Visiting Appleton and Chicago!

[Aquila]

I ride in Appleton when I go to visit family there. The roads are good (paved well), drivers pretty courteous out in the country (which takes a few minutes to get to, even from the center of town). There's also a bike trail near my brother's house, and probably more around town, but I haven't really explored them. Here's a site that you may find helpful: http://wibikeroutes.net/Wisconsin%20Bike%20Links.htm

But I probably wouldn't rent a bike if I were there just to ride. The one bike shop I know in town seems really friendly and well-equipped, and it looks like their website has information on local riding. (Wheel and Sprocket)

If you'll have a car, you might want to drive up towards Door County, which is beautiful.

If you like to hike, the Ice Age Trail isn't too far: http://www.iceagetrail.org/countyhike.htm, and that's way cool (at least what I've seen). There might also be trails along the Fox river. (Here's one I found.)

There are other things to do in Appleton, too. Last time I was there, we went to the Paper Discovery Museum and made paper (appropriate for kids and adults).

I can't think of why you'd want a wet suit there, though.

If you like birds, you're a couple hours (by car) from the Horicon Marsh or the Crane Foundation (One of the places that's trying to create a new Whooping Crane flock), and those are both interesting.

As for Chicago, it's a GREAT city, with so much to do! I've never ridden there, but the Art Institute is incredible, as is the Museum of Science and Technology (erm, I may have the name wrong). There's also a really good chocolate place right in that area... but I can't think of the name off hand, alas.

I hope you have a wonderful trip. If you have other questions, I'd be happy to try to answer, though I live on the other side of the state.

[Trigress]

I knew this was the right place to ask! Thanks a million!

I'll get back to this afternoon, it's morning here now, and I'm on my out to be a bike referee in a crit race, so I need to get back to you with more detailed questions!

Thanks, you're great!

[Brandi]

I used to spend my winter's there, in both cities. Gotta try the pizza in Chicago and the brats in Appleton. As far as what to do? Since I spent winter's there i could not say. But a wetsuit I [romise you won't need. And it rains a lot during the summer and can be hot. So dress light and bring a bathing suit.

[Thorn]

Gotta try the pizza in Chicago and the brats in Appleton.

Second the brat...Wisconsin brats are unique and not anything like their namesake the German bratwurst. As a vegetarian I broke my diet and ordered a bratwurst when I was on a business trip to Germany. Blah....bland and disgusting. A good Wisconsin brat is spicy.

Also, when in Wisconsin, you *must* stop at a custard stand. While you can now find custard stands outside the Midwest, we probably have more than most. Custard is really rich ice cream made with egg, made fresh every day. A good custard stand will only offer 3 flavors--vanilla, chocolate and some special flavor of the day.

[Trigress]

Good heavens. I'm running out of time!

Thanks a million for your advice, I certainly will take a pair of trekking shoes, and some cycling gear, and I think now that I will hire a car in Chicago and drive the scenic route to Appleton. You've changed my plans! I'm a bit worried about driving a car in the USA, but sometimes one simply has to take a step out of one's comfort zone...

I will check out the brats, the custard stand and the pizzas, and then I'll have to see what I can squeeze in the remaining days!

Thorn, when the departure is approaching, I'll get back to you on hiking trails, ok?

[Thorn]

No problem....I'll dig out my notes. Looking at Google's suggestion for riding between Chicago and Appleton some of the nicer trails are not very far off the route.

As for driving in the US, my German coworkers claimed it was trivial. In my area of the world, we dread driving to Chicago; the Germans couldn't understand that.

Compared to Europe, our roads are wide and straight--our cities are "new" and were mostly laid out on grid plans. The Germans other note was that on the freeway, they liked our road signs--they told you what road and the direction, not just the name of the city that is nearby.

That said, there is significant road construction coming out of Chicago. You can expect congestion until you are well into Wisconsin. Chicago is notorious for it.

[Aquila]

Some folks have mentioned food, so I have to put in a thumbs up for deep fried cheese curds in Wisconsin. Mmmmm, melty cheese! They go really well with Brats, too!

In my experience in Wisconsin, I find really good food at places way out in the middle of nowhere, and it's usually pretty cheap.