A week in the Midwest

[DakotaHawk]

My son and I will be making the trek to Oshkosh in a couple of weeks. We have things scheduled for a long and leisurely cross country trip. At this point, we're planning for a week at the Arlington Flyin, then a week of family reunion in Utah. Then a full week before Oshkosh begins.

So we're looking for interesting activities between Provo Utah and Oshkosh. Museums, parks, events, etc are all on the docket. We have a full week to fill!

[BuckWynd]

Scott,

To get you started, I'll make a suggestion for your last stop before Oshkosh. Poplar Grove Airport (C77) in northern Illinois is located exactly 100 NM from OSH, an easy and comfortable distance that will allow you to arrive with plenty of fuel for contingencies and the usual Oshkosh arrival procedures. We are a regular stop for many airplanes making the trip.

The FBO on the field is friendly, and on the field you'll find a wide variety of vintage, classic, and homebuilt airplanes. There's almost always something interesting in the pattern. The atmosphere is laid back and picture-postcard beautiful.

On the north side is the Vintage Wings and Wheels Museum, open every day except Sunday. Check the operating times. The museum will easily fill an hour or two of your day. You can taxi right to it.

In addition to the 3800' paved runway, there are two long, wide grass runways. There's a lake near the runway where you can dip your toes if you want. Or you can have a picnic on a covered patio near the museum while watching planes come and go.

I'm not going to be around during the last week before Oshkosh, or I'd offer to show you around and drive you to town for lunch. But have fun on your trip, wherever you go!

[Ron Lee]

Wyoming: Yellowstone and Grand Tetons NP, Devil's Tower

SD: Mount Rushmore

Colorado: Leadville, Rocky Mtn NP

Utah: Arches, Canyonlands, Capitol Reef, Zion and Bryce Canyon NPs

AZ: Grand Canyon, meteor crater

[DakotaHawk]

Wyoming: Yellowstone and Grand Tetons NP, Devil's Tower

SD: Mount Rushmore

Colorado: Leadville, Rocky Mtn NP

Utah: Arches, Canyonlands, Capitol Reef, Zion and Bryce Canyon NPs

AZ: Grand Canyon, meteor crater

OK, that covers the first afternoon - I still have a couple more days to fill!

[jetjok]

Originally Posted by DakotaHawk

OK, that covers the first afternoon - I still have a couple more days to fill!

You said activities, not places to fly over and keep going!!
If you decide to see Mt. Rushmore, then land at Custer Co. (http://www.airnav.com/airport/KCUT) and rent a car (pretty cheap). Make sure that you check in with airport manager as he is a really friendly guy and is restoring a Stinson 108.
Anyway, the drive to Mt. Rushmore is about 40 minutes, but you will need to also plan an hour to check out the Crazy Horse memorial too!
Hope you and your boy have a fantastic trip!!

[TThurston]

While you're in Provo, a really good activity would be invite some local pilots interested in RV's to stop by the airport and see your plane, and give them all rides. Doesn't that sound like a good idea? Why bother spending time with your family at a family reunion? By the way, I happen to live only 20 minutes from the airport.

On a serious note, if your family doesn't already have complete plans for your time in Provo, there are great places to hike in the mountains around Mt Timpanogos. The Stewart Falls hike from Aspen Grove is not too strenuous. Yesterday I was on that trail, and saw lots of families. For more strenuous hiking, you can try the Timp summit trail from either Aspen Grove or Timpooneke. We talked to the rangers yesterday, and they said the trail was open all the way to the summit (11,750 MSL). Just be careful on the snow fields you encounter. It's about a 5000' vertical climb from either trailhead, so count on an all day hike. Of course, you can turn around at any point.

You might consider the Museum of Ancient Life at Thanksgiving Point (20 minutes north of Provo along I-15). It's a fabulous dinosaur museum, and I think it's pretty neat for all ages.

Enjoy your trip!

[Transporter]

Scott,
Some other attractions worth a stop in the Midwest:

Hutchinson, KS:
The Kansas Cosmosphere and Space Center. As the name implies, all about space. See: http://www.cosmo.org/

St Joseph, MO:
Pony Express Museum: See http://www.ponyexpress.org/

Kansas City:
The National WWI Museum. Everything WWI and the war era (poetry, music, etc.).

See: http://www.theworldwar.org/s/110/new...community.aspx

Steamboat Arabia Museum: Artifacts from a sunken 1856 steamboat. See http://www.1856.com/

The Nelson Atkins Museum of Art. See: http://www.nelson-atkins.org/

Some great food in town, especially BBQ.

If you decide to stop here, I highly recommend my home field (Lees Summit (KLXT)). Send me an email and I'll try to reserve a free space in one of our EAA hangers.

Good luck,
Mike

[John Tierney]

Closer to OSH there is the "Water Park Capitol of the World" in Wisconsin Dells. Fly in to Baraboo, WI.

The south shore of Lake Superior in northern WI is scenic, as well as the north woods. The Apostle Islands are located north of Ashland, WI and JFK Memorial Airport (have not landed there but Airnav comments are favorable). There is an airport on Madeline Island, but it is remote. I've stayed at the Telemark Lodge in Cable, WI (airport on site) in the past, but it looks like the lodge is closed and they are only renting condo units.

Here are some links:
http://www.wisdells.com/
http://www.flybdfc.com/
http://www.ci.ashland.wi.us/list/9
http://www.telemarkresort.com/

[Ron Lee]

Scene of John Wayne movies

http://www.gouldings.com/

Airport on site

http://www.airnav.com/airport/UT25