling over. It filled us up and we have left-overs.
We have had an interesting time in Chicago. There is so much to see. We knew we would want more time here and we do! We haven't done a lot here because Elizabeth is still tired from being ill and Lorie became ill last night. In fact, Lorie has just spent all day sleeping in the hotel room.
Yesterday, we celebrated Elizabeth's 18th birthday with a trip to Soldier Field where the Bears play and a visit to the flagship American Girl Place on the Magnificent Mile. We took the subway to Soldier Field. We had to walk about six blocks from the subway stop to the field. We started out by going in the wrong direction, but figured it out pretty quickly. Soldier Field is at the end of the Museum Complex where Shedd Aquarium and the Museum of Natural History are. It was beautiful there and we really enjoyed seeing the outside of the buildings. When we got to Soldier Field, we went into the Bears shop. Elizabeth had hoped to purchase a jacket, but there was nothing there that she wanted. Lorie purchased a t-shirt for Elizabeth for her birthday that said the Bears were the "Monsters of the Midway". We walked around the outside of the stadium. It looks like a Greek coliseum from the outside. It is a beautiful building.
We walked back to the Museum of Natural History and purchased tickets for the Chicago Trolley and Double Decker Company - a bus that goes around the city with a tour, fifteen stops and on/off privileges. We rode the bus to the stop nearest our hotel room and enjoyed the tour along the way. We ate lunch at McDonald's, then went to walk on the Magnificent Mile. Following along with our usual method, we started out the wrong way. We probably ended up walking about an extra mile before we arrived at the Magnificent Mile, but we saw some great buildings and had a good time.
Our destination on the Magnificent Mile was the American Girl Place, the flagship store of the American Girl dolls. Everyone had told us that this store was the best of all and Elizabeth was very excited to visit it on her birthday. However, we were disappointed in it. The clerks were not as attentive or as focused on customer service as in the previous two stores. In both of the other stores, we had had personal shoppers. There were people that greeted you as you walked in and every employee acknowledged you. In the Chicago store, no one acknowledged us at all. The employees talked to you if you talked to them first, but otherwise, they talked with each other. Between the three stores, Mall of America was our favorite in terms of customer service and Los Angeles was our favorite in terms of store display.
After visiting the American Girl Place, we walked back on Magnificent Mile, enjoying stopping in stores along the way. There were so many people in this area that you were just carried along by the crowd as you walked. It is the first place that has been this crowded.
When we got back to our hotel room, we watched a movie and relaxed. Elizabeth felt that she had a good birthday.
Lorie became ill during the night, so we just all slept in this morning. Our original plan had been to get up early and keep exploring the city, but Lorie was in no shape for that and Elizabeth was still trying to catch up on her sleep from being sick.
Elizabeth and I ended up going out at around eleven. We rode the bus around the entire city tour and learned a lot. The new Transformers movie was being filmed in Chicago today and we saw several of the sets and two of the transformers. We missed the street being blown up, but we saw the evidence of it. Also, we heard that people had been "jumping" off Sears tower for the movie, but did not see it.
We feel like we just had a little taste of what is here to see and have a list for the future.
When we returned to the hotel room, we all took naps. Lorie is feeling a little better and we all had some pizza, as you saw at the beginning of this post. We have been watching TV for the first time this vacation, but neither Lorie nor Elizabeth feels like doing anything else. We hope everyone is feeling better soon. Elizabeth said that she had an appetite for the first time today, so that is good news.
Tomorrow we begin our trip home following Route 66.
We have had an interesting time in Chicago. There is so much to see. We knew we would want more time here and we do! We haven't done a lot here because Elizabeth is still tired from being ill and Lorie became ill last night. In fact, Lorie has just spent all day sleeping in the hotel room.
Yesterday, we celebrated Elizabeth's 18th birthday with a trip to Soldier Field where the Bears play and a visit to the flagship American Girl Place on the Magnificent Mile. We took the subway to Soldier Field. We had to walk about six blocks from the subway stop to the field. We started out by going in the wrong direction, but figured it out pretty quickly. Soldier Field is at the end of the Museum Complex where Shedd Aquarium and the Museum of Natural History are. It was beautiful there and we really enjoyed seeing the outside of the buildings. When we got to Soldier Field, we went into the Bears shop. Elizabeth had hoped to purchase a jacket, but there was nothing there that she wanted. Lorie purchased a t-shirt for Elizabeth for her birthday that said the Bears were the "Monsters of the Midway". We walked around the outside of the stadium. It looks like a Greek coliseum from the outside. It is a beautiful building.
We walked back to the Museum of Natural History and purchased tickets for the Chicago Trolley and Double Decker Company - a bus that goes around the city with a tour, fifteen stops and on/off privileges. We rode the bus to the stop nearest our hotel room and enjoyed the tour along the way. We ate lunch at McDonald's, then went to walk on the Magnificent Mile. Following along with our usual method, we started out the wrong way. We probably ended up walking about an extra mile before we arrived at the Magnificent Mile, but we saw some great buildings and had a good time.
Our destination on the Magnificent Mile was the American Girl Place, the flagship store of the American Girl dolls. Everyone had told us that this store was the best of all and Elizabeth was very excited to visit it on her birthday. However, we were disappointed in it. The clerks were not as attentive or as focused on customer service as in the previous two stores. In both of the other stores, we had had personal shoppers. There were people that greeted you as you walked in and every employee acknowledged you. In the Chicago store, no one acknowledged us at all. The employees talked to you if you talked to them first, but otherwise, they talked with each other. Between the three stores, Mall of America was our favorite in terms of customer service and Los Angeles was our favorite in terms of store display.
After visiting the American Girl Place, we walked back on Magnificent Mile, enjoying stopping in stores along the way. There were so many people in this area that you were just carried along by the crowd as you walked. It is the first place that has been this crowded.
When we got back to our hotel room, we watched a movie and relaxed. Elizabeth felt that she had a good birthday.
Lorie became ill during the night, so we just all slept in this morning. Our original plan had been to get up early and keep exploring the city, but Lorie was in no shape for that and Elizabeth was still trying to catch up on her sleep from being sick.
Elizabeth and I ended up going out at around eleven. We rode the bus around the entire city tour and learned a lot. The new Transformers movie was being filmed in Chicago today and we saw several of the sets and two of the transformers. We missed the street being blown up, but we saw the evidence of it. Also, we heard that people had been "jumping" off Sears tower for the movie, but did not see it.
We feel like we just had a little taste of what is here to see and have a list for the future.
When we returned to the hotel room, we all took naps. Lorie is feeling a little better and we all had some pizza, as you saw at the beginning of this post. We have been watching TV for the first time this vacation, but neither Lorie nor Elizabeth feels like doing anything else. We hope everyone is feeling better soon. Elizabeth said that she had an appetite for the first time today, so that is good news.
Tomorrow we begin our trip home following Route 66.
Thursday, July 8, 2010
Tummy Ache, Toll Booths, and Traffic
Elizabeth's stomach was still giving her some trouble so we had a lazy morning in our hotel in Madison. We let Elizabeth sleep in until around 9:30 or so and then we all just relaxed and did not leave until almost noon.
When we finally got on the road, we had a lovely drive for most of the way. As we crossed into Illinois, we began to notice fewer trees and more farmland. There were definitely more cars on the road than we have had in several days and the number grew as we drew nearer Chicago.
Interstate 90 turned into a toll road and we found ourselves rummaging for change and one dollar bills. We got on a wrong road one time and had to pay double toll there - once as we exited and then again after we turned around. The last 30 miles of our drive took us 36 minutes because of the traffic - it was just stop and go. However, we arrived safely and found our hotel without any problems.
Elizabeth just wanted to rest, but Lorie and I went out walking for a little while and began to scope out our surroundings. The city, at least the part we were in tonight, reminded us a lot of San Diego. We did observe that the drivers seem to drive even worse than in New York City. We saw some crazy things on the road this evening and are very glad that our car is parked until we leave on Sunday. We are going to walk and take public transportation.
Tomorrow is Elizabeth's 18th birthday. She wants to go to Soldier Field and the American Girl Place in the Old Water Tower. We are looking forward to a wonderful day.
When we finally got on the road, we had a lovely drive for most of the way. As we crossed into Illinois, we began to notice fewer trees and more farmland. There were definitely more cars on the road than we have had in several days and the number grew as we drew nearer Chicago.
Interstate 90 turned into a toll road and we found ourselves rummaging for change and one dollar bills. We got on a wrong road one time and had to pay double toll there - once as we exited and then again after we turned around. The last 30 miles of our drive took us 36 minutes because of the traffic - it was just stop and go. However, we arrived safely and found our hotel without any problems.
Elizabeth just wanted to rest, but Lorie and I went out walking for a little while and began to scope out our surroundings. The city, at least the part we were in tonight, reminded us a lot of San Diego. We did observe that the drivers seem to drive even worse than in New York City. We saw some crazy things on the road this evening and are very glad that our car is parked until we leave on Sunday. We are going to walk and take public transportation.
Tomorrow is Elizabeth's 18th birthday. She wants to go to Soldier Field and the American Girl Place in the Old Water Tower. We are looking forward to a wonderful day.
Wednesday, July 7, 2010
Blast from the Past - a few days ago
These pictures are from Bridal Veil Falls, which we visited on the third day of our trip as we drove through Utah. These pictures are for Mom and Dad and we hope you enjoy seeing the falls on your upcoming trip!
Laura Ingalls Wilder Birthplace
Here is Lorie at the Laura Ingalls Wilder museum in Pepin, Wisconsin. They have a pioneer girl that you can put your face through. We all did it, but the other pictures are on Elizabeth's camera and I don't have her camera right now.
These pictures were taken in the doorway of the reconstructed "little house in the woods". We wanted to show how low the ceiling and doors were. Christie can walk through with no problem. Lorie is fine, also. However, Elizabeth's head touches the door frame!
These pictures were taken in the doorway of the reconstructed "little house in the woods". We wanted to show how low the ceiling and doors were. Christie can walk through with no problem. Lorie is fine, also. However, Elizabeth's head touches the door frame!
Here is the reconstructed log cabin seven miles from Pepin. It sits on three acres of land that are part of the original acres owned by Pa Ingalls. The owners donated the land to the city for the creation of a little park to honor Laura Ingalls Wilder. The log cabin is there, along with a picnic area and restrooms. The cabin is basically empty, except for a picnic table and a board talking about the history of Pepin and the Ingalls family.
Lunch at Bogus Creek Cafe in Stockholm, Wisconsin
Elizabeth and Lorie outside of the Bogus Creek Cafe and Bakery.
These are the "half sandwiches". You'll have to read the post to get the whole story.
They brought us a great basket of bread and spreads to eat. There was a nut bread with a strawberry spread and an orange onion bread with a dill spread. In this picture, Elizabeth is holding both her piece of onion bread and my piece, but, as I snapped the picture, I said I was going to say that she liked the bread so much, she had two pieces at once. She said, "what!" and made the face you see below. For the record, Elizabeth and I liked the onion bread/dill spread best and Lorie liked the nut bread/strawberry spread best.
These are the "half sandwiches". You'll have to read the post to get the whole story.
They brought us a great basket of bread and spreads to eat. There was a nut bread with a strawberry spread and an orange onion bread with a dill spread. In this picture, Elizabeth is holding both her piece of onion bread and my piece, but, as I snapped the picture, I said I was going to say that she liked the bread so much, she had two pieces at once. She said, "what!" and made the face you see below. For the record, Elizabeth and I liked the onion bread/dill spread best and Lorie liked the nut bread/strawberry spread best.
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