Trip Across The Country - Part 2

Day 2:  PENNSYLVANIA - OHIO 

Having already visited PA, we didn't stop for that state sign, but here we are in Ohio:

We stopped for several hours in Kirtland, Ohio, to see the Temple and many other church historical sites.

DAY 3: INDIANA - ILLINOIS 

 Sadly, we were unable to capture the Illinois state sign, as it's location was too dangerous to justify putting our family at risk for a photo (the ONLY state sign we couldn't get!)...but here's our little car saying we made it, and here we are in our hotel in Joliet.

Days 4-5: WISCONSIN

Can you see that Wisconsin sign, way off in the distance, between Angel and Grins?

Wisconsin was one of the highlights of our trip!!!  If that sounds unlikely to you (as it did to me, prior to planning our trip), you must be unfamiliar with Wisconsin Dells, the WATERPARK CAPITAL of the WORLD!!!

We decided to make the most of it, so we spent not one but TWO days at Mount Olympus - The World's Largest Theme Park and Water Park Resort!  We were grateful we had selected a park with an indoor theme park and water park, when it was pouring rain the entire first day! :)  Fortunately, we spent the day on indoor rides and slides.  The second day was hot and sunny, so we took advantage of the many, many pools, waterslides, and outdoor theme park rides!  It was SO much fun!!!

This was hilarious!!  There is a ride called "The Drop" that Wiggles really wanted to go on.  Angel and Grins had been on a similar ride previously and hated it, so they both refused to go, and kept telling Wiggles "It's scary! Don't go!".  Still, she wanted to try it - and adults weren't allowed, so she went on it alone.  The result was SO entertaining, as you can see on the video!

 OK, I know it was sad :( but it's funny now, because we all laughed about it later, Wiggles included! :)  Here's her reaction at the end:

Here were a couple of her favorite rides, that she DID enjoy:

All 3 kids thought the go karts were AMAZING!  I remember LOVING them as a kid too - it's so empowering to be able to drive a car all by yourself at that age!

The airplanes were another favorite!

The "kiddie coaster" was just their speed!  I kept trying to get them to go on some more 'exciting' rides with me (and Grins did try one!), but my safe-loving children were happiest on the kid rides, and that's just fine with me! :)  Hopefully they will keep that sense of caution throughout their teenage years! :)  And yes - Wiggles is wearing her pajamas, as her clothing got too wet at the water park. :)

The lazy river was one of Angel's FAVORITES!  She could have gone around and around all day long!

We make it a point to try "local" or cultural food that is customary in the place we are visiting. (e.g. ShooFly Pie in PA, etc).  So we decided to try a funnel cake at Mt. Olympus - and it did not disappoint!  (Well, it did disappoint us with how quickly it disappeared, but I guess it didn't stand a chance against 5 hungry mouths!) :)

All in all, our visit was a HUGE success, and definitely one of the highlights of our trip!  It was with heavy hearts that we got back into the car at the end of the second day, and headed west, leaving Wisconsin behind.