Oct ’08 - Our first trip after Frank obtained his license was to the EAA Museum in Oshkosh. The flight was beautiful and completely uneventful (Frank said that uneventful is what new pilots strive for). I enjoyed flying over the never-ending “farm” of windmills. Imagine my surprise when we landed at the Orion FBO and they literally rolled out a red carpet! I felt like a celebrity! Orion gave us a lift to the museum and with EAA membership, admission is free. When we completed the museum, Orion picked us up and took us to Fratello’s microbrewery for a delicious lunch. Depending on the weather, you can also dine outside along the river. After lunch, Orion took us back to the FBO and we flew home. On the way back, we flew over a corn maze at Richardson’s farm. Our first trip was a success! (I remember thinking, I think I’m gonna like this flying business!)
Nov ’08 – We flew to Grand Geneva for a magnificent Sunday brunch complete with a chocolate fountain! The cost is about $26. Reservations are recommended. Flying in to Grand Geneva is a little tricky since there are actually two airports close to each other (one is private) and the Grand Geneva one is tucked into a grove of trees, a little tough to spot until you’re almost on top of it. Note the runway at Grand Geneva is closed during the winter (they put concrete blocks on it, which would make landing a little more exciting than I’m up for).
Jan ’09 – We had breakfast at the Madison Jet Room. Huge portions. Reservations on the weekends are recommended due to its popularity. The restaurant closes at 2:00. You can sit at tables by the windows and watch the airport activities, but you can do that at any airport diner. We enjoyed sitting at the counter diner style and watching the short order cooks (talk about a frenzy of activity!). On the way back, we flew over Grass Lake and the tracks left by the snowmobiles.
Feb ‘09 – We flew my boss for a nice lunch at Kealy’s at Janesville airport. She was SO excited about the flight itself! After the requisite picture standing next to the airplane and as we were walking to the restaurant, she asked, “so where are we”?
March ’09 – We flew to lunch at Final Approach at Sheboygan Burris FBO. We had heard a lot about this place and were eager to try it.
We had taken 6478P and, apparently, when it was built, weather-stripping for doors had not yet been invented. Just as we were beginning to wonder whether it was colder inside the plane than outside (Frank’s instructor Jim had once told him, that the heat in a 152 is just sufficient to melt the snow off your boots…if you fly long enough) Sheboygan came into sight. Boy, nothing ever tasted so good as that big steaming mug of hot chocolate, complete with whipped cream.
The restaurant is beautiful with two story high windows overlooking the runway and large flying murals and the reasonable prices entice locals. It was rated Best of the Best in the $100 hamburger site. We’ve since brought a few people here for dinner and the food and atmosphere is consistently great and it’s only 45 minutes away. Gals – Monday nights are Martinis and Manicure Nights – reservations are recommended.
March ’09 – back to Sheboygan, but this time we rented a car and visited Kohler. We first toured the dozen or so shops at Woodlake Kohler. There is a nice garden gift shop jam packed with goodies and a wonderful chocolate shop – some of the chocolates are literally like jewels. We toured; the Kohler exhibit with its wall of toilets and tubs (you have to see it to believe it!), the numerous inventive bathroom settings (may be a bad idea as you may see a bathroom renovation in your future!) and the Kohler museum downstairs and all are free.
We had lunch the next block over at the Horse and Plow, a beautiful oak and brass pub and peaked into the American Club. Kohler has factory tours during the week – check their website for details. Being a Saturday, we toured the Waelderhaus instead (free – tours at 2, 3 and 4). It is a huge Austrian “house” that was based on the Kohler ancestral home in Austria. We ended the day back at the chocolate shop for gelato, and then flew home.
April ’09 – We flew into Baraboo and rented a car. This was our first time to the Dells. We knew to bring money! Oh the sites you will see – the upside down White House, the Trojan horse and so much more! We took the requisite boat ride of the Dells ($18 – I believe it is about an hour ride). Free parking next to Ripley’s Believe It or Not. Had lunch (5-minute drive from downtown) at Moose Jaws – very cool and great food (to quote from Disney’s Beauty and the Beast: “I use antlers in all of my decorating”!
There are also numerous other attractions in the area including Mirror Lake State Park, Devil’s Lake State Park and Circus World.
Stay tuned for more adventures!
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