DAY TRIPPING IN MILWAUKEE

I haven't spent any time in Milwaukee of late, so I decided a day trip was in order. Unfortunately, Mother Nature elected to be bipolar with a high of 52°. Couple that with strong winds, and I was running more than walking.

My day began with a tour at Clock Shadow Creamery (http://bit.ly/1HyXJyj). The creamery is located in the Walker's Point district, and I took a stroll after to see what the area had to offer. I was happy to unearth some interesting street art and architecture.

Lunch was to be consumed at the Public Market, where my mind was spinning with indecisiveness. Ultimately, I picked a combo meal at Aladdin and did I choose wisely, because it really hit the spot. http://bit.ly/1Gtroym. Be sure to sip a coffee on the fabulous sidewalk patio at Colectivo across the street.

In my book, no trip to Milwaukee would be complete without a photo op with the Fonz. Ayyy.... 

Due to the weather, my time near the lake was brief; however, I was able to capture a pretty cool photo at the entrance of the fascinating Milwaukee Art Museum.

At last, my highly anticipated jaunt to Lakefront Brewery was about to begin. This delightful brewery earned its own special accolade http://bitly.com/1K6XCNq.

I was a bit discombobulated after exiting Lakefront, getting lost en route to Benelux, my dinner destination. I wound up having to dine at a place near the bus depot, which was nothing to write home about. Benelux will have to wait until next time.

Caught the rowing team in action

 

How gorgeous is this combination?

I look forward to a number of summer days in Milwaukee, and will be keeping an eye on this event schedule.  http://bit.ly/1dWM59D
 

MURALS AND MORE IN PLYMOUTH

Did someone say murals? The minute I heard that Plymouth had 20+ murals, a brewery AND award-winning pizza, I made plans for a road trip. I have never been to Plymouth and most likely never would have had I not heard about the murals. I realized what a foolish mistake that was the minute I arrived on Mill Street, the town's main thoroughfare.

Plymouth is one of the most aesthetically pleasing towns I have ever laid eyes on. It offers amazing architecture, eclectic shops, restaurants, an arts center, brewery, wine bar, and so much more. Interested in an extended visit? No problem, because there are numerous lodging options available.

Being the art fanatic that I am, I couldn't tear myself away from the walldog-style murals, because they are just that engaging and detailed. The art history dates back to 2011, when the downtown street lights went out, the projector lights came on, and 160 artists from around the globe created 21 murals here in just four days. Astounding!

The only disappointment from the day was that Plymouth Brewery wasn't open; however, I was still able to score one of their beers at Deo'Malley's Pizza Pub. I highly recommend devouring a pizza at this charming eatery. I chose to create my own cheese pie with perfect thin crust, broccoli and garlic. Yum!

The murals are located on Mill Street; however, some of them are harder to spot than others (I missed a couple). I suggest picking up a visitors guide at the Plymouth Chamber of Commerce, located at 647 Walton Dr. The chamber is open Monday through Friday from 9-4pm. Don't despair if you can't get there, because everyone in town was hospitable, including the lovely insurance agency that provided me with a guide.
 

Had I known this small town was so splendiferous, I would have blocked off more time to hang out. A return trip is definitely in order with plans to spend an entire weekend. Get Plymouth, WI on your bucket list and let me know when it's crossed off.

http://www.plymouthwisconsin.com/ 

 

I adore the artistic Little Free Libraries!

Even the 52 Stafford Hotel got in on a little mural fun.

Until next time Plymouth....

Where to Travel Memorial Day Weekend

Typically, I stick around the U.S. for Memorial Day weekend, participating in relaxation, picnics and smelling like charcoal. That's all going to change this year, as I will be hopping on a plane for something a bit more exotic. I can justify it, because I had to cancel my spring trip to Europe. I'm traveling to Mexico City for seven nights and I couldn't be more excited. After doing some research about what to see and do there, I have finally been able to move forward.

Mexico City!

Do you also have rituals that you follow over the holiday weekend? If you want to be adventurous or just get out of town, I found an excellent list of options to do just that. The list was put out by Lonely Planet and features the top 10 U.S. travel destinations for 2014. 

Take your pick!

The cities span from east to west and in between. I have been to five of these places and my top pick would be Kansas City. I went there last year on a whim, and it was one of the best trips of my life.

Even if you can't make it to any of these destinations over the holiday weekend, summer is right around the corner. Set the wheels in motion and go explore.

http://www.lonelyplanet.com/usa/great-plains/kansas-city/travel-tips-and-articles/top-10-us-travel-destinations-for-2014