Flying Adventures of Frank and Jolene – Part 4

July ’09 –We flew back to Oshkosh but this time we went to the Oshkosh Public Museum ($7) to see the Public Enemies exhibit (Johnny Depp as John Dillinger). Part of Public Enemies (the movie) was filmed in Oshkosh to represent the Sioux Falls, SD bank robbery. No, we didn’t see Johnny Depp; we saw a picture of Johnny Depp.

It was a great exhibit (it’s there through Oct 18). Included are a jail cell (complete with two miscreants), a 1930’s speakeasy, and a woman’s 1930’s dressing room among the movie memorabilia. The museum itself is very nice and is housed in a 1908 mansion. There are beautiful woodwork and stained glass windows. The museum features an Apostles clock with the 12 Apostles appearing at the top of the hour. There is a glass and ceramics room, nature exhibits, “Grandma’s attic” and displays on the Paine Lumber Company.

We walked to Fratellos for lunch (10 minute walk). If you like, there is also the Paine Art Center and Gardens ($7) which are a block from the Oshkosh Public Museum. After lunch, we called Basler (the FBO) for a ride back to the airport. On the flight back, passed right by a blimp – very cool!

August ’09 – We went to Pella, IA – That’s right, Pella, IA, isn’t that on your must see list? What a charming town to fly to (235 nm) – about an hour west of the Mississippi. You might associate the name Pella with the window company (yes, same town), but Pella is also known for its annual Tulip Time Festival. Fortunately for us, the flower gardens in the summer are equally breathtaking. The town has a rich Dutch heritage, which is distinctly obvious, from the Delft in every shop to the ubiquitous windmills.

Once we arrived in Pella, the FBO (Classic Aviation) lent us a van to get into town (about 3 miles away). Once in town, everything is within a few blocks. The town is centered around a lush square filled with colorful flowers with a couple of blocks of shops including some gift and antique shops.  The main feature in town is the Vermeer Mill, which is the tallest working windmill in the US, standing at 124 feet. Tours of the windmill are every 30 minutes ($8), which includes a self-guided tour of the Historical Village.

The village, which has about a dozen buildings, features Wyatt Earp’s childhood home, a general store and a museum, which offers a glimpse into the lives of the early Dutch settlers. Along the pathways in the village are beautiful flowerbeds.

Also in the Interpretive Center at the Historical Village is the Miniature Dutch Village, which is a delightful display of Dutch architecture at it’s finest.

We had a wonderful lunch at the Monarch Restaurant in the Royal Amsterdam Hotel, which is caddy corner to the windmill. (The lunch special was country-fried steak, with green beans and a heaping pile of mashed potatoes - $6.95 – or terrific sandwiches for about $7.50).

After lunch we toured the 22-room Scholte House (founder of Pella) ($3 additional as a combo ticket), built in 1847. The house contains most of the original furnishings, with nice gardens in the back.

There is also a klokkenspel (if you think I spelled this wrong, you’ll need to correct the Pella-ites as well as me) in town that, I believe, plays on the hour. Be sure to stop, as we did, at the Jaarmsa Bakery for yummy treats (but if you get carried away, don’t forget to recalculate your weight and balance). A popular choice is Dutch Letters which is a pastry filled with almond paste. There are also the Sunken Gardens (free) 2 blocks away, but we ran out of time.

We were all just so impressed with how friendly the townspeople are, and the pride Pella takes in its appearance.

On the way back, we made a point to fly over Richardson’s corn maze in Spring Grove (just SE of Twin Lakes). This year’s theme is Lincoln and Illinois.