Wisconsin Dells

I love national parks and hiking and nature. So when it came time for our family vacation, we were trying to decide where to go. Max said, "Can't we just go to a water park?" The answer is...yes! We went to the land of water parks.

Day one

We drove to Wauwatosa, Wisconsin to visit our friends Jodie and Matt and their family. They own Wing Zones and Little Ceasar's locations, so she let the boys make their own food. We played pickleball, went to The Landing at Hoyt Park which had a great climbing tree and river, and then they had us back to their house for dinner. Wonderful hosts, great town, great time!

Day two

We left early and checked into our Airbnb, which was named Sandrift Resort on Lake Delton. It was a little house across the road from the lake, and the people who owned it (and the rest of the resort) were very friendly. We bought tickets from them to Mt Olympus Water & Theme Park, and it was only $10 per person! We arrived at the park as it opened. The best rides were Icarus, the highest water slide IN THE COUNTRY. I was very scared but it was exciting. I loved Medusa, which is the country's first rotating slide. It was like being in a washing machine, with people screaming above you and below you - very disorienting and very fun! We rode Hades, which was the most painful roller coaster we have ever ridden. It actually hurt my vertebrae. How painful was it? They had a single and needed people to go on it again and NO ONE wanted to do it. I couldn't get off fast enough. Ha! We did everything here - giant wave pool, go karts, slides, everything. So fun.

We got ice cream on the water at Wisconsin Dells Ice Cream, overlooking a foamy waterfall.

Ty joined us later, and we took out the (free) rowboat and paddleboats available at the resort. They were old and there was no check out process and they were available every time we wanted to use them - perfect! They also had a ping pong table where the table was outside all the time and presented a defense. We also had fun on that! 

We went to Grateful Shed to eat, and this place was great. Music, twinkly lights, so many people, cool setup with buses and cement cornhole and pullup bar and lots of fun. We chose different places to get food from and ate outside. Later we wandered through the fun candy shop next door - Pure Sugar. Then we did the exciting task of grocery shopping on vacation, and we went to Walmart. I don't like grocery shopping in general, and I really hate doing it on vacation, but obviously it's a necessary task. So much better when it's all five of us since everyone can help! We were checking out and the cashier said to me, "You have a beautiful family." This made me tear up and hate grocery shopping a little less.

Day three

This day was the whole reason we came - to go to the biggest waterpark in the US - Noah's Ark Water Park! It was huge, but not so big you can't go on everything, so there's not any stress. You can also go back to your car, so we packed lunch and went back to eat it at noon. We also got a locker (here and at Mt Olympus) so we could reapply sunscreen and take clothes and phones and keys. 

I loved this park. Our favorite ride was Black Anaconda, but there were tons of great ones. Some were so scary I couldn't even go on them, like Stingray, where the bottom drops out and you go upside down. The boys went on it though - you could tell who did in the park because everyone had two red marks on their backs where they had rubbed on the slide! We went all around the park together and rode everything we wanted to ride, and the best ones twice. 

They advertise that this park has 2.5 million gallons of heated water. This is also the amount of manure our manure lagoon holds. So funny to compare!

After the park we went on the boats again, then walked to Avazzi Shoppe & Sweets for ice cream and Lake House for dinner. There was an engagement party in the bottom of it, and with just a little internet searching we found out everything about them. We also saw the owner of Mt Olympus there. We had seen him in his house in the middle of Lake Denton. Impressive business owner and great mansion, complete with lions guarding the gate. 

We got to eat outside, which we love. We walked home. The house we stayed at had an old-school Nintendo and the boys played some ancient game with terrible graphics and were very happy.

Day four

We drove to Devil's Lake State Park Visitor's Center, and asked directions to a trail I wanted to go on. She gave us verbal directions and we found it - although there was no sign. We then got lost on it and went a really long way out of our way and had to turn back. A common issue when hiking!

This hike was really pretty - really rocky and steep and you are rewarded with great views over Lake Denton. We hiked to Balanced Rock and saw lots of people hiking down the rocks with ropes. Then we kept going and were surprised by Devil's Doorway! It was so cool. I don't like to look at pictures of things before I see them so this was a real surprise - on the way home we saw it's literally on the sign of Baraboo, WI, the city it's in. So other people there were likely not surprised! 

We had taken food and water on the hike and by the time we got back to the car we had hiked five miles and been gone three hours. No one ever complains or says they don't like it, but only Kris and I ACTUALLY like hiking. The boys actually talk and jump around and stand on steep things and climb up dangerous things, but when asked they all put hiking far down on the list. Hiking with my family is one of my favorite things to do ever, so it's nice they go for me! But I'm also glad this vacation was water park-heavy.

We went to Devil's Lake South Shore, which was a lovely beach. We ate there and got ice cream. (It's July, I eat it every day to celebrate July being National Ice Cream Month. Also it's delicious.)

The boys went to play mini golf and Kris and I went to River's Edge on the water. He tried fried cheese curds, because we were in Wisconsin, after all. 

Kris and Cole left because Cole had to leave for MSU Summer Business Institute Camp in the morning. Ty, Max, and I ate at Taqueria Mexico, took the boats out again, played ping pong, and sat in the porch swing in our yard until dark. Cole and Kris got home at 1:00 a.m., and the drive home the next morning only took a quick seven hours, with one stop for gas.

I really loved the Wisconsin Dells, and I can see why people go there. So many touristy things to do, really nice lakes, great water parks, great places to eat, and lots of fun. All within driving distance! It was also reasonably priced everywhere we went. Great summer vacation for a family that loves hiking (some of them) and water parks (all of them!)

Ty and Cole are moving to college next month, and I don't know how all our vacations and work will line up in the future. I'm so glad we had this trip together. Back to 2.5 million gallons of manure!

 

 

Michigan's West Coast

I love Michigan, and I love Lake Michigan! I realize there are multiple bodies of water between that lake and me, but I feel pulled toward it like a magnet.

Laketown Beach, Holland

We had a free day with the kids, and we were already over on the west side of the state, so we decided to go to the beach. I wanted to go to a new beach, and we found Laketown Beach online. It had warnings like: this dune is really steep! Even teens were struggling! So we knew it wouldn't be packed!

True. There were about 10 parking spots, and so we lined up on the road. It was a very short walk on a dune, and it wasn't bad at all. The beach itself was very small, so we were in the water in the private areas a lot. Very few people there! 

We all swam and played catch in the water, went for walks - very enjoyable. On the way back up the dune when we were leaving, it was like normal dune walking, and then at the top third, it was like the sand was mushy. I think it was just so steep that you would take a step and move downward. Ha! Totally worth it.

Douglas

The next weekend we went on our annual family trip to Lake Michigan with Kris' family. His parents Mike and Joanna, sister Meghan and her husband Jon and three kids, Anna, William, and Benjamin, plus our family. The Wardins started doing this as a Christmas present, and it's so fun! We are so thankful!

Our house this time was decorated so beautifully and so different. Lots of flamingoes, lots of nice touches. The house had a Monopoly game table, a karaoke setup complete with mirrored ball, beach supplies, and even bikes! There were deer that came to eat from the mulberry tree all the time, and unlike when I see deer at home, I wasn't filled with rage that they were eating my plants. 

Douglas Beach

Even though we've spent a lot of time in Saugatuck and Douglas, there are always new places to see. Douglas Beach was the closest to our house - just a six minute bike ride. It's a small beach, and on the walk back the boys and Mike went to the Root Beer Barrell for a root beer float.

Yacht Club

Our house was also within walking distance of the Tower Harbour Yacht Club, where we liked to walk to see the super nice cars in the parking lot and the boats on the dock. 

Golfing and putt putting

The guys went golfing at the Ravines Golf Club, which they loved and was less expensive than playing at home! We took the kids to putt putt at Saugatuck Mini Golf. 

Red Dock

This was advertised as a floating restaurant, but it just seemed like it was on the end of a dock. Regardless, it was nice to eat right on the water! Very low key. Lots of people had boated to eat here, but this was another place we could walk from our house.

Oval Beach

This used to be my favorite beach, but honestly I don't know if I went there on weekdays or what. It is always so busy now. I couldn't bring myself to walk to dunes because it was so hot - in the 90s - but Cole and Max did it. They said they were the only ones there and it was so hot it burnt your feet. It was delightful swimming here, but just really crowded too.

Saugatuck Dunes State Park

Mike suggested going here, and I was pretty sure I'd never been. Then we went on the 0.8 walk on a wooded trail to get there, and I KNEW I'd never been. If I had taken toddlers there it would have been difficult! But this was no big deal with so many adults and big kids. You walk on a nice path to the beach, and since it is a long walk, there aren't very many people there. And then the beach is HUGE and nice. This was my favorite of the trip.

Downtowns

I rode bikes with the boys to downtown Saugatuck for ice cream and the sunset, and I ran to downtown Douglas with Meghan, Jon, and Kris. Both were cute little Lake Michigan tourist town downtowns with cool shops, ice cream, interesting art, and early closing times. 

Dairy Dayz

We always go here, and it's always good, giant, and inexpensive ice cream! 

It was a great time with wonderful people in one of my favorite spots in the world. See you soon, Lake Michigan.

Kentucky Derby - dream come true!

The Kentucky Derby was a dream come true. 

I've wanted to go for awhile, since it combines so many elements I love - the thrill of a race, fancy hats, and the excitement of a huge event. So when the $100 tickets went up for sale in October, I bought five of them. I hoped Kris would be able to go, but for the last seven months, we knew it would depend on the corn planting. I just kept saying that I thought he was going to be able to go. The weather looked like it would happen in our favor...he said if it rained on Tuesday he'd be able to leave, so he tentatively bought an outfit, and then on Wednesday he confirmed...planting wasn't happening, so he was coming! I was so happy. Andrea was always my ride-or-die in this scenario, but then it turned out Chris couldn't come, Gage couldn't come, but Annie and Rondi were in! 

We drove, since it's only a 5.5 hour drive for us. We wanted to break it up, so we stopped at Eagle's Crest Nature Preserve and went on a 1.25 mile hike. (The trailhead was not the obvious one, but one at the far end of the park, past the house.) The writeup promised dramatic views, and it did not disappoint! We ate at the Boathouse Grill and were able to sit outside in the sunshine. 

The first Airbnb I rented in October canceled on us in April due to the flooding in Kentucky. That meant I had to find another spot, which was the basement of a house in New Albany, Indiana, 12 miles from Churchill Downs. As we drove into the super nice neighborhood with beautiful houses, I thought...does their HSA even allow this? There was a car with four flats in the driveway, and we entered through the basement door. We never saw one person in this entire neighborhood. But the basement apartment was just as described - four beds, some couches. It didn't mention the odd things about it, like random wires sticking out of the walls, and only one fork, one spoon, and three coffee cups. Oh well! We were just coming here to sleep anyway! 

We threw our stuff down and went to explore New Albany. We went to Floyd County Brewing, which promised a Monty Python vibe. It was festive, and there were people there who had just been to the Oaks, all dressed up. Our server was really nice and gave us tips about the Derby. We walked down the street and couldn't resist Boomtown Kitchen, where Annie got one of those giant and beautiful ice cream shakes that is actually made for five people with big appetites. We walked around and stopped by the Dog Haus, where once again our server was happy to share about the Derby. While we were there Rondi realized she left her bag at the first place. We went back and it was there - money and everything intact! It fit with the night, because everyone was already so nice. We went to Meijer to buy breakfast food and boots for Annie and Andrea.

Derby Day

I could barely believe it - it was here! I woke up super early, excited. We looked at the weather, and it promised rain, especially hard until 2:00 p.m., and then tapering off a little bit until the race. It had been predicting rain all week, but I didn't believe it. We decided we would go, park, and then stay inside a restaurant or indoors until about 2:00 p.m.

We drove right up to Churchill Downs, and people were aggressively trying to get us to park in their lots. Kris asked how much, and the guy told us $80. Kris said no, and he immediately dropped the price. We moved on and went to a quiet woman with a sign and parked right in her yard. Like actually IN her yard. (My friend Jan had told me this was the way to park, so that was nice.) She charged us $30. 

As we walked toward Churchill Downs, it wasn't raining. There were so many people streaming in, all dressed to the nines, and there was that sense of excitement in the air. 

"Let's just go in!" I said to Kris. "Yes, let's just go in!" he said. We couldn't help it! 

We stopped for a couple of pictures, and we entered the tunnel. The sense of anticipation was just wild. We heard the bugle call, and I was just so excited. 

Then - we were in! Finally there! 

We walked all around and checked everything out. It was more than I imagined. (I don't look up how anything looks before I go because I like to be surprised.) There were spots to bet, places to buy food and drinks, indoor bathrooms, and giant screens. Many people set up tarps and camping chairs to hold their spots. 

We watched the first race - oh, the excitement! And they're off! We watched and cheered. The horses seem to glide by you, since they jockeys don't move up and down at all. We'd watch them as far as we could, and then watch the giant screen. The races started in different spots, depending on the length, and some happened on the grass even closer to you.

Over the entire day, there were 14 races, and we saw them all! We could walk right up to the fence and watch the horses. We walked all around and tried to decide which spot we'd want to watch the Derby. 

They - unsurprisingly - made it super easy to bet. They had so many spots, and they had a sign on how to do it. The tellers were always super patient and helpful. Kris and my friends placed small bets on all the races, and then we would cheer and cheer for our favorites. 

Eventually, there was a spot where a DJ held a dance party. This was amazing. We'd dance to the music, and then seven minutes before race time, the DJ would stop the music. We'd all walk the 10 steps to the fence, watch the race, celebrate your wins or mourn your losses, and then go right back to dancing! Andrea declared that it was the perfect dopamine cycle.

You know when you're anticipating something and then it happens? I frequently just looked around, happy to be there. I told Kris this was up there with Yellowstone and Alaska...you wait for something and then it's even better than you thought. There's all of this and a DANCE PARTY?!

There were rules about what you could and couldn't bring, and we saw it really didn't matter. They didn't check you before you came in, and you were allowed to bring food anyway. Some people were super prepared with full blown picnics. When it rained, we stood under a roof at a betting place. We - along with mostly everyone - wore clear ponchos so you could still see everyone's outfits. As the day went on, it got muddier, and there were giant puddles. I wore sandals, since it wasn't cold. Kris threw his shoes away afterward, as planned. I rinsed mine in the sink and they were fine. Boots were a great choice, but I just couldn't make that fashion concession. People were super friendly and chatty. A couple of girls told me when they went a few years ago during nice weather, they "never saw a horse" due to the crowds, and waited two hours in line to buy a drink. They encouraged me to come back when it was nice, but said that I was seeing and doing far more since it was rainy. Also - Kris and my friends are the chillest, go-with-the-flow people. Totally up for anything and happy to be there!

The hats! The outfits! They sell 150,000 tickets to the infield, and although attendance was down a little due to the rain, there were so many people to observe. I loved seeing what everyone was wearing. 

The day flew by. As we neared the Derby race, we decided to watch from our favorite spot, close to the twin spires. We were about row three at the fence, and we had a clear view. We watched the horses enter. We loudly sang 'My Old Kentucky Home,' because we learned the lyrics in the car on the way down. I was giddy with excitement. I'd also placed one bet the entire day - on one horse - Sovereignty. He wasn't the favorite, but he had good odds, and I liked the meaning of his name. 

And they're off! We watched them glide by, then turned to the screen. We were screaming with excitement and adrenaline. Then, Sovereignty was right up there, he was in the lead, he won!!! I was lightheaded with joy. It was like it was scripted. You can go to the Kentucky Derby with your husband and friends, you can have a great time, and then...your horse wins?! I was so happy. I still am.

We watched Junior Alvarado and Sovereignty accept the Garland of Roses, and they put the winner banner on him. They paraded by just feet from us. 

I ran to cash in my winnings - I bet $5 and got $77 back! Kris said he had a bunch of losing tickets, but he turned them in and got $55! Rondi and Andrea were up, too. Annie had tried some fancy bet, so even though she had placed some money on Sovereignty, it wasn't exactly right, and she didn't get money. She said she had to get better at gambling, and I laughed and told her it was all just luck, no sure way to win. I hadn't picked a winning horse in years.

After the Derby there are two more races, and this was interesting too, because everyone had left. There was trash all over the infield, and people had left their chairs and tarps behind. We were again right by the fence, and we watched our two last races, cheering all the way. 

We made our way out of the tunnel as it was getting dark. I was completely, totally satisfied. I told Kris, "I'd say that this day couldn't have gone better, but I guess the weather could have been better, but then - maybe we wouldn't be able to see as much. So this day couldn't have gone better!" Kris agreed.

I drove off the woman's lawn, and we went back to New Albany for dinner. We were a mess. My feet were dirty, our hair was messy, and we were happy as could be. We had great food (and yet another nice server) at Parlour Pizza, and then I got nice and clean again before falling into bed.

What a day, what an experience, what a race! This was truly one of the best days of my life.

 

 

  

Atlanta, GA work trip

I can't stay out of the Atlanta airport! I just can't get enough!

This time it was a direct flight from Grand Rapids to Atlanta, to go to a meeting for work.

I ubered directly to my meeting in the city, up in a pretty high rise, next to a pond with a waterfall, irises,  and a blue heron.

After our meeting, we went to dinner at Culinary Dropout with an outdoor patio, and that was nice.

We then went to a new place - new to me and new to our group of 26!

Game Show Battle Room.

It was run in a big room by two people - a cheesy host and a guy running the audio and visual. 

It combined different games - Family Feud, Blank Space, giant tic tac toe...and the Anderson Olympics!

Okay, they don't call it that, but years ago my mom and dad started a family Olympics at our house. Now many years later, I host it and it is A. Big. Deal. We do all sorts of activities, so when the host said the next games were bouncing pencils into a cup and flipping sand pails, I told my team, "I've been preparing my whole life for this."

The entire thing was so fun! Lights, music, and really enthusiastic team members made it even more of a blast!

We went to Jeni's Ice Cream afterward. I only had a small, but it was so filling that I had to walk around the hotel parking lot and skip breakfast the next morning!

We stayed at SpringHill Suites Perimeter Atlanta Center, and it was one million times nicer than the Super 8 Six Flags from my Africa trip. Please note a review written by someone else:

"Everything was horribly disgusting. I wish I could post photos that I took of the place. Please, tear down and rebuild. I do not recommend this hotel. The front desk person was sleeping on a sofa in the lobby."

Honestly SpringHill Suites was the exact opposite. Lovely, nice gym, nice little breakfast I didn't eat.

We spent the second day there in a meeting, and then when it was over, Jeanie, Zach, and I went for a walk around the pond. There was a spot where the sun was hitting another building and reflecting onto the ground. If you stood there, you felt like an ant under a microscope right before it sets on fire. It was amazing, this heat. Imagine the summer!  

We ubered back to the airport, and Jeanie had accidentally gotten a sedan. No big deal at all, but we were packed very close together and the traffic was incredible. We had a hilarious, hour-long conversation, and it was one of my favorite moments of the trip. Yes! In a small car in the Atlanta traffic!

Zach suggested we use the international terminal to check in, since it would be less busy. Walking in was a completely different experience than seeing it on the Africa trip. Where there had been hundreds of stressed out people in multiple lines, there was...only the people working there.

My coworker and I had a later flight than everyone else, so we ate burgers and had milkshakes at Bobby's Burger Palace. It wasn't our first choice, as we sat at a different restaurant for awhile but no one waited on us, but it turned out to be a great one. And so I left the Atlanta airport for the third time this year...so far!