ROUTE: Coming from Cedar Rapids, Iowa, we take Hwy 151 north through Dubuque, crossing at the spectacular bridge there. we continue on 151 to Madison (half-way point) and catch I-90/94 north. About 40 minutes north of Madison, exit to Hwy 51/39 from I-90/94 at Portage/Baraboo, and we follow 51 north straight on to Minocqua! Drive north through town and take 70 West past Trig's (best grocery store) and Black Bear... then look for Squirrel Lake Road on your left (the brown Schneider's Pottery signals the wide turn. Follow Squirrel Lake Road a little over 7 miles and look for a LOT of white arrows at Carter Road, on your right. We're the only drive on your right off Carter - turn before the mailboxes. If you're watching the lake too hard, you'll miss it!

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TIME: Be aware: the trip is between 6 and 7 hours from CR, depending on stops and weather. We figure on needing a day to fully arrive mentally and physically, but that's just us – so we tend to avoid the 3-day turnaround.

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AMENITIES: Wisconsin has a lot invested in tourism, so generally, the rest stops, gas stations and roads are pretty good. Enjoy smaller roads if you want to find new ways around Madison's six-lane roads: discover Lodi or visit Taliesen; Mt. Horeb has a Mustard Museum as well as a Duluth Trading Post outlet! A bonus to side trips is discovery of great produce stands and cheese shops in some of the nearby towns. Roadside wonders can still be found: spot the ginseng farm, and  the UW test plots; what's growing in the commercial fields around Oxford? Any crop dusters in action? See the Circus Museum or sandhill cranes in Baraboo. Wausau's an exciting city, and the gateway east to Packerland and Door County. When you pass pretty Tomahawk and Merrill, you're on the home stretch! Patience, because time slows down with the speed limit, but you can enjoy gorgeous glimpses of blue lakes and beautiful forests. We're sure it's worth it!