Click on a label to read posts from that part of the world.
Great American road trip: Wisconsin curds and Georgia O'Keefe
Even when whizzing through a state on the way to somewhere else, it's possible to make observations. One can discover something new or remember a detail known, but forgotten.
As I am writing this, we are whizzing through Wisconsin on our way to Minneapolis after a night at La Quinta Inn in Madison. This is one leg of our road trip to Montana. No time on this leg for stops--except to pee and fill up on coffee and gas. We're on a schedule with people to visit by dinner.
Still, I want Wisconsin to have more impact than the breakfast we had this morning which was just like the breakfast we had at a La Quinta in Denver two summers ago.
La Quinta Inns might be the same everywhere, but I've noticed a difference in barns. In Ohio, where I live, most I've seen are white. In Wisconsin, red seems to be the most common. I've also thought about the cheese curds that I bought near Wisconsin Dells three years ago when we also took this route. We didn't have time to linger back then either.
At a rest area stop this afternoon, I picked up a brochure for Sun Prairie, the birthplace of Georgia O'Keefe. Sun Prairie is not far from where we are at the moment. Her grandparents who were Irish immigrants who settled here in 1848. O'Keefe was born in 1887 and grew up not far from her grandparent's farm. According to the brochure, O'Keefe's family's house burned down in 1976, but there is a historic marker in its place. The town also has celebrations in her honor.
As we're whizzing through Wisconsin, I'm noticing the scenery and can see why O'Keefe might have been attracted to New Mexico where she spent years painting the desert. Although Wisconsin's land is covered with green lushness, the shape is similar to many of the hills in the Southwest. There is a craggy quality. Peel off the trees and you could be at the back of the Sandia Mountains in Albuquerque. Wisconsin and New Mexico are like the yin and yang of landscape.
Years ago, a woman I knew who lived in Albuquerque said she was moving back to Wisconsin, her home state, because New Mexico was too frightening and harsh because of its lack of trees. Wisconsin is like a mother, she said-with fewer sharp edges.
I've heard people from the desert who live in the Midwest speak of feeling boxed in and smothered by trees. They miss the vistas.
As we flew by the Dells' exits, my son salivated over the water parks. Every hotel seemed to have one. "Can we come back sometime?" he wondered.
"Yeah, maybe."
He's heard a lot of maybes. Fortunately, hotel water parks are not particular to Wisconsin's scenery. I sure wish we had found the time, though, to stop for those cheese curds.
Filed under: Stories, Hotels and Accommodations, Transportation
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Andy Jul 11th 2008 12:23PM
Never thought I'd see Sun Prairie on a travel blog! I was born there but live in Seattle now. I still miss those cheese curds. Nothing like the fresh, squeeky ones.
Jamie Rhein Jul 11th 2008 1:14PM
Andy,
Seattle's a wonderful place--even without the cheese curds. I was there last summer.
With Gadling, no telling what will show up. I'm always surprised myself. That's the great thing about traveling. Who knows what tidbits one will come across? I loved going through Wisconsin and thinking of Georgia O' Keefe. Not quite what I thought I'd be thinking about.
Sun Prairie looks like it would be a good place to grow up.
Neil Stechschulte Jul 11th 2008 2:48PM
Thanks for the great comments. Sun Prairie is offering more and more to residents and visitors alike. I hope you get to stop next time through. If you do, check out www.visitsunprairie.com for a listing of what's going on. Let me know you're coming, drop me a note and I will have the cheese curds waiting for you!
Neil Stechschulte
Economic Development Coordinator
City of Sun Prairie, Wisconsin
cheesecurds Jul 14th 2008 12:48PM
You mentioned cheese curds. If they came from the "Cheese Curd Capital of Wisconsin" at Ellsworth Cooperative Creamery - then you had the BEST! The Governor of Wisconsin gave them that title! They are so squeaky good and are made from rBST free milk! Look at their web site about all the ways to enjoy cheese curds! And don't forget to microwave for 15 seconds to restore the squeaky freshness - plus the flavors burst when they are warm! YUM!
Their premium 100% All Natural Cheddar Cheese Curds are the color of fresh milk: White.
Question: “Did you ever drink a glass of orange milk?” Look for the white cheddar morsels!
www.ellsworthcheesecurds.com