Fall Color Trip to Geneva Lake, Wisconsin-- Part 2: Into the Town of Lake Geneva

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 23

Once you get to the town of Lake Geneva (the town is named Lake Geneva, the lake is Geneva Lake) Highway H is routed over to the US-12 expressway, but to continue on the original US-12, you continue north on Wells Street, past the high school.

Continuing, you will see a lot of motels (and some of them are very old ones).  This is not surprising as these motels were built for travelers and vacationers as the Lake Geneva has always been a favorite of people from Chicago.  You will also pass a great old sign advertising a cheese place.  And, there is a lot of color.

When Wells Street ends, you are at Wis. Highway 50, which is Lake Geneva's Main Street, turn left and now you drive through a great old bustling main street.  All stores are occupied and lots of shoppers, but here in October nowhere near as busy as it is in the summer.  Parking is at a premium in the summer.  (parking is $2 an hour)

Just, keep a close eye on what lane you need to be in as it is somewhat confusing as to where you should be.

A nice side trip here is to turn at the last stop light before the beach and library and take a drive down by the lake, Riviera Docks and Popeye's, a popular eatery right across from the Riviera featuring rotisserie chicken and one of the best fish fried in Wisconsin on Fridays.

--RoadDog

Fall Color Trip Around Geneva Lake, Oct. 23-- Part 1: To Wisconsin

This past Wednesday, we took advantage of a sunny day and drove up to one of our favorite places to see fall tree color, and that is Geneva Lake in Wisconsin, about twenty miles from our house.  We hadn't driven it for a few years and I have noticed that our trees here in Spring Grove and our subdivision were finally starting their fall change to color.

Drove through our subdivision for that color and then took US Highway 12 to Richmond. North of that village, we stopped at the fairly new Mobil station.  This is not one of your average convenience store gas stations as it has a regular restaurant and a deli selling Boars Head meats, some of the best anywhere around.

Plus,their gas was $2.40 whereas in Spring Grove it is $2.80 because of our Gov. Toilets' doubling of the Illinois gas tax.

Instead of taking the US-12 expressway to Lake Geneva, we continued on what became Highway H into Wisconsin and through Genoa City.  Highway H used to be the original US-12 before the expressway was built and it is a pretty drive with color from trees as well.

--RoadDog

Midwest Fall Foliage Trip: Great River Road at Mississippi Palisades State Park

By Robert Duffer.

This is one we've driven on many occasions and a great drive it is.

Starting at Galena, Illinois, Illinois' Great River Road hugs the Mississippi River south for 550 miles of bluffs and riverside stops that can rouse the ghost of Mark Twain.  Head south on Illinois Highway 84 through Savanna, in an area around the Mississippi Palisades  State Park, where eagles soar and a lazy road winds around the lazy river under the bluffs and along waysides..(Galena, however, is not actually on the Mississippi River, but the Apple River, a tributary.)

A drive up on the bluffs there affords great views of the river and Iowa. He recommends a drive south to the Quad-Cities.

Both sides of the river afford great views and vistas.  We like to cross the Mississippi at Dubuque, Iowa, and drive down the Iowa side to the Quad-Cities, always with a stop at beautiful Clinton, Iowa.

Mighty Pretty Driving.  --RoadDog

Midwest Fall Foliage Road Trip-- Part 5: Parke County, Indiana, Covered Bridges

By Casey Williams.

This is one I plan on going to at some point, maybe even this year, but I hear it gets quite crowded, especially on the weekends.  Fortunately, being retired, we can do it during the week.

Maybe not quite the Bridges of Madison County, but Indiana's Parke County offers a beautiful fall drive to see 32 covered bridges of all shapes and sizes.  Begin at the visitor's center in Rockville, Indiana, about an hour's drive west of Indianapolis on U.S.-36 (Rockville Road).

From there, maps will guide you through curved, tree-covered roads and stretches between harvest fields.

Time it through October 19 to attend the Covered Bridge Festival (Oops, missed that one), with its seasonal food, arts and crafts.  The inn at Turkey Run State Park is a good place for dinner-- or for the night.

Go north on US-41 for continued scenery.

Gotta Go There.  --RoadDog

Midwest Fall Foliage Road Trip-- Part 4: Shawnee Hills Wine Trail

By Robert Duffer.

This one goes all the way to the southern tip of Illinois.

In the Shawnee National Forest, near the confluence of the Ohio and Mississippi rivers in the southern tip of the state, the Shawnee Hills Wine Trail winds south of Carbondale (Home of Southern Illinois University and a wild Halloween party).

Take I-57 from Chicago and consider picking up off the Great River Road (Ill-3) along the Mississippi, then head east on Town Creek Road over the Big Muddy River to Route 127, where the trail begins.  Two-lane roads will take you to a dozen wineries.  Along the way, places like the Little Grand Canyon and Jackson Falls are treasures

Wine and Scenery.  Sounds Like a Winner, Just Don't Taste Test Too Much.  --RoadDog

Finally, Decent Weather: Boating and Driving for Color

If anything can be said about this year's fall, it is that the weather has been exceedingly crummy.  Almost all extreme cold, rain and bluster.

However, today looks to be a good one with nothing but blue skies and sun today and temps near 60 degrees.

A perfect day for a boat cruise around Fox Lake and then an auto trip to Lake Geneva, Wisconsin along US-12 for a while and then through Genoa City at the Illinois-Wisconsin border and Highway H, the original US-12 to Lake Geneva.

We then drive around Geneva Lake and have some great spots we know about for color, and, of course, the old Owl Bar.  The to Fontana, Wisconsin, and the historic old Abbey Resort and those beautiful vistas.  Then to Williams Bay and then a drive along the shores of Lake Como and then Snake Road, which is on the list of Wisconsin Rustic Roads and about the prettiest 3-mile drive you can imagine.

Last stop will be at Popeye's for dinner right on the shore of Geneva Lake across from the Riviera Docks.

Color Here We Come.  --RoadDog

Midwest Fall Foliage Trip-- Part 3: East to Gilmore Car Museum, Michigan

By Jerry King, Tribune Autos contributor.

Admittedly, much of this drive around the southern tip of Lake Michigan is about the destination, but it offers plenty of opportunity to check out the "other" side of the lake before winter.

Reaching Hickory Corners in Michigan is a pleasant journey once you've gotten Interstate 94 in favor of quieter roads beyond Kalamazoo.  The two-lane road then twists and turns through forested areas.  The area still has a rugged, old-fashioned, vacation feel to it.  You wonder what is around the next bend.

Then you get to the 90-acre Gilmore Car Museum.  It is home to 115-years of automotive history.

There is a Spooktacular auto event planned for October 29 at Gilmore.

Sounds Like an Interesting Drive and Museum.  --RoadDog

Heading Back to DeKalb in a Bit

We're going to another NIU football game in DeKalb in some really crummy weather this time.  Last Saturday we had perfect football weather and enjoyed viewing the foliage as the trees were just starting the Big Color Blast.  It's all overcast and drizzly today, so that will definitely take away from the enjoyment of seeing the trees.

As the holders of a scholarship to Northern for education students while student teaching, we are invited once a year to the President's Reception at the Barsema Alumni Center and that comes with parking there, food and drinks and a chance to meet and greet President Doug Baker.

Then, we have prime seats at the game right by midfield and with regular seats.  But, watching football outside in the cold and the rain is not one of my favorite things to do.  We'll have to see.

Rah, Rah, Ras.  --RoadDog

Fall Foliage Road Trip-- Part 2: North (from Chicago): Wisconsin and Mississippi Rivers

By Rick Popely, Chicago Tribune autos contributor.

Wisconsin Route 60 west of Madison winds along the north bank of the Wisconsin River through gently rolling hills, wooded areas and interesting towns like Spring Green.  There are apple orchards and organic farms selling locally-grown food.

Wi-60 ends at Prairie du Chein (and the site of Wisconsin's only War of 1812 battle) on the Mississippi River, about 100 miles from Madison.

Side trip along the Mississippi River from Prairie du Chien to La Crosse on Wi-35 and then.  Popely says there are plenty of scenic views of the Mississippi as well as many independent restaurants on this drive.  On return, go south on the Minnesota side and to Iowa-26 to Prairie du Chien, cross back to Wisconsin and take US-18 to U.S. 61 to Dubuque and then US-20 to Galena, Illiinois to Rockford.

Anyone who thinks Illinois is all flat needs to drive from Dubuque to Freeport, Illinois.

From Chicago to Prairie du Chien will take about five hours and cover 267 miles.

Great Fall Color. --RoadDog

Midwest Fall Foliage Road Trips-- Part 1: Five Favorites

From the October 12, 2014, Chicago Tribune.

"It's time to roll out the crockpots, wool socks and hoodies, but there's time enough to get out and enjoy the autumn splendor before construction season falls into winter.  Midwestern forests make for great scenic driving on uncrowded roads undulating through bluffs and dells, past single-light small towns and alongside rivers of all sizes.

"While destinations like Door County, Wis., Starved Rock State Park, Il., and shorelines elsewhere on Lake Michigan remain popular, we came up with a lost of drives worth the destination.  In most cases, until teleportation becomes possible, you'll have to flee the city via interstate construction zones to get to our favorites."

And, believe me, the "Color Wave" has arrived here along the Wisconsin-Illinois border.  The Tribune had four writers give their five fav drives.

In a few minutes, we'll drive on a very short one about ten miles to Twin Lakes, Wisconsin, taking Johnsburg Road, which becomes Wilmot Road into Wisconsin and then a few others to Twin lakes.  This is always a pretty drive, especially the hill going down to US-12 and past the Chain of Lakes State Park.

Looking Forward to Seeing the Color.  --RoadDog

It's NIU Homecoming 2014-- Part 1: The Ol' Pumpkin Trail

OCTOBER 11, 2014

We left home at about 11:15 and drove the usual, avoid Huntley if you can) way so out to Il-120 to Il-47 to Il-176 to Il-23.

This is big-time fall fest here in northern Illinois.  We passed two huge agri-business places, each with several hundred cars parked out in grass-covered parking lots.  The first one was Stade's, about two miles from us.  Then there was a small one just south of Woodstock on Il-47 and another big one on Il-176 heading for Marengo.

Along with these big places, quite a few farmers had pumpkins for sale by their places.

Trees are starting to turn colors and some of the maples are just brilliant.  I'm figuring next week should be prime time.

We stopped at Wal-Mart in DeKalb and bought some NIU souvenirs and a black sweatshirt as the alumni are pushing a black-out where everyone wears black and i don't have a black sweatshirt.

The weather is absolutely beautiful today, a perfect day for a football game.

Go You Huskies!!  --RoadDog

The Color Around Here Finally Arrived

This has been quite a strange fall as far as the color of the leaves is concerned. Some trees already turned and are bare, still others haven't even started to turn yet. However, the mass of them are now in full color. I read in the Tribune that the warm fall in the early going delayed the turning. And, we did have a spell of frost in the mornings. That always brings it on.

This is at least two weeks after when it usually happens, but tomorrow we plan to take full advantage of it and take a cruise through the countryside. And, after all, Da Bears don't play until Monday night.

Our subdivision is beautiful, plus Grasslake Road from State Park Road to the bridge is amazing.

I'd say Geneva Lake is in the plans for this coming week.

Enjoying It While We Can. --RoadDog

Still No Major Color Around Wisconsin's Geneva Lake

Yesterday, we took another drive around Geneva Lake (most folk refer to it as Lake Geneva, but the real name is Geneva Lake). We did a reverse drive, north side first and then south. Sadly, there were spots of color, but no major jaw-dropping ones, just like when we did it two weeks ago before the NIU Homecoming game. Always a pretty drive, though.

Drove around the residential area just west of downtown Lake Geneva (this is the correct name of the town and what gets folks confused about the lake name) and then, of course, that Wisconsin Rustic Road to beat all Rustic Roads, Snake Road. I don't know how you get a prettier three mile stretch of driving than this.

Then through lakeside areas of Williams Bay and into Delavan where we stopped at the Abbey Resort for a walk-around. Then, it was the North Lake Shore Drive back to Lake Geneva.

Like I said, there were a few spots of color, but not much.

Gas in Lake Geneva was $3.26 and $3.20 in Delavan.

Maybe Next Week? --RoadDog

Where Folks Head For Their Fall Road Trips

From the Fall 2012 Allstate Motor Club Drivetime News.

Trip Advisor's Top Five fall activities.

1.  39%  View colorful fall foliage

2.  26%  Go wine tasting/visit vineyard

3.  22%  Go to a state/county fair or fall festival

4.  20%  Attend a football game/collegiate homecoming

5.  20%  Go to a food festival

Well, Liz and I did take our annual drive around Wisconsin's Geneva Lake (Lake Geneva as most call it) for the color.

And, I did go to four high school football games.  Liz and I went to four Northern Illinois games, two of which we actually attended in the stadium, the other two enjoying it outside the stadium and in a bar in Dekalb.

Best Watch Out for Those Wine Tasters on Those Colorful Roads.  --RoadDog

Hitting the Road Around Here for Color-- Part 1

From the October 2nd Chicago Tribune "Hit the road for dashes of color" by Lisa Davis.

I really enjoyed this article and pictures since much of her journey was through area we are well familiar with.

Ms. Davis begins her trip on Illinois Highway 31 heading north through McHenry County (where we live). On several occasions, you see the Fox River. She suggests a stop at Glacier Park,south of Richmond and another one for sweets at Anderson's Candy Shop on Main Street, US-12, in the village. Plus, there is Doyle's located in the old mill.

In Richmond, go west on Il-173 (173rd Airborne Road) and west to Hebron. She didn't mention it, but there is the water tower painted like a basketball honoring the 1952 Illinois state basketball champions as well as the backboards at several spots also honoring them.

From Hebron, continue north on Il-47 into Wisconsin and then Wi-120 into Lake Geneva where she suggest an overnight at the restored 1800s Queen Anne-style mansion called the Baker House.

More to Come. --RoadDog

Too Late Now, Maybe Next Year: Ten Must-See Fall Festivals-- Part 1

From the August 3, 2011 Main Street Site by Kerri Fivecoat-Campbell. Photos and more information in article. Wish I had seen it earlier. Dates are when held this year.My comments.

1. COLUMBUS OCTOBERFEST-- Columbus, Ohio-- Sept. 23-25-- Right up my alley. Beer and OOMPAH MUSIC!!

2. FALL FOLIAGE FESTIVAL-- Bedford, Pa.-- 1st two weekends October-- We spend lots of time on Fall Color Patrol.

3. LOVEVOLUTION-- San Francisco-- September 24-- A huge parade and dance. Looking at the performers, I don't think I'd go to this one. More for young folks. Now, if this was a trip back to 1967, I probably would.

4. BOOMSDAY-- Knoxville, Tn.-- Sept. 4-- Biggest fireworks display in the southeast. Maybe see a UT game as well. I love my fireworks.

5. AUTUMN CRAFT FESTIVAL-- Meredith, NH-- Oct. 1-2-- I have to avoid craft fairs. Too many temptations and I've run out of places to put 'em unless we move to a larger house.

More to Come. Sure Sorry I Missed These (Well, Some of Them). --RoadDog

Ten Towns for Fall Color

From the October 11th Yahoo! travel "Ten Fantastic Towns for Fall Color" by Christine Sarkis.

The past several days, we have been out looking for fall color around northeast Illinois and yesterday we drove around Geneva Lake, Wisconsin, looking for it. That would be the town of Lake Geneva. Our conclusion is that there is some color, but peak foliage should be next week.

JIM THORPE, PA.-- In the Poconos. Peak Oct. 12th.
SEDONA, AZ-- 2 hours north of Phoenix. Peak mid-October.

STOCKHOLM, WIS.-- On the Mississippi River, 70 miles from Minneapolis. Peak mid-October.
WOODSTOCK, VT.-- Peak Oct. 1st to 15th.

JASPER, ARK.-- Ozarks. Peak Oct. 15th to Nov. 15th.
HOOD RIVER, OR.-- Columbia River Gorge. Peak early to mid-October.

STOCKBRIDGE, MASS.-- Norman Rockwell called it the "Best of New England." October.
FAYETTEVILLE, WV-- Late October.

MUNISING, MI.-- Upper Peninsula. Peak late September to mid-October.
JULIAN, CA.-- An hour from San Diego. Peak September to October.

Love That Fall. --RoadDog

The Tree's Have Started Changin'

I've been enjoying the trees here in northern Illinois as they have really started to change. My birch and honeylocusts are gold right now. Sugar maples are also starting to change.

Plus, we finally got that summer-like weather that we've been expecting. Temps have been in the 70s this week and up to the 80s for the weekend. Been boating every day since Saturday.

Tomorrow, we drive to Dekalb, Illinois, for the Northern Illinois-Kent State game and hope to see color along the way. The old part of Dekalb, just east of campus where one of the old Delta Sig houses was located, Augusta Avenue, has trees that always turn a striking yellow.

Some of the trees along the Chain of Lakes are also changing, but most haven't.

Got in the mood yesterday and put up the Halloween lights and last night, the tarantulas came out for Liz's 'puter. And, of course, the witch with the moving stalk eyes that laughs and cackles, "I'm going to get you my little sweetie!"

Can the Smell of Burning Leaves Be Far Off? --RoadDog

If This Don't Get You Into a Fall Mood, Nothing Will-- Part 1

Yesterday, on our way back from Crystal Lake, Illinois, Liz and I stopped at the Greenhouse, a great name for a nursery, and it was in full fall splendor. Besides being set in the woods, the place was literally overrun with mums of every hue, pumpkins with that vibrant orange and corn shocks.

We've driven by the place many times, but never stopped. Been meaning to, but just haven't. If for no other reason, they have two Muffler Men and you don't often get to see two of them in one place.

I walked around and took lots and lots of pictures. Just about everywhere I looked, there was a really fine frame for a great shot. And, they had a special on where any pumpkin cost $3.95 and they had some mighty big ones.

Well worth a stop if you're on Illinois Highway 31 between McHenry and Crystal Lake. For that matter, stop at your own local nursery.

It's a Fall Thing, You can Really Smell Those Burning Leaves If You're Lucky Enough to be in a Place Where You Can Still Burn 'Em. --RoadDog

In Cheesehead Land-- Part 3

Drove through some of the back streets of Williams Bay and past the Yerkes Observatory. This place was built in 1893, founded by George Ellery Hale and funded by Charles P. Yerkes. It calls itself the birthplace of modern astrophysics. Lots of yellows.

Drove along the south shore of Lake Como. Always a pretty drive, but not much color.

Coming off the lake drive, we drove Snake Road, one of Wisconsin's Rustic Roads. This is one of the best drives anywhere, cruising 2.7 miles on a winding country road through the woods, pastures, fences, and a fair amount of color. If you don't visit any other place in the Lake Geneva area, this would be the place. Absolutely gorgeous. This is off Wis. Hwy-50 west of Lake Geneva.

Lastly, we drove along the residential streets to the west of town. These older homes, most dating back to the late 1800s/early 1900s, are kept up and then there are the trees, which always provide some of the best color anywhere.

We then got on US-12 and took it to Elkhorn, where we caught I-43 toward Mukwonago.

Always a Great Drive, and, So Near. --RoadDog