On Wisconsin!

Our next planned state to visit this year was Wisconsin. For the next 13 days we will explore the 'Land of Cheese'. After departing the Great Lakes Naval Station we traveled north to a Fond Du Lac County Park on the east shore of Lake Winnebago. Winnebago is originally an Indigenous Siouan-speaking tribe native to Wisconsin and Nebraska. The name itself stems from an Algonkian/Fox term loosely translating to "people of the dirty water" (referring to the fish-clogged waters of the Fox River).

Upon the first view of this massive lake we could understand the name. From a distance we thought we were looking at land, not water, and once we arrived at the 19-acre Columbia Park we were greeted by a seasonal pest and most unwelcome occupant; lake flies.

Lake flies (chironomid midges) swarm around Lake Winnebago in massive hatches. While harmless—they do not bite or sting—they are considered an annoying nuisance because they coat homes, vehicles, and sidewalks. They typically last only for a few weeks starting around Mother's Day. When they emerge to create mating swarms, adults live for only 3 – 11 days. Since they do not have functional mouth parts, the adults do not bite or even eat! The location and size of swarms are highly dependent on the wind, and are often concentrated in areas that contrast with the background.

We had no idea we booked this RV site during the annual swarm so we asked the RV Host if we could cancel and change to another county park in their system. They were very understanding and helped us arrange a change to Waupun County Park instead. Thank goodness they were able to accommodate us and arrange this other location.

Waupun County Park is the second largest county park at 103 acres. The park contains a wooded public campground with 38 single sites as well as a group area. Campground amenities include electrical hookups at each site, campground restrooms and showers and a dump station. Other facilities include playground equipment, two open-air picnic shelters, one enclosed shelter, and a disc golf course.

When we arrived on Wednesday, May 13 there were only four other campers in the park. We were located in a pull through site with 50Amp service in the back loop with privacy and quiet for the next 5 days AND NO LAKE FLIES!

While in the area I contacted Great Lakes District - Western Region of the Coast Guard, Flotilla 47-01 in Fond Du Lac and met their Vice Flotilla Commander Bob Parish. We got together for coffee and talked about their unit and if I could help out while in their neighborhood. He told me that they had a vessel examination event on Saturday, May 16 to kick off National Safe Boating Week in Manitowoc and I could join them. While I was doing Coast Guard vessel exams at the marina Karen went swimming at the YMCA, checked out the farmers market and looked for thrift stores.

I enjoyed our time in Waupun so much I booked another 7 days for later in July to return for the annual Experimental Aircraft Association AirVenture event. EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2026 runs from July 20 to 26, 2026, at Wittman Regional Airport in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. Located just about an hour's drive north of Beaver Dam, this massive, week-long convention features daily air shows, night air displays, aircraft exhibitions, and thousands of show planes. We are looking into volunteering during the event in Oshkosh.

We had to get into the right cheese sampling mode and tried on the Cheesehead attire.

On Tuesday, May 19 we packed up the rig and started a journey on to Sheboygan, WI. En route we stopped in the Cheese Capital of the World; Plymouth, WI to try some of their special cheeses. It’s true! More than 14% of the cheese consumed in the United States goes through Plymouth, Wisconsin in Sheboygan County. Cheese makers began popping up in and around the young city in the mid 19th century and in 1918 Plymouth was the location of the National Cheese Exchange, which set the commodity price of bulk cheese, a pretty big deal in the state known for its dairy products. Today it is home to some of the biggest cheese brands: Sargento, Sartori, Masters Gallery and Great Lakes Cheese.

Our reservation was at Kohler-Andrae State Park in Sheboygan. The camping fee was expensive for non-residents and after paying for your campsite they tack on an additional "park pass". Our two nights here was $153 total for electric only. Kohler-Andrae State Park in Sheboygan is the home of majestic sand dunes, miles of golden beaches, shimmering blue Lake Michigan water, whispering pines, an abundance of wildlife and recreational activities.

It was fun to explore the bike trails throughout the park.

Another stunning view of Lake Michigan.

We drove in to explore the city of Sheboygan and found the Blue Harbor Resort located on Lake Michigan at the mouth of the Sheboygan River on the C. Reiss Coal Peninsula. The peninsula had formerly been used for coal storage. The property was razed and was developed into the South Pier District. This beautiful resort was built by Madison-based Great Wolf Resorts and the 182-room resort opened in 2004. We ended up walking across the street to the Eb' n' Flo coffee house along the marina. We found an excellent latte and scone!

We strolled into the main lobby to check it out.

Sheboygan, Wisconsin, is a vibrant industrial and recreational hub located on the shores of Lake Michigan, roughly 50 miles north of Milwaukee. Known as the "Malibu of the Midwest" for its freshwater surfing and the "Bratwurst Capital of the World," the city combines scenic beaches with a rich manufacturing and immigrant heritage.

Two recommendation on the RV LIFE Trip Wizard suggested we patronize the Parkside Restaurant nearby the campground. We did and had incredibly friendly service, reasonably priced and tasty fresh food. We also checked out Miesfeld Meat Market.

Miesfeld’s Triangle Market is a family-owned and operated meat market located in Sheboygan, Wisconsin since 1941. It's the home of Award-Winning Bratwurst with over 25 unique flavors, including their award-winning Grand Champion bratwurst. We purchased some, of course, along with other unique meat products including Braunschweiger with horseradish. Braunschweiger is a type of smoked, spreadable liver sausage originating from Braunschweig, Germany, made from pork liver, pork trim, and seasonings, often with a smooth, pâté-like texture. In the U.S., it's a popular deli meat, commonly served sliced on sandwiches with mustard and pickles, spread on crackers, or used in dips and pâtés, and is a good source of iron, vitamin A, and protein.

After 2 days in Sheboygan we journeyed south of Milwaukee to Cliffside County Park in Racine. This lovely campground was a bargain at $87 for the two night stay. It is conveniently located between Milwaukee and Chicago. Access to Lake Michigan is less than 20 minutes away. This area had an extensive bike trail parallel to the railroad line all the way into Racine so riding our bikes became the way to get around.

Racine, Wisconsin is primarily known as the Kringle capital of the world, a major industrial manufacturing hub, and the home of stunning Lake Michigan beaches. Located just 30 miles south of Milwaukee, it boasts a rich history of famous inventions and architectural landmarks.

Kringle is a rich, flaky, Danish pastry made from 36 layers of buttery dough, filled with fruit or nuts, and often shaped into an oval or ring and topped with icing. Originating in Northern Europe, it became a Wisconsin tradition after Danish immigrants settled in Racine, which is now known as the "Kringle Capital" and officially designated it as the state pastry. Popular fillings include almond, raspberry, pecan, and cream cheese.

On Friday, May 22 we returned north to the Wisconsin State Fair RV Park in Milwaukee for a three day stay. After arriving and setting up we once again took our bikes off and rode the Hank Aaron bike trail all the way into Milwaukee. We rode by American Family Field, a retractable-roof stadium where the Milwaukee Brewers play their home games. From there we continued on to the Harley-Davidson Museum near the downtown. The entire trip was about 14 miles total by the time we returned to the RV.

We walked across the street from the State Fairgrounds to eat at Liquid Johnnys and find out about their shuttle service to the ballpark. Just buy a meal and a drink and they give you a wrist band to take the shuttle to the game. So after lunch and a nap we returned for the 5 o'clock shuttle to see the Dodger/Brewers game with our tickets from Vet Tix.

For those who don't know, Vet Tix provides tickets to events which reduce stress, strengthen family bonds, build life-long memories and encourage service members and veterans to stay engaged with local communities and American life. They support our troops by honoring their service and providing positive family and life experiences, during and after their years of service to our country.

The shuttle from Liquid Johnnys dropped us off by the home plate gate.

Vet Tix provides tickets to all branches of currently-serving Military and Veterans, including immediate family of troops KIA.

Vet Tix secures tickets to sporting events, concerts, performing arts, educational and family activities across the nation. VetTixers sign up online and their service is verified. VetTixers request tickets to events that interest them, then pay a small delivery fee to receive their free tickets. Our tickets for the game cost us $18 for the third party fee. The Dodgers won the game 11-3.

Our last day at the fairgrounds was Sunday and we spent the morning attending Calvary Chapel in Milwaukee before enjoying brunch in a downtown neighborhood restaurant. The rest of the day was spent driving the shoreline to see the Veteran Day flag exhibit in the local park, getting more fuel for the truck and grocery shopping at Aldi's before returning to the RV to chill.

Monday morning we loaded up the rig and started northwest toward Wisconsin Dells. Wisconsin Dells is globally famous as the "Waterpark Capital of the World", boasting the highest concentration of indoor and outdoor waterparks anywhere. Beyond the mega-resorts and 200+ waterslides, it is uniquely celebrated for its ancient, glacier-carved sandstone gorges and rich Midwestern resort history.

We were only there for one day so we opted to just check out the area for a future trip then stayed overnight at a Harvest Host. Fawn Creek Winery is nestled just north of the Dells in the peaceful forests of Dell Prairie, We booked our stay and spent the afternoon upon our arrival unwinding, sipping, and savoring their selection of wines.

We have found many beautiful places in Wisconsin!